Desmond and the other Elders, along with Finn's parents planned a ritual for the reverse transformation. Finnegan's only part in it was to focus his energy on Elise, visualizing her as her girl-form. Celeste and his mom planned to charm an amulet to suppress the snake-form for longer to give Elise more time to level up after she was back to being a girl again. Dave and Desmond had left to get some things from their homes that Finn's parents didn't have enough of. While they were gone, Celeste and his parents set up a ritual space in the living room, moving the furniture so they could use the whole room, which was already large, but they didn't want to trip or have to maneuver around any obstacles during the ritual so the flow of magical energy wouldn't be interrupted. By the time Desmond and Dave got back, the space was ready, minus the few items that they brought, and the rain outside had calmed to a steady shower.
Shaking the water from the umbrella and rain poncho as they stood at the threshold, Dave and Desmond announced their arrival. "We're back!" They came into the living room. "Are we almost ready to begin?"
"Yes," Finn's mom told them. "And we had better hurry. It's already almost 7 o'clock."
Desmond sprinkled the blessed salt he brought in a ring on a sheet that had been laid in the center of the room. There were candles placed around and, Finn's parents brought up their figurines from their altars in the basement. Finn's mom made everyone a strong tea that was cooling in mugs on a tray on the card table. When everything was ready, each person took a mug and drained them as quickly as they were able. Everyone had removed their shoes and walked, barefoot to their places.
Finn's mom stood to the East, his dad to the South, Celeste to the West, and Dave to the North. Finnegan took Elise out of the basket and sat, cross-legged, in the center of the salt ring, while Desmond stood on the outside of the circle, behind Dave. Finnegan was told to remain still, and only focus on Elise.
The light in the living room was off, but some light had begun filtering in through the sliding glass door as dawn was rising. Desmond began the ritual:
"We shall all, now, step into our magical mindsets. Introduce yourselves." he said to the room.
"I am Minerva Soothsayer, a Servant of the Great God and Great Goddess. Merry Meet," Finn's mom said. The others replied, "Merry Met."
Finn's dad said, "I am Oakland Onyxfire, Servant to the Great God and The Great Goddess. Merry Meet."
"Merry Met," came the reply.
Celeste said, "I am Plumeria SeaSong, Humbe Servant of the Great God, Cernnunos, and the Great Goddess, Aradia. Merry Meet."
"Merry Met."
Dave said, "My name is Baldr Silver-haired. I am also the Servant of our Great God and Great Goddess. Merry Meet."
"Merry Met."
Desmond said, "Merry Met, All. I am Sage Desmond PoppyField. I am a faithful Servant to our Great God and Goddess, Cernunnos and Aradia."
"Merry Met, Sage," the others said in unison.
Desmond pulled his arms to his chest, crossing them in God position. Finn's dad and Dave did the same, while Finn's mom and Celeste raised their arms in a 'V', in Goddess position.
After a pause, Finn's mom began the closing of the circle. "Eros!" she yelled, "Great Spirit from the East. We call to you. Come. Bring us your aid and your wisdom. Hail, and welcome!" She lit the yellow candle.
"Hail! And Welcome!" the others said.
Desmond began moving around the circle counter-clockwise, or widdershins, and Finn's dad continued, "Notos! The Great Spirit of Fire from the South! We call to you, now. Bring us your aid and your power. Hail, and Welcome." He lit the red candle.
"Hail! And welcome!"
Celeste said, "We call you, Zephyros! Great Spirit of Water from the West. Bring us your aid and your cleansing energy. Hail, and welcome" She lit the blue candle.
"Hail! And welcome!"
Dave said, "And the Great Spirit from the North, Boreas! We call you here, now to bring us your protection and aid. Hail, and welcome." He lit the green candle.
"Hail! And welcome."
Desmond had stopped behind Dave after he had made his sixth revolution around the circle. After the hail to Boreas, Desmond raised his arms into Goddess position, and Dave and Finn's dad followed him. Desmond then said, "I open the Northern Gate. He turned so his back was to Dave and, with his right pointer finger, knelt on one knee, then rose up and knelt again, drawing a square arch in the air, visualizing a door in the magical boundary. "We welcome in the Great God and Great Goddess, whom we are the faithful servants of. Hail, and welcome." He lit the black and white candles that were placed on a small table that had been moved.
"Hail! And welcome!" the others called.
Desmond retraced the door he drew to erase it and completely close the circle. Then, he stepped into the circle and stood in front of Finnegan, he said, "Now the circle is closed. We stand on a threshold of realms, in a place that is not a place, at a time that is not a time." Everyone, except Finnegan stood in the Goddess position and pulled in the energy of the circle. A low rumble of thunder could be heard outside, but the rain continued at its slowed pace. Desmond took up a bowl with some loose tea leaves and sage in it, that was placed at Dave's feet, inside the circle. He carried it around the salt circle where Finn was sitting, to stand in front of Finn's dad who had a box of matches in front of him. He said to the spirits and Gods, "We offer this sacrifice to you for your aid." Finn's dad, picked up the matchbox, took out a match, and dropped it into the bowl after striking it against the side of the box. Desmond carried the flaming bowl of herbs to Finn's mom. She leaned in and blew out the flames in one quick gust. He walked to Celeste, and she picked up shot glass of water and tipped it into the bowl. Desmond walked the bowl behind Finnegan and rested it on top of his head before walking it back to set where it began, in front of Dave's feet.
After a moment, Desmond told them, "Lower your arms and join hands." They did. Then, he said, to the spirits and Gods present, "We have called you here to return this girl to her original form." He began the incantation for the transformation spell alone.
"One form to another,
Become what you are meant to be,
We command a new shape,
To replace the shape before us."
Everyone, except Finnegan, said the incantation together, two more times. Desmond had moved to kneel behind Finn and placed his hands on Finn's shoulders while they chanted. When the incantation was finished, Desmond tilted his head heavenward and yelled, "So mote it be!"
"So mote it be," everyone, including Finn this time, said in unison, closing their eyes. As soon as the words left their lips, they focused all of their combined energy into Snake-Elise. Finn was the only one who could feel her body growing and taking the shape of his darling Love, the weight of her filling his lap and arms until, there she lay, curled and clinging to him. She was unconscious, but the spell had worked!
Finn pulled Elise up so he could tuck his neck above her shoulder with his face in her hair, and he held her tightly. He caressed the back of her head, though he wasn't sure if she could hear him or not, he whispered against the back of her neck, "I'm so sorry, Mo Cuishle. I love you."
The elders and his parents had opened their eyes when they heard Finnegan mumble into Elise's neck, and they all let out a little gasp when they saw Finnegan holding Elise's girl-form.
They were stunned, but Desmond shook himself and stepped out of the circle. "I will open the Northern Gate again." He drew the door, then said, "Thank you, Cernunnos and Aradia! You bless us beyond measure. Go in peace." He blew out the black and white candles. Then, he thanked the spirits by name in reverse order as they were called, and sent them each away blowing out their respective candles, while the others called out, "Hail, and farewell," after Desmond. Once they were all sent away, Desmond announced, "The circle is open, but never broken." Everyone opened their eyes, and taking cues from each other, said together, "Merry meet, merry part, until we merry meet again." The ritual was done. Everyone stood, staring in disbelief at Elise or glancing at each other, mouths agape, not knowing what to say.