(( Warning: May contain spoilers. :D ))


Silence filled the room as the VCR ejected the tape.

?Oh heavens.?

?I know.?

?Oh my heavens.?

?I know.?

Ahni remained speechless for a long while before flailing her arms above her head. ?Were those LAY-SIR SWORDS?? Emphasis placed on the syllables of the strange word, as she stared wide-eyed at the television?s blue screen. She still didn't completely get the concept of these "moo-vees."

?Lightsabers,? Lily corrected her matter-of-factly with a sharp nod of the head. Tangled blue hair was pushed behind her ears before the tape was reverently returned to its well-worn case and set on a rickety book shelf beside the bulky television set. ?Though I don?t see how light can slice someone?s arm off, it?s why I carry an umbrella all the time.?

?I should obtain an un-brella,? the half-elf muttered, peering sideways at Lily. ?We should ask Sir Lemming.?

The water nymph poked at her eye. She needed a monocle. ?Lemming will know,? she agreed, ?Lemming knows everything.? There was a pause as she snatched another tape off the case and shook it from its cardboard jacket.

Ahni mimicked fighting with a light saber -- complete with vwoosh vwoom noises -- then tilted her head quizzically at her friend. ?Why does no one duel with these... lightsabers??

?I don?t knoooooooooooow,? Lily droned exasperatedly as she loaded the cassette, obviously perturbed by this observation. As she pensively considered the issue, she proceeded to count her toes (just to make sure they were all there). ?I thought about suggesting it once, but then Taco brought Tuesdays and Mallow stole my muffin and I got mud on me and Xanth meteored and then I got a free soda and woke up in Belize.?

?Um.? Ahni blinked rapidly for a few moments, completely lost. Finally, she nodded her head slowly as if she understood everything the water fae had said. ?I am glad you did not suggest it. I would not like to lose an arm because I forgot my un-brella.?

Lily only stared back, wide-eyed, unblinking. Everything she had just iterated made perfect and absolute sense in her mind. ?NEXT!? She yelled suddenly, and far too loudly, before she launched herself onto the old leather sofa beside the half-elf. Dust rose in tufted plumes from the action, and while it did not prompt a sneeze, the nymph did wrinkle and rub her nose with her palm upward in a traditional allergic salute.

"I still do not understand why it is called the War of the Stars," Ahni commented offhandedly as the video began to play.

?Shh! This is the best part!? The fae?s thin lips twisting thoughtfully, she snapped her head at her friend with obvious expectation.

Dutifully, Ahni read the words on the screen aloud.

?A long time ago, in a gal-ack-see far, far away??


(( Many many thanks to Lillia Nixie's player for being AWESOME! ))

At the top of the basement stairs, the micro-fae?s entire person was eclipsed by a giant boulder of junk. Dirty clothes, couch cushions, several cups and cereal boxes, and a lamp were all bound up haphazardly in a lopsidedly round mess with defective Christmas lights ingeniously located in and pilfered from a trash bin outside the Outback. ?Okay? Now on the count of three, start running.?

Daunted, Ahni stared up at the humongous ball of rubbish and gulped. ?I do not know if this is the best idea?? Indiana Jones might have been a good movie series, but acting out the idol scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark was, quite possibly, the worst idea in the history of ideas. The small woman gulped again and hugged a cloudy fishbowl to her side. The prop castle inside leaned dangerously, threatening to squish the poor little swimming goldfish within.

Huffing and puffing ensued as Lily gave the mound of stuff a hard jab from behind with her elbow. ?Sure it is! You have your whip!? Not that accuracy was their primary concern. The giant mass jarred forward with an oof!, inching treacherously closer to the top step.

The half-elf gripped her ?whip? tightly -- which in fact was not a whip, but a frayed old extension cord that the pair had found while dumpster-diving behind the Annex. (Ahni didn?t know the difference.) ?Mellonamin, I am not the Indian and the Jones,? Ahni insisted quietly and shook her head, hazardous-yellow-colored eyes on the junkball that perched precariously on the edge of the top step of the stairs. The motion caused some of the water from the fishbowl she hugged so desperately close to spill out over the edge and onto the floor. (Ahni didn?t notice.)

