Episode Eight: Non-Adventures in the In Between

"Hey, Kyle, take care of Mia for me, will you?" asked Nash. Kyle smiled, giving Nash a thumbs up. It was the very next day, and Alex, Luna, Mia, and Kyle were preparing to go to the next realm while Jessica and Nash stayed behind.

"Only if you promise to take care of Jess," said Kyle.

Willamina sighed. "Stick together, though. It seems as if splitting up has done more harm than good for you all."

"No kidding," said Mia. "Nash, please behave."

"What?!" asked Nash, looking hurt and confused. Mia laughed and sent him a smile.

"We'll see you when we get back," said Luna. "Try not to kill each other between now and then."

Jessica raised an eyebrow, her ears rising with it. "Are you sure we can keep that promise, Luna?"

Alex rolled his eyes. "They'll be fine, let's get going. Willamina? If something goes wrong, they're at your mercy," he said.

"I'll go hard on them, okay?" said the Keeper of the Realms. "All right, this realm has been known for pirates, so be careful!"

"Pirates aren't a problem!" said Jessica, snorting with a laugh.

"Maybe we should wait for Jessica before we go there," said Kyle. "She'd be better with pirates considering her father was one."

Willamina bit her bottom lip. "All right, that's a good point. Let's see. . . I'll just send you to a world known for killer vegetables."

"Sounds interesting," said Alex. "Tossed salad, anyone?"

"Yeah, sure, have fun," said Willamina. With that, they one by one stepped through the magic mirror. Once Luna picked up the rear, Willamina shut off the mirror and turned to the remaining two. "All right, aside from magic, cooking, healing, and scaring the crap out of poor Nash here with death threats, what else can you do?"

The two exchanged looks for a few seconds, turned to Willamina, and shrugged. "I could help with any research or paperwork you need done," said Nash.

"I don't really have research or paperwork to do," she said. "And I'd say help pinpoint more realms with crystals, but, that takes no time at all, and I don't want you breaking my instruments."

Jessica snorted. "Just keep him away from airship engines and he won't destroy anything," she said. Nash showed his distaste the joke, causing the beastwoman to snicker.

"Not funny," he said. Jessica grinned slyly, snickering.

Willamina sighed heavily. "All right, I'll call you if I need you," she said. "Go do. . . whatever."

"Fine, I have yet to fully explore this place," said Jessica. "I'll turn up sometime later. Bye!"

Nash had discovered that not only was Willamina's library large, but a fountain of valuable knowledge to indulge in. Histories of thousands of realms were at his fingertips. Tales of brave heroes, incredible technology, and noble royal families.

But, Nash had chosen a book filled with comics instead.

"Wow," he said. "Calvin gets into some interesting trouble."

"So, you've been reduced to comics?"

"Jess, I'm reading," Nash said.

"Very intelligent reading. Ha! He tracked dog poop into the house, that's a riot! 'Where's the hose!' Nash, for a wuss magician, you've got good taste in humor," she said, bursting out into laughing hysterics.

Nash turned to see that his involuntary wife had just come from swimming, as she was wearing a bright yellow bathing suit with a towel wrapped around her waist. Plus, her hair was still damp. "Willamina has a bunch of them, if you're interested."

"Ooo, goody!" said Jessica. "Where?! I love comics!"

Nash rolled his eyes and pointed her to the shelf containing the comic collections. Jessica placed a finger to her chin as she looked over the titles. "Hmm, should I choose Garfield, Peanuts, or Dilbert?"

"Don't choose Dilbert," said Nash. "It's a little over our heads technology wise."

"Oh, I'm sure I could- what's a fax machine?" asked Jessica.

The mage coughed. "I told you so."

Jessica stuck her tongue out. "I'll try Peanuts," she said. She opened the book and her eyes widened. "Oh! So that's what a Home Rum Hitter is for. It's used in some sort of a game!"

"A game? That was a lethal weapon!" said Nash.

"No, you apparently use it to hit a ball that's thrown at you," said Jessica. "I'll go ask Willamina about that."

"Ask me about what?"

"Willamina, what exactly IS a Home Run Hitter?" asked Jessica, pointing at the picture.

"Oh, baseball," she said. "Baseball is game that some of the realms play. It's fun! I'm assuming you're talking about the stick? That's a baseball bat. You use it to hit the baseball."

"But it's supposed to hit a home run," said Nash.

"That's what you want."

"But they throw baseballs," said Jessica. "I'm confused!"

Willamina sighed heavily. "Let me explain it. . ."

". . .and that's the game of baseball," said Willamina.

"So they aren't weapons?" said Nash.

Willamina shook her head. "They're extremely hard and can be used as weapons, but they're meant to be used for the game," she said.

"Yeah, cause Nash delivered a nice hit to one of the Disciples' heads when we tried to escape BEFORE we got married," said Jessica. "That was funny, until we walked out surrounded by Elvina and her followers."

Willamina blinked. "I didn't know he had it in him," she mumbled.

"I was desperate," said Nash. "I wanted out of there. You don't realize what it was like, or, do you?"

"I have a decent idea," said the Keeper of the Realms. "Well, it's almost lunch time. Nash?"

