The group raced to the airship, while the mud slowly dripped off. The mudblups discovered the deception and made chase, but as they reached outside, the sun slowly crept through the clouds.. They retreated in pain.
Once they had reached the airship, all of them thought of how to rescue Willow. Teddy suggested they duplicate themselves to fool the Gutang guards. Grubby looked worried.
“But-But Teddy, won’t Tara and her duplicate argue? I am –“ Grubby said.
“Fight myself?” Tara asked, “I don’t have an M.A.V.O. counterpart, do I?” She stared puzzled.
“No, Tara. “ Teddy chucked.
“Grubby is referring to the time we tried the second crystal in my machine. I was trying to duplicate many things, and on accident, duplicated Grubby when he when under the machine and ate the object I was trying to duplicate.” Gimmick explained.
“I didn’t care for the duplicate too much...” Grubby mused, “Thought he was too handsome.”
“I think as long as we’re rescuing Willow, a duplicate won’t mind.” Tara said.
“There is one small problem, Tara. The second crystal’s power only lasts a while, then slowly disappears.” Gimmick explained, sadly.
Tara looked at him thoughtfully.. “Here, let me see it. My powers may be able to lengthen the time the power lasts.”
Gimmick handed Tara the crystal, and she somehow lengthened the amount of time, but because the group was so amazed that she could do that, they were awestruck.
Tara tapped Gimmick on the shoulder and handed him the crystal. Gimmick placed the crystal back into place and the group rushed to the Gutang’s fortress. Using the now-longer crystal, Gimmick created thousands of duplicates of everyone – including Tara and the airship.
This approach allowed the group to fool the Gutangs and fight them off, while the real Tara rushed to the small cage holding Willow. The cage was cramped, but the Gutang guards were so occupied, they never noticed Tara creating a skeleton key to fit the lock. Tara figured the Gutangs would blame themselves if Willow were missing.
Tara wondered though, why the seven crystals were so important to Quellor. She knew they created powers individually that served him no purpose. Why did the crystals together, create such an overbearing evil?
Tara needed a way to protect Willow from being seen, but rather than do duplication again, she opted for a more intimate idea. Since the crystal’s power was strengthened, she figured the diversion would last a while. Taking the reducing crystal, Tara aimed the machine at Willow and the pushed the button marked “Small”
Light surrounded Willow, and inch-by inch she shrunk. Willow felt as if she had entered Wonderland by accidentally eating a cookie. Willow did not know Tara had this in mind as she pushed the button, so when she looked up, Tara looked like a blur. Willow tried to argue but Tara merely thought she looked cute, because her argument sounded like a series of high-pitched squeaks when she was not close.
Offering Willow her hand, she invited Willow to see her closer. Tara’s blurred features now seemed huge to Willow and her eyes seemed as big as globes. “I’m sorry I did that, but can you forgive me?” Tara asked, “Besides you might feel right at home on my head.”
_________________ "Only the pure of spirit may find the treasure of knowledge". - Teddy Ruxpin
By the Power of Grayskull!
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