"Well," said Karyn, "if it was a wish that made you that way, why don't you wish yourself back? I know you can't just unwish something but there has to be a way to do it."
"Hmm" said Jon. "Maybe you're right... I know! I wish that me and Karyn can transform into wood elves or into human forms that look and sound just like our original human forms, because we're really fire-breathing gold dragons who can change shape."
"Oooohhh" said Karyn. "I feel so strange... Like I'm stronger. More important."
"Better than being an elf, right, Karyn? Though you still look like one."
"I'm going to try..." she said, and transformed. Then there was a 20 foot dragon sitting there. Her scales were gold and she was wearing nothing--her equipment had vanished into the new form. She growled out "Now this is more like it!"
Jon followed Karyn's example. The stone was gone, but only temporarily.
"Now," roared Jon, "we need to have a little talk with Zoe...."
They had to transform back to elves to get out of the room. Palaces may have had some wide open spaces, but still, dragons hardly fit down every single one.
It was no trouble for someone with the social status of Jon to get into Zoe's room. She was sleeping in her bed, undefended once Jon had passed the guards. Jon tapped on Zoe's shoulder.
"Zzzzz.... Yaaaah! Jon, how dare you come in here! I'm in charge in here. I wish..." She reached for her stone to find it gone. There was fear on her face then, but she refused to just give in and surrender. "Oh crap" she said.
"I apologize for disturbing you" said Jon, still under the influence of the wish about the manners. "But I've come here to deliver a warning to you, because I think you're under a bad influence. I know the Zoe I know would never do this to the world."
"Don't be absurd" said the elven princess. "I'm doing what I want to!"
"No, I respectfully disagree," said Jon. "I had the stone before you did, and I read the instructions. Why don't you read the instructions and discover what's wrong yourself? I wish Zoe had the letter our grandfather wrote giving the instructions for using the stone."
A sheet of paper appeared in Zoe's hands. She threw it aside.
"I don't think that's a wise course of action. Please, Zoe, do read the letter again."
Zoe grumbled and picked up the letter, trying to find what Jon was talking about. "I don't see anything."
"Here" said Jon, and pointed to the last sentence. "'...out of the range of influence of the stone. This range I estimate at several miles, but I fear I have not been able to determine an exact figure.' Look at that!"
"But I used it to..." said Zoe.
"Yes, you used it on the whole world. And it worked. Someone's using you as a tool, Zoe. They're pouring power into your wishes, and they're probably making you wish what they want you to wish. You know, Zoe, you've been involved in the occult for a long time, before you ever saw the wishing stone. Could you have summoned up something? Something that influenced you to steal the stone and fill the world with magic? What kind of creature would benefit from a world full of magic, do you think?
"No, Jon! I made the wishes I chose to make! I..." And then a change came over her face. "Guards!" she yelled. Four elves in armor entered the room. "Execute these people, and I don't care if Jon is family! He has a valuable magical artifact that's mine!"
Jon and Karyn turned into dragons. In less than a minute the elves were all knocked out, except for one who was bowing. "My apologies oh great dragon, sir. I had heard the rumor of a dragon adopted into the royal family but I never dreamed it was you...."
"It's nothing" said Jon. "I won't hurt you; just leave us alone." Then Jon, and soon Karyn, transformed back to their elven bodies.
Karyn whispered, "Do you really think something's affecting Zoe? Or was that a bluff?"
"I don't know" said Jon, "but there has to be some explanation." He touched the stone again and said "I wish to know what the explanation is."