"Sure, what do you want?" he asked.

"Food?" suggested Jessica.

Nash sighed. "Since you seem to be obsessing over food, I'll let you choose. You do have recipe books, right?"

"Of course I do, I'm just horrible with using them," said Willamina.

"Mmm, this looks yummy," said Jessica. "But this looks good, too."

Nash stared at Jessica lazily. "Make up your mind."

Jessica whimpered. "But there's so much to choose from!!"

"Then close your eyes and put your finger on something and I'll make that," said Nash. "All right?"

Jessica placed one of her hands over her eyes and pointed at something. "Pizza," she said. "That sounds good."

"Pizza? I've never made that before. Is there a picture?" asked Nash. Jessica flipped to the page and pointed at the picture. "Oh, we saw those before we were tricked by the Disciples. They seemed like they were popular."

"Let's try it," said Jessica. "I'll help."

"How about not?" said Nash.

"Why not?" said Jessica.

"I remember Kyle's story about the Exlax Cookies, Jessica," he replied.

"Aw, but this doesn't involve chocolate chunks!" she said. "It's cheese and tomatoes and a flour!"

"Better be safe than poisoned," said Nash. "Wait outside."

Jessica gave Nash the Sad Puppy Dog Face routine. "Please?"

"It isn't going to work, Jessica," said Nash. "Don't even try it."

"He didn't fall for the Sad Puppy Dog Face routine?" said Willamina.

"Nope, not at all," said Jessica. "He's immune to it!"
"Probably because he's not in love with you aside from perhaps a friend," said Willamina. "That or he's an ice cube."

Jessica shook her head. "He isn't. I've seen him around Mia. He'd easily lay down his life for hers. Like Kyle would for me."

Willamina stared at the floor. "I felt that, once. I had a young lover. And he did lay his life down for me. It was soon after I became the Keeper of the Realms."

Jessica's eyes widened. "Why?"

"I wish to now discuss it, please," begged Willamina. The normally cheerful, charismatic woman had suddenly become sad and forlorn. "David. . ."

The young priestess narrowed her eyes. "I'm sorry to say I don't have anything to say for condolences but. . ."

"No, no, it's all right," she said. "I just. . . miss him."

"I'm sure that from beyond the grave, his spirit still loves you," said Jessica.

"But that was over a thousand years ago," said Willamina.

Jessica gasped. "A, a, thousand, years?" she said.

Willamina laughed. "Oh, I forgot to mention I'm immortal, didn't I? I'm just so used to the fact I don't really think about it."

"I, I guess so," said Jessica. "Wow, so you're REALLY old."

"You could say that," said Willamina. "But that's besides the point. The original point of our conversation was Nash being immune to the Sad Puppy Dog Face routine."

"How DOES he do that?" asked Jessica.

"We'll find out," said Willamina. "Then perhaps we'll throw him into the pond or something."

Jessica shook her head. "I'll have Mia pick the poison. She knows him better in that way, at least. And besides, it can't be TOO bad. He's making lunch."

"Speaking of which, the pizza smells good," said Willamina. "Like it's almost done."

"Food. . ." said Jessica. "I'm going in."

"I'll go with you," said Willamina.

Nash smiled at the pizza. "Perfection," he said. "Now, how do I cut this thing up?"

"IT'S DONE!"

Nash was knocked aside by Jessica, who now staring at the pizza hungrily. "Jessica! It just came out of the oven! It's still hot."

"Well, when's it going to be ready to eat?!" she asked impatiently, jumping up and down.

"I don't know, probably about ten minutes or so. Go wait with Willamina, I'll bring it out soon, okay? Or, how about this? Go get plates and set the table, okay?" suggested Nash.

"Got it!" said Jessica, beginning to tear through Willamina's cabinets in search of the requested plates.

Nash found a knife, lightly ran his finger over the blade, and cut into the pizza. He'd seen the people in the first realm they'd visited eating it in triangles, so he was going to make triangles as well.

"Hey, Nash, did you know Willamina's immortal?" asked Jessica.

"I kinda guessed that. I mean, she seems to be kind of smart. How old?"

"Her last boyfriend died over a thousand years ago."

Nash whistled. "So then she's REALLY old. Looks great, though."
"Do you want the pink plates or the blue plates?" asked Jessica.

"Either one works," he said.

"Pink!"

Nash sighed heavily. "Jessica, what did you eat this morning?"

"This cereal that Willamina called Sugar Flakes," she said. Jessica watched curiously as Nash nodded to himself, mumbling something. "What? Was it something I said?"

"Nothing," he said. "I'll handle drinks."

"Okay," said Jessica, happily bringing the plates into the dinning room area. The mage then picked up the tray containing their lunch and brought it out to the dinning room, where both Willamina and Jessica were waiting eagerly for him to set it down.

After all that remained of the pizza were several strands of cheese stuck to the pan, they heard activity coming from the area of the mirror room. "They're back already?" said Willamina. "Wow, that was fast."

Alex walked in, covered from head to toe in red. "Alex!" said Jessica. "By the Goddess what happened!? Why didn't Luna-"

"It's tomato," he explained. "Lots, and lots, of tomato." He laid the next crystal, also covered in tomato, on the table. "You said killer vegetables, not GIANT killer vegetables."

