Heights Hold’em

Chapter 1
The story begins

Chapter Description: -Please be aware that this story concept owes a debt to Libra’s excellent story ‘Winner Takes All’ Comissioned by Chrystal Wynd

Amber-Lynn, Keiko and Zoey stared at Natasha incredulously. Zoey’s brother Joseph snickered in manner more befitting a middle-school boy than a thirty-year-old man as the three women encircled Natasha.
 
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU COULDN’T BUY LADY ENRAPTURE TICKETS?!”
 
Natasha’s British enunciation exuded exaggerated patience. “Exactly what I said. Tickets for Lady Enrapture and the Mighty Eggs of Life were sold out within seconds of going on sale.”
 
Dark-haired Zoey hit the table with her fist. “Fuck! We’ve been waiting all [i]year[/i] for her to come to Chrystal Heights and we don’t even get a chance to buy tickets?!”
 
“Bollocks!” said Amber-Lynn, frustration clipping her cultured British inflection.
 
Keiko uttered a short Japanese swear word, her Asian features angry.
 
Zoey shook her head. “We’re going to have to somehow get them second-hand. We’re gonna get scalped, dammit, but we [i]have[/i] to get tickets. This is fucking Lady Enrapture! We can’t miss this!”
 
“Precisely!” said Amber-Lynn.
 
Zoey’s younger brother Joseph rolled his eyes and began speaking in a high falsetto. “Oh, no! I’m gonna miss Lady Enrapture and her stupid Mighty Eggs of Life band! Oh, the tragedy! Oh, the humanity! Whatever will I do?!”
 
Zoey punched her brother as hard as she could on the arm. “Quit being an ass, Joey! For a 30-year-old dude, you sure know how to act like a little kid!”
 
Joey rubbed his arm where his sister had hit him. “For a 35-year-old wench, you sure know how to act like a brat,” he said. “Just watch her on YouTube. She’s not all that.”
 
Amber-Lynn stared at Joseph with distaste. “Your ignorance does you a disservice. She’s a preeminent entertainer and no less than a cultural icon. I recall the tantrum you threw last year when you were unable to obtain tickets for the Chrystal Heights football match against Darkview.”
 
“Yeah, remember that?” said Zoey. “Kicked his feet like a little kid.”
 
Joseph’s face colored. “That was different! That was a playoff game! That was-“
 
“Stop!” said Natasha, holding up her hand. “I didn’t say all was lost, ladies. I just said that I was unable to get tickets via the traditional method.”
 
The room went quiet. Then Zoey said, “All right, Nat, out with it! Don’t leave us hanging. Did you get tickets or not?”
 
Natasha offered a mysterious smile and took off the backpack she was wearing. The brunette unzipped it and reached inside. A moment later she pulled out a purple velvet bag with a drawstring, like one might use to hold a large bottle of alcohol. The object inside the bag wasn’t bottle-shaped, however.
 
They all gathered around Natasha as she loosened the drawstring and reached inside the bag with both hands. A moment later, Natasha was holding what appeared to be a smooth purple oval stone in her hands. It was perhaps twelve inches side-to-side and eight inches top-to-bottom, an inch thick throughout. It almost looked like an oval plaque, except for the fact that it was a deep purple in color, an even deeper purple than the velvet bag that had held it.
 
Natasha held the stone aloft and nodded her head at the velvet bag. “Place the bag in the center of the table.”
 
Keiko moved the bag as instructed. Natasha placed the heavy stone on the velvet bag, then stepped back and looked around the group.
 
“I’ve found a way to get us all tickets,” said Natasha. “And not only that, one of us will get to go backstage with Lady Enrapture after the show.”
 
“WHAT?!”
 
Natasha nodded. “It’s true. And not just backstage. The winner would be traveling on tour with her and the band for a full year afterward.”
 
Thunderstruck silence followed her announcement. Then Keiko narrowed her eyes. “There’s a catch. There’s [i]definitely[/i] a catch. What’s the catch, Nat?”
 
Natasha indicated the deep purple stone on the table. “The [i]catch[/i] is right there.”
 
All heads turned automatically to stare at the stone. Then Keiko said, “Is that what I think it is?”
 
Natasha nodded. “Yep,” she said. “That’s a gamestone.”
 
Amber-Lynn, Keiko and Zoey stared incredulously. Gamestones were arcane relics imbued with magic that would be released under specifically structured conditions. They were very powerful. They were also very expensive.
 
The blonde Amber-Lynn stared. “Nat, how in the world did you manage…?”
 
“I stopped by the Zone for a drink,” said Natasha, “and CW decided to give this to me.”
 
There was a pause. Then the other three started talking at once.
 
“Are you [i]serious[/i]?!” said Keiko.
 
“You had an interaction with CW?!” said Amber-Lynn, her cultured voice sounding shocked.
 
“CW [i]himself[/i]?!” said Zoey.
 
Natasha grinned. “What can I say? I have my ways.”
 
Keiko was still staring at the gamestone. “Do you trust him?”
 
“Yes and no,” said Natasha. “He does have a weird sense of humor. Either way, we have it now. He did give me a number of warnings, though.”
 
Zoey nodded. “All right, go on. We’re listening.”
 
Natasha started listing the conditions. “All right, number one. This gamestone is attuned to poker.”
 
Zoey shrugged. “Not a big deal. Tonight is our weekly poker night anyway.”
 
Keiko smirked. “If it’s based on poker, you have no chance of winning the backstage pass.”
 
Zoey aimed a middle finger in Keiko’s direction. “Don’t be so sure.”
 
Natasha held up a hand. “No bickering yet, ladies. This is where we get to the important part.”
 
“Quit stalling,” said Amber-Lynn. “Get to it already.”
 
Natasha continued. “The gamestone has been imbued with a very specific magick, apparently at the direction of Lady Enrapture herself. The theme of her tour is the enrichment of rebirth and she’s put out a number of gamestones that play off this theme as a marketing campaign. Each gamestone will produce a winner who travel with Lady Enrapture on tour for a year.”
 
“So only the winner will be going on tour with her?” said Zoey. “What about the losers?”
 
“I’m getting to that,” said Natasha. “The losers will be going on tour as well…but…well, as babies.”
 
“What?!”
 
“As babies,” repeated Natasha. “As the game goes on, each lost hand will cost you a percentage of your age. Once you run out of years or chips, you’ve lost. The last one left wins. Which will be me!”
 
There was silence for several moments as they digested this information. Then Keiko said, “So let me get this straight. We’re going to play poker. Every time a hand is played, everybody except the winner loses some age and they become younger. Once you turn into an infant, you’ve lost and you’re out of the game. Does that sound right?”
 
“Yes,” said Natasha. “You can also lose conventionally if you run out of chips too. Don’t forget that.”
 
Amber-Lynn tapped the table with a long fingernail. “And the losers will remain as infants for an entire year?”
 
Natasha tilted a hand in a so-so manner. “Not necessarily as an infant the entire year. I think there’s a slow progression during the year from infant to about 3 years old. You’ll be in nappies the entire time, though, if that’s what you’re asking. And of course the marketing department will be taking pictures of you in your nappies and posting them on their websites the entire year, so there’s that.”
 
Zoey whistled softly. “Wow. Definitely high stakes.”
 
There was silence for a full minute as the quartet of women considered the pros and cons. Being stuck as a diapered babied for an entire year was a heavy consequence for losing…but the winner becoming a member of Lady Enrapture’s entourage FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR?!
 
The ultimate definition of risk-reward. And since even the loser babies would get to spend a year with Lady Enrapture, there really wasn’t a question.
 
“I’m in,” said Keiko, her Asian features fierce.
 
“I’m in,” said Amber-Lynn, her cultured features determined.
 
“I’m in,” said Natasha, eyes bright and confident.
 
“I’m in,” said Zoey, her expression resolute.
 
Joseph broke out in abrasive laughter.
 
“This is awesome!” he said. “Three of you are gonna end up as brats in diapers! Wild!”
 
