288 replies to this topic

[~~Megan~~]

(I'm really tempted to draw some related fanart now lol)

Carl: Guys! The water is great! Hurry up!

*the rest of the gang dives in as I poof myself into a ridiculous lifeguard set-up*

Me: *blows whistle*

Jimmy: *holding ears* What?

Cindy: What's the big idea?

Me: ...I just wanted to blow my whistle, okay? >_> Screw this. *dives gracefully into the water and dolphin kicks over to the kids* Awwwwwwww yeahhhhhhhhhhhh

(Hey, I gotta go sit with my grandma at home for a while. I'll be back this evening.)

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

Hey, *points* check out the size of those waves! I dunno about you guys, but I'm goin' surfing!! Hey, Jimmy? Don't you have an invisible surfboard in your hypercube somewhere? I wanna make it seem like I'm not using anything to ride the waves, but still ride them at the same time!

Sheen, you're insane!! I don't have something like that! Even if I did, I wouldn't let you use it, cuz you don't know how to pilot a massive moving body of H₂O like that!!

Huh?! *jumps as a wave passes by them*

*slaps her forehead in disgust and groans* He means ya don't know how to surf, Sheen!!

Oh. And I can, SO!! I saw it on UltraLord Episode 76: Attack of the Zombie Surfers!

[~~Megan~~]

(posting from my phone for the first time! I didn't realize how nifty the mobile site is!)

Sheen: I'm gonna swim out to that big rock! *starts thrashing through the water towards a craggy boulder*

Me: Sheen! Don't go so close to the ruins!

Cindy: Aw, cool it, Miss Bossy! He's not hurting anyone.

Carl: *splashes in the shallows* WHEEEEEEEEEEE

Jimmy: The lack of aquatic life is quite odd! I don't see any type of fish or mollusk anywhere. Only sand and vegetation.

Cindy: Mollusks...hehe.... *blushes*

Jimmy: *winks at Cindy*

Cindy: *ducks under the water, embarrassed*

Libby: *rolls eyes* Good grief...

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

*surfaces after a few moments* I am curious, though. Why shouldn't he go to the ruins, Megan??

[~~Megan~~]

(Emily, feel free to rp as me. You don't have to only be the kids.)

Libby: Yeah, can't you just, like, poof away any trouble?

Me: *rolls eyes* Yeah, but the thing with poofing is I have to visualize what I'm doing very clearly. If he runs into a booby trap, I have to know how the trap works to get him out without setting it off. If he disturbs some monster, I have to put the monster somewhere else. I can't completely destroy things--it would break the law of conservation of energy.

Carl: M-m-m-monsters?!?

Me: Aw great. Yes, there are some monsters in the lake. But they're deep underwater, under the ruins. That's why I don't want y'all going out there.

Jimmy: *scoffs* There's no such thing as monsters.

Me: Ugh, FINE. They're native lifeforms to this planet. For all intent and purposes they are sirens. I really don't want to disturb them.

Sheen: HEY GUYS!! I'm king of the--

*poof*

*splash*

Sheen: DANGIT.

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

Wait a second... In Greek mythology, sirens are mermaid-like creatures that led sailors to their doom with enchanting singing... Is that what those are?! If so, then the guys are doomed if they were to head over there...

Megan: Except they're not going over there. I won't allow it.

But what if they're really pretty, with golden hair that shimmers in the sun and awesome tails that shine in every color of the rainbow, like a pearl?

You can forGET about that, Sheen!!

Megan: It's still not gonna happen, Sheen, no matter what they look like and how pretty they may be!

Aw, man!

On a side note, there's no telling what type of minerals, ores, or elements one might find underneath the surface of this world... I'd really like to excavate some samples and study them!

[~~Megan~~]

(OMG you made my text green I love you forever )

Me: Ugh, you guys just don't like to listen to advice, do you? *flops back in the water* If you don't go too deep or near the ruins, you won't wake them. Let's try to relax and wind down before we go on another adventure, okay?

