ASK THE AUDIENCE!
Knock-knock-knock, Knuckles rapped on your computer screen. Lydia pokes her head up. "Hey, Readers! Lydia here! How goes it?!" Lydia pulled herself up, sitting on the blank set like a chair. "So, in case you're wondering, Gradgirl - the author - is throwing in a little segment where she wants some feedback from the readers. You." She mimics Uncle Sam. "Basically, in the middle of the fic, she wants an opinion on what to add, who to toss, and what to input or cut. And, since the reviews to My Sister's Keeper are multiplying like rabbits, she figured now is a good time to ask." Lydia sneakily looked around. She leans in and whispers, "I'm really glad you like the story. Personally, it's one of my favorites too." She blushes. "I never expected it to be so popular though. It was an idea Gradgirl pulled out of hat and ran with."
"Oh stop equivocating already!" Lydia groaned miserably. Cedric marched on scene. "Who care about hats, and favorite stories!" Lydia puffed her cheeks angrily. He stamped his foot impatiently, "Will you please get to the reason as to why we're here?"
"PFFT! And I'm supposed to fall in love with you?!" Lydia climbed to her feet, dusting off her skirt. "Id rather get married to Moleliere!"
"Alright, you two, that's enough!" Miranda giggled, sauntering between them. "You're both friends. Try to act like it for a couple more minutes."
"SHE/HE STARTED IT! DID NOT! STOP IT!" Lydia tackled Cedric. A fight cloud censored their violent match.
Miranda exhaled drearily. She should have seen that coming. "What am I going to do with them?"
Wormwood perched to her shoulder, "They'd make for an excellent carnival act." Miranda had to llaugh at that one. "Back to the objective of this intermission. It seems a reviewer messaged Gradgirl a while ago and asked if Princess Lydia can have a little summoning trick of her own."
"In fact," Miranda bubbly chimes in, "This is actually an idea Gradgirl has been toying with, but isn't sure if she should keep it or not."
Eezeyal joins in, landing on Miranda's other shoulder. "You see, Sofia's amulet summons princesses, turns her into a mermaid, lets her talk to animals and who knows what else. So Gradgirl and the reviewer thought, maybe, Lydia -with Ubos's help - should be able to summon Sorcerers, witches, and wizards that came before her. Help her when she's in a jam with her magic training."
"Example," Golden glitters swirls, and Ubos materializes in a flash, "She needs instruction on careful wish making? Who better to teach her than Genie from Aladdin?"
"WHAT UP KIDS?!" Genie pops on screen, then vanishes.
"Using brain in place of brawn. Seeking solace in education instead of ignorance. Merlin from Sword in the Stone would be perfect to summon."
"The praise is appreciated." Merlin briefly appeared.
"Or, just for the sake of mixups and mistakes, she conjures the pink elephant parade or the cheshire cat." A conga line of pink elephants danced across. The Cheshire cat waved idly, passing by and disappearing. "Gradgirl is holding it in her reserves, but does not wish to use them in the event her character becomes a mary sue."
Lydia and Cedric stop fighting. Cedric has her head planted to the ground by a foot, and Lydia's yanking his nose. "I despise Mary Sues! Unless they're funny."
"Then you;d hate yourself!" Cedric poked her eye. "You're as funny as a heart attack!"
"I'LL GIVE YOU A HEART ATTACK!" The pair returned to the cloud.
"I think it's a good idea." Sofia tiptoed past them, dusting pink bubbles off her. "Tell us what you think. And don't worry, the next chapter will be available-huh..." Stretches ear to someone off camera, "What? She's not sure when the next chapter will be up? I thought she had a rough draft?" Person keeps feeding her lines. "Oh! That's right. She has work tomorrow. And then she moves on to one of her other fics every week. Man!"
"Don't worry, Sofia," I walk on scene, petting Sofia, "I'm going to post the next chapter really soon, I hope. I want to finish the Floating Palace segment."
"Hey, when is that Lezard guy going to show up?" Lydia stops, turning beet red. cedric growls murderously at the name.
"He actually isn't due to arrive for a long time. I'd give it another..." Counts rough drafts, "Six chapters. Give or take. Depends on the flow and what I feel is the best way to proceed."
"Can you at least give us hints about what's to come?" Roland impatiently pleaded.
"Sorry guys! No hints, no tips, no nada!" I point to the audience, grinning menacingly, "You're gonna have to read and figure out where the story is heading. For now, tell me your thoughts on Ubos summoning other sorcerers to help her. It can be the villain ones to. Wouldn;t be the first time heroes consort with villains." The characters - Lydia and Cedric finally stop fighting - and myself wave, "See you soon."