Jupiter's Magic: Okay, usual disclaimer, I do not own anything in my story, ONLY my OC's. Please PLEASE REVIEW!


Four months passed by in relative peace, during which nothing eventful occurred. During that time, Raphael and Skye started getting closer to one another; although one could not say they were an "item" yet things were definitely leaning in that direction.

That particular morning found Alister, Skye, and Raphael watching an episode of Criminal Minds; Alister was on the recliner, while Raphael was sitting on the sofa with Skye (the girl was snuggled against his side underneath a blanket).

"Let me see if I've got the gist of this," began Raphael with a frown. "This mental maniac kidnaps three girls and forces them to kill one of their friends, just so that they can be let out alive?"

"Yep," replied Alister, watching the television intently.

"Lovely," said the blond, making a face.

"Hey dudes!" Lola announced as she entered the house, with Ember in tow. The girl was carrying a small box in her arms and looked gleeful about something.

"Who said you could just walk into our house?" asked Alister, turning the volume down on the television. "I certainly didn't."

"Lighten up," said Skye. "I gave her a key to the house. Otherwise she'd just break down the door."

"You bet I would," laughed Lola, readjusting her grip on the box she was carrying.

This caught Raphael's attention. "What's that?" he asked curiously, pointing to what Lola was carrying.

"Nothing for you to worry about," said Lola, noticing the sudden trepidation that appeared on both Alister's and Raphael's faces.

Skye eyed the box with recognition. "Is that what I think it is? Because if so, don't you think we're too old for that? We made that thing back in third grade."

"There is no such thing as being too old," replied Lola sagely. "All righty, boys. Turn off that TV and go over to the table; we've got something you may be interested in."

"It's going to be fun," Ember added.

"Hold it! Ember, whatever explosives you have on you are going right back out the door. The last time we let you in with them you blew up the toilet," said Alister irritably.

"Fine, fine. Put a damper on my fun, why don't you," complained Ember as she moved back out of the house.

Lola waited until Ember had come back (and Valon came downstairs) before she opened the box at the table; inside was a crown made of cardboard, tissue paper, plastic gems and the letters 'L' and 'P'.

"My dear friends," Lola announced, began, pacing back and forth in front of the bikers and Ember, "Today, I officially declare this to be our first annual prank day. Throughout the course of the day, we shall prank each other until only one of us remains standing! The last one standing will be declared Lord—or Lady—of the Pranks until next year, when we do this again."

"Oh how exciting. It would be such an honor to wear such a crappy looking crown," Alister deadpanned.

"Skye and I made this in third grade," retorted Lola indignantly. "I'd like to see you do better at that age."

Alister arched an eyebrow. "I was learning how to disarm landmines and how to properly use a flamethrower at that age," he said darkly.

"…"

Everyone took at least three steps back from the redhead.

"Who was victorious last year?" asked Raphael, deciding to change the subject.

"Skye. She's better at this than you think," replied Lola, scowling at the other girl. "She hasn't lost once in the past eight years."

"Which is why I'll sit this one out," stated Skye resolutely. "I want to let someone else win the crown—that and the fact I've matured somewhat."

"I'll have to bow out as well," said Raphael. "I'm not that great at thinking up pranks; I usually leave it up to Alister and Valon to do that."

"I'm in," Alister said. "I know Valon will be as well."

"O' course 'm in! You couldn' make me miss this f'r anything!" declared Valon with a wicked grin.

"That means we have an even number. Boys versus girls. Skye, start it for us."

The girl rolled her eyes and sighed. "Thank you, most noble contestants, for choosing to partake in this challenge. As your Lady I declare that the War shall officially begin at noon; do not start any earlier than that. The deadline is sundown. You may take this time to plot out your pranks," she recited; it was clear that she'd had to do this many times before now.

The four competitors scattered almost as soon as she was done. Skye sighed and then padded over to the pantry. "I'm making popcorn," she said over her shoulder. "Want some, Raphael?"