?THROW ME THE IDOL!? Lily chirruped, far too happily. Impossibly upbeat, the bubbly fae brightly hummed the Indiana Jones theme and gave the tangle of goods one last powerful shove. The monstrosity creaked over the top step (losing a few dirty socks along the way) and proceeded to thunder down the stairs. ?DOWN WITH THE YOUNGLINGS!? She may or may not have gotten her George Lucas films confused.

?I do not believe I should throw -- ohmyheavens!? Ahni squealed, throwing her arms up over her head in a sudden flail. The fishbowl sailed across the room in the exact opposite direction as Lily, as Ahni made haste to get away from the rolling ball of dirty death. In a panicked and futile motion, the half-elf swiped her makeshift whip at it. The end of the extension cord flew wide, knocking over several empty food containers and movie cases from a desk across the room.

?Aaaaaand, stop.? It seemed that Neo showed up just in time, because there he was, pointing his left hand out at the dirty ball of death, which was now stopped by a conveniently-placed wall of rock. The silver watch-like device on his wrist which looked suspiciously like a miniature Simon Says device glowed; specifically, the yellow corner.

Still squealing and flailing her arms, Ahni changed course so that she could hide behind Neo for protection. It apparently hadn't dawned on her that the ball was no longer behind her. The whip was thrown down quickly, as if on fire. "Mela!*" She squeaked, wrapping her skinny arms around his waist. Her copper-haired head poked out to peer around him, fully expecting the trash monstrosity to squish them at any moment.

?It?s okay, I stopped it.? A warm, reassuring smile to the half-elfess behind him. ?You never cease to surprise me, Lily.? He pressed the glowing yellow button and its light faded away, along with the wall of rock. The ball rolled a tiny bit, spending what little remained of its momentum before coming to a permanent stop. ?I am simultaneously impressed and frightened that you managed to assemble this spherical monstrosity.?

?Whodurr!?? Lily, on the other hand, had taken cover at the top of the stairs. She peeeeered around the side of the wall just as the basement door shut behind Neo. She stopped, dead in her tracks, as she espied what had become of her monstrous ball of DOOM. It was surely the work of poltergeists, for no force could bring an end to her mischief so efficiently without help. ?Ohman... Do I have GHOSTS!?? An accusative finger pointed tremulously at Neo. ?Did you bring ghosts into my landlady?s home, Nicely!??

There on Neo?s head was that comically large sweatdrop. ?Ghosts? I didn?t bring any ghosts! I just stopped that thing.? He pointed at the dirty ball of death. ?With my magic. So now Ahni isn?t squished.? Sage nodding.

"He saved me!" Ahni chirruped happily, popping out from behind Neo with her arms raised in victory.

?OHMAN. And he, like, did that without a wand.? The nymph?s tiny limbs flailed in several directions. ?You?re Harry Potter but SO MUCH BETTER. Except for the scar. The scar is cool.?

Neo traced a finger on his forehead as if drawing a lightning bolt, visualizing himself with the iconic scar, not sure how he felt about it.

?Who is Harry Potter? Is he a pirate?" Ahni tilted her head quizzically, peering at Lily.

?Harry Potter is a--?

Lily?s eyes widened like saucers. Psychotic, scary saucers. An abrupt point of a finger startled Neo into silence as she stared. ?Nicely, present the foods of the Asian varieties and locate Mr. Potter. Ahni-kin, pop the corn.? Yanking her arms free of the sleeves of her cardigan, she wrapped it around her neck, fashioning a cape. ?I shall acquire the brooms.?

?Like, as in locate the movie, or the person?" Neo's brow arched. "I?m not going to go get the person," he added under his breath.



* mela - love

(( ALL OF THE THANKS to Lily and Neo's players... You guys are awesome! :D ))