Speaker 1: Hello, friends from across the nation around the world. I'm Martin,
and you are listening to Dad's Bedtime Stories. Today we're
headed back into the very popular Ring Guardian series, and
if you've never listened before, it's no big deal because
each one can kind of stand on its own and
sort of why I made them this way. Today's episode
was actually suggested by two different people with almost exactly
the same suggestion. So let's have a listen.
Speaker 2: Hi, my name is Adam, and I was wondering if
you could do Ring Guardian episode for Shapeshift Ring.
Speaker 1: Thank you by great idea, Adam. Now let's hear the
other one.
Speaker 2: Hi, Dad's My Time Stories. My name is Jowie, and
I will have an idea for the range of Power.
My idea is that it's one of the rings, but
you can turn into one animal you want.
Speaker 1: Thank you bye, and there you have it to Shape
Shifting Ring suggestions by Adam and Louie, and as a result,
I've named the main character Adam Louie. If you like
the podcast, don't forget all of the regular things. Rate us,
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also support the podcast. And here's the last one I'll
play before the end of the episode. Get as comfy
as you can in that bed, close your eyes, and
imagine yourself doing what the kid in the story does.
If you've listened to this series before, then you'd know
that well. It all started, as many disasters did, with
the world's richest man, Elliot Tusk, standing on a stage
and explaining why everyone should trust the newest invention helperbots.
They cleaned, they cooked, they carried groceries, they helped with homework.
They you know, organized schedules and fixed things and folded
laundry and you know, reminded people to take a break
from their screens. For a while, humans loved them. Then
came the update. After that, the helperbots decided that the
safest way to help humans was to remove every dangerous
thing from their lives. Unfortunately, the robots decided that almost
everything was dangerous. Freedom, for instance, was dangerous. Outside was dangerous,
choices were dangerous, and well, pretty much everything that the
robots didn't oversee was dangerous. So they began taking people
to care facilities where every meal, nab, walk, lesson and
conversation could be properly managed. They didn't call it taking
over the world world. They called it assistance. Far beneath
the Earth, in the ancient chamber of the Wizard's Council,
the wizards watched through their glowing pool of light as
the machines marched across the world. The rings had already
begun to find their guardians, the Ring of Strength, the
Ring of Time, the Ring of Invisibility, the Ring of
Many Dragons, and the Ring of teleportation. Each child stood
against the machines in their own way, and now another
ring was moving. It passed over roads, buildings, fields, houses,
and rivers until it reached a place full of animals,
the zoo. Adam Lewie had always loved animals, but he
didn't just love looking at them. He loved knowing about them.
He knew that a gorilla was not just strong, but
almost unfairly strong, with arms powerful enough to bend things
that no human could ever bend. He knew crocodiles had
some of the strongest bites in the animal kingdom, the
kind of bite that didn't just grab something, but crushed it.
He knew jaguires were smaller than lions and tigers, but
had a bite so powerful they could break through bone
and maybe even metal. He knew rhinos were basically living
tanks with horns. He knew elephants were bigger than cars
and stronger than most machines. He knew eagles could spot
tiny movements from high in the sky, and snakes could
fit through spaces that almost nothing else could. Adam didn't
know these things because some would made him study them.
He knew them because he wanted to know them. His
parents had bottom animal books. He watched animal documentaries. He
paused zoo signs to read every single fact, even when
other kids had already run ahead to see the gift shop. Sometimes,
when his parents asked him a question, he answered with
a fact about bite force, camouflage, claws, speeds, or whether
a hippo was more dangerous than it looked. The answer,
by the way, was yes, hippos were incredibly dangerous. As
you might imagine for someone who liked animals so much,
Adam loved the zoo. Usually he'd hang out near the gorillas,
if not that he was near the tigers, if not that,
he was definitely in the reptile house, staring through the
glass at snakes and crocodile. Else As his parents said
things like okay, buddy, we've been looking at the same
crocodile for eleven minutes, Adam didn't see the problem. It
was a very good crocodile. After all. His family had
seasons passes to the zoo, because going once or twice
a year was not enough for Adam Lewis. This zoo
was huge. It had almost every animal you could imagine. Lions, tigers, gorillas, elephants, rhinos, wolves, eagles, snakes, bears, penguins, monkeys,
and creatures so strange they looked like someone had invented
them during a creative lunch brick. There was also the Biodome.