Jimmy: *looking wistful* But the wealth of scientific knowledge...

Me: Isn't going anywhere. We can explore later. We've got all the time in the world.

Cindy: *looks at Jimmy, then swims off determinedly* Well you're not the boss of me! I'm going to explore!

Carl: BUT I DON'T WANNA SEE ANY MONSTERS!!! *cowers*

Me: *floats* Whatever. I'm not responsible for whatever happens.

Jimmy: Cindy, wait! It could be dangerous!

Cindy: *climbs on a rock and calls back* What, Neutron, you're gonna let some crazy teenage mother-hen tell you what to do? Baby chicken! Bock, bock!

Jimmy: *growls* Alright, I'm coming! *swims off*

Libby: I can't let them go off on their own!! *swims after them*

Sheen: Wait! Libbylicious!! Don't leave me!!!

Me: *poofs sunglasses and a pool floaty beneath me*

Carl: Aren't you gonna stop them?

Me: Psh. I warned them.

Carl: *lip trembling* But...what if they get in trouble? What if they get hurt?

Me: UGHHHHHHHH *flails dramatically* FINE LET'S GO. THANKS FOR THE GUILT TRIP WHEEZER *sets off after them*

Carl: Uh....eep!! *frantically doggy paddles after her*

[~~Megan~~]

(Quick drawing of the ruins to follow shortly)

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

*meanwhile, in the first cabin*

Me: *awakens to the sound of Stephanie starting to fuss* Just brilliant... She woke me up again. Well, at least I feel rested now... *gets up and picks her up from her crib next to the bed, then gently sits back down on the bed, leaning against a pillow* It's okay, sweetie... Mama's got you. *sniffs* Oh, no wonder you're starting to fuss... *takes her over to the changing table and gently lays her on it, grabbing the necessary supplies* You sure made a stinky today, Steph! *takes care of her "business", then redresses her and picks her up* Now, does that feel better?

Stephanie: *gurgles and coos her response, giggling slightly*

Me: I had a feeling you would. *places her gently into the baby sling* Hmm... I wonder what the others are up to... I think I'll text Megan on her waterproof cell. *picks up cell and texts the following: "i haven't heard from u guys in a while. wut's going on??"*

Megan: *feels her waterproof phone vibrating* Oh, I got a text message. *sits on a rock and examines the text* Oh, yeah! I forgot about Em! I better reply so I don't worry her too much... *texts the response: "I have a feeling the kids are getting into trouble again..."*

Me: *texts: "oh, gr8... wut r they up 2 now?!"*

[~~Megan~~]

(I'm at my grandparents' house again, and I forgot my laptop charger. Just letting you know :-/)

Me: *texting* They want to explore the ruins. There's some dangerous creatures out here, and I'm not sure what's going to happen. Stay in the cabin and keep yourselves safe. Goddard stayed on the shore, in case you need him.

Emily: ok! b safe

Me: Will do.

Jimmy: *climbs up onto a crumbling stone dock* Look at this masonry! So sophisticated!

Libby: Do you see the artwork on the walls? It's fabulous!

Sheen: *trying to shove Carl onto the dock* Jeez...Carl...lay off the candy! And watch the face!

Carl: *flails about, accidentally kicking Sheen over and over again* It's....too hard...ugh..... *falls back in the water on top of Sheen. The two begin to slap and splash each other*

Cindy: Would you two knock it off?? We're trying to explore!

Jimmy: *entering the nearest building* Holy Heisenberg...guys, you've got to come see this!

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

*stops struggling with Carl* Sorry... What's so amazing, Jimmy? Is it UltraLord?!

Don't be stupid, Ultra-Loser!! That doll of yours doesn't even EXIST!!

ACTION FIGURE!!!! And he does TOO exist!!

*snorts* Oh, yeah?! PROVE it!!

Would you 2 just SHUT UP?!! *regains her composure* So, Neutron, what is it that you wanted t' show us??

*back at the cabin*

Me: Goddard, would ya come in here, please??