Zoey gave her brother a dark look of disapproval. “Don’t you have an elsewhere to be?”


Joseph snickered. “There’s no way I’m going to miss this!”


“Fine,” said Zoey. “Stay if you must, but do so quietly. Do I make myself clear?”
 
“Yes, mommy.”
 
Zoey glared at Joseph, who just stared back impishly.
 
“If the sibling rivalry episode is finished, we can get started. Are we ready?” said Natasha, her voice vibrant with excitement.
 
“Yes,” said Amber-Lynn, the confidence in her voice betrayed by her manicured nails twirling her long blonde hair.
 
“Ready!” said Keiko, who was always up for an adventure.
 
Zoey stretched her neck and rotated her head as if preparing for a physical battle. “I’m ready,” she said. “Let’s do this.”
 
Natasha looked around the group. “We have to activate the gamestone first. Anyone know how?”
 
Amber-Lynn directed a cool gaze toward Natasha. “You don’t know?”
 
Natasha shrugged. “I just acquired the gamestone. I don’t know any more than you do about how it works.”
 
Everyone looked at each other, not wanting to be the first. Finally Keiko reached out and pressed her fingertips to the stone. The deep purple under the surface of the stone began swirling and words began forming across the top of the stone in the very center.
 
[i][b]Welcome to the Game. All participants should touch the gamestone at this time.[/b][/i]
 
The quartet looked at each other. Natasha shrugged and pressed her fingers to the stone. The others did the same.
 
[i][b]Keiko, Natasha, Amber-Lynn, Zoey: imprinting accepted. Participation locked. Please refrain from touching the gamestone from this point on. Any unauthorized touches will result in severe penalties.[/b][/i]
 
All four women snatched their hands away immediately, looks of alarm crossing their features before they slowly relaxed. Then they stared fascinated as the colors swirled again before words started appearing. The flat surface of the stone was very much looking and acting like the monitor screen of a laptop, except that the words were readable regardless of which side of the table one was sitting. It took only a moment for them to realize that the words forming were actually their names and ages.
 
[i][b]Natasha:    35
Amber-Lynn:     35
Keiko:     35
Zoey:     35[/b][/i]
 
“Impossible!” said Natasha. “I’m 29!”
 
Everyone stared at her, then realized she was joking. Nervous laughter sounded, then faded as one large word suddenly appeared.
 
[i][b]BEGIN![/b][/i]
 
As the word appeared, the stone began glowing brighter. Then purple poker chips began shooting from the gamestone, forming piles in front of each player. Once that was done, purple-backed cards began shooting towards the player as well. The cards ended up unerringly in front of each player without coming up short or falling off the edge of the table. Not a single card flipped accidentally. Each player ended up with two face-down cards in front of them.
 
“Okay, that was impressive,” said Zoey.
 
“Indeed,” agreed Amber-Lynn.
 
Even the abrasive Joseph was impressed. “Holy shit, did you [i]see[/i] that?” he said.
 
Zoey rolled her eyes. “Of course we saw it,” she said. “We’re sitting right here.”
 
“How the hell does this thing work?” he asked, reaching over Zoey’s shoulder for the gamestone.
 
Zoey’s eyes widened. “Joseph, [i]no![/i]” she said, grabbing his arm. “Don’t touch the gamestone! It’s a rule!”
 
Grinning at his sister’s manic reaction, he grabbed the gamestone and stepped back from the table, then held the gamestone over his head, out of the reach of his shorter sister.
 
“Knock it off, jerk!” said Zoey. “Put it back!”
 
“Ask me nicely,” said Joseph, speaking in an abrasively condescending voice. “Tell me how much smarter I am than you.”
 
“Dammit, Joey! I am not going to-“
 
The gamestone had begun glowing an intense violet when Joseph grabbed it, although he hadn’t noticed it in his efforts to tease his sister. Held aloft, Joseph still didn’t notice the glowing, which now encompassed his forearms. Then Joseph yelped and dropped the gamestone, rubbing his forearms.
 
“Holy crap!” he said. “The damn thing shocked me!”
 
“You deserved it!” said Natasha, pushing his chest, forcing him away from the gamestone that now lay on the floor.
 
Keiko glared at him. [i]“Baka!”[/i]
 
“I have no idea what that means in English,” said Amber-Lynn, “but I’ve no doubt it’s well-deserved.”
 
Chastised, Joseph moved away from the table and sat down in a chair, rubbing his forearms and mumbling to himself. The women had a quick discussion about how to get the gamestone off the floor and back onto the table.
 
“I’m not touching it,” said Natasha.
 
“Nor I,” said Amber-Lynn.
 
“Nope,” said Keiko.
 
All three looked at Zoey.
 
“What? Me? No way!”
 
“He’s your brother!” said Natasha.
 
“No, he’s not! He was adopted!”
 
Natasha, Amber-Lynn and Keiko stared expectantly.
 
“Fine,” growled Zoey. “But if this goes wrong, I am so gonna kick you all. Give me room.”
 
The other three backed up as Zoey started to reach for the gamestone. Then they stopped as they heard Joseph call out.
 
“Ummm…guys?” said Joseph, sounding subdued. “Something doesn’t feel right.”
 
The four women stared at Joseph, then at each other.
 
“He’s getting younger, isn’t he?” said Natasha.
 
“Indeed,” said Amber-Lynn.
 
“Good,” said Keiko. “Maybe he’ll actually be better behaved.”
 
Zoey, still in the act of preparing to pick up the gamestone, stopped and stood up. “Somebody find me a towel.”
 
*****
 
Using the towel, Zoey was able to move the gamestone back into place on the table. The game resumed.
 
Natasha looked around the table. “I hope this game is the same type of poker we play.”
 
The gamestone swirled and words formed. [/i][/b]“This game utilizes the Texas Hold’em ruleset.” [/b][/i]
 
Keiko laughed. “The stone heard you.”
 
Natasha blinked. “Yes. A sentient stone. That’s lovely. Not at all creepy. Whatever. Let’s start.”
 
The Texas Hold’em ruleset meant that each player would receive two hole cards for themselves that no one else could see. Three community cards would then be set out as the flop. After the appropriate rounds of betting, raising, or folding, a fourth card would be added to the flop, opening another round of betting, raising, or folding. Finally a fifth card would added to the flop, opening another round of betting. After that, anybody still in the game would reveal their cards. Whoever could create the best poker hand from their cards combined with the flop would win the hand.
 
The winning hands of poker in descending order were:
 
1- Royal flush (10, J, Q, K, A- all same suit)
2- Straight flush (5 consecutive numbers of the same suit)
3- Four of a kind
4- Full house (3 of a kind + a pair)
5- Flush (5 cards of the same suit, any numbers)
6- Straight (5 consecutive numbers, any suits)
7- Three of a kind
8- Two pair
9- Pair
10- High card
 
It was time to begin the game that would determine their lifestyle for the next year. Time to determine who would be living the dream for a year and time to determine who would be a nappy-wearing baby.
 
 
[u][i]Hand 1[/i][/u]
 
Natasha pushed a chip in front of the gamestone. Amber-Lynn, Keiko and Zoey did the same. Once that was done, the stone glowed and three cards shot out face-up. The words [i][b]‘FLOP’[/b][/i] appeared on the flat surface.
 
[i][b]Flop:   3h   5s   8c[/b][/i]
 
All four ladies studied their hand. Early game jitters disappeared. The game was definitely on.
 
The gamestone identified Natasha as the dealer, so Amber-Lynn pushed a chip into the stack, followed by Keiko, Zoey and Natasha.
 
Keiko gave a savage grin. “I think the dealer’s cheating.” Everybody laughed.
 
The gamestone glowed and a fourth card was added to the flop.
 
[i][b]Flop:   3h   5s   8c   Qh[/b][/i]
 
Amber-Lynn pushed in a chip. Keiko did the same.
 
Zoey looked at the small pile of chips available, then shook her head and tossed her cards face-down on the table. “Fold.”
 
