Episode 5: That Purple Girl

This episode was actually fun to write despite my hatred of the episode itself ^^

At MCHS, there were many sports to behold. And on that day, it was a time of intensity. Boone panted, as he and Penn were running. Boone seemed to give up and collapse on the ground.

"Don't you quit on me!" Penn shouted, going back for him.

"Go!" Boone gasped. "And win this race! Win it for the both of us."

"No! We are winning this thing together!" Penn went and helped Boone up, carrying him. "We're...so...close!" They were right behind it, panting.

"You should not be this tired at the starting line," the coach said blankly, firing the starting gun. Boone collapsed completely.

"I'm not leaving you, buddy!" Penn proclaimed, rolling his best friend. "Yeah! Picking up speed now, huh?"

Meanwhile, Verge was on the bleachers, waiting for her friends to finish PE. This was one of those days where Verge decided to go full human and wait for her team at their school. Her wings were tucked behind a red sleeveless vest, so she didn't fly much today. She leaned back on the seats, raising an eyebrow as she waited with Sashi.

"They're not joking, are they?" she asked.

"Sometimes I like to think they are." Sashi muttered.

"Still, you gotta admit, their friendship is unbelievable, right?"

"Yes, I suppose it is. I wish I could say the same for us." Verge frowned. Sashi smiled. "Just kidding." Verge chuckled. "If only you enrolled here, so we could hang out more."

Verge shook her head. "Can't risk it. These wings are easily visible. Anyone could pull this vest off." At that, Sashi attempted and pulled at her vest. "Not cool, Sash!"

The girl laughed. "Yeah, well, you should still stay a human more."

Verge smiled. "Maybe I will when I feel like it." She looked up and saw the two best friends, now exhausted, and broken down. "Well I guess it's time to get them."

As if on cue, the school bell rang. Penn and Boone sighed in relief. The girls walked over, taking the boys and carried them, placing their arms over their shoulders.

Verge helped Penn up. "You still got energy for today's mission?"

Penn coughed and forced a smile. "Are you kidding? I've got more energy than you in my little finger!"

"Says the one who collapsed within ten feet from the starting line."

"Boone! You're too heavy!" The boy and the fairy turned to find Sashi struggling with said other.

"Sorry, Sash, I'm just so tired..."

"You're gonna make me tired!"

Verge chuckled. She lightly threw some of her floating dust at him. Boone was able to hover just a centimeter off the ground. Sashi sighed with relief and gratitude. Penn smiled.

Once the boys got to the locker room and changed, they were able to leave school. They headed over to the Odyssey, Verge flying small-sized over them. Phyllis dropped in at their entrance.

"Hello, children," she said. "Good to see your human and fairy faces."

At that, Verge seemed to be so surprised that her wings stopped fluttering and she fell to the floor. Penn, Boone, and Sashi stared.

"What, I can't be in good mood?"

As Sashi picked Verge up, Penn spoke nervously. "Uh, no, we're just used to a far meaner version of yourself, I mean, look, you do have a 'Not Welcome' mat."

As soon as he said that, he immediately regretted it. Phyllis started ranting. "OK, end of good mood. Trying to change self for better, no respect from children. You want good mood, I'll give you good mood. Bad mood all day because of you!"

Before they knew it, she zapped them.

"You shouldn't have said that, Zero."

"What? It was true!"

Verge sighed and stared at her form. She was still a fairy, but she looked like an alien. Her skin was golden, she had two pointy ears on each side of her head, held a stick the size of a toothpick, and wore a red and blue dress entirely made out of leaves. It was rather different than the leaf clothes she wore back home. She was also barefoot, and around her forehead was a silver circlet.

"This world is weird."

"Tell me about it," Boone piped up. "Loincloths? We're either aliens, or maybe we're dancers."

Penn frowned. "Wh— What is this thing with you and dancers? Boone, we're not dancers. OK, Sash—"

He stopped when they realized Sashi wasn't around. All they saw was the giant beast they were flying on. "Sashi? Hello?"

"Hello. Down here."

Still nothing. That's when Verge noticed the beast was her. However, the boys weren't catching on.

"All I see is this hideous beast."

"It must've eaten her!" Boone gasped.

"Don't worry, Sashi! We'll get you out of this vile, putrid..."

"Oozy, warty..."

"Guys," Sashi warned.

"Unintelligent,"

"Reekfest, stink-burger-"

"Guys! It's me! I'm the stink-burger!"

Penn and Boone paused for a moment and started bursting out into laughter. "Oh, boy," Verge said as she flew higher.

