Disclaimer: I don't own any of the POTO characters (wish I did) but Anna and Brooke ARE MINE! MUAHAHAHAHA! (sorry…had to get that out)

THE POPPINS PRINCIPLE

"I'm soooo freaking bored!" Brooke whined. She sprawled out on their bed, peering over her cousin's shoulder at the book in her hand.

"How many times can you read The Horse and His Boy before you fall out of love with it?"

"That's what I'm trying to find out."

"And?"

"This is round fifty-five and I still love it. Why don't you draw something?"

"I'm sick of drawing….especially when there's no inspiration. Besides…I've run out of paper and pencils."

"Ask Erik for some."

"Do they have pencils in 1870?"

"I don't know. I'd tell you to look up the history of the pencil on the Internet but the fifth cellar of the Paris Opera isn't exactly the best place for reception."

Brooke groaned melodramatically and flailed her limbs in frustration, "I wish we had the Star Wars DVD's!"

Anna laid aside her well-worn copy of The Horse and His Boy and said, "Yes, I miss those, too!"

Brooke shifted restlessly, amusing herself with messing up the covers when all at once she saw the book-filled duffle bag sitting beside her…even though it had been on the other side of the room only a moment ago.

"What the…"

Hi there, said the Bag.

"Oh my…Anna, the bag is talking to me!"

Anna popped up next Brooke and stared at the bag as though she were trying to use X-ray vision on it.

"Go on…say something," she challenged.

Hey, hey, I don't have to do this. If you don't want those DVD's then keep on talking like that.

"Wait!" Brooke squealed. "DVD's! You can get us DVD's?"

That's right, babe.

"How?" Anna asked, arching an eyebrow.

It's a little thing called the Poppins Principle. It means that since you are living in a fictitious world the Author can provide you with anything you may need or want like Mary Poppins pulling room décor from her magic carpet bag, hence the name "Poppins Principle."

"And hence the talking bag."

Exactly.

"Oh my gosh! Anna, here are the DVD's!" Brooke cried pulling a four-disc widescreen edition of the Star Wars Trilogy out of the bag. Anna leapt onto to bed to kneel before the bag.

"So does that mean we can have a flushing toilet?" she asked.

No can do. Toilet won't fit in here.

"I thought you said we could have anything!"

Well…there are limitations. Really it's all left to the Author's discretion.

"Knew there was a catch. So, can we at least have toilet paper and aspirin?"

Here you go.

"THANK YOU!"

"Anna, come on. I want to watch the movies." Brooke was already moving toward the sitting room, where they kept the computer.

Anna jumped up and grabbed Brooke's arm, "Wait, I have a brilliant, beyond brilliant idea!" She whispered into her cousin's ear and a wicked grin spread across Brooke's face. Nodding her consent, Brooke stole out of the room with Anna, moving down the back hall like ghosts.

They found Erik in his room hunched over a new contraption of wire and glass. Their sudden appearance didn't startle him as it once had. They were admirable students, learning the excellent art of haunting with remarkable speed.

"Erik, dear, do you know how to make popcorn?" Anna asked with deceptive sweetness, resting her chin on his left shoulder. He was suddenly filled with a terrible dread. They had a maniacal gleam in their eyes that made him think he ought to fear for his life.

"Why?" he asked.

Brooke leaned in and said, "Because we're gonna have a slumber party!"

To be continued…