DTH Jon discovered that the Alternate Reality Device in this dimension was significantly different from the original. Whilst it still had the ability to send ARD Jon to alternate realities, there were also a number of additional functions. These were accessed by buttons on the side of it.
DTH Jon had written out a world description. He handed it to Prisoner Jon. "I'm sorry I have no way of easily sending you home." DTH Jon explained. "This is the next best thing though. You'll possess that Jon's body and you'll be able to live your life without any complications."
"I've had enough excitement to last a lifetime anyway. I just want a normal life again." He said. DTH Jon felt sorry for him. What Sarah had done to him had profoundly damaged him. DTH Jon watched as Prisoner Jon read the description. A smile grew on his face as he finished reading. He gave the note back to DTH Jon. "You approve?"
"Oh, yes. It's exactly what I want." He said as DTH Jon handed the note to ARD Jon. He was sat on the bed beside his Karyn her arm round his waist. He activated the ARD and began to read aloud.
"What if the world was like the following description. The world is the same as this one except for the following - It is the first day of spring break. My grandfather is alive and will live for at least another ten years." He paused. "The magic rock he discovered, does not exist." He put the note down.
"That's it?" A surprise DTH Karyn asked.
"It's all it needs to be." DTH Jon told her.
"Everyone stand back." ARD Jon warned. He pointed the ARD at the bedroom wall and pressed a button on the side of it. The ARD glowed bright green. It's glow transferred to the wall where a large green circular portal appeared. The centre of the portal was black. Around the edge, the unnatural green glow slowly rotated. The shapes continuously reformed in a cloud like manner, emerging slightly from the wall. A gentle breeze pushed it's way out of the strange void. "Okay, portal stays open for sixty seconds." He said.
"I guess this is goodbye." Prisoner Jon looked at his travelling companions. "I guess some of it was fun." He turned round to face the portal. Slowly he took a step forward and disappeared into the blackness. The ARD made a strange noise and Jon's name appeared on a holographic display above it.
"It tracks who has entered." ARD Jon explained to DTH Jon who had being looking at the ARD. Everyone got a little closer to examine the strange patterns moving across the wall.
Zoe suddenly got an idea. In her mind it was brilliant, fair but just a little bit nasty. She stood in front of Athena. "Athena?" Athena turned round to face Zoe, her back to the portal.
"Yes." Athena answered. Zoe grinned. She lifted her arm and pressed forward forcefully. A surprised Athena found herself getting pushed backwards into the portal.
"Bye Felicia!" Zoe shouted as Athena disappeared. The whole room seemed to get brighter as the minute elapsed and the portal vanished. Athena's name briefly appeared on the ARD's display just before it shut itself down.
DTH Jon and Karyn were surprised. ARD Jon and Karyn were shocked.
"She's your best friend. Why did you do that?" ARD Jon asked Zoe.
"She used to be. The stone messed her up. Not even the magic, just the concept of it. No matter which dimension we took her to, sooner or later she'd have gotten access to the stone and history would repeat itself." She touched the wall where the portal had been. It was almost as if she was making sure it was gone. "I kept thinking about the description. The stone doesn't exist there. It was the only safe place for her really. She still gets to live her own life. It's pretty good as prisons go."
"She still knows about the stone." DTH Jon said.
"That'll be her punishment. Knowing it exists but not being able to do anything about it."
"Hopefully, she'll forget about the stone." DTH Karyn said. "I really hope she does." An element of doubt crept into her voice.
"I can't say I really understand." ARD Jon said. He stood up breaking his embrace with Karyn. He faced DTH Jon. "We had an agreement though." DTH Jon nodded.
"Yes, of course, we need to take Zoe home." He pulled out the DTH and started setting their destination. The flower petal dimension loomed large on the screen as he set the target dimension to Zoe's world. "Just a reminder, there will be a slight drop when we arrive, so be prepared." He extended his spare hand. Karyn and Zoe grabbed it. He activated the DTH and the three of them vanished.