It was good she did. Sashi threw them in the air and flipped her tail at the boys, causing them to fly off. They screamed as they landed in pain. Sashi growled at them.

"You're breath is so bad, I'm picking it up with all five senses!" Penn said.

"That's a bit too intense, Zero."

"It's true!"

Sashi rolled her eyes and checked the Specs. "All right, a peaceful alien princess is lost, in the dangerous lands of the evil alien Cronut tribe. Our mission is to find and escort her back to her people."

"That's it?" Penn asked. "Give some fancy lady a ride home? Piece of ca—" He cut himself off when he saw someone emerging from the bushes. It was the Princess. Penn was staring at her in a rather dream-like way.

"We found the Princess!" Verge declared, not seeming to notice Penn's staring.

Boone walked over. "Penn, what are you daydreaming about-" He also cut off and was staring at the Princess. He was in a daydream daze too.

"This is the greatest moment of my life," they said together.

OK. Weird.

But Verge noticed nothing. She flew over to the Princess, all friendly-like. "Hello, Princess," she greeted. "We have come for you."

"Saviors?" she asked, smiling sweetly. "How wonderful. I am Princess Alrgelbaccch Blunkenthorttthhhop."

"Such a beautiful name," Penn said. Boone nodded in agreement.

"In nature, all things are beautiful, especially my name."

"Ah, uh, me and my best friend here have come to save you. Along with the fairy and that." Verge frowned and looked up at Sashi, who growled.

"Blessed be your arrival! I rule over the Purple People of the East! My light sustains our soul and protects our bodies." Penn and Boone had a closer look at the purple light.

Verge waved a hand through it. "I think it should be fine."

"I hope so. You brave warriors must protect me from the evil orange Cronuts who wish to steal my light to power a weapon capable of wiping out our forest!"

"Then maybe you should have left your stupid diva light at home," Sashi said blankly.

Before Verge could say anything, Penn already spoke up. "Hey, whoa, whoa! This isn't the blame game! Don't worry Princess, you're in good hands...strong, rugged, green hands."

"Yeah," Boone agreed. "No one taking your adorable light. Not on my watch or whatever you tell time with here. Looks like a sundial kind of place so not on my sundial." Penn growled at that.

By then, Verge realized there was something wrong with her friends. They were acting very...different.

"The spirit of the forest shows me you're surrounded by the aura of honor, nobility, and strength," the Princess said. "Careful with my bags."

Penn and Boone took one look at the large pile of luggage and started arguing over who could carry the most bags.

Sashi hissed again. Verge was still confused. She flew over to Sashi and asked, "Hey, Sash. What's up with Boone and Zero?"

Sashi scoffed. "That, my friend, is called infatuation. Right now, those idiots think they're in love with the princess. But they're just fawning over her looks."

It was brief, but Verge understood completely. "Oh."

"Annoying, isn't it? Prepare yourself and have a close look about what 'fussing' is."

"Why?"

"They're going to try and win her affection. That's what happens when two boys fall for the same girl."

Verge nodded slowly. She understood, and she didn't like it. At all.

They carried on their walking. Penn and Boone practically had their eyes glued on the Princess the entire time. By nightfall, both of the girls had enough of her.

"Keep it together, Sashi," she said to herself. "Don't eat the princess."

"For once I'll actually let you do something violent and stupid," Verge muttered.

"Tempting. But if we get her home with her dead body, we'll fail the mission."

"It's not really failing if you're the one who wanted it to happen."

"...Again, tempting."

The Princess suddenly stopped walking once she saw an open area. "I will require a shelter," she said, making a fire with her light. "To protect me from nature's wondrous gifts."

"I shall build you a shelter, Princess," Boone said.

"Actually," Penn cut in. "I should probably build a shelter."

"You couldn't build your face."

"Well, that doesn't make any sense."

"Your face doesn't make sense."

"Repeating what I say with the word face in it is not a comeback."

"My comeback coach would disagree."

"You have a comeback coach?"

"Yeah, Mr. Hartuean, the janitor?"

"Guys!" Verge shouted, flying over and getting annoyed. "Enough!"

"Maybe I'll stop if Boone would stop being annoying."

"Maybe I'd stop if Penn's face would stop getting annoying."

"This is getting nowhere." Verge rubbed her temples. "Sash, help me out here."

But it seemed like she was too busy glaring at the Princess. "The water spirits are crying out for me to drink them," she said. "Will you heed their call, beast?"

"I know you didn't just call me beast!" Sashi screamed.

"Did you forget how to hear, beast?"