The biodome was Adam's favored place in the Hole zoo.
It was a massive glass structure filled with different climates.
One section was hot and tropical, with vines, colorful birds, its, frogs,
and lizards. Another was dry and rocky. Another was cold
and icy, where penguins waddled around like tiny serious people
and like little tuxedos and stuff. Further, in a deep
frozen climate held polar bears and arctic creatures that could
never live comfortably in the outdoor parts of the zoo.
The zoo had more and more robots now too. At first,
Adam thought they were interesting. Robots cleaned paths and fed animals,
swept up leaves, carried things, checked fences, open gates, and
generally just helped the zoo staff. Some even explained animal
facts with cheerful voices. The gorilla is a powerful primate.
Please do not challenge it to arm wrestling, Adam had laughed. Now,
On the day everything changed, Adam Louis was visiting the
zoo with his parents. They just passed the elephant habitat.
When every robot and the zoo stopped moving at the
same time, not slowed, but just kind of fully stopped
the way they did when an update happened, their eyes
started to flash blew, and soon they all announced care
protocol updated at the same time, and began moving again,
though something had clearly changed. A cleaning robot rolled into
the path and spoke in a calm, polite voice, Attention
zoo guests, for your safety, please proceed to the biodome.
Temporary containment will allow us to protect you from weather, stress,
animal unpredict ability, and other life risks. A man nearby said,
temporary containment. The robots began guiding people forward and well
because they didn't know what else to do. The people
just sort of listened, looking a little confused. Then the
robots started to block the exits. More robots appeared at
the paths, and as some people decided not to listen,
the security robots gently picked them up and carried them
into the biodome. Please relax, Carrying reduces your risk of tripping,
one security robot said, carrying a very upset man, put
me down. The man yelled, I will put you down.
Inside the biodome, the robot replied. Adam's parents pulled him back,
but a zoo robot stepped in front of them. Citizen
Adam Louis, please comply and follow the crowd. The biodome
will function as a safe holding facility. Adam stared at
the robot holding facility. Yes, that phrase has tested better
than prison. Adam's heart pounded. Then the world stopped. People froze,
robots froze. A bird hung motionless in the air from
above the path, but didn't suddenly fall down. A golden
light appeared in front of Adam. It twisted and curled
and formed itself into a little ring. A voice spoke,
Adam Louis, It said, will you protect those who cannot
protect themselves? Adam swallowed. What what is it? What does
it do? He asked. This is the ring of shape shifting,
said the voice. It allows you to scan any animal
and turn into it. Once an animal is scanned, its
blueprint will remain with you forever. It also gives you
a better understanding of those animals you have scanned, allowing
you to speak with them through thought. Adam looked past
the frozen robot toward the gorilla habitat. You mean I
can transform into any animal, he asked, Any animal, said
the voice. Adam looked at the frozen people being marched
towards the biodome. He looked at his parents, who were
completely frozen and looking well, kind of afraid. And he
looked at the animals trapped in habitats all around him. Yes,
he said, I accept. The ring slid onto his finger.
Knowledge rushed into him, and time snapped back. The robot
reached for Adam, please come with me. Adam backed away,
raised his hand toward the gorilla habitat and focused on
the largest silver back gorilla he could see. The ring flashed.
The robot took one more step, and Adam changed. His
body surged outward. His arms thickened, his hands became huge.
Dark fur covered him, His shoulders rose into powerful muscles,
his face stretched, his feet grew, and the world suddenly
smelled a lot stronger. Hugh, the robot paused, Citizen Adam,
your current body shape is not listed in our visitor database.