Kyle walked in next, covered in what appeared to be guacamole. "Those avocados are strong," he said. "Nachos, anyone?"

"Are Mia and Luna all right?"

"Aside from being covered in spinach and sweet potato goo, just fine," said Alex. "Willamina, I don't think you want the drains in the bathroom clogged up. Anywhere else we can clean up?"

"Pond," said Willamina. "Rinse off, then get cleaned up."

"You guys look funny," said Nash.

"I'm sure that if you were covered in cabbage and Jessica was head to toe in carrot mush, you'd look funny, too," said Kyle. "So, when we get outside do we just jump in?"

"Yes," said Willamina. She held back a few laughs. "You both look ridiculous."

"I'm sure they're aware of that, Willamina," said Jessica. "I'm gonna go see what Mia and Luna look like."

"I'm never going to look at a salad the same way again," said Nash, shaking his head.

"Not funny," said Alex. "Well, that's three down and four to go."

Willamina nodded. "Do you plan to stay the night, or do you wish to head to another world today?"
"Funny you should ask, we were talking about doing that."
"What? Why?" asked Jessica.

"The sooner we get these crystals, the sooner you and Nash get released from the blood lock, simple as that," said Kyle. "And I can hold you without fear of another flying lesson."

Jessica lowered her eyes. "I miss you, too."

Nash sighed heavily. "As long as Mia and Luna don't come in contact with me, I can talk to them after they get cleaned up, right?"

"Of course," said Alex. "I'd say about every hour or so she saw something that reminded her of you and she started getting all sad."

Nash laughed. "Yeah, I guess if the roles were switched I'd be the same way, wouldn't I?"

"Why would Elvina want to marry Mia and Jessica? Wouldn't that make them thespians?"

"Kyle. . ." said Jessica, whimpering at his pathetic comment. "I'm not sure which I'm more upset with."

"What!?" asked Kyle before Jessica left the room.

Mia sighed heavily, looking in the mirror in her room. She frowned, feeling lonesome. She saw someone open the door and her frown nearly deepened. "Nash, doesn't the blood-"

"Nothing happens if I just want to talk," he said, taking a seat on her bed. "Nice. Not nearly as little-girlish as your old room at the Guild was."

Mia laughed. "I've grown up, you know that."

Nash smiled. "Yeah, the fight with Ghaleon sure showed that. It was definitely a coming of age experience for us all. One especially hard for you and me," he said.

"You looked up to Ghaleon as your teacher and master, but I saw him as the only father figure I could have hoped to have," said Mia. "It's a mystery why he went crazy like he did."

"He just didn't understand that Dyne was doing what he thought was right, and that we didn't need Althena all the time. Looks like what turned into a lifetime long vacation turned into an eternal lay-off," he said.

"It is kind of sad, but Althena's magic still exists in Lunar," said Mia. "Speaking of which, I wonder how my mother and everyone else back home is taking our disappearance."

Nash shrugged. "I'm sure that Willamina has something planned. Maybe she'll go and explain the situation to them personally or something."

"Hopefully," said Mia. She smiled. "But what we need to worry about right now is getting rid of that marriage."

"I prefer calling it a 'blood lock'. Kyle's probably pissed that he's gonna be Jessica's second husband as it is. Heck, if we ever got hitched I'm sure you aren't thrilled over the idea of being my second wife," said Nash.

"Oh, it wasn't intentional, and if I'm going to settle a score with someone, it's that Disciple woman, Elvina," said Mia, looking VERY angry.

"No, I should handle that," said Nash. "She's extremely powerful, and I don't want you to get hurt."

"Then what makes you so sure you could take her on yourself?" said Mia.

Nash took on a look of confusion. "Uh. . ."

"We'll kick her butt as a team. You, me, Alex, Luna, Jessica, and Kyle," said Mia. "And we WON'T loose."

"You sound so sure, Mia," said Nash. "I wish I was that sure of myself right about now."

"Once we break the spell you will be," said Mia. "And maybe we'll get a chance to finish what we TRIED to start."

Nash's cheeks turned a bright crimson red. "Well, I, uh, I mean, are you, or, do you, uh-"

Mia laughed. "Well, I have to go. See you when I get back," she said, smiling almost seductively. Nash almost melted, but he forced himself to stand up and follow to watch her off.

"So now we're going to a world a lot like the one we went to first, but there could be freakish monsters lurking around anyways?" said Kyle.

"Exactly. Be careful, and if you see a monster, don't hesitate to use your magic against it," said Willamina. "The only reason I'm not waiting for Nash and Jessica to go with you here is because there is a branch of the Disciples here, and they may try to steal the orbe to allow them to transport between worlds."

"Don't worry, Willamina, we'll be careful and bring home another crystal to add to your collection," said Kyle, giving Willamina a humorous salute. "We'll be back tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" asked Willamina. "Your confidence is rapidly increasing, Kyle, this isn't a good thing."

"I'm sure we can handle it, Willamina," said Luna. "We'll see you all when we get back!" With that final comment, their friends left again.