Hi everyone! Aspen here,

While those of you who follow "Beast Saga" are waiting for the next chapter, (sorry about the wait) here is a series of one-shots of varying genres, consisting of scenes that never made it into "Prime: Beast Saga". In a way, I suppose it's a little like "Mirrors", except that it all takes place within the story "Beast Saga".

Some of them will be serious, some of them may be sad, and some of them will be very, very silly.

Because I can.

No shame. I'm that sort of a person.

Whatever happened to the Jasper Trio?

"This is a lot of homework," Raf peered into Jack's backpack with a concerned look on his round features. "Do you want some help with this later?" The older boy smiled softly and ruffled the young genius's hair. "Nah, I think I'll be okay. Thanks, though." It was an unlikely friendship, a twelve year old computer whiz and a sixteen year old who melted into the crowd at any given opportunity.

The older boy had come across the younger the year before, standing forlornly at a bus stop in the middle of a downpour. His several older siblings had each gone to various after-school activities, forgetting that their little brother had no way to get home. Jack had been on his way home when he saw the little boy, and couldn't bear to leave him there alone. He'd taken off his jacket and held it over the smaller student's head in a vain attempt to keep the rain off him until the bus arrived, not saying a word. He'd been so focused on sheltering the sad underclassman that he hadn't noticed at first when the rain stopped hitting his shoulders. The two boys had looked up to find a thin Asian girl holding a brightly-colored umbrella over them both with a lopsided grin on her face. "Hello, Totoro," she'd said to Jack, and that was the day Rafael Esquivel met his two closest friends.

Now the two boys walked home from school together every day—mostly to ensure that the youngest Esquivel was not forgotten again. Taking two hops to match every one of Jack's longer strides, Raf swung his short arms cheerfully. "After we finish our homework, can I come play with your rabbits again?" his brown eyes sparkled and Jack was hard-pressed to keep a straight face. "I love rabbits," the little boy sighed, "But Mama and Papa say I can't have one because it might eat Mama's garden. Which is totally unfair, because they let Beto get a parrot and I know for a fact that the feathered creep is responsible for the missing lettuce." Jack grimaced at the idea of evil, lettuce-snatching parrots and lightly punched his friend's shoulder. "Sorry Raf, not today. We're meeting up with Miko, remember?" The momentary disappointment on Rafael's face melted away at the reminder. "Oh yeah!" he grinned and bounced on his sneakered toes. "The lake!" He darted ahead of the older teen, skipping towards the bus stop. "Come on, Jack! Hurry up!" he laughed.

Miko was waiting for them at the little green bench, paint long since faded and peeled. A pair of oversized purple sunglasses perched on the end of her nose and a large tote bag sat at her feet. "About time you two showed up!" she said in mock complaint, "I wasn't going to tell the driver to wait for you if you showed up after he did, y'know." Jack and Raf blinked, then shot sidelong glances at each other. "Wait a second, Miko, you had detention!" Jack observed, "How in the heck did you get here before us?!" With a cackle, the feisty girl informed him that he was better off not knowing. "Plausible deniability Jackie-boy, plausible deniability. They can't make you tell them what you don't know!" she smirked as the bus finally pulled up. "Next stop: Lake Priscilla!" Miko crowed, dragging the two boys down onto one of the cracked leather seats.

The bus dropped them off a mile from the tiny patch of forest surrounding the peaceful body of water, and the three set out on foot from there. None of them complained about the heat or the long march: it was not uncommon for Jack or Miko to organize impromptu camping trips or hiking excursions, and over the last year they'd each developed a love of the outdoors. Of course, being the youngest and the smallest, Raf tired more easily. Jack knelt silently halfway through the trek and waited until Raf had climbed onto his back, then stood and continued as if nothing had happened. Beside them, Miko was complaining about her elder brother, Shirako. "He's always going on and on about his stupid street races, but he never lets me come along!" she growled, kicking at some loose stones. "But Miko, I'm just looking out for my baby sister!" she suddenly said in a decidedly unflattering imitation of the sibling in question, before switching back to her own voice. "Yeah? More like looking out for your reputation, because you think I'll tell all your buddies which of your boasts aren't true!"

Jack raised an eyebrow at her. "Well, would you?" he asked, hoisting Raf a little higher on his back. The girl shot him an offended look. "Of course I would! I'm his little sister! It's my job!" As they neared the lake, Miko sighed and tipped her head back contentedly as a stray breeze ruffled her fluffy pigtails. "Hmm. I wonder if Shirako will find those pictures I asked him for..." she murmured as they set their things down at the shoreline. Then she turned and grinned widely at the boys. "Okay you guys, about face! I'm switching to swimsuit mode!" Raf and Jack glanced at each other. "Uhhh...Miko, you said you were going to wear the suit under your clothes, like us. You're not really changing..." Raf pointed out, but was silenced with an imperious wave. "Up-bup-bup! Do not question the Miko! Obey the Miko!" the girl giggled, "About face!"

The other two teens sighed in feigned annoyance and turned to face the large boulder that served as their diving board. Before Miko could move, however, there was a sudden commotion. A snapping, tearing sound filled the air, as if a giant had shaken out a massive tarp. A blue light, shaped almost like a long crack in mid-air, surrounded the children with a glow that was somehow brighter than the sun itself. "Wha—what's going on?" Jack shouted over the rippling sound. "I don't know!" Miko shouted back. Jack reached back and took hold of her wrist—despite her protests—and wrapped his other arm around Raf's shoulders. "Hang on, guys!" he hollered as the light grew brighter and brighter and the wind roared in their ears and then—

Silence.

The lake was as pristine as it had been before, and there was no sign of the trio.

No tote bag, no backpacks, not even footprints in the sand.

It was as if they'd been wiped from existence.