Just Like Magic

by BitterSweetTeller

When Medieval Magic Quest turns out to be more than just a game...two of a kind find themselves drawn in. But...will it be just like magic? Or...will it be a dangerous fantasy that threatens to destroy what they hold most dear? A alternate take on a certain side story from the Suite Life episode Tiptonline. Rated K Plus for suggestive content, some drama, and action.

6. Part 6: Shooting Stars Circle

Just Like Magic: A Suite Life/Waverly Place Crossover

Part 6:

Back away from the lava, some indefinite amount of time later…

Quite surprised by what she's hearing, Alex says, "you mean…that's it? You've believed in magic this whole time?" Though…she's secretly very relieved. Alex thinks to herself, "not even a little disbelieving, huh? Slight chuckle. Where did this guy come from?"

Zack reasons, "I believe you plenty enough, Jessica. That's all that matters…right?"

Not trying to get ahead of herself, Alex slightly chuckles nervously, "okay. Sure. It's just…" Somewhat concerned, Zack wonders, "just what?"

Alex concludes, "it's nice. Unexpected, yes. But…nice." Zack slightly smiles, "you're welcome." Alex takes a deep breath: Taking in the sight of the living room, like it may be the last time she can.

A mystical crystal orb appears in the middle of the room: Floating there, giving off crackling lava sparks from within. Somewhat nervously, she turns back to Zack, "you ready…Zack?"

Zack figures openly, "for you? Whenever. But…you sure you are?"

He and Alex are reaching out to the crystal orb. A magic portal starts opening before them. Half jokingly, Alex challenges, "long as you can keep up."

Not long after…

Darkness falls. Bursts of lava sparks go off. The darkness retreats…before giant fireballs of ruby crystalline stardust. A clear blue stardust aura of a sky swirls between the crystalline stardust giants. The night sky barely peeks out. Floating islands of grass orbit the crystalline stardust giants.

And standing on seven of them…are the contestants. Each of them has been given a mystical crystal orb one way or another, like Alex's. Some are teams of two and then some. Some are their own.

ZapperWitch23 looks too cheery for her own good, standing there with DrumSoarer321 and with her rustic brown wolf like dog Hummer.

Alex glares warningly towards another player: The only one who has defeated her single handedly…and without a care for who got in the way. Her username is PlayerBasher45, in iced over blue sprinkles. She just slightly smiles back at Alex. She has shoulder length blackish blond hair, gas tank styled brown leather wear over a dark purple dress…and a pair of mystically glowing black hand crossbows that fire spells with dangerous accuracy.

Rock Heeled Princess is here too. The figure of another player with her is obscured, by the shadow of a passing island. A eighth contestant has the username of WhoistheMasterNow, stylized in blue plaid. His wand matches. He has medium blondish brown hair, a dark blue Barbour jacket with a yellowish textbook like interior…and a baby dragon Wyrmling animal companion with diamond scales.

Reflected in the orbs are the fogged out faces of Deiselle, and her equally mysterious co-creator of this realm. From the other side…they're looking out to the contestants. In the rim of Deiselle's crystal ball, trails of shooting stars are coming forth. Deiselle calls henceforth, "hello. Welcome to our "little" contest. Well… Slight laugh. Very little time will really go by here. But, you win…and you get all the time you want. Or, whatever strikes your fancy. As for laying down the "ground rules"…our head designer Archim here is here to do the explaining." Her face fades back from the reflection.

The shooting stars explode in the clear blue…unleashing storm after storm of Stardust creatures. Most of the contestants murmur in excitement, or mostly held back nervousness.

Beamingly, Archim says, "don't mind if I do, Deiselle. Round 1 is fairly simple. You will each have a storm of Stardust creatures to command. No spell castings will be wasted...so long as you're casting spells with them. But, here's the tricky part: They only respond to spells. If you're not quick enough…their new target will become you. Whoever has the most Stardust creatures left by nightfall gets the most points. But, for all rounds, keep this in mind. There is no respawning: Once you're out, you're out. You understand?"

Most of the contestants grow silent. Archim adds, "good."