*flies in using "chopper mode", then gives me a questioning look*

Me: I'm sorry, boy, but I'm starting to get worried about them...

*displays on his screen: "Don't be."*

Me: I can't help it! It's my maternal instinct... Just like I have with Steph here...

Stephanie: *giggles and coos, then speaks for the first time* Mama...

Me: *gasps* It's your first word!! And you're only 3 days old! I've gotta tell Jimmy about this!! Goddard, contact Jimmy, please!

Bark, bark! *accesses his watch, then displays what it "sees" on his screen*

Me: Jimmy, are you there? I've got some exciting news!!

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

(What exactly did Jimmy want to show them??)

[~~Megan~~]

Jimmy: Emily? What is it?

*all Emily can see on Goddard's screen is Jimmy's face, oddly proportioned by the camera, against a background of bluish stone*

Emily: Stephanie said her first word!!! She said "mama" clear as a bell!!

Jimmy: That's incredible, she's only a few hours old! Even I didn't say my first word until I was a week old... *shakes head* Sorry Emily, but I'm studying some amazing architecture right now! I'll talk to you later. *hangs up*

Emily: Oh...okay...be safe...

Stephanie: Mama!

Emily: *smiles softly* I'm here, sweetie. Let's hope they come back soon.

***
*the gang stands in the entry way to a magnificent building. The ceiling soars above them, with only a few cracks in the masonry to show its age. The entire room is made of a blue-tinted stone webbed with silver, and a large and colorful mosaic of etched glass stretches across the floor*

Cindy: I can't believe this is so intact after so many years.

Me: Dang, I make a good civilization.

Cindy: Not THAT good, seeing they died out!

Jimmy: This room is incredible! I wonder what this building's purpose was?

Me: Well, this used to be a city, and we're on the outskirts. It looks more like a public building than a home. Maybe we should explore some more.

Carl: But what about the....m-m-monsters?

Sheen: CARL! Stop being such a whiny baby.

Me: The monsters are deep underwater, in the heart of the city. I think we'll be fine.

Libby: Well what are we waiting for? I see something shining down that hall!

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

Me: *after several hours have passed, coupled with another feeding and diaper-changing, and the 2 moons high in the night sky* Gah, I can't take it anymore! Who knows what kind of trouble could be lurking out there?! I am NOT about to let them put their lives in any more potential danger! *picks Stephanie up gently and places her in the baby sling* I'm going after them!

Bark?!

Me: I'm sorry, boy, but desperate times call for desperate measures! "Fly Cycle Mode", please, and head to their present coordinates!

*displays on his screen: "Here we go again..."* *transforms into "Fly Cycle"*

Me: *opens the front door, dashes over to the next cabin and grabs the hypercube, then dashes back and hops on Goddard and jets outta there, grabbing his ears like handles* Hang on, guys!! I'm on my way! *arrives within a few minutes, then hops off onto the intricately-laid stone floor* I'm here, guys! Where are you?? C'mon, Goddard. *heads inside the main entryway*

*transforms to his normal self and follows, but not without voicing a faint yet concerned whine*

(It is night time by now, so wouldn't they be asleep somewhere by then?)

[~~Megan~~]

Cindy: Just admit it, we're lost!

Jimmy: We are NOT lost!! There is always a logical pattern to be found, even in the midst of chaos, and I will find it.

Cindy: I cannot believe I got stuck with you! This is like an old kids' mystery show. What the heck is a giant stone labyrinth doing in the middle of a city anyways?

Jimmy: May I remind you that if you hadn't have run mindlessly into this maze, leaving the rest of our group behind, we wouldn't be in this mess?

Cindy: *throws her hands in the air* Well so-orry! You didn't have to follow me in here.

Jimmy: Well--maybe I didn't want you to get hurt!

Cindy: *taken aback* Well...well...maybe I don't need your help! I can take care of myself.

Jimmy: Oh, because you've proven that sooo many times in the past.

Cindy: Yeah, while saving your pathetic butt!