As the words left Zoey’s mouth, the gamestone began to swirl purple. As it did so, it began glowing brighter. It bathed the room in purple, but the violet glow appeared to completely embrace Zoey, making it appear as though she was in a purple fog. After a few seconds, the fog cleared.
 
Everybody gasped. The Zoey they were used to was a thick-shouldered woman who lifted weights and rode motorcycles. The woman standing before them was…not that. This was a younger Zoey, thinner, less muscular, but with the sensual glow of a woman in her early twenties. Tight leather pants showed off her youthful curves and a leather crop-top left her bare belly on display.
 
Zoey blushed at the sudden attention. “All right, yeah, so I wore a lot of leather when I was younger. So what!”
 
The gamestone swirled:
 
[i][b]Natasha:    35
Amber-Lynn:     35
Keiko:     35
Zoey:     23[/b][/i]
 
Natasha glanced at the stone. “Zoey lost 12 years.”
 
Keiko nodded. “If we lose 12 years each time, this isn’t going to be a long game.”
 
“I find it unlikely to go like that,” said Amber-Lynn. “I don’t know a great deal about gamestones, but I know they’re frightfully expensive. I can’t see them lasting only 3 or 4 turns.”
 
Still blushing, Zoey pointed at the pile of chips. “How about we find out by actually playing?”
 
Natasha laughed. “Relax, Zoe. You look great.”
 
Zoey grinned. “I could get used to this for sure. Can I just stop playing now?”
 
The gamestone surprised them all by answering.
 
[i][b]Once the match has begun, participants must complete the game. Withdrawal is not permitted. [/b][/i]
 
They all stared at the words.
 
Keiko said, “Well, there’s your answer.”
 
There was silence for a moment as the seriousness of the game sunk in. They had intellectually understood the potential consequences, but actually seeing Zoey regress into a younger woman drove home the physical realities. But after a moment of self-doubt, all four women felt determination once again take hold.
 
“Let’s get back to the game,” said Natasha, pushing a chip into the pile.
 
There was a pause. Then the gamestone glowed and the fifth and final was added to the flop.
 
[i][b]Flop:   3h   5s   8c   Qh   8h[/b][/i]
 
“Oh!” said Keiko. “An organic pair in the flop. That’s an interesting start.”
 
“Indeed,” said Amber-Lynn, tossing a chip onto the growing pile. “I’m in.”
 
Keiko added a chip. “Me too.”
 
“And me,” said Natasha.
 
The gamestone swirled. [i][b]Showdown.[/b][/i]
 
Amber-Lynn flipped her two cards, revealing a 3d and an Ac. “Two pair, eight high.”
 
Keiko grinned and flipped her cards, showing a 4c and a 5d. “Two pair, eight high, five low.”
 
Amber-Lynn rolled her eyes. “Lucky.”
 
“It’s not lucky if you’re good,” said Keiko.
 
They looked at Natasha, who shook her head in apparent disgust. “How the hell am I supposed to beat two pair?!”
 
Keiko grinned and reached for the pile of chips. Then Natasha said, “Oh, I remember how now! Like this!” and flipped her cards, revealing an 8c and a 9h. “Three of a kind, baby!”
 
Keiko extended a middle finger just as she became enshrouded in a purple fog. A similar cloud encircled Amber-Lynn.
 
When the purple mist cleared, Amber-Lynn features were far more youthful and her straight blonde hair now extended to her rounded bottom. A tight black dress clung to her thin figure and 4-inch high heels were strapped to her feet. She looked as if she had just stepped out of a glitzy night-club.
 
Keiko, however, exited the purple smoke dressed in a schoolgirl’s uniform, complete with a short plaid skirt and a white button-up blouse. Her knee-socks were white and her feet encased in Mary Jane shoes. When Keiko looked down and saw her uniform, she opened her mouth to swear, but all that came out was ‘Me so horny!’”
 
Keiko’s eyes widened and she clapped a hand over her mouth.
 
Natasha, Amber-Lynn and Zoey laughed. Natasha pointed at Keiko and said, “Omigod! You’ve been turned into a stereotypical Asian schoolgirl!”
 
Keiko’s cheeks burned as she realized Nat was right. Her now-younger body was dressed in a schoolgirl’s fetish uniform, complete with a short plaid skirt and a white button-up blouse. Her knee-socks were white and her feet encased in Mary Jane shoes.
 
The rest of the players giggled. Although they knew that Keiko was likely in her younger twenties now, her Asian features made her appear even younger. Keiko continued to blush.
 
The gamestone swirled:
 
[i][b]Natasha:    35
Amber-Lynn:     23
Keiko:     23
Zoey:     23[/b][/i]
 
Natasha laughed out loud. “Wow! I feel like a babysitter now!”
 
“It’s just one hand,” said Zoey, flushing. “You’ll be here soon enough.”
 
“Don’t be disrespectful to your elders,” said Nat.
 
“Okay, grandma,” said Zoey, sticking out her tongue.
 
“Whatever,” said Natasha, pulling in the chips. “Everyone ready for the next hand?”
 
Amber-Lynn, Keiko and Joey all said ‘No’ at the same time. They laughed.
 
 
[u][i]Hand 2[/i][/u]
 
The gamestone gamestone glowed and cards were ejected toward the four women. Each player put in their opening bet and checked their cards. A moment later the flop appeared.
 
[i][b]Flop:   9s   Js   Qc[/b][/i]
 
The women studied their hands and the flop. Everybody put in their bets. The next card appeared.
 
[i][b]Flop:   9s   Js   Qc   2d[/b][/i]
 
They all pushed in a chip for their bet, Natasha and Amber-Lynn confidently, Keiko and Zoey less so. The last card for the round appeared.
 
[i][b]Flop:   9s   Js   Qc   2d   3h[/b][/i]
 
As Amber-Lynn was considered the dealer for this round, Keiko started the hand. She bet and then raised. Zoey looked disgusted and pushed her cards at the pile, indicating she had folded.
 
Purple mist surrounded Zoey. When the mist faded, a teenage Zoey dressed in tight jeans and a crop-top looked around the table. The denim hugged her adolescent curves and put her flat belly on display. Her raven-black hair was long and feathered, covering much of her back.
 
Keiko reached over and poked Zoey on her round rear end. “Wow, Zoe. You always had that big caboose, didn’t you?”
 
Zoey blushed and didn’t answer. Attention turned to Natasha, who was next to bet or fold.
 
Natasha scowled and pushed her cards in, indicating a fold. Purple mist surrounded her. Then the mist cleared, revealing the 23-year-old barefoot Nat dressed in very tight denim shorts and a bikini top. The denim shorts were tight to the point of revealing more than they covered, leaving Natasha looking nearly three-quarters naked. Her fingernails and toenails were painted bright red.
 
The other three laughed.
 
“Quite the tart at 23, weren’t you?” said Amber-Lynn.
 
“Whatever,” said Nat, her cheeks red. The laugh lines at the corner of her eyes had been smoothed out by her regression, making her look even younger.
 
Amber-Lynn made her bet and matched Keiko’s raise, then raised again. Keiko matched Amber-Lynn’s raise. Natasha and Zoey watched the growing intensity with interest. Finally the gamestone swirled: [i][b]Showdown.[/b][/i]
 
Keiko and Amber-Lynn stared at each other. Then Keiko flipped over her cards, revealing an 8c and a 10d. Matched against the flop, that gave Keiko an 8-9-10-J-Q straight. She looked over at Amber-Lynn.
 
Amber-Lynn said something short and unladylike. A moment later purple mist swirled around her.
 
Keiko did a little dance in her chair as the mist worked on the blonde Brit.
 
Purple mist swirled around Amber-Lynn, then cleared, revealing a model-thin teenager dressed in a pleated mini-skirt that was so short, her panties were nearly visible. A snug crop-top covered her modest chest, baring her midsection, and strappy sandals were on her feet.
 
