by Martha Carr
“Keep the sense of humor, but please don’t go shaking babies.”
19
Louie jumped into the air, bounced off his couch, and flipped over Ava, who lifted an eyebrow and watched him land in front of her. “Showoff.”
She smiled and swung her staff, knocking his legs out from under him. He landed on his back hard, the air in his lungs oofing out. He shook his head and smiled mischievously as he bounced to his feet and crouched in a defensive stance.
“Oooh, you’re learning,” Ava teased.
Louis laughed. “I’m getting there.”
He charged at her, swiping at her legs, but she jumped high, bringing her knees to her chest and landing. She whirled the staff through the air, forcing Louie to back up. He laughed and waited until she was finished with her display of staff skills before swatting his hand to the center and knocking the staff from her grip. The long stick bounced across the room.
“Aw, looks like you’ll have to face me like a warrior.” Louie chuckled, swiping his hands right and left, stopping abruptly at each side.
Ava smiled and eyed the staff, inching one foot toward it as Louie followed her movements. “Nah-uh-uh. Come on, now, you don’t need that to fight me, do you?”
“Pfft. I could use a paper towel and come out on top,” she joked.
She started to throw punches, but he stopped them before they connected with his face. She dropped her hands and they started to circle, each looking for any sign of weakness in the other. Louie stomped his foot and she flinched, forcing a laugh from them both. Ava shut her emotions down swiftly and concentrated on his muscle movements.
He lunged and kicked his leg at her side, only to be blocked. He continued his attack, not giving in. She backed toward the couch, lifting one leg onto the cushion and then the other. She stood on top of the furniture, blocking every move he made as he challenged her skills for the first time. Suddenly, without her noticing, he shifted and swiped her legs out from under her. She fell onto the couch and bounced to her feet.
“You recover fast,” Louie exclaimed, impressed.
“I thought about taking a nap while you went through your motions, but I didn’t want to offend you,” she joked.
“Ohh, you got jokes! Okay, I got you.”
Louie did a backflip, landing on top of the small coffee table. Ava tilted her head as the furniture wobbled from the weight before the leg snapped in half. She put her hands on her shoulders as he swung his arms wide, trying to catch his balance. Bellowing laughter echoed from her chest as she watched him flail his arms like a baby bird trying to fly. Finally, she reached out, her hand gripping his elbow and vice versa. She pulled him forward, her face just inches from his.
“I should have let you fall, but that would have been way too easy.”
She pushed him back, and he jumped over the downed table, blocking her blows as he moved across the room. He kept his eyes firmly locked on hers as he moved purposefully around the small apartment. He glanced down at her staff as they got closer, and kicked it farther back with his foot.
“Nice try.” He smirked.
She smiled back. “You haven’t seen a nice try yet. If I wanted that staff, it would already be in my hands. I was just taking your concentration off my movements, and making you less likely to block the random ones.”
“You are predictable.” He sighed. “I can see your moves coming a mile away.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yep.” Louie smirked again.
Ava stomped her right foot forward, then without thought switched them up, her hands chopping at Louie. His eyes grew wide, having not seen the move coming. He backed up, slapping at her hands, and tripped over his own feet. Ava jumped into the air and wrapped her legs around Louie’s waist, further knocking him off balance. As he fell to the ground she jumped off, swiping her feet across the floor, and rolled back on top of him as he hit the ground. She’d snatched her staff in one fluid motion, bringing it up under his chin and pressing just hard enough to get the point across.
Louie swallowed hard. “Okay, maybe not that predictable.”
“You have much to learn, my young Padawan.” Ava laughed.
“Star Wars!”
“Very good, you catch on quick.”
“You have a strange taste in dates, Ava. I just have to point that out.”
“This isn’t a date.” She rolled her eyes and stood up, reaching down to help him up from the floor.
“Too bad.” He smiled, dusting off his pants. “I was kind of hoping it was.”
“You are hopeless.” She giggled.
Louie suddenly grabbed her staff with both hands and leaped over her, landing behind her and pulling the staff to her neck. “Now who wasn’t paying attention?”
“Tricky.” She smiled. “But not tricky enough. How're your ribs?”
“My ribs?” he asked confused. “Fine, why... Ugh.”
Ava swung her elbow back, hitting him square in the ribs before twisting and ducking out from under the staff. She crossed her arms and twirled the staff out of his hands, kneeing Louie in the stomach. He bent over with a groan and Ava jolted the staff forward, hitting him in the forehead and watching as he fell to the floor, coughing. He shook his head as he tried to keep from puking on the floor.
“That... That was a good move.”
Ava leaned down and smiled, offering him her hand. He eyed it suspiciously before reaching out to take it. She helped him to his feet and walked away, grabbing a bottle of water and taking a long sip. He stood with his hands on his knees, catching his breath.
“I did not see that coming.” He laughed.
“No, I suppose you wouldn’t, would you? Just admit it—I’m better than you.”
He stuck his finger up and shook his hand back and forth. “I wouldn’t go there, but that was definitely a good move.”