*by this point they have stopped walking and are all up in each other's faces*

Jimmy: It's always about you, Vortex! Can you stop being selfish for one minute to see that others care about you?

Cindy: Oh, like you? Emily's precious baby daddy? You don't care about me.

Jimmy: Of course I do! I've always cared about you Cindy! YOU are just too stubborn to see it, even when I say it with perfect clarity!

Cindy: *desperately holding on to her anger* Yeah right. Why don't you go back to being an adult and back to your perfect little family?

Jimmy: Even if I could, I'm STUCK HERE just like you! And I'm only 13, Cindy, I'm not responsible for that! I intend to stay this age.

Cindy: Ha! So you admit we're lost?

Jimmy: GAH! I swear, sometimes I can't stand you!

Cindy: Well I'm not so fond of you myself right now!

Jimmy: I should have just let you run in here and get lost on your own!

Cindy: I wish you had!

Jimmy: You're ridiculous!

Cindy: You're impossible!

*angry makeout tiemz ensue*

*****

*Meanwhile*

Libby: Guys, I'm getting worried about the other three.

Me: Pfft. Jimmy and Cindy can handle themselves. It's Carl I'm worried about.

Sheen: Carl's a baby! He's probably hiding somewhere crying for his mommy.

Me: *sneaks up behind Sheen and pokes him*

Sheen: AHHHHHH MOMMY!!!

*Libby and I double over laughing. The laughter, though merry, echoes off the dark stone and fades into the ominous, empty unknown*

Libby: Where are we, anyways?

Me: We're on one of the main thoroughfares that runs through the city. This one spirals out from the center, the temple, and the connecting roads also lead to the center, like a sunburst.

*the road is eerie and painted in blue light and shadow. High stone buildings stretch towards the sky, revealing two full luminous moons, enshrouded in a blaze of strange constellations.

Sheen: Man, this is creepy! The sooner we get out of this place, the better!

Libby: Wait...did you hear that?

Me: Yeah, faintly...shh!

*they strain their ears, and under the faint wind that skims the lake, there is a sound, feeble and indistinct*

Libby: It sounds like...crying!

Me: What would be crying? This place has been abandoned for hundreds of years.

Sheen: Sounds fishy to me...

Libby: What if it's Carl? We can't just ignore it!

Me: Alright, let's go see what it is.

*****

*Also meanwhile*

Carl: *whimpers* Guys...? Guys, this isn't funny anymore! I'm scared of the dark! AHH! *jumps at a shadow*

Goddard: Bark bark!

Emily: Carl! There you are!! Where's everyone else?

Carl: Emily! Thank goodness! I don't know, I've been lost for hours!

Emily: *pants* I don't...feel so good...everything hurts...

Carl: Oh no!!!!!

Emily: I'm so...dizzy....

Goddard: *whines and nudges Emily's leg*

Carl: Your leg, Emily...is that BLOOD?!? *swoons*

Emily: Uhh.... *starts to fall unconscious, but Goddard catches her, extracts baby Stephanie, and lowers Emily to the ground gently*

*Carl is not so lucky, and passes out with a dull thud*

Goddard: *fastens the baby securely to his back, then whines at Emily and Carl's prone forms, pawing at their legs. He stands back and lets out a worried howl*

Stephanie: Doggy! *giggles and cooes*

Goddard: *lays down next to Carl and howls again*

*****

*a mist seeps up from the water and slithers across the city, bright as the moons, thick and icy. In the wind are indiscernible whispers, sinister words of warning. Something stirs. The five awake feel an alarming chill on an otherwise warm night, and the two inanimate shiver on the stone, vulnerable and listless as the dog huddles around the baby in fear*




















(I know, I know, a lot happened...in case you haven't guessed, the sirens are about to show up. You're free to command their entrance, but they aren't typical Greek sirens...they don't just attract males, and change something up about them. Maybe they're ugly but with beautiful voices, or hypnotic water spirits, or maybe it's a slime or mist that causes illusions and draws them into the water. Either way, be creative!

