by The Eurostar, Danny and I'm Not Mister Mxypltk
Edulcore Cicciotto was walking down the street toward the lane crowded by the people looking for the parade. There were flying cows, flashing lights, and screams.
Screams? he realized. The people were running, screaming, trying to leave the course of the parade. What was happening?
Cicciotto took flight and waved his wings quickly to get above the scene. The sight was unbelievable. There were a dozen giant, inflatable Smurfs walking above the crowd, their feet pushing over the people, not harming them only because they were still lighter than air.
The giant Smurfs were running, too, because they were pursued by an even bigger Gargamel and by his cat. Why I always forget that cat's name? thought Edulcore.
Danny Hearn stood in the hallway outside Rachel Johnson's apartment, having just made an utter fool of himself and feeling the strong -- and understandable -- urge to get the hell out of there.
"Smooth, Danny. Real smooth," said Hal.
"Shut. Up."
"Yup, the women are like putty in your hands..."
"Please. Shut up."
"Beating them off with a stick, you are."
"I sense no shutting up in your immediate future. Why are you not shutting up?"
"Because giving you a hard time is the only fun I get. But now... we should really see to that parade outside."
"Ah, crap... M'xy..." Danny ran for the open window of the building. He dived out, yelling, "Wings," as he did so.
He soared above the street, looking down at the chaos below. "Stupid Gargamel... stupid cat..."
"Azrael."
"I know!"
"So what's the plan, chief?"
"We find M'xy. Make him fix this. Eagle vision, please."
Danny scanned the ground below and soon found what he was looking for: a figure in a top hat, standing in the middle of the parade, looking up with wonder. Danny swooped down and landed next to his teammate. "M'xy!"
"He fell from the sky, the boy with wings!"
"M'xy, what the hell is going on here?"
"Elemental fury! AIR given form! Would you like one?"
"You have to make it stop. It's like the ending to the first Batman movie... except without the Joker gas."
"You want them filled with Joker gas? I could fill them with Joker gas."
"Please... don't..."
"When did YOU ever see the Batman movie?"
"History in media class. The sixth movie was best, though. Fourth one was shit."
"Talk to your head, Danny. I'll talk to the wind!" M'xy floated up slowly into the air, following the errant balloons down the street.
"M'XY! YOU HAVE TO STOP THIS!"
M'xy floated toward a traffic light. "Green means go..."
"M'XY! PLEASE!"
The traffic light changed. "Red means stop!" M'xy stopped. The balloons stopped.
People around them stopped their frenetic running, making sure they were okay and looking around with confusion.
"All done!"
"I saw. Thanks, M'xy. You did good. Can we please go home now?"
"Not before you hug me!" a voice exclaimed.
Danny and M'xy turned and looked up, to see Edulcore Cicciotto, the Eurostar, alive and well. Danny's eyes widened when he recognized him, while M'xy jumped into the air, shouting, "High five, bro!"
Now I really am back, thought Edulcore.
Danny ran to hug Euro, throwing his arms around his long-absent friend. "Oh my God! Edulcore! We thought you were dead!" Danny yelled.
"Turns out that wasn't as true as you'd thought," Eurostar replied, smiling.
"What happened? Where were you?"
"It's... a long story, Danny."
"Then come back to the hotel and share it with us!"
"Plenty of time for that. How about we just go for some lunch?"
"Fine, fine, that's cool. Sam showed me a great pizza place just near here." Danny led Edulcore and M'xy to go for pizza. "Oh, and M'xy..."
"Continue!"
"If we're going to a crowded restaurant, it might be best if you say 'Mick' right about now."
"Why would it might be best if I say Mick--?" A pause, and then Mick Harrison said, "Oh my God! It's Eurostar!"
"And then there was this dancing turtle dude," Mick said enthusiastically as he ate his fourth slice of pizza, spilling cheese all over the table. "And then I became M-X-Y, so I can't remember, and then the guys returned from their mission with new guys, but they were too tired, so they went straight to bed, and then I proposed to Shirley. Dude, can you believe I'm getting married?"
"I'm still processing that," Edulcore answered with a smile, properly having his pizza.
"And then there was this big fight," Mick continued, "but I was M-X-Y, so I don't remember most of it... except that part where I visited my old room as a kid... and that part where Lance ate a mountain of fish sticks... and now we are here!"
"Thanks for filling me in, Mick," Edulcore said, and then turned to Danny, noticing he had been silent most of the time. "What can you tell me about the new guys, Dan?"
"Well, there's Turkish, who's like ten feet tall and freaky..." Mick answered, "...not to mention bald, and then there's Dirk, who likes guns and stuff... maybe a little too much, if you know what I mean, and there's Chance, who's also a little creepy, but looks like a decent guy... and good old Sammy, of course! But Danny should tell you about him! They're HUGE PALS, right, Dan?"
"Right..." Danny replied awkwardly. He then added, "And there's also Grimm."
"Grimm. Yes," Mick said, suddenly becoming quiet and getting a little pale.