“Oh, butchers this!” said Amber-Lynn. “I deserve more garms-like, yeah? You can pert near see me Alan Whickers.” Her eyes widened and she clapped a hand over her mouth.
 
Natasha laughed. “An East End trailer tart! I knew it! This is [i]perfect[/i]!”
 
“Whatever,” said Amber-Lynn, obviously put out. “Go have your bubble, yeah? You’ll lost-like your Bristols soon enough.”
 
Keiko and Zoey stared, their expressions confused.
 
Natasha laughed and translated. “She said ‘Look at this, she needs more clothes and that we can practically see her panties. She’s telling me to go ahead and laugh now, because I’ll lose my tits sooner or later.’”  Natasha gave the glowering Amber-Lynn a smirk. “She’s gone teen Cockney, and the dialect can be challenging to those hearing it for the first time.”
 
Cheeks burning, Amber-Lynn grabbed her beverage and started drinking, refusing to speak any more. The other three players giggled and turned back to the game.
 
The gamestone swirled:
 
[i][b]Natasha:    23
Amber-Lynn:     16
Keiko:     23
Zoey:     16[/b][/i]
 
The quartet leaned back from the table as the cards slid back into the gamestone. Then it was time for the next round. Before the cards were dealt, though, a voice sounded out from the corner.
 
“Hey!” said the voice. “What about me?!”
 
The four players turned to the voice and suddenly laughed. They had been so focused on their game that they had forgotten about Joseph.
 
Joseph now appeared to be about 8 years old. His voice was high-pitched and whiny. He was dressed in little boy shorts and a G.I.Joe t-shirt. He was barefoot.
 
“Aw, Joey,” giggled Zoey. “You’re adorable!”
 
The little boy stamped his foot. “Not ‘dorable!” he said. “Gonna tell on you!”
 
The 16-year-old Zoey put the 8-year-old Joey on her lap. “C’mere, cutie. You can watch us play, okay? You’re going to have to behave, though.”
 
Joey nodded in a very serious manner. “’Kay, I’ll be good. You’ll fix me after, wight?”
 
“Of course, sweetie,” said Zoey. “Now be a good boy.”
 
 
[u][i]Hand 3[/i][/u]
 
The gamestone dealt each player a pair of cards. Each put in their opening bet. Then the flop was dealt:
 
[i][b]Flop:   7d   10c   Jc[/b][/i]
 
Zoey and Natasha put their bet in. Amber-Lynn put in her bet and then raised. Keiko gave the blonde a look, then bet and matched the raise. Zoey and Natasha matched the raise. Then the gamestone glowed and added a card to the flop.
 
[i][b]Flop:   7d   10c   Jc   2c[/b][/i]
 
Zoey looked thoughtful for a moment, then put in her bet. Nat put in her bet as well. Amber-Lynn called and then raised again. Keiko added her bet and matched the raise. The gamestone glowed and added another card.
 
[i][b]Flop:   7d   10c   Jc   2c   7h[/b][/i]
 
Zoey put in her bet, appearing more relaxed. Despite the organic pair showing, Natasha threw down her cards in disgust, sighing and saying, “Fold.”
 
The mist immediately swirled around Natasha. It cleared seconds later, revealing a thin adolescent in a stretchy short black skirt and a sheer white blouse revealing a strip of bare belly. She was wearing strappy heeled sandals. Her fingernails and toenails were painted neon pink.
 
Amber-Lynn laughed, an abrasive sound. “Bloody crumpet at 16, yeah?”
 
Natasha looked down at her outfit and blushed. “A bit, maybe.”
 
Keiko and Zoey looked at Nat questioningly.
 
Nat colored. “She called me a slut.”
 
“A bloody slapper!”
 
Nat blushed brighter. “They got it!”
 
Keiko and Zoey giggled.
 
After another abrasive laugh, Amber-Lynn put in her bet and raised. Keiko called and matched the raise. Zoey matched the raise.
 
[i][b]Showdown[/b][/i]
 
Zoey flipped her hole cards, revealing a 5s and a 7c. “Three of a kind.”
 
Amber-Lynn was next. The presently Cockney girl flipped her hole cards, showing the 10d and the 10s. “Full house, init?”
 
Keiko swore and flipped her cards, showing a 9c and an Ac. “Flush,” she said.
 
Amber-Lynn gave a vicious grin. “Full house ranks flush, yeah?”
 
Keiko opened her mouth to retort, but suddenly she and Zoey were engulfed by purple swirls.
 
Keiko had been enjoying her temporary position as the oldest member of the quartet and the only one still able to buy alcohol, but she knew that was over as the purple mist swirled away. Keiko looked down and realized that she wasn’t dressed as a schoolgirl any longer. Now, however, she was dressed in a short pleated skirt and a stretchy tube-top so tight that that her nipples were outlined and visible. It was the kind of outfit only a teenager could get away with.
 
Once Zoey was free of the swirling purple mist, it was obvious that the consequences were getting real.
 
Gone were Zoey’s erotic curves of womanhood. Gone were her lush breasts and child-bearing hips. In her place stood 11-year-old Zoey, pre-pubescent and lacking the defining curves of puberty and beyond. Although chronologically younger than the others by only a few years, they were critical years and Zoey immediately felt intimidated by the lush womanly curves around her under-developed body.
 
“Don’t worry,” said Keiko. “One day you’ll be a real girl.”
 
The others laughed. The gamestone swirled, showing the score:
 
[i][b]Natasha:    16
Amber-Lynn:     16
Keiko:     16
Zoey:     11[/b][/i]
 
The quartet looked at each other. Although only Zoey had crossed the line, the others knew at least two of them would be doing the same after the next hand. A temporary truce seemed in order.
 
“Take a break, yeah?” said Amber-Lynn, still unable to stop the Cockney accent of her youth from dominating her speech, but managing to soften it a bit.
 
Natasha nodded her agreement, trying to shake the feeling of being half-naked. “Agreed. Gamestone, can we take a break?”
 
The gamestone swirled. Then the words appeared: [i][b]Break now in session. Any effort to not return to the game after an appropriate time period will result in a forfeit.[/b][/i]
 
Keiko pushed away from the table. “Well, that seems clear enough. Let’s get some snacks.”
 
Natasha smirked as she rose from the table. “Good idea. It’ll be your last solid meal for a while. You’re going to be enjoying mushed peas baby food for the next year after I get done with you.”
 
Keiko laughed. “I don’t think so, Nat. I think it’s going to be ba-ba time for you soon.”
 
Little Joey was barely 5-years-old now. Although Zoey was the youngest of the quartet at this point, she knew she still had a responsibility as his older sister, so she took him by the hand and walked him to the kitchen with the others.
 
“Hey!” said Joey. “I don’t need to be walked like a baby!”
 
“I know you don’t,” said Zoey. “Now be a good boy and shush.”
 
Suddenly Amber-Lynn took up Zoey’s other hand.
 
“Hey!” said Zoey. “I’m not a baby either! Cut it out!”
 
“I know, yeah?” said Amber-Lynn. “But you’ll be in nappies right soon, so begin as you mean to go on.”
 
Zoey stamped her foot in frustration, then heard the others laugh and realized Amber-Lynn was kidding. Zoey blushed and looked down. Although still intimidated by the taller, more mature girls around her, young Zoey was enjoying the momentary break from the game and hearing them laugh.
 
Keiko plopped onto a kitchen chair, her hands pressed between her thighs. “I forgot what it was like to be a teenager,” she said, eyes closed. “Fucking hormones.”
 
Natasha got a cold soft drink out of the refrigerator. “I know, right? I’d use a bloody cucumber if we had one in the refrigerator.”
 
“Ain’t you the booshi cooshi?” said Amber-Lynn. “Zucchini work just as well, yeah?”
 
The others laughed. Perhaps Amber-Lynn hadn’t quite softened all her Cockney edges yet.
 
Joey was getting younger faster. He was perhaps four years old now.
 
“I don’t wanna be a baby!” he said. “I’m sowwy for touchin’ the stupid wock!”
 