Directed at Archim, Deiselle figures, "oh yeah. And you almost forgot: No stardust protection enchantments in this round." Alex mutters lowly, "dang it!" Her enchanted bracelet has had such a enchantment: Given to her as a gift by a high up Demlin, who stole it off a player in a game of color draining.

Alex asks, "Can I at least get one phone call to a wizard?" She's thinking of Justin as she asks it. Alexa is just stirring from her side…realizing the contest is actually starting soon.

Archim points out, "slight sigh. Afraid it doesn't work like that, Roadwiz34. If you get one, everyone will want one." Alex moderately sighs, "fine. Whatever."

Zack somewhat assures, "sure was a nice try though." With a hand on his shoulder, Alex slightly smiles, "thanks."

Archim counts down, "3…2..." The stardust storms are coming overhead: With spinning top and octopus shaped Stardust creatures of red, blue, yellow, orange, and green.

Out of the blue, ZapperWitch23 starts laughing, "and 5, 6, 7…with…ooh…ooh…" Most of the players just stare at her, dumbfounded.

DrumSoarer321 says delicately, "that's right: Let it all out. Umm…yeah. She's always like this." The fogged out images have faded away.

Zack slightly chuckles, "all the more easy for us." Slightly smiling, Alex figures, "true. Let's do this."

ZapperWitch23 mutters under her breath, "easy? Easy?! You're going to choke on those words!" PlayerBasher45 slightly laughs, "allow me."

Everyone gets out their wands. Alexa slightly sighs out loud, "finally." Zack says, "I'll get the crazy girl. You go…" Alex slightly chuckles, "and let you have all the fun? No way."

ZapperWitch23's team and PlayerBasher45 are coming within range. With some adjustments on her wristband, ZapperWitch23 is commanding her Stardust storm without a sound. They're forming a yellow and green battering ram for her team to ride on. Zack figures nervously, "on second thought...you call it."

The Stardust storm above them starts targeting them. Alex concludes sarcastically, "that was easier than I…thought." Fireballs and lightning rain down from the red and yellow Stardust storm. Alex and Alexa tumble out of range.

Alex then hits on something, "ohh. Slight chuckle." Alexa wonders annoyedly, "what's so funny?" Alex voices, "trust me: It'll come to you."

Zack starts spell casting, "skaterink ring…!" Alex calls out, "Zack, over here! Hurry!" Zack quickly figures out, "you're not really…? Moderate sigh. You are." He ducks from incoming fireballs. Some of his health bar shrinks. The island is going aflame. Alex is run jumping off of the island…right for the battering ram. She calls back, "love you!"

Alexa slightly chuckles to herself, "ok: That's funny."

In frozen time, on another island or two…

Rock Heeled Princess has a Stardust storm of gold guitar keys over her head: Just still…and ready. Opposite her is a player…who is just standing there. Her strawberry colored username is StrawberryPrincess312. She has strawberry blond medium hair, a gold lined bright red gown, and a brown broom handle like wand. Her yellowish white cougar like cat Mian is on a floating green comfy chair, sitting there and playing with a blue ribbon. Rock Heeled Princess articulately puts forward, "look. All differences aside… Slight sigh. I don't want to fight you."

StrawberryPrincess312 giggles, "oh, no no no. I don't fight: I clean."

By way of stardust, her player info is shown up in Deiselle's crystal ball:

Username: StrawberryPrincess312

Level 5 Sorcerer

Player Race: Human

Animal Companion: "Cat like cougar" Mian

Alliance with None

Personal Condition: Supercharged sweetness and superstrong politeness, but also has supercharged determination to clean up even the smallest messes

First Name: Meridian

Residence: Contencin, West Virginia, USA

Most "Magical" Player Moment: Cleaning up this land, almost always

Extra Charm for M2M: Perfect Executive Material

Kind of annoyed, Rock Heeled Princess figures, "whatever. Same question."

StrawberryPrincess312 adjudges, "well… Slight sigh. No offense. But…your teammate doesn't seem to like me much." With a slight shrug, Rock Heeled Princess reasons, "it's her way. I wouldn't worry about it though."