"That's it!" Sashi opened her mouth to feed, but the Princess had other plans.

"Fetch, beast. I'll give you this nasty treat."

"I'm not some dog!"

Unfortunately, she apparently was. The Princess waved the treat near her and she fell for it. "Sash, no! Don't give in!" Verge shouted. But she already returned with two buckets of water. The Princess gave her the food and Sashi ate it happily. A fart came out of her ears.

"Gross," Verge said, making a face. Sashi blushed a bit.

"Sorry, couldn't help myself."

"OK, I've just had about enough!" Verge transformed to human size, lowered herself and faced the Princess. "You've been taking control of my friends this entire trip! I have a feeling you're not done!"

"I have no idea what you are talking about, fairy."

"Don't play dumb with me! You've been taking advantage of everyone since we met!"

"Well, I am a Princess, and princesses must always get their way."

Verge was just about to make a comeback when she stopped herself. Something about what she said made Verge freeze. It was like experiencing déjà vu. And something in Verge's heart and mind wanted to scream out a memory.

"No… It's not..." She stared until the Princess walked away, believing she'd won.

"Divergent?" Sashi asked, concerned.

Verge finally snapped out if it and faced Sashi. "Huh? Oh...sorry."

"Don't be. I appreciate you standing up for the team. But I think we need to worry about those two more."

Sashi nudged with her head as Verge looked at Penn and Boone tried to impress the Princess with the tents they made. As she rejected and burned them down, the boys argued.

"Stop ruining this for me," Boone whispered. "I think the Princess likes me."

"You?" Penn scoffed. "She just burned down your tent!"

"Only to be polite 'cause she was burning down yours!"

"We'll just see who she's being polite to." They glared at each other. This was war.

"I don't like this, Sash," Verge said. "Not one bit."

"Me neither. We gotta hold it in."

"Oh, beast! Fairy! I need another shelter!"

"I hope you like sleeping on the ground!" Verge sang out.

The next morning, Verge woke up on Sashi's back to the sound of music. Boone was playing some panpipes for the Princess. However, she was delighted to see Penn conducting some birds to sing for her instead. They stopped after their mother came and took him away.

"Oh, wings." Verge immediately stood up and flew towards the bird quickly. Penn was screaming in fright.

Verge faced the bird and grew to human size. "All right, calm down buddy," Verge soothed. "Just drop the crazy alien for me, will you?" It screeched. "Don't worry, he won't bother your kids again."

At that, the bird let go. Penn shrieked again, but not until Verge caught him.

"Whew, thanks Verge!"

"What were you thinking?"

"What else? Oh, hey, can we land over there? I think the Princess likes flowers!"

Verge was reluctant, but she did as he asked. She landed in an area wherein there were flowers all around. "Yeah, good luck over here," Without waiting for a reply, she took off.

Sash was already awake by the time Boone finished his song. "Where's Penn?" she asked.

"Collecting flowers," Verge yawned. "Any sign of Cronuts?"

"Nope. I can't tell if that should be good or not."

"Heh. Anyway, what's for breakfast?"

"I caught one of the birds and killed it." To prove her point, she held up one of Penn's conducting birds proudly.

Verge stared at it and frowned. "And I told its mother it wouldn't be bothered..." Sashi rolled her eyes playfully.

The fairy fixed breakfast up rather quick. She sure hoped the Princess wouldn't complain too much. "Breakfast is served!" Verge called out.

"Just a minute!" the Princess replied, smelling a rose. "I am eager to take a whiff of nature's beautiful aromas."

"Oh, Princess!" Penn's voice called. She looked up and saw him handing a bouquet of flowers to her as he smirked.

However, Boone arrived with an even bigger arrangement. The Princess grinned. Penn glared. Bees escaped from his bouquet and Boone shrieked, slamming them down. Unfortunately, that included Penn. Boone smiled innocently.

"Perhaps the first meal if the day will be delightful," the Princess said, walking for her breakfast. Boone followed her dreamily.

Verge walked over to the large bouquet and pulled Penn out of it. "Giving up yet?"

"Not even close."

Verge sighed. She and Penn walked over to Sashi. Everyone ate their breakfast. Penn and Boone were both glaring at each other and daydreaming at the Princess at the same time.

"I think I lost my appetite." Sashi grumbled.

"Me too," Verge agreed, finding herself watching Penn.

The Princess finished her food and stood. "If we must continue on our journey, I will require a royal carrier to lift me, so I may be able to rest on the way."

Verge stuttered. "What the dust? You just woke up!"

"After all the music-listening and flower-smelling, you can't possibly expect me to keep my energy." At that, Verge hissed. Actually hissed.

