Disclaimer: DO I LOOK LIKE I OWN ANYTHING?? Leave me alone! Its people like you who keep me up in the middle of the night with sweat beading down my face and-

So I was exaggerating…Sue me. On second thought, please don't.

Author's Note: Here's the next chappie!

Jo Nah: Ultra Boy

Luornu Durgo: Triplicate Girl

Clark Kent: Superman

Garth Ranzz: Lightning Lad

Sussa Parka: Spider Girl (comics)/Wave (cartoon) She had a relationship with UB in the comics, so she's got a small part

Chuck Taine: Bouncing Boy

Rokk Krin: Cosmic Boy

I know you're supposed to show, not tell in writing, but there is a nice little bit of telling. Tell me what you think of the new style!

--

"Your Majesty," the Grand Vizier bowed at the Sultan's presence. He was conflicted whether to ask about his daughter and her untimely fate.

"Louise is fine, she has duties to execute, so don't delay her," Sultan Kell-El answered coldly, as if he had read the Grand Vizier's mind.

The day passed on in its usual manner, except for the daily wedding in the evening. Since Louise was still alive, the sultan just retired to his quarters. The next morning, after he prayed, Kell sought Louise in order to finish the story she started.

--

"Your Highness," Louise greeted Kell as he walked into their room. "I've been waiting for you.

"Sultana," Kell took a seat on the bed. "Call me Kell; Sultan gets old really fast," he looked at her, just noticing her exquisite beauty and elegant smile.

"As you wish. Are you ready for the story?" Louise asked him.

"As soon as your sister joins us," Kell answered.

Louise's eyes widened. She had forgotten about Nura. "Actually," Louise improvised. "I had some time in the afternoon yesterday and I told Nura then… I assume you still want to hear the rest of the story?"

"Go ahead," Kell commanded.

--

"Wait!" Garth cried. "Please, can you give me some time to return to my family and tell them of my untimely fate?"

"Very well," the Persuader lowered his ax. "Be here in exactly one year to receive the consequences of your actions." He lowered his voice. "If you fail to return to me, I'll inflict horrible things on your wife and son."

Garth returned to his home and retold what to become of him to his family.

"Garth! Don't go!" his wife, Imra bewailed.

"Father, please!" their son, Garth II added.

"I have a year, I intend fully to spend it with you two," Garth smiled.

After a year's time had passed, it was time for Garth to leave. He solemnly left their abode and returned to the exact spot he was at a year ago.

"My good sir!" a random person walked towards Garth.

"Yes?" Garth said unsurely.

"Would you like to buy some wares?" the man asked. "Oh! My apologies, I'm Jo. May I ask what you're doing here in such a deserted place?"

"Awaiting a tragic fate," Garth answered. "What's with the goat?" he motioned to the hind Jo was walking alongside.

"Greetings!" another merchant joined the two. She was young, but her hair was white. Alongside her were two dogs, one orange and one purple. "In the mood for some fine wares?" she asked. "I'm Luornu."

"Not really," Garth answered.

"May I ask what-" Luornu was interrupted by Garth.

He answered the question both merchants had asked, recounting his awful timing and his hallowed oath to be here again.

"Oh my!" Luornu put her hand over her heart. "How horrible!"

"We can help," Jo pitched in. "We'll stand witness to the Persuader with you."

"Thanks, but I'm not sure how much you can do," Garth said sadly.

In an ear shattering explosion, the Persuader resurfaced, ready to take Garth's life.

"Wait!" the two merchants cried. They threw themselves onto the Persuader's feet and begged for him to listen.

"FINE!" the Persuader boomed. "Tell me the story of your life, mongrel and if I find it more fascinating than the accounts of the man who killed my son-"

"You'll pardon him one-half of his offense?" Jo asked.

"Very well," the Persuader dropped Garth onto the ground and listened to Jo.

"This hind you see is my wife, Sussa," Jo started. "We were married for twenty years without any children. My desire of having children induced me to adopt the son of one of my servants. My wife was claimed by jealousy and nurtured a hatred for both the child and his mother, but Sussa hid her aversion so well I knew not of it until it was too late.

"While I was away, for some trading and such, Sussa hired a sorcerer who made a potion which turned my child into a calf and his mother into a cow. She gave both of them to my farmer.

"When I returned, I asked about my child and his mother, but Sussa claimed they both had died in a dreadful accident. Later on, was in the mood for some beef, so I called upon my farmer to get the plumpest cow and send it to the cook, ready to eat.

"My farmer found the fattest cow, the one who used to be my servant. When I was called upon to kill it, she started crying. I found this quite remarkable and I couldn't bring myself to kill it.

"My wife was another story. She was so enraged that she took spun around and her incredibly long hair whipped my poor cow, killing it. Once my cook opened up the cow, there was nothing but bones.

"I called upon my farmer to bring another cow. He brought out my chubbiest calf. When I was about to kill it, it prostrated itself before me, as if it was pleading for its life. No matter what Sussa said, I didn't kill it nor did I let her do it.

"A few days later, my farmer approached me and told me that he wished for me to meet with his daughter, as she had a little skill in magic. I was to bring my calf too.

"The next day I met with the girl who after taking a few tests informed me that my son was indeed the calf! I was ecstatic when she offered to reverse the enchantment. Her only condition was that she would marry my son in a few years when both of them were at a marriageable age. Also, she offered to turn Sussa into a goat for what she had done and somehow, I readily agreed."

Jo looked up at the Persuader. "Well?"

"Very well, I forgive the merchant of ½ of his crimes," the Persuader rubbed his chin.

"May I-" Luornu started.

"Yes, yes," the Persuader rolled his eyes. "I have things to do, so don't take too long like pee-pants over here."

"Alright," Luornu pet her orange dog and her purple dog before starting her anecdote.

--

"So the two dogs are your bitchy triplets who got jealous of your success as a merchant and your handsome swan lake fairy husband, Chuck?" the Persuader moaned.

"Yup," Luornu beamed.

"Well, I don't feel like killing you anymore, merchant. Those horrible stories have ruined my appetite," in a puff of smoke, the Persuader disappeared and Garth was free.

Garth went home after he endlessly thanked Jo and Luornu for their incredibly boring stories.

--

"Did you like it, Kell?" Louise asked gently.

"I did," Kell answered.

"Would you like to hear more?" Louise asked.

"There's more!?" Kell asked incredulously. "I mean, really?"

"No," Louise giggled. "I meant, would you like to hear another story?"

"We've got time," Kell sad, hiding his excitement. "Tell me another tale with a genie."

"They wish to be called djinn, you know." Louise told him. One look at his face, his perfect features and Louise felt her plan coming together. "As you wish, Sult- Kell," Louise corrected herself.

--

There was a fisherman who went by the name Rokk. He was so poor that he could barely afford to feed and clothe his family. Every day, he vigilantly worked hard to keep his family in the frail state they had been in for years.

One day, Rokk set out for his usual fish. After he cast the net, he reeled it in, hoping for a fat fish.

Instead, on his net, there lay a lamp made of solid gold.

--

"I think it's time for your court, husband." Louise stopped the story. "I wouldn't want you to be late," she added ever so innocently.

"Hm," Kell grunted. "I guess I DO have to go…"

"If Your Majesty permits, maybe I could-" Louise stopped when Kell put his hand up to silence her.

"I'll grant you only one more day, Sultana," Kell accepted.

"Call me Louise," Louise got up and brushed herself off. "Until tonight," and with that, Louise left.

--

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