Zoey swatted him on the butt. “It was your own stupid fault!”
 
Joey stuck his tongue out at his sister. “You’re a stupid-head!”
 
Zoey stuck her tongue out back at him. “You’re a bigger stupid-head!”
 
Natasha, Amber-Lynn and Keiko cracked up.
 
“Very mature, Zoey,” said Keiko. “Way to be the more mature big sister.”
 
Zoey blushed. “Whatever,” she said. She looked at Joey and said, “Brat!”
 
Joey made a face at her. “You’re the bwat!”
 
They finished getting their snacks and drinks set up. Finally they could stall no longer.
 
Natasha looked at the others. “Are we ready?”
 
There was a pause. Then they filed out of the kitchen and once again sat down at the table to resume their game.
 
*****
 
[i][b]Natasha:    16
Amber-Lynn:     16
Keiko:     16
Zoey:     11[/b][/i]
 
[u][i]Hand 4[/i][/u]
 
They settled into place, snacks and beverages in place. The gamestone dealt the hole cards to the players.
 
Zoey was considered the dealer, so Natasha put in her opening chip, followed by Amber-Lynn and Keiko. Zoey put in her chip as well. The gamestone glowed then and shot out the three-card flop.
 
[i][b]Flop:   6d   6s   8d[/b][/i]
 
The four players studied the flop. An organic pair promised some interesting possibilities.
 
Natasha smiled and tossed a chip on the small pile. Amber-Lynn and Keiko did the same, as did Zoey. Natasha, Amber-Lynn and Keiko giggled at the sight of 11-year-old Zoey looking determined as she stretched out to add her chip to the pile.
 
The gamestone glowed and the fourth card was added to the flop.
 
[i][b]Flop:   6d   6s   8d   Js[/b][/i]
 
The four players studied the flop. Without changing expression, Natasha tossed a chip onto the pile, followed by Amber-Lynn and Keiko. Zoey matched and then raised.
 
“Little Zoey has something good,” said Natasha. “Your adult poker face isn’t bad, but your 11-year-old poker face, not so much. But I’m feeling lucky, so I’ll match your raise.”
 
Zoey frowned and hunched down, trying to hide her features.
 
Amber-Lynn laughed and matched the raise. Keiko looked at her pile of chips, then sighed and dropped her pair of cards face-down on the table. “I got nothing. Fold, dammit.”
 
Purple mist swirled around Keiko. Japanese swear words erupted from the mist. After several seconds, the mist faded, revealing the now 11-year-old Keiko. She was once again dressed in a schoolgirl uniform, although this time is was closer to the real thing and far less a fetish look. A pleated plaid skirt dropped to mid-thigh and a modest button-up blouse gave her a cute schoolgirl appearance. Dark knee socks, sneakers and a thin dark tie completed the look.
 
Natasha and Amber-Lynn giggled.
 
“You’re adorable, Keiks!” said Natasha. “You look like you just stepped out of your 5th grade classroom!”
 
Keiko’s youthful features reddened as she felt the same intimidation from the older players that Zoey had experienced earlier.
 
Zoey laughed, a high-pitched sound, at relief from no longer being the only pre-pubescent player.
 
The gamestone glowed and added the fifth street card to the flop.
 
[i][b]Flop:   6d   6s   8d   Js   9h[/b][/i]
 
Natasha studied the new flop, then tossed her chip onto the pile.
 
Amber-Lynn scowled and pushed her hole cards toward the pile of chips. “Right bleedin’ bus tickets. Fold.”
 
Purple mist encircled the luminescent blonde. Moments later a rail-thin 11-year-old girl dressed in bright pink Barbie clothes emerged from the mist.
 
The other three howled with laughter.
 
“Of course you’re a Barbie girl!” said Keiko. “You’re so stinkin’ cute!”
 
Amber-Lynn huffed, then crossed her eyes and stuck her tongue out at them.
 
Natasha laughed, projecting the dominance of being the one physically mature player. “All right, children. Back to the game.”
 
The three 11-year-olds grumbled, but focused once more on the game.
 
It was Zoey’s turn. She peered at Natasha, trying to determine if the stupid teenager actually had something or was trying to trick her with a bluff. Finally she pushed in her chip to match the call. Then she gave Natasha a fierce look and threw another chip on the pile, saying, “Raise!”
 
Natasha glanced at Zoey’s pile of dwindling chips, then gave Zoey a condescending look. “Are you sure?”
 
“Yeah!” huffed Zoey, who appeared to be trying to look resolute, but wasn’t doing a good job.
 
“Okay, if that’s what you want,” said Natasha, adding a chip to the pile to match the raise. “But you know what? I really like what’s in my hand, so I think I’m going to raise as well.”
 
Amber-Lynn and Keiko watched in fascination, saying in unison, “Ooooooooooooh!”
 
Zoey also looked at her small pile of chips, but matched the raise.
 
The gamestone swirled. [i][b]Showdown[/b][/i]
 
Natasha sighed and flipped her two hole cards, showing a 3c and a Jc. “All right, so I may have been bluffing a bit. Two pair.”
 
Zoey giggled and flipped her cards, revealing a 6h and a Jd. “Full house, baby! Read ‘em and weep!”
 
Natasha said, “You’re an obnoxious little kid, you know that? You-“
 
Nat was unable to complete the sentence as the purple mist swirled around her.
 
When the mist cleared, they all stared at 11-year-old Natasha. She was dressed in shorts and a light pink spaghetti strap Hello Kitty top. She was barefoot.
 
The gamestone swirled and the scoreboard appeared.
 
[i][b]Natasha:    11
Amber-Lynn:     11
Keiko:     11
Zoey:     11[/b][/i]
 
It was official. There were no adults or teenagers left in play. Only kids remained.
 
*****
 
[u][i]Hand 5[/i][/u]
 
It was time for the next hand. Before the gamestone could deal the cards, however, they heard an outburst.
 
“Nooooooooooooo!” said Joey. “It’s not fair! I’m a big boy!”
 
The four girls looked at Joey, wondering about the outburst. A moment later, they realized the reason.
 
Joey was waddling about in thick diapers.
 
The players laughed hysterically. “It’s your own fault, sweetie,” said Zoey. “You shouldn’t have touched the gamestone.”
 
“Don’t wanna wear diapers!” said Joey. “Don’t wanna be a baby!”
 
Zoey patted her baby brother on his diapered butt and turned back to the gamestone.
 
The gamestone glowed and dealt two cards to each player.
 
The oddity of four 11-year-old girls playing an intense game of poker wasn’t lost on any of them, but they ignored it as they studied their hole cards. Natasha was considered the dealer, so Amber-Lynn opened the betting by placing a chip down, followed by Keiko. Zoey, now wearing an oversized pair of sunglasses, did as well. Nat followed. Then the gamestone glowed and laid out the flop.
 
[i][b]Flop:   4s   5h   9h [/b][/i]
 
Amber-Lynn pushed a chip into the center. The others did as well. No one raised. The round was strangely quiet as the tension rose.
 
The gamestone glowed and added the 4th street card.
 
[i][b]Flop:   4s   5h   9h   Jh [/b][/i]
 
The quartet studied the flop. Nobody appeared overly confident or distressed. They appeared to be playing things close to the vest. As close to the vest as a group of 11-year-olds could, at any rate.
 
Amber-Lynn tossed in a chip. Keiko , Zoey and Natasha did as well.
 
The gamestone glowed and added the final street card.
 
[i][b]Flop:   4s   5h   9h   Jh   Ks [/b][/i]
 
The four players studied their cards. Amber-Lynn shook her head and slammed her cards onto the table.
 
“Gonna make your bet, Amber-Lynn?” asked Natasha.
 
Amber-Lynn refused to answer.
 
“You gotta bet or fold, Amber-Lynn,” said Keiko. “You gotta!”
 
Amber-Lynn crossed her arms.
 
“Bet or fold,” said Zoey. She started chanting, “Bet or fold! Bet or fold!”
 
