A Lesson in LAW - an Empires SMP Season 2 AU

2 - Upsizing

Jimmy was given strict orders from Shubble - don't wander through the woods. When Jimmy send word of his plea, he was told specifically to not wander through the woods, instead, they would meet on the outskirts of the forest and she would lead him through. Their meeting was planned a week from when Jimmy requested the potion - she needed time to find a way to make the potion... Not permanent.

"Permanent?" Jimmy squawked. "What you're saying is if I hadn't actively searched for an antidote, I would have been stuck-"

"Small, yes," Shubble said sheepishly as they sat in the sands of Tumble town, resting near the claw machine.

"How much do I need to pay?" Jimmy said.

"I'll take gunpowder?" Shubble turned red. "Some diamonds wouldn't go a miss," she mumbled, loud enough for Jimmy to hear. Jimmy ruffled around in his pockets.

"Alternatively," Jimmy smirked. "I forget about certain posters?" Jimmy brought out a wanted poster with a Shubble on it. Shubble reddened, but then grinned. 

"Deal," 

Now the pair stood on the outskirts of the Evermoore, Shubble shrouded in a dark coat. Jimmy wore his sheriff outfit under a plump coat. A heavy rain spat down on the canopy, but it was only a drizzle on the forest floor. A mist rolled from the darkened woods, it tangled through the mangrove wood, playing in the breeze with the leaves. 

"Follow me," Shubble fastened a rope around Jimmy's waist.

"Is this really necessary?" Jimmy felt a bit dumb - on a leash like a dog, or one of Scotts sentient llamas. 

"I mean... you are of a smaller size... like a chicken," The thought made Shubble smile, she mused with the idea for the rest of the walk.

As soon as they stepped into the forest, Jimmy was hit with a muggy warmth. He regretted wearing his coat, so he took it off and dragged it behind him on the mud, he couldn't fret on it getting dirty, his clothes were soaked to his skin with sweat. His whole body ached, his feet felt flat as each step turned into a leap. To keep up with Shubble, he had to walk 3 steps for every one she took.

Shubble, on the other hand, was not struggling, she skipped through the woods, a smile on her face as she blabbered on about chickens. Maybe Jimmy was seeing things, but it looks almost like she shivered.

Shubble had spoken about how the woods were dangerous, she had said how the can make you lose yourself. Jimmy assumed that meant you would go insane, to the point where Jimmy starting seeing things.

He swore he saw a panda in the trees, he thought he saw a parrot eating cookies, and he might have seen Hermes hiding behind a tree, watching him with soulless eyes.

Finally, they came out at the central Evermoore, it was this beautiful mix of man made and nature, colours sprawled the clearing, the sun peaked out from the fluffy white clouds, shimmering on the lake like lily pads. But Jimmy couldn't stop and stare, he was on a mission.

Shubble lead him to the great brewery, brewing stands lining the purple walls.

"Any idea how the potion worked?" Shubble said, ruffling through her chests, looking at bottles of powders, and roots, and other strange items. Jimmy shook his head.

"I could use a general antidote?" Shubble said, throwing ingredients into the stands. "A healing potion wouldn't do, You've probably tried that already," Jimmy reddened, he hadn't tried it, but he felt sort of threatened by the witch, so he didn't want to look bad in front of her.

Shubble whirled around the room like a hurricane, she rattled the building as she brewed, but there was something theatrical about seeing her craft expertly, throwing ingredients into the stands. Music played in Jimmy's mind.

"And done," Emerging from a mist of fumes, Shubble held out a glowing purple bottle, he grabbed the flask, and immediately warmth flourished through his body.

"One swig and I'm back to size?" Jimmy asked, he had tried a potion once before, and it made him smaller.

"I promise," Shubble grinned, holding her hand to her heart. 

With a deep breath, Jimmy popped open the cap. The lid seemed to suck in air, Jimmy felt himself becoming short of breath, so he turned down the bottle and swallowed it in one massive gulp.

The world stopped, Shubble froze, her eyes staring vacantly through him, she starting melting away, and soon, so did the rest of the world. Then Jimmy opened his eyes, and he stared at the ceiling.

"Oh thank goodness," Shubble panted, she put her hand to her head, as if wiping sweat from her brow. "I forgot to tell you that a potion of this strength shouldn't just be chugged down." Jimmy was sat on the floor, his back slumped against the cabinets. When Jimmy got up, he wobbled, he had his height back. He looked down, glad his clothes had grown with him. 

"Wow," Jimmy stretched his legs, suddenly getting vertigo. The brewery felt a lot smaller now. "You're a genius..." Shubble grinned triumphantly.

The next hours were spent with Jimmy teetering around the room, Shubble had to make sure that drinking the potion in a oner had no dire consequences. When the sun had long sank beneath the mountains, Shubble suggested that Jimmy should stay in the Evermoore.

"It's dangerous to go wandering at night," Shubble told him matter-of-a-factly. "Especially out in these parts," Out the window, mist seethed from the woods. Jimmy agreed, but he wanted to go over to Joels and rub his height in the gods face, so for the rest of the night, Jimmy sat waiting for the sun to rise.

When Shubble said goodnight, Jimmy was left on a bed in Shubble's tent. He fell asleep quickly, but woke early. Shubble wasn't awake yet, so he took himself off into the mines, leaving a note saying 'Went Mining, I'll be back soon'

Unfortunately, Jimmy lied on his note.

He did go mining, He just wouldn't be back... Not for a very long time...