"I can make your carriage, Princess!" Penn proclaimed. "Just look at my strength!"

With that, he lifted a big rock over his head. He smirked widely as the Princess sat and watched, impressed.

Boone scoffed. "Please!" He went and did the same thing, but with a much bigger rock.

However, the rock almost immediately fell over him. Penn laughed in triumphant but the same thing happened to him.

"I shall be waiting, then," the Princess said, walking away.

Once she was gone, Sashi flicked the rocks away and Verge picked her friends up. "What is wrong with you two?" she practically shouted. "You're letting the Princess get to your heads!"

"We can't stop now, Vergie," Boone said, a little dizzy. "The Princess is close to choosing one of us."

"And that will be me," Penn added.

"No, it'll be me!"

"Ha! In your dreams!"

"That's it!" Verge shouted out. "I can't take this anymore! If you want to escort the Princess, fine! I'm gonna take a walk."

She didn't wait for a reply. She just flew away from the campsite and into the forest.

The fairy sighed. Finally some peace and quiet. And time to think. She placed a hand over her heart. Ever since yesterday, it's been pounding rapidly. She couldn't tell anyone about it, since they were mostly walking all over the place for the Princess. Verge wanted to know what it meant...

"It's not really a walk if you're flying." Verge turned to find Sashi walking up to her, smirking. "You were always one for dramatic exits."

Verge chuckled. "Yeah, well, I had enough drama for two days. The boys can't get over themselves!"

"Tell me about it. They started having a fight over who can carry Little Miss Selfish longer."

"All this for one beautiful girl..." Verge felt her heart pound again. She really didn't like not knowing this feeling.

But Sashi seemed to have noticed. "You OK, Verge?"

"Oh, yeah...my heart's just beating like crazy...it started ever since we met the Princess..."

Sashi seemed to smile a bit at that. "I think I know what this is all about."

Verge stared. "You do?"

"Mm-hmm. It's called jealousy, my winged-friend."

"Jealous?" Verge echoed. "Of what?"

"Of the Princess' looks. Just because of her 'gorgeous face', she's been getting all the attention from the boys. Makes you wish you were her, huh?" Verge said nothing. "Well, I'm telling you now. That weak, thickheaded primadonna isn't worth being jealous over. She may be beautiful on the outside, but her heart is not as pure as yours. You are beautiful both inside and out."

That made the fairy smile widely. It was like she was on the verge of tears. "Thank you, Sashi," she said. "I know it's cliché, but I could say the same for you." The female beast grinned.

"Besides," Sashi added. "That Princess can never compete with your cuteness." And that sentence made Verge laugh in happiness and hug her friend.

However, despite all she said, Verge knew in her heart that she wasn't just jealous of the Princess. There was something deeper to her feelings that she didn't quite understand yet…

Maybe if Verge searched deep enough, she'd find it.

Suddenly, Verge's fairy senses started tingling. Her ears perked up and she heard something. She pulled away and listened.

"What is it?" Sashi asked, but Verge shushed her. The fairy heard familiar screaming.

"Follow me." Together, the fairy took off into the sky with Sashi following. They suddenly saw a familiar-looking ship and familiar-looking people.

"Cronuts!" Sashi exclaimed. The two flew over to their friends wondering why they weren't doing anything.

That's when they noticed Penn and Boone were too tired from carrying the Princess. Sashi hissed at that.

Verge was face-red mad. "Larry, take this spoiled Princess' light," Rippen commanded. The Princess stared in horror.

"No!" Verge flew forward and lifted her arms. Vines from below grew upwards and wrapped Larry around his wrists, stopping him from pulling the trigger.

"Huh?" he questioned. He was answered when Sashi stomped on him. "Did we win or was I horribly stopped and crushed?"

The fairy and beast turned to Rippen. "Holy stink-burger, that thing's hideous!" he gasped.

"Hey!" Verge defended.

"No, I meant the monster."

"Like I said. Hey!" Verge grew more vines, tying the villain up as well. Sashi slammed her tail on him and threw him away.

Sashi and Verge picked up the three and they flew off. "Hey, you guys saved us!" Penn said, smiling gratefully.

But Verge wouldn't look at him. She crossed her arms and turned away. "Verge?" the boy asked, but got no reply.

"Nice going, geniuses!" Sashi shouted. "You were so busy impressing the Princess, you almost got us killed! If it weren't for Verge—"

Penn cut her off. "So, wait, are you saying I impressed her?"

"No, I think she's saying I impressed her," Boone corrected.