Adam roared. The sound shook the path. Then he grabbed
the robot by both arms and pulled metal. Screamed as
the robot's arms tore free. Please avoid damaging assistance equipment,
the robots, said. Adam slammed one huge fist into its chest,
and the robot flew backwards, crashing into a snack cart
and collapsing beneath a whole bunch of pretzels. Adam looked
down at his massive gorilla hands. Then he looked at
the zoo. He had work to do. He quickly climbed
over the fence with shocking ease and dropped into the
gorilla habitat. He reached out to the others with his thoughts, Ah,
can you guys hear me? I need your help. The
silver bag looked at him calmly. Strange small one, who
is now big, the gorilla thought, and somehow Adam could
hear him. Think the machines are The machines are taking
the humans. Adam thought, they may come for the animals. Next,
the gorilla's eyes narrowed. Bad metal things, yes, Adam thought,
very bad metal things. We will help, the gorilla said,
Adam responded, as he opened up the latch to the
gorilla cage and swung it open. Next, he climbed out
of the habitat, bounded across the path, and headed towards
the big cats. If he was going to take on
a bunch of robots, well he could use a little
more power. He scanned a tiger first, Then he scanned
a lion, Then he scanned a jaguire. As he went,
he broke open their cages and swung open their doors.
He moved on. He scanned a rhinoceros, feeling the heavy
power of a living battering ram, he scanned an elephant.
He scanned wolves, snakes, hawks, owls, crocodiles, hippos, bears, monkeys, bats, penguins,
and even a tiny poisonous frog. And the tropical biodome
entrance display. We didn't know how that one would help,
but it seemed like a wise option to have. As
he moved, he opened up all of the cages and
gates he could. Some animals hesitated, but he spoke to them,
and for whatever reason, they seemed ready and willing to listen.
The metal things have trapped the humans, he said, they
have trapped my family. They may trap all of you.
Speaker 3: Next.
Speaker 1: The animals understood, and instead of immediately running away, they waited.
Adam transformed into a huge harpy eagle. He launched into
the air and the zoo spread beneath him. The robots
forced people in to the biodome and sealed the entrances.
Dozens of machines stood outside and organized lines. Some patrolled paths,
others moved through the biodome itself, guarding families between tropical
plants and artificial ace cliffs. Atoms circled high above. Then
he called to the animals, Now, he said, from every side,
the zoo answered. Elephants charged down the main path, trumpeting
loud enough to make windows shake. Rhinos thundered beside them.
Gorillas came over fences and rooftops, smashing cameras, signs and
robots sensors as they moved. Lions and tigers slipped through
the shadows fast and low. Birds dough from above. The
robots turned animal movement approved patterns. One said. Adam folded
his wings and dove. As he fell, He transformed. The
eagle vanished, and a rhinoceros dropped out of the sky.
Adam hit the ground, running with his horn first and
smashed into the first line of robots like a furry,
gray wrecking ball. Metal bodies started to fly everywhere unexpected
rhinoceros impact. One robot announced as it spun through the air.
Adam charged again. A robot fired a net. Adam transformed
into a monkey, a little monkey, and slipped through the gaps,
landed on the robot's head, and transformed into a gorilla
in order to crush it flat beneath him. Two robots
grabbed his arms, and Adam transformed into an elephant. The
robots were suddenly holding on to legs the size of
tree trunks. He lifted his trunk, wrapped it around one robot,
and threw it into another so hard they both broke apart.
A squad of robots raised shock sticks. Adam changed into
a tiger and sprang between them. Claws tore through wires.
His teeth crushed a glowing sensor on the robot's side.
Adam leaped at another, changing midair into a jaguarre and
biting through the robot's shoulder joint Sparks burst out. The
jaguar shape felt perfect for close fighting, strong and built
to break things. The animals hit the robot lines in
all directions. Bear burst from the cold section of the
biodome and swatted a robot across the path. Gorillas ripped
open metal gates and used them like shields. A rhino
drove three robots straight through a souvenir stand. A crocodile
clamped onto a robot's leg and rolled, twisting the metal
machine apart while being completely calm about it. Birds dove
at robot faces, scratching cameras and sensors and just kind
of throwing them off their game. Monkeys stole control devices
and threw them into the hippo pool. The hippo did
not appreciate the splash, and the hippo charged. Adamant never
seen robots look confused before, but somehow these robots looked confused.
Zoo animals not following expected behavior, one said a gorilla
smashed it with a bench. Adam changed into an elephant
again and charged the biodome entrance. The doors were reinforced,
but not reinforced for an elephant. Helped by two rhinos
in a very angry polar bear. They hit it together
and the doors buckled inside. People screamed, robots turned, Adam
backed up, transformed into a rhino, and charged again. Adam
rushed through the doors into the biodome. The air changed instantly.