Ava laughed, grabbed another bottle, and tossed it to him. He drank it quickly, then tossed it toward the trashcan. It bounced off the rim and rattled across the floor.
“Wow.” Ava laughed. “Nice shot.”
“Hey, I’m an elven wizard, not a freaking NBA star.”
“Maybe it would help you if you worked on your skillz.” Ava laughed, putting emphasis on the z.
“Or I could find a girl who wants to go on a normal date like movies and dinner, not ass-kicking and more ass-kicking.”
“It’s not a date,” she exclaimed with a giggle.
“I think...”
Suddenly there was a loud rapping on the floor beneath them. Ava’s father could barely be heard as he yelled up through the vent. Louie bent closer to try to catch what he was saying when his voice exploded through.
“Keep it down, up there. Too much noise, customers complain.”
“Sorry,” Louie called, grimacing as he looked at Ava.
She set her staff down and let out a disappointed breath. “Well, I guess that’s it for now. We should really find a better place to spar than this apartment.”
“That might not be necessary,” Louie replied, walking carefully around the room. “When I was a kid on Oriceran, I always wanted to go out with my friends. They had really cool parents who let them wander the countryside, but not my mom. No, she didn’t let me out past the first rise of the moons.”
“Probably because she knew you would get yourself in trouble.” Ava snickered.
“You’re probably right. However, I got around that. I would wait until she went to bed, and then sneak out. The first time was a fail, because the house was old and every board creaked as you walked. I couldn’t use magic because she could sense it, so I had to learn how to walk super carefully. As I got older, the skill actually had some merit. It came in handy when I was sneaking into ‘scavenge’ a deadly artifact.”
Ava rolled her eyes. “So, you gonna show me this trick, or are you gonna keep it all to yourself?”
Louie rose on the balls of his feet and danced around the living room, jumping high in the air and landing with
nearly no sound. Ava’s mouth dropped open and she put the staff down, trying it out for herself. She wobbled at first, moving slowly around the room on the balls of her feet.
“The secret is to glide, barely lifting your feet from the ground. Once you get that motion down, you could move like a fucking tap dancer and your father would never know you were here. Should work even better for you because you’re already light on your feet.”
Ava closed her eyes and took off across the floor, sliding her feet barely above the ground and stepping to the balls of her feet. She twirled like a dancer, spinning around and around while Louie watched with excited eyes.
“There you go. You got it.”
“I think I do.” She laughed, whirling like a ballerina.
She saw her shot right then and there. She hooked her leg around and knocked Louie’s legs right out from under him. He flew up, then plummeted toward the floor, streams of light coming from his hands to slow his fall so he didn’t bash into the ground and shake the whole building. Ava put her hands on her hips and pouted.
“That’s not fair. You used magic.”
“It was that or get us both kicked out of here. I like having a roof over my head.”
“True.” Ava smiled. “Come on, let’s practice our katas.”
Louie bounced to his feet, letting the magic sink back inside. He nodded and took his starting position beside her. They moved gracefully and with ease, each of their movements matching the other’s. With both knees bent they stepped onto their right leg, slowly gliding their right hand through the air with stiff palms. They paused and stepped with their left foot, performing the same hand motion again.
They punched the air, right, left, right, left, puffing out a breath of air with each thrust. Their bodies shifted left, Ava now behind Louie as they repeated the synchronized movements. They turned again, repeated, and turned again, finding themselves back at their starting point. From there the moves became more fluid and stronger. They chopped their arms, kicked their legs, and drove their fists into the invisible enemies in front of them.
When the kata was complete they locked their knees and bent at the waist, putting their palms together and bowing. Louie and Ava stood up, took in a deep breath, and relaxed their bodies. Ava looked at him and he at her, and both nodded. Ava plopped down on the couch and put her hand out, catching a bottle of water Louie tossed. He had started to walk toward her when his phone buzzed on the kitchen counter.
It was Leira, asking him to join her at the rally. Louie had obviously heard about it. Not only was it all over the news, but there were flyers for it plastering the underground railway. Even his informants had contacted him to find out if it was real or a trap. Louie hadn’t planned on going, but since Leira was involved, she probably expected trouble.
“Who’s that?” Ava asked.
“It’s Leira. There is that magical cooperation rally at the Mall, and she wants me to be there. I’m assuming we will be a secret patrol to make sure no funny business happens. They are headed over there now.”
Ava nodded and stood up, wiping her forehead on her sleeve. “I’m going with you.”
“Uh, no. If there is trouble at this thing, it will be pure chaos. I won’t be able to look out for you.”
“I am not a dog or a car. You don’t need to track me with a homing device. I can handle this. Besides, if there is trouble it will probably be the Harriken, and I can fight them, I know their moves.”
“Their moves without magic thrown in, but try doing it when magical fireballs are hurtling toward your head.”
“I’ll be fine.” She sighed. “I’m going. I told you I want to be more involved.”
Louie stared at her for a moment, deciding whether to continue to argue or just give in. He could tell there wasn’t a single argument that was going to sway her, so he gave in. He walked into his room, opened the locked wooden safe, and pulled his sword out. He pushed it into the sheath on his back. Ava raised an eyebrow at him, unscrewing her staff.
