Day 45:
9:00 AM – Woke up to the smell of pancakes, which was a pleasant change from the usual chaos. Seraphina was already up and cooking breakfast. Ted joined us, looking surprisingly chipper for someone stuck in a video game.
Interlude – Breakfast Banter:
Seraphina: "Did you sleep well, Ted?" Ted: "As well as anyone can when they're worried about getting glitched into a custard moat."
10:00 AM – After breakfast, we gathered in the castle's war room to devise a plan for getting Ted back to the real world. The minions were eager to help, even though most of them didn't quite understand the concept of "the real world."
11:00 AM – Decided to start with the portal that brought Ted here. We needed to figure out how it worked and, more importantly, how to reverse it. Grog suggested we start by throwing random objects into it, which surprisingly wasn't the worst idea.
Interlude – Portal Experiments:
Grog: "How about we toss a pie in there, Boss?" Ted: "I'm pretty sure that's not how portals work, but I'd love to see it anyway."
12:00 PM – Spent the next hour hurling various items into the portal. Pies, spoons, a broomstick—each vanished with a strange "whoosh." Seraphina took detailed notes, while Ted fiddled with a device he'd cobbled together from spare parts.
1:00 PM – Ted explained that he needed a powerful energy source to stabilize the portal for his return journey. I suggested we use the castle's magic crystal, which powered our defenses.
Interlude – Energy Source Debate:
Seraphina: "Are you sure it's safe, Max? We rely on that crystal for protection." Vortax: "I'm not thrilled about it either, but it's the best shot we have."
2:00 PM – With the minions' help, we carefully extracted the crystal from its pedestal. It pulsed with a bright, otherworldly light. Ted connected it to his device, and we all held our breath as he activated it.
3:00 PM – The portal flared to life, growing larger and more stable. Ted looked both excited and nervous, like a cat about to pounce on an unsuspecting mouse. He ran a few more tests, tweaking his device and making final adjustments.
Interlude – Final Preparations:
Ted: "Okay, I think we're ready. If this works, I'll be back in my office before lunch." Grog: "And if it doesn't?" Ted: "Let's not think about that."
4:00 PM – With everything set, Ted stepped up to the portal. We wished him luck, hoping we'd see him again under less bizarre circumstances. With a final wave, he walked through the portal and vanished in a flash of light.
6:00 PM – The castle was strangely quiet without Ted. We reinstalled the magic crystal, grateful that our defenses were back online. The minions went about their tasks with a renewed sense of purpose, inspired by our successful collaboration.
Interlude – Post-Portal Reflections:
Seraphina: "Do you think Ted made it back safely?" Vortax: "I'd like to think so. If anyone can handle that kind of adventure, it's him."
8:00 PM – Held a small celebration in honor of Ted. The minions shared their favorite moments from his visit, and we all agreed that despite the chaos, it had been a valuable experience. Seraphina and I toasted to unexpected friendships and the power of teamwork.
10:00 PM – Ended the day feeling optimistic. The past few days had been a whirlwind of glitches, laughter, and unexpected challenges, but we faced them together. Seraphina and I retired to our chambers, hand in hand, ready for whatever tomorrow might bring.
End of Day 45