"You both impressed me!" the Princess cried. They then realized they had finally arrived at the Princess' homeland. "My forest people! I know it was hard to be without me, but I am back!"

"...Yay," the people cheered blankly.

"And it's all thanks to these heroes, their fairy, and their foul, hideous beast!"

"Mission over," Verge and Sashi said together.

"Goodbye, stupid princess."

"Mother Forest, Father Forest, and the entire forest extended family have presented me with two, worthy suitors. But which will I choose?"

"Please be me, please be me, please be me," Penn and Boone said together.

"The brave, courageous soul who has won my heart is the one...who slays the death-eater in a blood battle for my affection in a cage match versus the Grinkol!"

"Huh?"

Before Penn and Boone knew it, the ground suddenly collapsed beneath them. Sashi and Verge were able to avoid it by flying but gasped when their friends weren't so lucky.

"Penn! Boone!" they exclaimed. They tried flying to them, but were stopped by a force field. "Great, now I know how annoying these things are." Verge grumbled, pushing. The Princess smirked in the background.

As the boys stood, an ugly monster emerged from the entrance. It roared at its opponents. The boys took one look at it and their eyes widened.

"We are going to die!"

"No you're not, stupids!" Sashi screamed. "Just work together!"

"Use the power of friendship!" Verge shouted. "Friendship is magic!"

"...Did you just—"

"Yes, yes I did."

"Sashi and Verge are right!" Penn said. "When we work together, nothing can stop us!"

"Let's do this!" Boone agreed.

They got into battle stance...and the Death-Eater punched them into a wall. It roared again, lifting a rock.

"No!" Verge shouted, pushing deeper into the force field.

"It's not working," Sashi said, concerned for her friends.

"Boone, look," Penn said. "I was a real jerk today. I let an insanely gorgeous beautiful alien lady with a light thing in her hand come between me and my BFFFF. And it was stupid. But if this is it for us, I want you to know that your friendship means more to me than anything in the world, and—"

Boone shushed him. "We let a lady get between us, and it turns you into a raging jerk face. But it's OK, I forgive you, because I love you."

"I love you too."

"Super emotional near-death man hug?"

"Super emotional near-death man hug."

As they hugged and cried, the Death-Eater roared and prepared to throw the rock.

Verge couldn't watch this. "Fairy power!" she yelled out.

Using her own magic, she created her own force field and used it to bust through. Once the rock was thrown, Verge flew in front of it, causing the rock to shatter. "Verge!" the boys shouted.

"I will not let you hurt my friends!" the fairy yelled, going up in the Death-Eater's face.

It only growled...and made a face of disgust. "Do you yield?" it asked, crossing its arms.

"You can yield?" Boone asked.

"You can talk?" Penn gasped.

"Of course I can talk! Just because I'm a vile, hideous beast doesn't mean I can't talk!" He turned to Sashi. "Am I right or am I right, my grotesque sister?"

Sashi rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I hate this mission."

"Yield, yield, yield!" the boys cried.

The people cheered. "I accept!" the monster said, turning to the crowd. "Mom! I won the Princess' heart! We're gettin' married!"

"That's my boy!" his mother cheered.

"What?!" Before the Princess knew it, the Death-Eater took hold of her and started nuzzling.

Sashi, who flew to her friends, now smirked. "OK...maybe I don't hate this mission."

Verge laughed. Penn turned to her, smiling a bit. She caught his eye and raised an eyebrow.

"Thanks for saving us," he said.

The fairy only shrugged. "Not the first time." When he said nothing, she added, "I'm glad you're not dead."

Penn smiled. "I'm glad you're not angry anymore."

"I'm glad you're not a lovesick zombie anymore."

Penn smirked. "Did we really act like that?"

"You have no idea. I thought we'd lost you."

"Well, I'm back now."

Verge smiled. Just to test it out, she shrunk and stuck her fist out. Penn grinned back and instantly bumped it with his finger. There was a flash of blue, and the heroes were zapped back home.

As they stepped off the platform, Verge turned to Penn again. "About the Princess..." she said slowly. "Did you really think it would work out for you two?"

The boy frowned a bit. "Well...not really," He rubbed the back of his head. "I guess she was like a distraction from the person I really like..."

Verge raised her eyebrows. "Yeah? Who is it?"

Penn only smirked. "I don't tell you everything."

"Hey! That's my line! Come on, Zero, we're best friends!" The fairy flew around him, hoping to get him to crack.

The boy turned away and smiled smugly. "No can do, Verge. You're not making me break." He glanced over his shoulder...and blushed.