“You don’t think that looks a little too aggressive? If I were a human going to my first magical rally, I might be intimidated by the magical elf thing with a sword on its back.”
“First, I’m not an ‘elf thing,’ I’m a wizarding elf, a mix of wizard and—shocking. I know—elf. Secondly, I’ve learned the hard way to always be prepared. I don’t need to get caught out there with my pants down. If I freak a few people out, they will thank me later when I save their lives.”
Ava chuckled. “No one else wants you caught with your pants down either.”
20
People poured into the Mall before daybreak, carrying signs, laughing, and bringing along every person who was either magical or an ally of the community. Starbucks were flooded throughout the entire city. The Starbucks employees weren’t sure where everyone was coming from, but they had their hands full making every kind of coffee on their menu for the line that stretched out the door.
Overhead, a Homeland Security chopper made its rounds, policing the area. The people looked like ants, flooding out of both the regular subway and the many Starbucks. Excitement was in the air as they walked down the streets carrying signs, chairs, and anything else they thought they might want. They streamed down the sidewalks, all headed toward the Mall.
The rally began, and the vibe was peaceful. As people swarmed into the space, the Mall became jam-packed. The rally hadn’t even begun, and it was already a success. Thousands of people were curious about the magical beings they had just discovered lived among them.
Everyone had a different way of showing their support. There were groups of magical beings with signs protesting against Humans First and their unfair treatment of the magical community. They were steadfast and determined to get their message out there.
There were younger humans, dressed in tunics and long flowing broom skirts, with peace signs painted carefully on their cheeks. They carried drums and chairs as they made their way to the most crowded area to set up and let the music do the talking. People of all ages flooded into the rally, from those magical beings who had been there for hundreds of years to children, curious as to what magic the Oricerans had to offer. The older generation stuck close together, calling on their experience through the years of protesting against wars, racism, Global Warming, and now the persecution and villainization of the magical community.
The colors of the rally were vibrant and loud, Oriceran flags waving in the wind to the backdrop of wildly-painted signs. People had stayed up all night creating massive art pieces to express their desire for peace and connection. Others just sat quietly on the sidelines, watching everything as it unfolded.
A young elven girl stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, sending bursts of energy pulsing from her hands. The small orbs swirled through the air and broke apart into brightly colored bubbles that blew down and over the lawn of the Mall with the breeze. As they reached the Reflecting Pool they burst, and the colors fell into the water below. The Pool swirled with vibrant shades of purple, orange, red, and blue that moved on the water like oil. Children sat at the edge of the Pool giggling and laughing as a witch stood on the other side, casting magical glowing fish into the Pool. They swam through the colors, leaping out of the water and diving back in, splashing the children.
On the walkways up and down the Mall, magicals representing all areas of magic had set up their own information kiosks in tents and on blankets, pleading for humans to ask them questions, to get to know the community and get involved in the activism. An older Light Elf—at least older for Earth—stood to the side, casting a magical bouncy house up. It was a replica of the Light Elf Castle that floated above the lush green lands of Oriceran.
As the children played in the castle, investigating every inch of the massive inflatable, the parents learned about Oriceran and its history. Pictures of the lands and the people flashed in midair and pamphlets floated about, landing in the hands of all those who passed.
A few yards from the Oricera
n education area, several tables and chairs had been set up. At each table was a magical being: some witches, some elves, and a couple of gnomes, all with their glamours removed. The small magical beings sat tall in their seats, wearing their bowler hats, vests, jackets, and dress pants. The small flowers on their hats hummed as humans came to sit and learn about the different ways magic could improve the world they lived in. From medical advances to alternative energies for the future of the planet, people started to understand what an asset the magical community could be to the planet.
The magicals weren’t just asking for a free ride or a place to take over when their lands were gone. They wanted to bring something to the table and pushed for a better future for all. It was an interplanetary friendship, one that was beyond the true understanding of humans, but they did their best to explain anything they were asked. Not all the questions were easy. Some people were still very uncomfortable with the idea of a change that great, but the magical community sought to give honest and complete answers, no longer fearing how they would be perceived.
It was one of the largest gatherings ever in the nation’s capital, and it got bigger as the day wore on. It was barely noon, and you couldn’t walk without bumping into someone. Normally, this would irritate Leira, but to see so many there in support of magic on Earth was inspiring. Music started to pump out, echoing across the Mall, no speakers necessary. It was light and airy, lifting everyone’s moods even further. Some of the elves danced, showing the ritual elven moves they had learned from their ancestors on Oriceran.
Humans gathered around, clapping excitedly as swirls of magic flew around the dancers, the music louder around the dancers. Unified flags of Earth and Oriceran were handed out to anyone who would take one.
“Hey, there.” Brittany smiled as she walked up to Leira. “This is quite the gathering.”
“I know, right?” Leira chuckled. “It’s more like a festival than a rally, but it seems that people are really taking in knowledge. Hopefully, it stays just as light and airy as it is now.”