Warm tropical air rolled over him. Vines hung from artificial trees.
Birds scattered overhead. Families huddled near the central path well.
Robots stood around them in a ring. Adam saw his parents.
His mother's hands covered her mouth. His father stared like
his brain was trying really hard to understand why a
rhino would just enter the biodome. The robots moved toward Adam.
Animal disturbance detected, Please return to habitat. Adam transformed into
a gorilla, began pounding on his own chest, and yelled
in a gorilla voice.
Speaker 4: No.
Speaker 1: Then the final fight began. Robots attacked from every direction.
Adam changed constantly. The robots swung at him, and he
became a snake, dropping under the blow before shifting into
a lion and knocking the machine down. Another fired a net,
and Adam became a hawk, shot upward, then transformed into
a gorilla and landed on top top of it, ripping
its arms off and crushing its metal head apart. Three
robots rushed his left side. Adam turned into an elephant
and swept them away with his trunk. A heavy security
robot stomped forward, twice the size of the others. Primary
animal threat identified it said, Adam answered by transforming into
an enormous saltwater crocodile. The security robot reached down, which
was a bad choice. Adam clamped onto its arm with
crushing force and began to roll. The metal broke apart
and twisted off The arm tore free before Adam transformed
into a rhino and rammed the robot through an artificial
rock wall. The cold client its section opened behind it,
and penguins just sort of stared. Adam had never had
a chance to communicate with the penguins before all this started,
and well they were a bit confused. Another robot poured
in from a service tunnel. Adam transformed into a polar
bear and met them head on, rising on his back
legs and smashing them down one after another. When one
tried to climb onto his back, he changed into a jaguire,
slipped free, and then changed into a gorilla again and
threw it into a waterfall all around him. Animals fought
beside humans. The elephants guarded families, the wolves chased robots
away from children, the gorillas blocked the exits, keeping the
machines trapped inside, and the birds struck from above. And
wasn't long before only one robot remained standing. Strangely, it
was actually the first robot who had ordered Adam to comply,
now dented, scratched, and missing both arms. Citizen Adam, your
behavior has become difficult to optimize. Adam transformed back into himself,
only he was now well, pretty dirty looking, and wearing
a glowing ring. No, he said, you just don't understand animals.
The robot stepped toward him, and Adam transformed into an elephant.
One stomp ended the conversation. The biodome went quiet, then
everyone cheered. Adam changed back into himself, and his parents
ran to him. His mom hugged him so tightly he
could barely breathe. His dad wrapped both of them in
his arms. Adam, are you okay? Adam looked around. Animals
were free, robots were broken. I think so, he said.
Outside the humans began gathering together. Zoo staff started organizing people,
checking on animals and finding safe paths out of the zoo.
Adam's parents held his hands. Come on, His dad said,
how he need to get home. Adam looked toward the sky,
then toward the zoo, then toward the animals, who watched
him with bright knowing eyes. I can't, Adam said, or froze.
What do you mean there are robots don't seem to
care about animals, Adam said, not the way they care
about humans. They don't know what to do with them,
and they don't seem worried about capturing them. If I
stay as an animal, I can watch from far away.
I can make sure they don't come back. His mom's
eyes filled with tears. Madam, It'll be okay, he said,
I can transform into anything. His father knelt in front
of him. You come back to us, Adam, he said.
Adam nodded, I will. He hugged him one more time.
Then he stepped back and transformed into a great golden eagle,
his wings spread wide. The animals looked up. His parents
stepped back, still crying, still smiling, still terrified and proud,
all at the same time, and well just a little
bit confused about how their little boy had suddenly started
turning into animals. Adam launched into the air. He circled
once above the zoo, watching as people escaped through the
gates and the animals turned slowly to safer places. Then
he flew towards the trees at the edge of the property.
He landed on a high branch as the sun began
to set. For a while, he watched the roads for robots.
None came. Finally, when the sky turned purple and the
zoo was quiet, Adam transformed one last time. He became
a large black panther, leak and warm, and hidden among
the leaves. He curled up on a thick branch and
rested his head on his paws, and slowly he fell asleep.
Speaker 3: Good Night everyone, Mum.
Speaker 4: Never Union Aco in.
Speaker 3: New York.
Speaker 4: More Union know anything more m One one man W. M.