Alister was sitting on the sofa, watching yet another episode of Criminal Minds, when Valon walked into the room. "Your turn to take Jasper on a walk," the redhead announced boredly.

"Whatever," Valon replied, going to the closet door. He grabbed the doorknob to turn it and open the door but then blinked when he touched something slippery. "What the 'ell?"

He tried again, this time using both his hands to try and pull the door open, but he lost his balance and fell back; he ended up landing in a pie tin filled with cream cheese.

"Valon's out of the running!" called Skye as she passed him.

"…Dangit! I shoulda seen tha' comin'!" yelled Valon.


Alister waited until three o'clock before he decided on a shower—the last Criminal Minds episode for the day had aired and it would not be for another couple hours until another program came on.

He reached for his shampoo bottle inside the shower, only to find it glued shut. "Silly girls," he said, smirking as he picked up Raphael's shampoo bottle. "You're going to have to do better than that."

A few minutes later, he got out of the shower and dried his hair off, heading over to start blow drying his hair—at least until he caught a glimpse of his now purple hair in the mirror.

He stormed out of the bathroom to find that Lola was leaning against the banister, an innocent expression on her face. "Why, Alister, how could such a thing have possibly happened to you?"

"You're evil."

"I know."

"You do realize, though, you're going to have to buy Raphael a new shampoo bottle, right? I doubt he wants purple hair."

Lola shrugged. "It's a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things. You're out," she said airily as she skipped away.

Skye sighed. "Ember! Wherever you're hiding, heads up! Prank war is officially on hold until tomorrow!"

Ember poked her head out of the chimney and saluted them all, vanishing from view seconds later.

"…She really likes that chimney."


Next Day. . . . .

"SKYE!" wailed Lola as she barged into the house. "SKYE HELP!"

"What happened?" asked Skye as she flew down the stairs, noticing that the Hispanic girl was wearing a long coat and thick scarf that obscured her features.

"This!" Lola cried, taking off her scarf and coat to reveal that her skin was now a very bright shade of… "Orange, Skye! ORANGE! I look like a freaking Oompaloopa!"

"Looks like Ember struck again," remarked Alister, a barely noticeable smirk on his face as he passed by.

"That means I won!" called Ember triumphantly as she rolled out of the chimney. She did a fist pump before turning to Skye with a demanding expression on her face. "Where's the crown?"

Sighing, Skye went over to the bookshelf and placed the crown on the shorter girl. "Congrats, Ember," she said. "You are victorious, you have won the title, blah blah blah."

Valon, who had come downstairs to find out who screamed, began to laugh at Lola. "Tha's Ember f'r ya!" he said in between laughs. "You look like someone who got one o' those fake tan things!"

"Say anything more and you die. Can I use your shower, Skye?" asked Lola desperately.

Ember looked over. "She has to. Skye's body wash makes that stuff come right off," she said wisely.

Once Lola had disappeared upstairs Skye sat down at the kitchen table to begin writing in her music book; she was in the mood to write a song, but the words weren't coming to her.

"Damn it. Hey Raphael?" she called over her shoulder to where Raphael was reading in the living room.

"Yeah?"

"My pen died. Can you grab me one from the dresser in there? Top drawer on the right?"

"Sure."

Skye gave a wicked grin but said nothing until she heard the small explosion from the living room, getting up to see the effects of her handiwork.

When Raphael had opened the drawer he had been blasted with a mini-ink bomb; the end result was that the upper half of his body was covered in black ink.

"I told you I'm Queen of the pranks," she said, grinning at the almost stunned expression on Raphael's face. "Ember might have the crown, but I will always be known as the Prank Queen."

Raphael stared at her mutely before a rare look of mischief crossed his features. "Then here, O Mighty Queen. Let me give you a big hug as a token of my undying gratitude that you honored me in this manner," he proclaimed, opening his arms and advancing on Skye.

"Hell no! Stay away!" she squealed, making a break for it out the front door. Raphael was not far behind her, and Jasper was on his heels.

Lola, who had witnessed this little scene from the stairs, sighed contentedly. "Ahh. Young love."


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