As for what happened to you...maybe you didn't realize, but labor puts a lot of stress on a woman's body. With the running around you've been doing, it's just not healthy, and your body needs some serious rest. A lot of women bleed for some time after giving birth, and with the exertion, I think it's likely that you would've started bleeding. All in all I think it's believable that your body would've given out after all the excitement.)

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

(Not quite yet with the sirens, please... I have a few other ideas first. )

Me: *stirs after about an hour has passed* Huh?? I must've passed out... Hey, the mists are gone. Guess it was just a false alarm... Where's Steph??

*nudges me with his nose, then turns his head to look at Stephanie, who he'd curled up around and surrounded with an artificial infrared glow emitted by some mechanism in his mechanical body to keep her warm while she slept*

Me: Thanks for keeping her warm, Goddard... When did Jimmy add that feature to him?? Whenever he did, it was sheer genius! *gently picks up Stephanie and places her in the baby sling, then gratefully pats Goddard on the head* *turns to face Carl and nudges him gently* Carl, Carl, wake up...

*awakens, then turns to face me* Is Stephanie okay?

Me: Yeah, Goddard kept her warm with one of his special features... I think it's about time we contacted the others, don't you think?

Yes, please!! I wanna see my friends again!

Me: Happy to oblige! Goddard, contact Jimmy!

Bark, bark! *sends a signal to Jimmy's watch, making it flash with an alert sound and turning on the video feature*

Me: *observes Goddard's screen* Funny... All I can see are flashes of some stony surroundings and parts of Cindy's hair and neck, and I hear making-out noises! What the heck-?! WHY the heck are those 2 making out in a situation like this?! Jimmy, Earth to Jimmy!!! Snap OUT of it!!!

*immediately stops what he's doing and sits upright*

Neutron, warn me when you're gonna do that! I just hit the back of my head on the ground! *rubs her head, sitting upright, as well* Ow...

Sorry, Cindy, I just got an alert on my watch. Okay, who's calling me at such an inconvenient time?!

Jimmy! Is that you?! Oh, thank goodness!! Where are you?!

Me: I was getting worried about you guys!! And why the HECK were you and Cindy making out just then?!!

Carl? Emily?! Uh, heh-heh... Funny story about that! *regains his composure and clears his throat* That's not important. What are you guys notifying me about?!

Me: I just told you I was getting worried about you guys! You both seem to be doing alright. I feel that we should all stick together as a group from now on. There is NO way you're all going on an adventure and leaving ME out of it!!

Just WHERE the heck are you?!

We're in some sort of labyrinth maze near the center of the abandoned city...

Me: Then get outta there!! Didn't Megan warn you about the sirens?! They're bound to detect trespassers near the center of the city!!

But HOW?! Cindy and I are lost!

Me: Just leave that to me! Lock onto Goddard's signal and follow it back here, while still keeping an eye out for Sheen, Libby, and Megan.

Em, you're a genius!!

Me: I'm no genius, but hey, I've learned from the best! Now hurry up and get over here before the sirens find out about your presence!

*rolls her eyes sarcastically, but still follows Jimmy as he tracks Goddard's signal back through the maze*

Libby: *peers into the distance about 15 minutes later* Hey, I think I see someone comin'!! No, 2 "someone's"!

Sheen: *looks in the same direction* Hey, I'd recognize that hair-do from a mile away!! It's Jimmy...and Cindy!!

Libby: Fo' once, I'm actually glad t' see that big, freaky head!

Sheen: No kidding!! *runs to meet them with Libby and Megan once they're close enough*

Jimmy: Sheen! Libby! Megan! What a relief!! *hugs Sheen and Megan in a group hug*

Libby: I'm SO glad you're safe an' sound, Cin! *hugs her best friend*

Cindy: Same here, Libs! We thought we'd lost you guys!! I'm so glad everyone's back together!

Jimmy: Correction: not everyone yet. Carl, Em, and Goddard are waiting for us at the city entrance.

Megan: Well, let's get going, then!! *runs with them to the city entrance, which only takes a few moments*

Carl: *sees them rushing up to him, Emily, and Goddard* Finally!! I'm so glad you guys are all safe!!

