CHAPTER ELEVEN
Responding to his taunts, the creature roared and lunged for MJ. MJ shot out of its reach, flying evasively again. His brain was whirling. How could he defeat the creature and shatter the dome?
MJ grew to six feet and protected himself with a thick field. He slammed into the creature's side, then weaved back up toward the cavernous ceiling, out of the beast's reach.
A flash of inspiration struck MJ. "You're a guardian beast, aren't you?" he called to the creature. "Mara created you just to guard the imaginations! Free them ---" he slammed the creature again --- "and you cease to exist!"
He saw the creature swing at him -- thankfully, missing -- and take a chunk out of the wall. "Hmmm..." MJ said. "Maybe you can help me shatter the dome -- but how..."
Then he remembered what had sent Enola into near-hysterical giggles just before the attack that had crippled her: "...my blinding obsession may have just saved my bloody life...."
Could that save her imagination too? MJ wondered.
MJ created a pair of knife-sharp fields and held them tight. Shrinking to four and a half feet, he mimicked the creature's roar. Startled, the creature raised its head.
MJ swooped down and flung the fields. Hearing the creatures outraged and pained roar, he winced as he flew back to the ceiling. Then he looked back, smiling a satisfied grin as he saw the creature shaking its head, its eyes ruined by the knife-sharp fields.
Shrinking to two feet and throwing the thickest field around him he could, MJ slammed into the creature. It roared and lashed out blindly.
MJ struck from a different angle, causing the creature to lash out again. With a smile, MJ struck one last time.
This time the creature's blind swing connected with the dome, its claws cracking the transparent surface. "Thanks, buddy," MJ said, flying away to build momentum. He then curled into a small ball, tightened his field around himself, and launched himself head over heels. He crashed into the dome, shattering it.
The creature howled as the energy crystals flew from the dome. MJ fell inside the dome, stunned by the impact. The creature crawled inside, stretching beside MJ as it slowly transformed into a small brown lizard.
Man and lizard lay together, regaining their strength, as the spheres flashed off, taking most of the light with them.
The only remaining illumination came from a single sphere at MJ's neck. It pulsed with a soft, powder-blue light.
"Chir-rup?"
MJ groaned and raised a hand to his head. "....five more minutes, Mike..."
"Chir-rup?" Something cool banged into MJ's shoulder.
He sighed and opened his eyes. "Hey, fella," he said with a smile, sitting up. "Where'd you come from?"
The lizard reached for him -- blindly.
MJ sat all the way up. "Whoa.." he gasped. "You're that creature, aren't you?" He picked the lizard up. It looked exactly the same, only it was only about a foot long.
"Man, you're a friendly thing, aren't you?" MJ chuckled as it curled into his arms. "With Mara's spell gone, you're normal again."
He looked down. "Hello -- what's this?" Balancing the lizard in one arm, he picked up the crystal. "All the others fled -- why didn't this one?"
"Chir-rup?"
MJ smiled at the lizard. "You may be right, buddy -- this must be Enola's imagination!"
He flew to the mouth of the cave. Then he touched down, heading for the hill.
Naelani stood there, beaming. She spread her hands, babbling on and on excitedly.
MJ smiled. "I wish I could understand you, sugar."
She says the dreams of her people have been returned, Roma said as she shimmered into view. You have done very well, MJ. She raised a hand and the merged man's hair and clothes lost the orange coloring, returning to their normal hues.
The lizard blinked suddenly sighted eyes and squirmed from MJ's grasp, slithering up Naelani's body to rest on her shoulder. Naelani kissed MJ and moved toward her village.
MJ sighed. He held up the sphere. "Roma, is this --"
Enola's imagination? Yes. It is.
MJ smiled triumphantly.
Roma raised her hands, and they were both gone.
"MJ!" Peter, Mike and Enola gasped in unison as he and Roma appeared in the Pad's living room.
MJ smiled. He handed the sphere to Enola and opened his mouth to give an account of his adventures.
Roma raised her hand and MJ became an energy-being once more. The energy split into two, and it was suddenly Micky and Davy who were falling to their knees, gasping.
"That...hurts, Roma!" they chorused, rising to their feet. I know, dear ones, but you are once more yourselves.
Micky and Davy looked at Enola, who was turning the sphere over and over in her hands. "What about her?" they chorused.
Peter blinked. "Roma...why are they..."
They had to truly become one person, to use the powers effectively, Roma explained. It will take some time before Micky and Davy are two people once more. MJ is no more physically, but mentally and emotionally, he will exist for some time to come.
Peter and Mike both whistled.
Enola hefted the sphere. "Roma...what do I do?"
Shatter the sphere.Roma answered.
Enola's eyes glowed. The sphere shattered and the powder-blue energy flowed into Enola. She shuddered and sank to her knees.
The Monkees were instantly by her side, Peter and Mike helping her to her feet. "Enola?" Micky and Davy asked.
She smiled at them, her eyes shining with a light that had been absent for hours. "It's back!" she cried. "I can dream again -- oh man, the stories are coming back!" She laughed. "They're back!"
Enola flung her arms around Peter and Mike, hugging them at the same time. "Thank you for staying with me!" she cried. "Thank you!"
"You're welcome, honey," Mike said.
"Anytime," Peter added.
A kiss to each of the pair's cheeks, and she moved to hug Micky and Davy. "Thank you," she said. "I don't know what you went through -- but thanks."
"That's what we do," they chorused.
Enola pulled back, tears in her eyes. "You... gave up your individuality ... for me...."
It was Micky who touched her cheek, but it was Davy who spoke. "Enola, I told you --- that's what we do. Any sacrifice to help is acceptable." Both smiled and Davy went on, "Besides, this isn't permanent. I'll be Micky and Davy again in no time, right, Roma?"
Roma turned to Enola. You will return home as you sleep. Keep writing -- each new dimension you add in your stories is one more to enjoy. And don't worry about Mara -- you are under protection now. Mara can not harm you or your sisters, your family, or your friends.
Enola nodded. "Roma, I'm grateful -- but what about Micky and Davy? Their... condition... is temporary, right?"
Roma merely smiled as she vanished.
"Uh-oh..." Enola gasped, her eyes wide.
"So what're you gonna do?" Peter asked.
"Go to bed," Enola smiled. "Please don't get me wrong, meeting you has been a dream come true -- but I miss my family and friends. I wanna go home!"
Each hugged her and said their goodbyes. At her request, she was led to the chaise lounge where she'd arrived.
Enola slid to sleep with Peter and Mike flanking her on the chaise, each holding one of her hands.
Enola woke with a jolt, gasping as she looked around.
A computer lay in front of her, whole and untouched on the desk. The tiny, cramped bedroom of her mobile home came into view.
A reach of her hand and subsequent look to her side showed her that her husband Steven slept peacefully beside her. "I'm home," she gasped quietly. "I'm home, I'm back, I'm okay, I'm home!"
Enola sank back onto her elbows. "Or did I ever leave?" she whispered. "Was it all just a dream?" With a sigh, knowing no more sleep was in her, she flung back the covers and moved to get out of bed. Suddenly she froze, arrested by the sight of something that should not have been there.
Her jaw dropped open as she stared at her leg. Her fingers traced the shape of the half-healed burn from Evil Peter's laser strike.
Licking her lips, she looked back at her desk. Her turquoise eyes glowed, and a pad that rested by her computer quivered. Shakily, it rose into the air and floated to Enola's hand.
Cutting off the telekinesis, she turned the pad over a few times. A slow smile spread across her face as she turned to her sleeping husband.
Whispering as her hand caressed his shoulder, she said, "There's gonna be a few changes around here...."
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