In twirling joy, StrawberryPrincess312 says, "oh, thank you! I'd be delighted to team up with…you." She stops twirling…realizing time is resuming. Before her are humanoid marshmallow like elementals: One red, one blue…and both with matching color rimmed lens for a hand.

Back to the other side of the aura sky…

The aura sky starts losing stardust, before the night air.

The island is about to go up in smoke. Zack swings off of a Stardust creature, so he can get a clear shot. He spell casts, "skaterink doublink!" The island turns inside out, the wind canceling out the flames. Many Stardust creatures get pulled in…as it's quickly transforming into a wooden double helix skating rink.

PlayerBasher45 is aiming her mystically glowing black hand crossbows at Zack and Alex...from a forklift like platform made out of square yellow and blue Stardust creatures. She gloats to herself, "slight chuckle. Easy picking."

By way of stardust, her player info is shown up in Deiselle's crystal ball:

Username: PlayerBasher45

Level 4 Knight

Player Race: Human

Actively avoids alliances

Personal Condition: Supercharged fearlessness and supercharged spell voice, but also has supercharged recklessness

First Name: Skylar

Residence: Fairview, Georgia, USA

Most "Magical" Player Moment: Bashing the Ancient Ones to "the Failview Falls"

Extra Charm for M2M: Runaway Wizard

Alexa though spots PlayerBasher45. She mutters, "don't count on it." Alexa run jumps off of a forming side of skating rink. She takes PlayerBasher45 down…off her platform. Her blue health bar shrinks down to three quarters.

She shouts, "get off of me!" PlayerBasher45 punches her away…hard against the side of a island. Alexa falls onto another island, unconscious. Though, since this is Magic Medieval Quest…she's bound to reappear back at Alex's cabin safe and sound: Whether Alex is out for the count or not.

Meanwhile…

Zack is skateboarding with two red Stardust creatures under his feet: Heading in Alex's direction. Alex grabs the edge of the skating rink, struggling to pull herself over. And just as she thought…the Stardust creatures targeting her fire lightning into the battering ram instead. It shakes dangerously, with ZapperWitch23's team barely holding on.

Alex breathes heavily…just making it up on the skating rink.

She sighs in great relief, "okay: Not the best idea I..." The laser fast spell fire from PlayerBasher45 misses Alex…but hits Zack. Zack gets encased in a block of ice…which is sliding on a crash course for a crystalline stardust giant.

Getting teary eyed, Alex figures, "no kidding, Alex! Heavy sigh!"

Meanwhile…

PlayerBasher45 is about to cast a spell to break her fall. But, then… WhoistheMasterNow makes his move. He comes out of a slowed time spell, riding on Colbane's back. WhoistheMasterNow laughs, "perfect. Time to "really" fall."

By way of stardust, his player info is shown up in Deiselle's crystal ball:

Username: WhoistheMasterNow

Level 4 Sorcerer

Player Race: Elven

Animal Companion: Diamond Wymling Colbane

Alliance with None

Personal Condition: Superstrong cleverness and super-stuck up, but has supercharged determination to rule all before him

First Name: Ronald

Residence: Covent Garden, London, UK

Most "Magical" Player Moment: Conquering a kingdom and winning the princess

Extra Charm for M2M: Determined Wizard

Colbane's ice breath blast freezes PlayerBasher45's wand hand, as ordered. And before a shaken PlayerBasher45…WhoistheMasterNow casts, "wandic shatteric!" PlayerBasher45's wand shatters. She cries, "no. No!" She clutches her icy cold hand…as she falls faster and faster into the resurfacing endless night.

Back with Rock Heeled Princess…

The red marshmallow like Elemental fires fire from its lens hand. With a wave of her wand, StrawberryPrincess312 spell fires a water blast to cancel it out. She says, "sorry about this…but you're very messy." StrawberryPrincess312 spell casts, "expandous maximous!" The water blast becomes a tidal wave, vaporizing the red marshmallow like Elemental.

