She looked down at the Neopian Times clipping in her paws.

“WANTED: Somebody to help me with an amazing spell that will make you question everything you know. This is not a joke. You’ll be paid 20,000 NP after we successfully complete the ritual. Safety not guaranteed. I have only done this once before. Come to 107 Warwick Way at 7:00pm tonight if you’re interested.”

Not exactly a tranquil job working at a bookstore like she’d always wanted. But times were tough these days, and a 20,000 NP payout was not something she could pass up. But, still, “safety not guaranteed”? What kind of spell were they even performing, anyway?

The doubts began to grow in her mind, and the setting sun only served to make her more anxious.

“Maybe we’re summoning some sort of wraith? Or... or ghosts?”

Just before her imagination took hold of her completely, she saw it – the location outlined in the advertisement. It was an older house, made of oak wood and surrounded by trees on all sides. It was tall, but relatively narrow. A light was on on the highest floor, though Rynn couldn’t quite see if anyone was up there. She’d expected some sort of terrifying mansion covered with gargoyles and gnarled vines, but this place looked almost… normal. It soothed her mind, but only a little bit.

The Eyrie grimaced as she slowly approached the front door, occasionally glancing over her shoulder. It was a suburban neighbourhood, and she could only barely see the neighbour’s house through the thicket to her left. Raising a paw to the door, she gave it three sturdy knocks.

Inhaling sharply, and hoping her nervousness wouldn’t show in her voice, she added, “I’m here about the job offer!...”

“Hello?” she called tentatively, then added, “I’m not a burglar. I’m totally normal.” She realized how totally not normal that sounded.

The living room she entered appeared standard enough. Comfy armchairs, coffee table strewn with scratchcards, a cute Weewoo lamp casting a soft ambient glow about the room. No spellbooks, no salts, and certainly no cauldrons big enough to brew an Eyrie.

When she paused to listen, the faint sound of music playing could be heard from an adjoining room. She followed the sound, into a bright kitchen, where a squat Yellow Bruce danced around a flaming stove, humming melodiously under his breath and wiping steam away from his glasses.

Rynn cleared her throat. “Hello?”

The Bruce screamed and whirled around, spatula at the ready to defend himself. Rynn held up the newspaper clipping, and said hurriedly, “I’m here about the ad. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you!”

The Bruce clutched his chest and rolled his eyes. “When I said to come to my address, I didn’t think I needed to specify not to break in and make yourself at home.”

“Sorry, sorry,” Rynn said, her cheeks heating. “It’s just that I was so eager to respond to the ad.”

The Bruce perked up. “Because you like spell-work?”

Rynn hesitated. “Uh, yes. And Neopoints. But spells are cool too. Is the post still available?”

“It sure is. You’re the first to reply!” He said with a smile, his annoyance instantly gone.

“Great!” Rynn said. Her excitement flared. “So what are we going to be doing?”

The Bruce’s beak curved up at the corners. “I should tell you something first…”

"Yes, you mentioned that," Rynn said, glancing down at the clipping she was holding.

"Ah, yes. But there's more," the Bruce said, his beak curving up at the corners once again. "I cannot guarantee your safety once the ritual begins."

Rynn look down at the clipping again. "Erm, yes... you mentioned that too." She held out the clipping to the Bruce and asked, "Would you like to read this?"

The Bruce set down his spatula and waddled over. "Ah yes, yes," he said, quickly reading the Neopian Times clipping of his advert. "Well then, that's all about you need to know! Let's get started."

"Great!" Rynn exclaimed. "My name is Rynn by the way, it's nice to meet you mister..."

"I am," the Bruce paused for dramatic effect. "THE GREAT WIZARD OF WARWICK WAY!" He slowly raised his fins up, as if summoning a great spell.

"But you can just call me Wally."

Wally dropped his fins and turned back to the stove. "Can I get you a bowl of Gorgroggle Soup before we get started?" Rynn peered into the pot and saw bright green tentacles and two large eyes floating in the broth.

"No, thanks... I just ate." Her stomach churned.

"Very well, Rynn," Wally said as he scooped a spoonful of soup direct from the pot to his beak. His eyes closed and crinkled around the corners. "Mmmmmm, my favourite," he mumbled between chews.

Rynn waited patiently as the Bruce ate the soup directly from the pot, wondering if he was planning to use the same pot for the ritual. Would there be a cauldron? Would there be fire? Just as Rynn was questioning why she decided to do this without having more information, Wally clapped his hands. The music suddenly stopped and the now empty pot disappeared.

"Did you just... make that... pot... vanish?!" Rynn said with her mouth agape.

