The stone did nothing.
"What's wrong with this thing? It didn't warm up and grant my wish!" exclaimed Jon.
"Maybe we used up all of its magic?" asked Karyn.
"Well, let's test it. I wish that I had a pony in the courtroom."
"A pony? What are you going to do with that?" asked Karyn in a sarcastic tone.
"It was the first wish I could come up with", said Jon, as he say a flash from the corner of his eye and noticed a pony's stable appear complete with pony.
"Well, the stone works. But I wish I knew why it wouldn't grant my last wish."
The stone warmed slightly and Jon heard a vooice in his head say, 'The master wishes it not done.'
"Well, then", said Jon, turning to Karyn. "It seems that our theory that someone or something was controlling Zoe is correct. The stone will not grant the wish because of 'the master' controlling it."
"Who is the 'master'?" asked Karyn.
"I wish I knew," said Jon.
At that moment, Jon heard the elven guards outside the room (those who weren't in the cortroom unconsious) having a scuffle.
"Halt, old man! You are not allowed in the princess' quarters. You ar under arrest!"
"Now see here, young man. I am a very important person who has business here. And it is rather rude of you to make snyde remarks about someone's age," said an older voice. "No respect for people my age, anymore," muttered the old man.
From the sounds of it, the guards tried to tackle the old man, but the old man muttered something at them and they all fell asleep, as could be heard from some resounding snores. The wooden doors to the chamber opened and the old man entered.
"Who are you?" asked a startled Jon and Karyn in unison.
"Oh, hullo. I'm... er... what's that dratted name again? Foosball? No,... Fuzzband...no, Fullmoon...no. It doesn't matter, I am a very important person and I belong here right now. Or do I need to teach you a lesson like I did to those young rascals you keep outside?"
"No, old one. Are you the master of the stone," asked Jon, who was rather confused at this point.
"Stone? What stone? Oh, THAT stone. No I am not its master," said the old man. His voice grew wistfull as he continued. "No, but I believe I know who is. My sister liked to make little trinkets like that and use them to entrap her servants and chosen ones into her service. But that is why I am here, I need that stone. Hand it over. Well? Come on, look alive."
Transforming into their dragon forms, Jon said to the old man "Sorry, the stone is not for sale. Now, tell us what you know about the stone's master so we can fix this," said Jon threateningly.
Sighing, the old man snapped his fingers at the the two, leaving two startled elves in the place of the two dragons.
"There," said the old man. "Now maybe you will show some more respect to your elders. Now give me the stone."
Unnoticed by Jon or Karyn, Zoe regained conciousness. At first, she relised the error in her ways and was remorsefull of all the folly she had committed. Then, like before, a change swept over her and she was determined to get the stone back. Grabbing a scroll from her pocket, she read the words alloud and threw a bit of bat guano at the three.
Turning in time to see a huge fireball flying right at them, Jon and Karyn shriek and tried to change into their dragon forms, finding that they were not able. The fireball didn't hit them directly, but it still exploded into an inferno, leaving them still alive, but barely. Smiling, Zoe went to the charred spot on the floor and picked up the stone.
"I wish this mess Jon, Karyn, and the old man left would dissappear from my nation," said Zoe.
Grumbling, the old man got up from the stony ground. They had appeared on top of the Rockies, far away from Zoe's nation of Silvanesti. Wiping the soot from his beard and his mousse-colored robes, the old man approached Jon and Karyn. Laying a hand on their foreheads, he muttered to them, whispering that their time had not come. Almost instantly, their charred and cracked flesh healed, their singed hair regrew, and they looked as if the most intense flame thay had been in contact with was no bigger than that of a candle.
"Ha! I remembered!" exclaimed the old man to Jon and Kary, who were rubbing their heads in bewilderment. "I'm Fizban!"