Jimmy: Is everybody okay??

*a rambling of responses ensues, but the general response is "Yeah, I'm okay."*

Jimmy: Good. Now, let's get out of this potential death trap!! Goddard, "fly cycle mode" for transporting Em. The rest of us will swim to shore.

Goddard: *transforms into "fly cycle", onto which I climb, being careful not to disturb Stephanie, who's still napping*

Carl: But I can't swim, remember??

Megan: That's okay, Carl. You can hop on my back.

Libby: Now, let's get outta here!!

Sheen: I hear that!!

[~~Megan~~]

(Aw man. I set up all that drama and -anticlimax'd- )

Carl: Wahhh! I'm sinking!

Me: CARL. Listen to me. Hold on to my shoulders and try to drift. No--no, don't cling! Just lightly hold them. Just relax. Float. UGHHHHHHHHH

Cindy: Man, it's freaky swimming at night, when you can't see the bottom...

Sheen: And horrible awful soul-sucking monsters wait to eat your bones!!!

Libby: Eww, Sheen, knock it off.

Jimmy: Everyone just calm down, we're almost to shore.

Me: Thank goodness!

*everyone clambers up the beach, bleached and glowing in the moonlight, and treks over to the cabins*

Me: Please, no more going to the ruins for a while, okay guys? Emily could've been badly hurt.

Jimmy: Alright. Let's all try to get some sleep.

Libby: Sounds like a good idea.

Me: I'll go check on Emily, girls. You head on in.

Cindy: Okay.

Me: *quietly opening Emily's door* Em?

Emily: *sleepily* Megan? *yawns* I was just about to go to bed, I just got Stephanie settled down for the night...

Me: Look, we were all super worried when you showed up. You can't push yourself like this, okay? You had a baby today! I promise I won't let the kids go back to the ruins until you're back to normal, if you promise to relax and keep yourself out of trouble. Deal?

Emily: I guess you're right. *yawns again* I promise.

Me: Thank you. *smiles* I don't want to lose any of my friends.

Emily: *climbs in bed* Good night, Megan...

Me: Good night, Em. *heads back to the girls' cabin. Cindy and Libby are already fast asleep* What a day! I'm ready for some sleep, and lots of it!!

*later that night*

Cindy: Wow, that was too easy! *closes the cabin door behind her*

Jimmy: Cindy, what are you doing out here?

Cindy: *jumps* Wha? Oh, Jimmy! I, uh, just wanted to look at the moons?

Jimmy: The moons have set already. You were going back to the ruins!

Cindy: Yeah, so what if I was?

Jimmy: I can't say anything. That's where I was headed.

Cindy: *emboldened* Yeah! Megan isn't our babysitter. She can't order us around.

Jimmy: We do need to be careful. With everyone else asleep, there won't be anyone to get us out again. We should be back by dawn.

Cindy: Sounds good to me.

*they slip into the water, glancing back at the dark, peaceful cabins, and glide away towards the ruins*

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

(Don't you forget; I'm a light sleeper!)

Me: *stirs in my sleep after a while; mutters* Huh? I thought I heard someone go swimming... Wait a second...at this hour?! I'll bet it's Jimmy and Cindy... Those 2 are so stubborn and they don't know when to give up! That DOES it!! *whispers* Goddard, contact Jimmy immediately, but quietly...

*engages in "silent mode" and contacts him, tossing me a wireless earbud to hear his voice*

Me: Thanks, boy. *quietly tiptoes into another room, then speaks* James Isaac Neutron!!! Stop what you are doing this INSTANT!! You promised no more adventures until I've recovered! What's going ON here?!

What the-?! Em?!! How did you know Cindy and I were out here?!

Me: I'm an extremely light sleeper, and when I heard the 2 of you sneaking out into the ocean, I got furious... Neutron, you PROMISED no adventures until I've fully recovered! Are you going to back down on a promise like that?! I don't want the father of my child getting hurt, and plus, you're still a KID!! You've still got a lot to learn about life, young man!!