Wally smiled sinisterly, no longer the calm looking Bruce enjoying some soup.

"Let us begin..."

"Not a lot,"Rynn replied with a shrug. "I know magic can be used to summon wraiths, move objects and cast spells. My knowledge is somewhat limited to what I've read in the Neopian Times". She was slightly uneasy at the change in the Bruce, it was almost as though she could feel him gathering a storm of power.

The Bruce eyed her warily as he produced a small stone from his pocket. The stone had a crystalline appearance and small jagged edges that highlighted its blue hue. He held it up, bringing it close enough to her that she felt a rush of air. The stone pulsed once, emanating a faintly warm teal glow. Wally nodded and returned the stone to his pocket, a pensive veneer covering his formerly genial face.

"The arcane arts are a gateway to endless possibilities and infinite wonders ..." Wally pronounced. Each word, sharp and instilled with authority. Wally began to levitate from where he stood, wisps and tendrils of magic pulsed from an aura that appeared around him.

"Magic can be used to complete tasks," Wally explained. Around him, the house began to tidy itself, dishes began to wash themselves and brooms swept the floor. A litany of objects returned to their places as the room began to return itself to some semblance of order.

"It can be used to attack or defend," Wally continued. Suddenly cups, dishes and other objects burst into flames and began to spin around the room! Rynn marvelled at the spectacle, the flames dancing in front of her eyes.

Abruptly, Wally lowered himself to the floor, the flaming objects vanished, and all went quiet.

"Magic can also be used to accomplish even greater feats, like the one we are going to attempt today,” Wally concluded.

Rynn was struggling to understand why he was explaining all this to her, she had grasped he had powers but what was the purpose of this display or magical prowess? Was he dangerous or just grandstanding?

A deafening knock shook the walls behind her. Wally’s eyes darted to the door.

Who could it be?...

The Bruce opened the door to a Yellow Kougra in a khaki uniform with a large cardboard box in hand.

“Hello. Can I get a signature for this?” the Kougra requested.

“You sure can!” Wally exclaimed, as he hastily scratched his signature on the delivery man’s clipboard.

“What’s that?” Rynn inquired as Wally set the box down on the kitchen table.

“Our main ingredient,” he replied with a devious smile, manically tearing the tape off of the cardboard and opening the package.

The Pirate Eyrie peered inside to see what appeared to be an assortment of rubber ducks in a multitude of colours: effervescent yellow, dusty black, fiery red, and icy blue. She scratched her feathered head, perplexed. The Bruce looked on at her in excitement, awaiting her reaction.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t understand. The main ingredient is… Rubber ducks?” Rynn asked.

“No, no, no. Silly Rynny!” Wally guffawed. “These aren’t rubber ducks. They’re Battle Ducks, of course!”

Battle Ducks were a seemingly unassuming weapon used in the Battledome. While they weren’t that powerful on their own, Rynn wondered how much damage this many ducks could do…

“Right…” Rynn said, still baffled by the sheer number of ducks in the box. “And what are we planning to concoct with them exactly?”

“With this many Battle Ducks of this many elemental types, I can harness immense and vast power… My plan is to create a potion for the Battledome that is so omnipotent it will work against any opponent of any element,” Wally explained, his eyes glazed over in furor.

“W-why do you want a potion that powerful?” Rynn asked anxiously…

"R-right, of course," Rynn said, as she took another look at Wally's home. The Weewoo-shaped lamp, floral-patterned wallpaper, and faded old quilt laid over his chair didn't exactly paint the picture of a fearsome fighter. "Um...do you fight in the Battledome often?"

Wally blinked in shock. "What, me? Naturally not! Listen carefully, Rynn - we're not going to use the potion ourselves."

"Oh...that's good," Rynn said, a little of her alarm fading.

With a grin and a manic glimmer in his eyes, Wally said, "We're going to sell it! With the prices of Codestones and Dubloons being what they are, just think how much someone would pay for a spell that lets you win with no training! We'll set a record at the Auction House! I'll buy a retirement home on Lutari Island! You'll get your twenty thousand, of course, and maybe even a bonus - IF you do this next part perfectly! It's time for our spell work! First: grab some Battle Ducks!"

Wally's speech was so impassioned that Rynn immediately did as he asked, grabbing an armful. One squeaked in the crook of her elbow. "Okay! What now?"

"I want you to walk seven times around the room - widdershins! No! That's the other way!" Rynn winced, switching directions as Wally continued with his directions, "Now, repeat after me: Battle Duck likes lakes. Battle Duck licks lakes. Battle Duck takes licks in lakes Battle Duck likes..."