Natasha and Keiko picked up the chant as well. “Bet or fold! Bet or fold! Bet or fold! Bet or fold!”
 
“Fine!” yelled Amber-Lynn. “Fold, okay? Fold!”
 
The purple mist swirled around the young blonde girl for several seconds, then faded, leaving a very surly 7-year-old girl dressed in a pink ballerina outfit.
 
“Awwww,” said Natasha. “You’re adorable little ballerina!”
 
Amber-Lynn stuck her tongue out at Nat.
 
“Don’t talk to me in that tone of tongue, young lady,” said Nat, shaking a mocking finger in Amber-Lynn’s direction. She turned to Keiko. “Next!”
 
Her face angry, Keiko pushed her cards toward the center. “Stupid cards. Fold.”
 
Once again the purple mist swirled around Keiko, disappearing several seconds later, revealing a 7-year-old Keiko wearing a Pretty Pony dress.
 
Natasha, Amber-Lynn and Zoey giggled at the vision of the edgy Keiko wearing a Pretty Pony dress.
 
“It suits you. Really it does,” said Natasha. Keiko’s scowling features indicated that she did not agree with Nat’s assessment.
 
Unlike the first two, Zoey nodded very seriously and tossed in a chip to match the bet.
 
Natasha studied the flop again and added her bet. Then she put in another chips and said, “Raise.”
 
Zoey glanced down at her pile of chips remaining, then shrugged and tossed in a chip to match the raise.
 
The gamestone swirled. [i][b]Showdown[/b][/i]
 
Zoey flipped her cards, revealing a 9c and an As. “Pair of 9s,” she said.
 
Natasha dropped her cards, showing a 4c and a Kd. “Two pair! Yay!”
 
The purple swirl went to work immediately on Zoey. Then the mist faded, leaving a 7-year-old Zoey dressed as a princess.
 
“No fair!” said Amber-Lynn. “I wanna be a princess!” Then her eyes widened and she clapped a hand over her mouth.
 
Natasha looked to the gamestone. “Gamestone, do we mentally become the same ages as our bodies?”
 
They didn’t think the gamestone would answer the question, but it did.
 
[i][b]Not immediately, but the form eventually dominates. [/b][/i]
 
“Huh?” said Kieko.
 
Natasha said, “It means we still think like the adults we were, but we’re gonna start acting more and more like kids as the game goes on.”
 
Zoey bit her lower lip. “What if the game goes on so long that we forget how to read or play poker?”
 
Natasha pulled in her won chips. “I don’t know, but let’s not find out. Let’s get back to the game.”
 
The gamestone swirled with an updated scoreboard.
 
[i][b]Natasha:    11
Amber-Lynn:     7
Keiko:     7
Zoey:     7[/b][/i]
 
*****
 
[u][i]Hand 6[/i][/u]
 
They’d gone five hands into their full-stakes poker game. They’d started out as women in their mid-30s, but now they were all 7-year-old girls, with the exception of Natasha, who was only slightly older at 11-years-old. And the stakes were only going to get higher.
 
It was time for the next hand. The gamestone glowed and dealt the four players their two hole cards.
 
The players studied their hole cards. Keiko put in the opening bet, followed by Zoey, who was still wearing her over-sized sunglasses. Nat and Amber-Lynn followed. The gamestone glowed then and laid out the three-card flop.
 
[i][b]Flop:   7d   8d   10h [/b][/i]
 
Keiko put in her bet, as did Zoey, who raised. Natasha put in the call, matched Zoey’s raise and then she raised as well. Amber-Lynn put in her call and matched both raises. Keiko matched both raises and Zoey matched Nat’s raise.
 
“Gonna be a big pot,” observed Keiko. The others nodded.
 
The gamestone glowed and produced the 4th street card.
 
[i][b]Flop:   7d   8d   10h   Jc [/b][/i]
 
Natasha whistled. “This would be a super good time to have 9, yeah?”
 
“You think?” said Zoey.
 
Keiko put in her call bet. Zoey put in her call bet and raised. Natasha put in her call bet, matched Zoey’s raise and raised again. Amber-Lynn grumbled, but put in the call bet and both raises, as did Keiko.
 
The gamestone glowed and added the final flop card.
 
[i][b]Flop:   7d   8d   10h   Jc  As [/b][/i]
 
Keiko didn’t look happy, but she put in her call bet. Zoey put in her call bet and raised. Nat put in her call and matched the raise. Amber-Lynn put in her call bet and matched the raise. Keiko matched the raise.
 
Everyone’s heart sped up as the gamestone swirled.
 
[i][b]Showdown[/b][/i]
 
Keiko lay down a 3h and an 8c. “Pair of 8s,” she said.
 
With a smug expression- or as smug as a 7-year-old can produce- Zoey laid down a 5s and a 9h, giving her a 7-8-9-10-J run. “Straight!” she said, her youthful voice piping.
 
Natasha and Amber-Lynn stared at the straight, then threw their cards down.
 
“Stupid cards!” said Natasha. “You just got lucky!”
 
“No fair!” said Amber-Lynn. “You cheated!”
 
“Did not!” said Zoey.
 
“Did too!” said Amber-Lynn. “You-“
 
Amber-Lynn found herself cut off from speaking as the purple mist swirled about her, Natasha and Keiko. The mist swirled for several seconds and then faded away, leaving a dazed 7-year-old and two dazed 4-year-olds.
 
Natasha, now 7-years-old, found herself wearing a Wonder Woman costume, tiara and all. But she quickly realized she was better off than Amber-Lynn and Keiko.
 
Amber-Lynn and Keiko had emerged from the purple mist in empire-waisted dresses, which were embarrassing enough, but what made them so embarrassing is that they didn’t quite cover up the thick diapers each was now wearing.
 
“A nappy?!” said Amber-Lynn. “Noooooooooooo! Why do I have to wear a nappy! I’m a big girl! Big girls don’t wear nappies!”
 
“It’s not fair! We’re four years old!” said Keiko, holding up three fingers. “We don’ts need the diapies!”
 
Natasha looked at the gamestone questioningly. “Isn’t 4-years-old a bit old for nappies?”
 
They didn’t expect an answer, but once again they got one.
 
[i][b]Diapers can be worn up to five years of age. One of your number did so, which set the baseline for this match.[/b][/i]
 
Natasha looked surprised. “I certainly didn’t wear nappies at the age of 4. Did you, Amber-Lynn?”
 
“Nuh-uh!” said Amber-Lynn. “Only babies wear nappies! I wasn’t a baby at 4!”
 
“Not me either!” said Keiko hotly. “I wasn’t a baby anymore at 4!”
 
They all looked at Zoey.
 
There was complete silence for several seconds. Then Zoey buried her head on the table.
 
“I wet the bed until I was 5,” said Zoey’s muffled voice. “Mommy made me wear diapers to bed or whenever we went out.”
 
Keiko threw a cracker at Zoey. “Thanks for nothing, stupid-head! Now we all gotta wear diapers because of you!”
 
Suddenly the air was full of snacks as the girls had an impromptu food fight. Cheese puffs and potato chips flew back-and-forth. The gamestone glowed patiently as it was covered with strewn napkins and snacks. Finally Natasha put up her hands.
 
“All right, enough!” said Nat, exerting herself as the oldest, not including the snack-covered Zoey, who didn’t count because she had wet the bed until she was 5. “We gotta get back to the game!”
 
The others blushed, realizing Nat was right. Keiko muttered “You’re not the boss of me!” to herself, but not loud enough for Nat to hear.
 
The gamestone swirled and posted the up-to-date scoreboard.
 
[i][b]Natasha:    7
Amber-Lynn:     4
Keiko:     4
Zoey:     7[/b][/i]
 
It was time for the next hand.
 
*****
 
[u][i]Hand 7[/i][/u]
 
The players started to settle in for the next hand, but suddenly Amber-Lynn started blinking.
 
“Umm…something smells stinky,” she said.
 
They glanced around. Then Natasha said, “Since when do we have a crib in the corner?”
 