What is she blabbering about?!

Me: I heard that, Vortex! Now, the 2 of you made a promise to me, as did everyone else... Are you gonna back down on it and act idiotic like some sorta daredevils?! Or are you 2 gonna KEEP your promise to me, be respectful, and wait like everyone else?!!

You make a forceful argument, Em... Alright, we'll head back. It's the responsible thing to do, anyway...

Me: Good. Do NOT disappoint me, you 2... And have a good night! Over and out.

Jimmy, I thought-

Cindy, save it. She's right. We made a promise to her, and we need to be responsible and keep that promise to her. She's our friend, too, ya know... And plus, she just got out of labor 24 hours ago! That's MORE than enough stress to put on a woman like her in her condition! I'd rather not risk the chance of her harming her health to keep checking up on us and making sure we're okay...

You're right, Jimmy. We made a promise, and we should keep it. Let's go... *swims back with him, then the 2 head to their separate cabins for the night*

[~~Megan~~]

-morning-

Libby: *stretches and yawns* Oh, this bed is comfy! That's the best sleep I've had since this whole adventure started!

Cindy: *rubs her eyes* Yeah, tell me about it. Where's Megan?

*they get dressed and step outside onto the porch. The boys and Megan are surrounding a warm campfire, while Megan and Carl busy themselves with pots and pans*

Cindy: Brr! It's a bit chilly in the morning, isn't it?

Me: It'll warm up once the sun gets higher, and then generally stays warm until late into the night.

Jimmy: *coughs* Yes, I noticed last night.

Emily: Good morning everyone! *comes out, carrying a cooing Stephanie* Ooh, what's that I smell?

Carl: *proudly* We're making breakfast! Eggs and sausage and potatoes!

Cindy: Where'd you get all that food?

Me: Psh, where do you think?

Sheen: The magic breakfast fairy?

Me: Wow, Sheen. No. I poofed it. Anyway, after breakfast I thought we'd go goof around on the huge plain past the mountains. There's so much space up there, we could turn it into anything!

Jimmy: I need to get back to work on my device to get us home.

Me: That too.

Libby: Hey, couldn't you just "poof" us home?

Me: Well, there are some restrictions that I can't work around, and don't ask me to explain because that would break the laws of the Quaternary Facade.

Sheen: What?!?

Me: It's this guild of poofers I'm trying out. There's a lot of guilds, pretty much for every alignment you can imagine. This one has some pretty specific rules.

Jimmy: Well what are the rules?

Me: I can't tell you! That would break the rules!

Cindy: That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard.

Sheen: No, this is! LALALAPTHHHHBTFLARPDOODLEMONKEYBONBONSCREEEEEEECHBOING!

Everyone: ...

Jimmy: ...Moving on...

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

Me: Okay, hold it; back waaaaaaayyyy up for a moment... According to the laws of biology, plant life is only the base of any food chain. Shouldn't there be animal life, as well, to consume and... *ahem* "recycle" the plant matter so it can break down into fresh soil and start the process over again? At least, that's how it works on Earth. From things the size of the tiniest insect to that of the largest animal known to humans, there's BOUND to be some animal life around here other than sirens, right??

She's got a point, actually... If it's true for Earth, then why shouldn't it be true here, as well??

*is busy picking at a scab on his forearm* Um, what?? Huh?

Okay, that's nasty... X-o

I hear some faint screeching noise... Is that some type of simian life form out there that's making that noise?

*pauses and listens* Hmm... I hear it, too. I'll head to the edge of the forest and see if the sound increases in volume... *ventures over there and steps in between 2 exotic-looking trees, sticking his head in to hear something more. But before he can do anything else, a strange fruit sails straight in his direction, looking like a royal purple mango with light blue polka dots, it landing right square in his face* Aaauugh!!! *marches back to the group, the fruit's golden insides all over his face* Something's definitely out there, guys... *sees and hears them all snickering, some covering their mouths* What??