"Lakes licks - aw!" Rynn couldn't make it through the nonsense tongue twister once without faltering, and she knew she must look ridiculous, walking in circles with an armful of rubber ducks. Coming to a halt, she looked at Wally and exclaimed, "How is THIS spell work?"

"Keep going!" Wally said, waving his arms impatiently. "Seven times! Your bonus is on the line!"

Biting down her protests, Rynn resumed her walk, cheeks burning. She spoke slowly, getting the tongue twister right. And, on the seventh lap around the room, Wally started shouting, "It's working! It's working! Look!"

Rynn turned to him, and saw...

All the little ducks had merged together, creating one fearsome and cute magical item. Its head was squished down at the ceiling, and its body took up over half the kitchen.

“Wow! I’ve never seen a battle item like this before! Though it seems kind of troublesome to carry into the Battledome...” Rynn was certainly impressed by the size, and she could feel an immense power in the room making it hard to breathe or even think properly.

“Rynny-Wynny that is part of the charm! Imagine you’re waiting for your opponent in the Battledome and you see this giant thing walk in! You’d be confused even before the battle starts!” Wally was now jumping up and down happily on the duck’s tail, his eyes sparkling with determination and a sprinkle of madness.

“However, I think you're right! Let's make it easier to use! Battle Ducks dodge battle blows beautifully, Battle Ducks dodge...” Wally repeated this seven times, shrinking the duck down to a normal size. “Now if you say it backwards seven times the duck will grow: beautifully blows battle dodge Ducks Battle!”

Rynn watched in amazement as the duck expanded again in a blink of the eye. This was truly one of the strangest days of her life!

“Oh! What about the ducks I’m holding now? What are these for?” She looked down at the armful of ducks she was still cradling, their cute round eyes staring up at her.

“Oh, those are for me!” Wally quickly grabbed the ducks and began placing them along the kitchen windowsill. “Don’t they look cute here?”

Rynn couldn’t help but smile at the eccentric Bruce. She had worried they’d be doing something dangerous like summoning wraiths, but thankfully everything turned out okay!

“So Rynny! What will you do with your share of the loot? You did great so you’ll get that bonus!”

She thought about her dreams of working at a bookstore and hopefully one day owning a little shop of her own. Her biggest dream was to publish the stories she liked to write in her spare time, though she felt embarrassed saying all of this out loud.

When she finished talking she looked closely at Wally and saw he had tears welling up in his eyes.

“Yes, my friend! It’s so important to have dreams, and even more important to have enough Neopoints to accomplish those dreams! This is exactly why I chose you to help me with this spell! Now you’re going to be one step closer to that bookstore!”

“Yeah! Oh wait a second... I came here! And you said I was the first person to reply!”

“Exactly! Now let’s head out!” Wally was clearly not listening anymore, as he was busy chanting the spell again. When he finished he put the Rainbow duck into his pocket and headed toward the front door.

Rynn followed along, wondering what other surprising things would happen today. “Are we going to the Auction House already?”

Wally smiled and laughed, “No silly friend! Before we can sell it we need to first test it out in the Battledome!"

Rynn was worried about testing the new battle item out, but she had confidence in her new friend now. She had already seen him perform amazing feats of magic, and of course they couldn't sell the duck without making sure it worked first.

"Hmm Rynny, there are a lot of opponents here! Who should we test this against?"

Rynn looked carefully at the list of opponents in the Battledome. Each one seemed intimidating, but finally she decided on...

Wally curiously tilted his head in surprise at her choice. "But dear friend! Doesn't it make more sense to pick a stronger, more formidable opponent? Such as the Snowager or Chiazilla! Ooh, even the Space Faerie is tremendously strong..."

Rynn beamed at her new friend, eager to explain her logic. "My thought process is this: the average Neopian will not bother challenging such fierce opponents. Those that would take the trouble would almost certainly have a disciplined training routine as well as honor. I don't think they'd be interested in our Rainbow Battle Duck shortcut! The average individual who has just had 10% of their on hand NP taxed on the other hand..."

"...May not be trained for the Battledome and will be eager enough for revenge to utilize our nifty little Rainbow Battle Duck," Wally finished gleefully. "A thoughtful and brilliant plan! Not to mention, the Tax Beast is a greedy fellow. He taxes countless Pets a day. The market for our duck will be huge!"

The newly minted business partners cheerfully made their way to the Battledome, casually sharing how they planned to spend their potential fortune. Rynn was only halfway through describing her dream bookshop floorplan when they reached the Central Arena.

Wally bravely waddled up to a smug looking Tax Beast and invited him to battle. The fuzzy green creature towered over the Yellow Bruce as he gave him a once over, unimpressed. The Tax Beast's lips curled into a condescending sneer as he accepted the battle invitation.