The four of them carefully slid out of their chairs. Crinkles followed Amber-Lynn and Keiko as they waddled in their thick diapers, barely visible under the hems of their empire-waisted dresses.
 
“Oh,” said Natasha, turning to Zoey. “It’s your bratty little brother. He needs a change.”
 
Zoey stamped her little foot. “Oh! He probably did this on purpose just so he could interrupt our game!”
 
Amber-Lynn giggled. “I don’t think he can help himself, you know?”
 
Zoey picked up Joey and brought him to the table. They laid a towel down and then placed the infant on the towel. Zoey carefully removed the old diaper and cleaned the baby’s bottom and surrounding area.
 
Despite Joey’s youth, it was obvious he knew exactly what was going on and that his big sister was changing the diaper he had helplessly messed. His whole body blushed as he lay in front of the quartet of girls.
 
“Awwwwww, wook at his adorable wittle weewee!” said Keiko.
 
Amber-Lynn giggled. “It’s so tiny!”
 
“But he’s so cute!” said Natasha. “I like him lots better like this. He’s a total stupid-head when he’s big. Maybe he’ll stay like this for the whole year too!”
 
Zoey finished changing her brother’s diaper and took him back to the crib. Then they returned to the table to resume their game.
 
The gamestone swirled, showing the scoreboard once more.
 
[i][b]Natasha:    7
Amber-Lynn:     4
Keiko:     4
Zoey:     7[/b][/i]
 
Then the gamestone glowed and dealt each player their pair of hole cards.
 
The players studied their cards and then each put in the opening call bet. The gamestone glowed and laid out the three-card flop.
 
[i][b]Flop:   2s   7s   8c [/b][/i]
 
The girls studied the flop and their individual hole cards. They were still able to think poker strategy, but little girl thoughts and distractions were starting to intrude. They had to wrap this up quick or the game would never finish and they’d all be stuck as nappied infants.
 
Keiko was considered the dealer for this round, so Zoey opened the betting. Natasha and Amber-Lynn pushed in their call bets as well.
 
Keiko looked at her small pile of chips. Even her four-year-old self could see she had to win this round. She didn’t have enough chips to go much further if she lost this hand. She put in her call bet.
 
The gamestone glowed and added the 4th street card to the flop.
 
[i][b]Flop:   2s   7s   8c   10h [/b][/i]
 
They studied the flop. Zoey pushed in her call bet, as did Natasha. Amber-Lynn pushed in her call bet, nappy crinkling. Keiko put in her call bet. They were all aware that raises could be called for, but the game was starting to take on a complicated aspect and they were trying to keep it as simple as possible.
 
The gamestone glowed and added the final card of the round to the flop.
 
[i][b]Flop:   2s   7s   8c   10h   5s [/b][/i]
 
The players studied their cards, looking fierce. Zoey pushed in her bet, followed by Natasha, Amber-Lynn and Keiko.
 
The gamestone swirled. [i][b]Showdown[/b][/i]
 
Everybody held their breath.
 
Since Keiko was the dealer and nobody had raised, Zoey was supposed to show her cards first. But the 4-year-old Amber-Lynn gave an excited squeal and slapped down her cards, showing a 7d and an 8c. “I win! I win! I got two pair! TWO!”
 
Natasha rolled her eyes. “It wasn’t your turn yet, you dumb baby. And you didn’t win anyway. Look, I have a straight, so I win!” Nat dropped her two cards on the table, revealing a 4h and a 6c.
 
“Nuh uh!” said Keiko, putting her cards on the table, showing a 9h and a Jc. “I got a stwaighter stwaight than you got! I got the stwaightest stwaight, so I win!”
 
Nat and Amber-Lynn made faces at Keiko as she reached for her chips, but suddenly Zoey said, “You babies are so dumb! Look at what I got!” She put her cards on the table, showing a 6s and a 10s.
 
Amber-Lynn stuck out her tongue. “You don’t have a stwaight, stupid-head!”
 
Zoey huffed. “Look again, super-duper-stupid head! I got all the same soops. I got a flush! So I win!”
 
The gamestone swirled. [i][b]Flush is high hand this round. Zoey wins the hand.[/b][/i]
 
Several high-pitched protests sounded, but were cut off as intense purple mist swirled around Natasha, Amber-Lynn and Keiko. The mist did its work and then faded, leaving three very embarrassed young girls.
 
Natasha blushed as she suddenly found herself a 4-year-old in an empire-waisted dress and a thick, padded diaper. She pushed at the waistline, but was unable to remove the crinkly garment. She stamped her bare foot in anger.
 
Amber-Lynn and Keiko were in an even more embarrassing predicament. Both girls had regressed to 2 years of age. Each girl was in a fluffy pink diaper and a pink shirt that didn’t even reach their belly button. Their bare feet didn’t even come close to touching the floor. Keiko slid off the chair and onto her feet, but she couldn’t keep her balance and she fell backward onto her thickly-padded butt. She very determinedly got back to her feet, but she still couldn’t keep her balance and she found herself crawling on all fours. 7-year-old Zoey finally took pity on her and picked her up and put her back onto the chair.
 
Amber-Lynn giggled and pointed at Keiko. “BABY!”
 
“Nuh-uh! You’re the baby!”
 
As the oldest, Zoey took charge. “Now shush, both of you! Behave!”
 
Amber-Lynn and Keiko looked abashed. “We’re sowwyyyyyyy.”
 
The gamestone swirled and updated the scoreboard.
 
[i][b]Natasha:    4
Amber-Lynn:     2
Keiko:     2
Zoey:     7[/b][/i]
 
It was time for the next hand.
 
 
[u][i]Hand 8[/i][/u]
 
The kids looked at each other. After this hand was done, at least one of them was going to be stuck as a little baby. Stuck in nappies, eating baby food and drinking from bottles. Getting picked up by great big adults and cooed over. People taking pictures of them in diapers and posting them on the Internet. Getting powdered and changed by adults.
 
It was getting harder to focus. Their poker knowledge was still front and foremost, but more and more childish thoughts were interfering. However, each of them were determined to get through the next couple hands and turn their opponents into babies. Even if 7-year-old Zoey was really big and scary.
 
The gamestone glowed and dealt out the hole cards. Each of them put in their call bet, with the 2-year-olds leaning their bare bellies onto the table as they pushed their chips- which were nearly as big as their little hands- into the pile. The physics and the late stages of the game dictated the strategies of raising that applied in a normal round of poker wouldn’t need to be used now. It was basic no-frills poker from here on out.
 
The gamestone glowed and laid out the flop.
 
[i][b]Flop:   4d   6d   Jh  [/b][/i]
 
They studied the flop. Natasha put in her call bet. Little Amber-Lynn leaned over the table, stretching to push her chip into the center. Suddenly a little explosive sound popped the back of her nappy, seeming to stretch it smooth. Amber-Lynn’s eyes widened and her face turned bright red.
 
Keiko giggled and pointed. “BABY!”
 
Amber-Lynn plopped back onto her chair, lower lip out in a pout, her cheeks still bright red.
 
Keiko giggled again and then pushed her chip into the pile. Zoey did the same.
 
The gamestone glowed and added a 4th street card.
 
[i][b]Flop:   4d   6d   Jh   Qc  [/b][/i]
 
All four players added their chips. The tension was mounting.
 
The gamestone glowed, emitting what would be the final card for at least one player.
 
[i][b]Flop:   4d   6d   Jh   Qc   4c  [/b][/i]
 
Natasha looked over the flop, then sighed and added a chip. Amber-Lynn, Keiko and Zoey did the same.
 
The gamestone swirled. [i][b]Showdown[/b][/i]
 
Crinkles sounded as nappied bottoms squirmed nervously. Zoey was considered the dealer, so three young faces turned to Natasha.
 
The 4-year-old Natasha flipped her cards, revealing an 8c and 10h. “Umm…I just got the pair of 4s in the flop.”
 
