From: Ronin | Posted: 4/1/2001 9:01:01 PM | Mark for Moderation

*Elmon and Ferrer return to the dim room with the jade table and crystal sphere. Elmon touches a finger to the sphere, and it briefly glows white. In its depths, a picture of the area around the High Hall of the Radiant Heart appears. It shows the cloud of gray mist floating near the woods, and Cernd, Simon and the other wedding guests approaching.*

Elmon: Look here, Ferrer. A merry band has gathered to pay us a visit.
Ferrer: *looks into the sphere, studying the scene, then shuts his eyes as if concentrating* ... Strong, all of them. Some stronger than others.
Elmon: Why don't you run along and tell Katarin? I'm sure she'll be quite pleased with you... for once.

*Ferrer snarls.*

Elmon: Touchy, touchy.
Katarin: *suddenly materializes in front of the two men* Did I hear my name mentioned?
Ferrer: ..... *flinches slightly* Ah... ah, yes, Katarin... the sphere... *gestures towards it* those people...

*Elmon turns his face away from Ferrer and chuckles, making little effort to mask it.*

Katarin: *looks into the sphere* Well. They all look delicious. Why don't we greet them personally before we usher them in? *glances at the men, smiling mischievously*
Elmon: *returns the smile* A lovely idea. What say you, dear boy? *reaches out and grabs Ferrer in a headlock, ruffling his hair*
Ferrer: ... !!! You insolent dog! *elbows Elmon in the ribs and pulls free* I will not be treated like some child! *smoothes out his hair*
Katarin: You never fail to amuse me, Elmon. *seductively strokes his chin with a finger* Come, now... we mustn't keep our guests waiting.

*Katarin's form blurs, and fades from view.*

Ferrer: *whirls to face Elmon and grabs him by the collar of his coat* Obstinate, childish, obnoxious fop!!! I should slay you for that!
Elmon: *grins in response as he rubs the sore spot from Ferrer's blow* But you won't. *shifts the grin to a smirk* Dear cousin.

*Ferrer releases Elmon's collar and shoves him away roughly. He blurs and fades from the room without another word. Elmon follows.*

From: Ronin | Posted: 4/1/2001 9:03:39 PM | Mark for Moderation

*Back in Athkatla...*

Cernd: This is it. The mist seemed to grab and swallow them, as if it had a mind of its own.
Simon: *quietly, but loud enough for Cernd to hear* One might say that it does.
Aerie: *points* Something's... someone's coming out of it!
Simon: *shoves Cernd and Aerie behind him* Everyone, stand back!

*The green-gowned form of Katarin materializes in front of them. She smiles at Simon, who meets her gaze with a glare.*

Katarin: Well, well. Look who we have here. *looks at the others* How thoughtful of you to pay us a visit.
Cernd: *steps forward, even as Simon tries to brush him back* Where are the people that you took? What have you done with them?
Elmon: *appears, with Ferrer* Oh, nothing nasty, good sir! We simply invited them in for a glass of wine. *snickers loudly*
Simon: *narrows his eyes at Elmon's last few words* Your sick practice is about to come to an end. I'm going to see to that personally.
Jan: *steps forward and stands next to Simon* Hey, Simon... there's something _really_ funny about these people, and I don't mean all their talk about wine and invitations!
Edwin: *hobbles to the front, still clutching his stomach* The gnome is..... right (though I loathe to admit it). Their appearances.....
Jan: ... are illusions! *casts a spell, and is joined by Edwin*

*Katarin, Elmon and Ferrer make no effort to stop the mages. Instead, they turn their gazes on Simon, who silently glares at them. As they smile mockingly in reply, their outlines shimmer and ripple, as their illusionary forms vanish...*

Korgan: Holy bleedin' @#^$&%*!!!
Aerie: Oh...... oh, my!
Keldorn: Gack! *faints, yet again*
Jan: Ooooooh...... this is _not_ good.

*Standing there in front of the mist are the true forms of Elmon, Ferrer and Katarin:*

Barney (yes, the annoying purple dinosaur!): Hi, everybody! *waves cheerfully*
Cartman: I want my Cheesy Poofs!
Pikachu: Pikaaaa...?
Edwin: Gyaaah!!! MOMMYYYYYY!!! *rushes to the back of the crowd*
Simon: I told you to stay back! These.... things... are more destructive than any force in the Realms!
Cartman: *passes gas, and the trees in the forest behind him all fall over and die* Whoops, excuse me...
Barney: Won't you come and play with us? *hops around* Let's all gather for a big HUG! *charges towards the people, hugging everyone*
Pikachu: Piiiikaaa! *goes up to Jan*
Jan: Noooooo!!! This yellow rat's cutesy cuddly-ness is killing me..... ack........ *drops dead*
Simon: *gets crushed by Barney's big hug* Urrrgh..... everyone, run... while you still can....... aaack... *dies*
Cartman: I'm goin' back home to get some Cheesy Poofs. *turns his back on the people and heads for the cloud, passing gas... effectively killing everyone else except for Barney and Pikachu*
Barney: Aww, that's so sad. Now we don't have anyone to play with.
Pikachu: Piiika!
Cartman: Do I look like I care? *steps into the cloud*

*Barney and Pikachu survey the carnage around them, then shrug and follow Cartman into the cloud.*

Barney: Well, at least we've got three new playmates to play with, huh, Pikachu?
Pikachu: Pika!
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HEH HEH HEH HEH HEH HEH HEH!!! APRIL FOOL'S!!! Mwahahahahaaaaaa! Of course, that's not the *real* continuation to the story... but what the heck, it was fun! HEEHEE!
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