Wally wielded the Rainbow Battle Duck in his first move; a kaleidoscopic rainbow wave emanated from the weapon, hitting the Tax Beast with full force and landing him on the ground in a single blow. It was over as quickly as it had begun.

The Beast began to quake with rage, his bright green color rapidly morphing into a glowering red. "I lost!"

Wally and Rynn looked as stunned as the Tax beast looked furious. Wally turned to give Rynn an enthusiastic thumbs up, mouthing "it works!" before letting out an oomph sound as he was roughly snatched up off the ground, tight within the Tax Beast's grip.

"No one beats me and gets away with it," The Tax Beast said darkly, still shaking with anger. "I'm going to take 25% of your Neopoints!" He roughly shook Wally upside down, emptying the protesting Yellow Bruce's pockets with force. A measly pile of One Dubloon Coins clattered to the ground with a soft clank.

Rynn rushed to Wally's aid as the Tax Beast surveyed the pitiful pile of coins with disgust. "This is barely anything!" He roared. "Unacceptable. I know what I'll take instead!"

He roughly reached for the Rainbow Battle Duck before Rynn or Wally could react...

Wally gasped in surprise. “Give that back! It’s not yours!” he shouted.

“It is now,” the Tax Beast snarled with a menacing grin. The towering green giant aimed the Rainbow Battle Duck towards its creators and used it to launch a prismatic solar beam, nearly missing the Bruce and the Eyrie. The beam was so powerful, it cut the ground at their feet like a laser.

As the Tax Beast held out the Rainbow Battle Duck, preparing for a second strike, Rynn’s eyes widened as an idea began to form in her mind.

“Let me handle this, Wally. I know how to get our duck back,” the Eyrie said, her voice brimming with confidence.

“Is that all you got?” she shouted to the furry green monster as she waved a wing, egging him on.

“I’m just getting started,” he snarled back. The Tax Beast sent a second kaleidoscopic beam toward Rynn, but she stood her ground.

“Rynn, watch out!” warned Wally, reaching for his new business partner.

However, he had nothing to fear. Rynn knew what she was doing as she pulled an Eyrie Golden Hand Mirror from her pocket, holding it up to deflect the beam away from her and back at the terrible Beast. The variegated ray that shot from the Rainbow Battle Duck’s mouth hit the glass of Rynn’s mirror and reflected back at the Tax Beast, striking him in the left shoulder. He yelped in pain and tumbled to the ground, clutching his injured arm and dropping the Battle Duck.

Swiftly, Wally ran to grab their powerful prized possession, awkwardly tugging at the duck and only moving it a few feet. Rynn followed suit and helped him move the Rainbow Battle Duck to the exit of the Battledome.

“Curse you!” the Beast cried out as the Bruce and the Eyrie fled the arena…

How will this story end?

The duo set the enormous duck down unceremoniously in the sand. For a few moments, all that was heard between them was panting as they gasped for breath. Suddenly, the Eyrie and the Bruce locked eyes. They looked at one another for a second, exhausted...

Then, suddenly, they both started laughing hysterically.

"That... that was insane!" Rynn exclaimed through her laughter. "I thought for sure he was going to turn us into a Pile of Sludge!"

"Right you are, Rynny! But look, we're still alive- and it worked! Perhaps it needs a bit of tweaking, but once it's perfect, well... let's just say I won't be upset about losing my Dubloons!"

Rynn nodded, practically seeing NP dancing in Wally's eyes. Or maybe it was a little magical glow? Either way, Rynn realized with a start that once she got paid, her role in this adventure would be over... and she was surprised to find herself sad about it.

After thinking for a moment, Rynn took a deep breath. "Wally, this was incredible. I mean, the Neopoints are going to help me a ton, but.. well, what I'm trying to say is..."

"That you had an absolute blast and you want to continue helping me out with my project?" Wally interjected suddenly.

She looked at him in shock, only to see a cheeky grin playing out across his face. She gladly returned the smile.

"Wally, I think you've seen right through me... Yes, I would love to continue helping you out with your project. And when the project's over, well... maybe we can... be friends?" Rynn proffered a paw to eclectic Bruce, who smiled wide and shook her paw emphatically.

"Yes, yes of course! I would love nothing more! After all, maybe you can give me discounts on magical tomes when you finally open that bookstore of yours." He winked.

"Hmm..." Rynn pretended to ponder this offer. "Thirty percent discount, nothing more."

"Eh, I'll take it!"

They shook again, feeling confident they would enjoy one another's friendship for years to come.

The End.