The 2-year-old Amber-Lynn struggled with her coordination, but finally flipped her two cards over, showing a 4s and a 7d.  “I got thwee of a kind!” she said proudly.
 
Seeing Amber-Lynn’s hand, Zoey dropped her cards on the table, indicating she already knew her hand had lost.
 
Keiko remained silent.
 
“Hey, Keiko,” said Natasha. “You gotta take your turn.”
 
Keiko’s mouth remained clenched.
 
“C’mon, Keiko,” said Zoey. “It’s your turn.”
 
Suddenly Keiko threw her cards at the table. “It’s not fair!” she wailed. “My cards were better! It’s so not fair!”
 
Purple mist suddenly swirled around Nat, Keiko and Zoey. Several seconds later, the mists cleared.
 
Natasha was now reduced to 2 years of age. She wore the same puffy pink nappy and pink top worn by Amber-Lynn.
 
Zoey was reduced to 4 years of age. Her cheeks burned as she found herself in the same diapers her opponents had been wearing for the last couple hands.
 
The chair Keiko had been sitting in was gone. In its place sat a baby’s swing. Not the type of swing a baby sits in, however, but rather one for newborns. Laying inside the swing was the cute little Asian infant that was Keiko.
 
Keiko gurgled as she played with her toes, a helpless newborn unable to do anything for herself. The world was soooo big! She could feel her diaper becoming warm and comfy. And squishy! She giggled as she felt it become squishy.
 
Natasha, Amber-Lynn and Zoey stared wide-eyed at Keiko. It was hard to believe that the edgy Asian fireball had been turned into a cute little diapered baby only able to gurgle and fill nappies.
 
But it had happened, and it would happen to at least one more of them after the next hand.
 
The gamestone swirled, showing them the updated scoreboard.
 
[i][b]Natasha:    2
Amber-Lynn:     2
Keiko:     Infant
Zoey:     4[/b][/i]
 
 
[u][i]Hand 9[/i][/u]
 
The room that had felt so small when occupied by five adults now felt so huge to the three little kids perched around the table. They looked at the cribs with large eyes, knowing at least one of them would be there soon.
 
The gamestone glowed and shot the hole cards to the remaining three players.
 
Amber-Lynn, Zoey and Natasha put in their bets. Their movements were automatic in a way, as the strategy that encompassed the bets was no longer in play, so they just went through the motions of making the call bets, but the movements were also labored, as each girl was now training their muscles to perform movements they hadn’t previously performed.
 
The gamestone glowed and laid out the flop.
 
[i][b]Flop:   6c   6d   Js  [/b][/i]
 
Natasha made an excited sound. Each girl put in their call bet. The gamestone glowed and added the 4th street card.
 
[i][b]Flop:   6c   6d   Js  Kd  [/b][/i]
 
The three girls put in their call bets. The gamestone glowed and added the 5th street card.
 
[i][b]Flop:   6c   6d   Js   Kd   Qs  [/b][/i]
 
The three girls put in their call bets. The gamestone swirled.
 
[i][b]Showdown[/b][/i]
 
It was time. Nappies crinkled nervously as diapered butts shifted on the chairs.
 
Natasha was the dealer, so Amber-Lynn was the first to show. She laboriously flipped her two cards, showing a 4d and an 8d. Her lower lip shot out in a pout. She had only the organic pair in the flop.
 
4-year-old Zoey flipped her cards, revealing a 7s and a 10d. Like Natasha, she had only the organic pair of sixes in the flop, but she had the high card at 10 in a showdown.
 
Natasha gave a smug grin- as smug as a 2-year-old can manage, at any rate- and flipped her cards, revealing a 6s and a Jd. “Full house! Yayyyyyy!”
 
Amber-Lynn’s eyes widened as the purple mist starting swirling around her. “Nonono it’s not fair it’s not fair it’s not fair nuuuuuuuuuuuu…!”
 
The swirling continued for several seconds. When the mist faded, another swing sat where Amber-Lynn’s chair had been. Inside the swing, the nappied little infant that was Amber-Lynn dozed peacefully, oblivious to her messy nappy.
 
The mist left Zoey as a diapered 2-year-old. Her eyes widened as she saw the swing sitting in Amber-Lynn’s place. Two hands ago, Zoey had been on top, with nothing but babies around her. Now she was a diapered baby herself, with the possibility of ending up in a swing of her own after the next hand.
 
The gamestone swirled, showing the scoreboard.
 
[i][b]Natasha:    2
Amber-Lynn:     infant
Keiko:     infant
Zoey:     2[/b][/i]
 
It was time for the final hand.
 
 
[u][i]Hand 10[/i][/u]
 
The two 2-year-olds stared at each other over the table. The whole game had come down to this final hand. One of them would spend the next year as a nappied baby, the other as a member of Lady Enrapture’s entourage. There was no consolation prize.  
 
With only two players, the play would go fast. Diapers crinkled as the babies shifted themselves into position.
 
The gamestone glowed and dealt each player two hole cards.
 
Both players put in the call bet, with Natasha going first as Zoey was considered the dealer for this round.
 
The gamestone glowed once more and laid out the flop.
 
[i][b]Flop:   4d   Js   Ah  [/b][/i]
 
Natasha pushed a chip in, her eyes bright. Zoey pushed in a chip with less confidence.
 
The gamestone glowed and added the 4th card to the flop.
 
[i][b]Flop:   4d   Js   Ah  Ks  [/b][/i]
 
Eyes still bright, Nat pushed in her call chip. Zoey followed with hers.
 
The gamestone glowed and added the 5th card to the flop. The final card.
 
[i][b]Flop:   4d   Js   Ah   Ks  As  [/b][/i]
 
Natasha put in her chip. Zoey did the same.
 
The gamestone swirled.
 
[i][b]Showdown[/b][/i]
 
The 2-year-olds stared at each other, generating incredible tension.
 
Then Nat smiled her smug grin and reached out with her little hands. She flipped her two cards, revealing an Ad and an Ac. Played against the flop, that gave her four aces.
 
Zoey’s eyes widened.
 
Nat giggled. “Four of a kind! Let’s see your cards, baby!”
 
Zoey looked down and bit her lower lip. Her little hands reached out and slowly turned over her cards, revealing a 10s and a Qs.
 
Played against the flop, that gave Zoey 10s-Js-Qs-Ks-As royal flush. The highest ranking poker hand possible, even higher than four aces.
 
Zoey had won.
 
Natasha’s eyes widened. “What?! Like, totawwy no fair! You can’t do that! You…you…you cheated! Do over! We gotta do over! I’m not a baby wike youuuuu……!”
 
The purple mist swirled around Nat. The mist swirled around Zoey as well, even though she had won the entire match. The mist twirled around them for long seconds before finally fading away.
 
Where Natasha’s chair had been now sat another swing. Inside the swing was a nappied infant. The infant was Nat and her eyes were wide as she intuited she was now a helpless baby unable to do anything but eat, sleep and fill her nappy. She opened her mouth to protest, but all that came out was a wail.
 
2-year-old Zoey was gone as well. In her place stood the adult Zoey. Not the 35-year-old Zoey that had started the game, but rather the 23-year-old Zoey that would fit an entertainer’s entourage more appropriately. Zoey smiled as she realized that spending the year in her younger body was apparently part of the overall prize as well.
 
Zoey stood up, feeling the tension of the game finally leaving her. She walked over to Nat and picked her, cradling her in her arms. “Well, baby Nat, it seems you already need a change. Let’s get you into a nice, clean nappy, shall we? And then we can get the others changed as well. After that? Well, time to contact Lady Enrapture and the Mighty Eggs of Life.”
 
Zoey laid a towel in front of the gaming stone and then placed baby Nat on the towel. Zoey blew a raspberry on Nat’s belly, eliciting helpless laughter from the baby. Then Zoey noticed the gamestone was swirling.
  [i][b]Congratulations, Zoey! Signed, CW[/b][/i]
[i][b]Congratulations, Zoey!
 
Signed, CW[/b][/i]