Rock Heeled Princess is in the midst of spell casting, "frieake marsh…" The blue marshmallow like Elemental has absorbed half of the water blast...blasting it back at Rock Heeled Princess. She coughs hard against the edge of the island…barely holding ground. But as quickly as it came…the blue marshmallow like Elemental vanishes with its creator. StrawberryPrincess312 helps Rock Heeled Princess up. She says very nervously, "sorry." With half a bar of health, Rock Heeled Princess insists, "it's ok. No real harm done."

Meanwhile, not so long ago…

Winding branches of orange and red and blue spinning top Stardust creatures wind around a crystalline stardust giant. And standing on one for the ride…is Rock Heeled Princess's teammate: MeditativeMessenger591. Her username is done in water vapor drops. She has long slightly gray black hair, a cosmic black gown with a dark blue lamplight like triangle, and a matching wand and sandals.

Facing off against her is a player with the username IDontDance11. He has blond blackish medium hair, a pair of mystically glowing swords of blue and red swirls, a half sized in-game look…and a red lined cloak with a marble white squid like design. He's charging up his own winding stardust branches of yellow and blue at near blinding speed. In a echoing voice, MeditativeMessenger591 calls out, "tell me: Do you just copy off of others, or are you just getting tired already?"

With a wave of her wand, she's conjuring up five copies of herself: At the cost of all her spell castings. All on winding stardust.

By way of stardust, her player info is shown up in Deiselle's crystal ball:

Username: MeditativeMessenger591

Level 5 Wizard

Player Race: Elven

Alliance with Rock Heeled Princess

Personal Condition: Superstrong quickness, but has supercharged determination to bring forth world peace

First Name: Jijani

Residence: Nagoya, Aichi, Japan

Most "Magical" Player Moment: Being more at one with the magic inside us all

IDontDance11 retorts sharply, "coming from a tired old witch?! You're going down: Right now!" He jump kicks backwards…while slashing his own branches of stardust off. They fall down to the crystalline stardust giant below. The MeditativeMessenger591s shake their heads in slight amusement. A flaming stardust ruby flare goes off…and the amusement is taken with it.

By way of stardust, his player info is shown up in Deiselle's crystal ball:

Username: IDontDance11

Level 4 Knight

Player Race: Halfling

Alliance with None

Personal Condition: Super-slow learning curve, but has superstrong determination

First Name: Sven

Residence: Nice, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France

Most "Magical" Player Moment: Eating marshmallows "all day" with no shame

The MeditativeMessenger591s's winding stardust branches go up in smoke. But, in seconds…IDontDance11 is taken out in the shockwave. He's falling into the crystalline stardust giant…as the last inch of his health bar flickers out. He goes out in a puff of stardust…bound to reawaken far far away from the stars.

Meanwhile…

DrumSoarer321 concludes, "you drive. I got this." ZapperWitch23 cheerfully adds, "sure. Just let me watch." With a wave of his wand… DrumSoarer321 casts a giant lightning bolt.

The double helix skating rink is splintering in flaming pieces.

On the fly, Alex casts, "windsurfo wavesurfo!" The flaming pieces turn into tunnels of tidal waves...in a fragmented ocean.

The giant lightning bolt travels through three…frying ZapperWitch23's battering ram stardust by stardust. They're coughing hard, their health bars going down by the second. She calls out, "run!" They break into a run with Hummer.

Alex appears on a dark purple windsurfing board, going superfast above and below. She calls out, "I'm coming, Zack!" She struggles to hold onto her wand and the board all at once…getting closer and closer to the block of ice.

From his wand, WhoistheMasterNow spell casts, "cyclondic splashndic." Alex only catches the tip of the wand…in the blur of the tidal waves. The windsurfing board is torn in half by a forming cyclone…as darkness comes.

ZapperWitch23 run jumps to a coming about island with Hummer. She clutches her side. Her health bar is only down to three quarters. She still holds her wand. But, her side aches. She calls out, "Charlie?! Sniffle. Charlie!"

Alex swims for the block of ice. It crashes into Colbane, breaking to pieces and freeing Zack. Zack barely holds his breath for a bit longer…as Alex grabs his waistline to pull him hard out of the water with her. And then…the darkness falls.