Beach Blanket Birthday

8/10/99-11/3/99

*Edited*

Warning: On many of the Temple Bboards at Sci-Fi, actorfic was a common practice so it wasn't a crucifiable offense when someone wrote a certain kiwi into this story and the rest of us went along with it. I didn't want to omit one of my favorite tags based on what had been a perfectly innocent addition so I was originally going to just edit out his dialogue but decided it would be best to eradicate all reference to him. When a dead character inexplicably shows up you'll know why.

If any of my other co-authors are offended by this I am truly sorry. I'm firmly anti-censorship but all the same I'd rather not get sued.

Emily sat down on the ground waiting for everyone else to come. So far all that were there were Sillen, Maggie, and herself.

It was really really nice outside. Perfect. The priestesses couldn't have picked a more fantastic day for a party. The sun was shining brightly, the waters were a calm crystal blue, and the only sound other then the crash of the waves and the call of the seagulls was the steady and persistent keening of some unknown creature.

"Die! Die! DIE!!!!"

"You need some help there Mags?" Sillen asked.

"No-Die!-Everything's-Die!-Under-Die!-Control!"

Maggie was further down the sand then Sil and Ems, struggling to erect a small structure and failing miserably. She uttered a string of curse words as she got one pole to stand up straight, only as the opposite one fell over.

"Sheesh, who'd have thought a simple volleyball net would cause so much trouble?"

"Maybe we shouldn't have swapped the Greek directions with the ones written in Chin," Emily giggled, watching the frustrated priestess back up thirty paces.

"Probably," Sillen grinned, spreading out a checkered tablecloth.

"Arggghhhhh!!" Maggie let out a long yell as she ran full speed down the sand and took a flying leap, tackling the net to the ground and beating it into submission.

"I worry about her sanity sometimes, I really do," Sillen murmured.

Panthera shook out her hair. It had taken a little while to sort out the tangles, but she wasn't about to complain. If only everyone was so pleased she was back...

"So," Ares, just back from hearing the morning petitions from his followers, put his hands on her shoulders. "It's nice to see you back, Kitten, but we never really established where you've been."

Panth stared into the mirror. She thought about her travels to a land of many worlds, where warriors battled with swords of light instead of steel. She thought of the world where the swords were steel, but Immortals were not Gods. She thought of a glittering maze and a King...

"Nowhere special."

She forestalled his next question with, "Does Strife still have that Temple down the hill?"

"Yes. Surprisingly. But I wouldn't bother visiting there today."

"Why not?"

"They won't be home ... they're all at the beach. Something about a birthday party for two of the priestesses."

"What?!" Panth leapt to her feet, knocking over the stool. "Why didn't you tell me?! Oh, kewl, a beach part..." She scampered toward the door; "Do you think 'Dite will let me borrow her clam?"

Zynthiel watched Maggie try to put up the net and tried not to laugh. Since this was her birthday party too, she didn't have to do anything but sit back and enjoy. Maybe later she'd go swimming but for now it was nice to just do nothing.

Sillen finished smoothing out the table cloth and arranging bowls of food. "We better get started on these snacks before the bugs eat them all!" she called out, shooing a few more of the pests away.

Ems was wandering about the beach, looking around suspiciously. "Okay Sil, where did you guys hide all the presents?"

"What presents?" Sillen replied, trying to hide an obvious smile.

"Ugh! Let go! Grrr!"

Everyone turned to see where the screaming was coming from.

"Maggie, what in Tartarus are you doing!" Sillen exclaimed running toward her.

The others crowded around to see Maggie completely entangled within the net.

Maggie looked up. "Oh, I'm fine, really, I've got everything under control." Her last words were strained as she tried to free herself.

"Let us help you," Zynthiel said, grabbing a part of the net.

"I said..."

They were interrupted by the sound of someone wandering through the bushes at the back of the beach.

"Hey girls!"

They all looked over to see Strife staring back. "So what's up around..." He took one look at the girls holding parts of a net which had seemingly taken Maggie hostage and burst out in an uncontrollable laughter.

"Why you little.... " Maggie muttered, yanking herself up and stumbling toward Strife.

His sudden fear vanished as he realized the other girls were holding her back, and was replaced by even more cackling.

Sillen walked up to him. "Strife. Striiife. STRIFE LISTEN TO ME!" she yelled grabbing a chunk of hair, yanking his head toward the ground.

"Heeheeeyahhhaahhaaahhaaaoww! Oww let go!"

Sillen held on tighter, and shook his head a bit, she swore she could hear a few loose nuts and bolts rattling around, and went on yelling at him.

The others held onto Maggie who was still struggling to get free while looking back and forth between Strife and one of the poles.

Solari woke up to complete silence in the temple. She hurled herself out of her nice, soft, warm bed and ran downstairs. Silence could only mean two things. Either everyone was dead or there was some mischief in the air. She searched high and low for her friends, but found the temple was deserted. She walked into the kitchen, and found a note posted on the door. It read:

Lari you snoozer, get up, throw on a bathing suit and come down to the beach. Today's party day!! -Strife

"Oh my gods!!" she shrieked, throwing the paper aside and running full speed up the stairs. "I'm late!"

In minutes she was tearing her room apart in an effort to find one of her many bathing suits. Somehow, every one of them had gone missing. Lari threw open her closet door in frustration.

It was empty. All of her clothes had disappeared, except or a skimpy fire-engine red string bikini that definitely had not been in her closet earlier. "Strife!" she growled, quickly slipping on the suit, "I'm going to find a way to kill you."

She ran downstairs and jumped on her horse, deciding to leave the saddle off because she lacked the time and the patience to put it back on. She headed off full speed in the direction of the beach.

When she got there, she dismounted and walked along the beach. As she neared the party grounds, Lari saw Maggie tangled up in a volleyball net trying to get at Strife, who was laughing at her, and the other priestesses trying to untangle her and hold her back. Sillen had Strife by the hair and was yelling as she shook him. She finally let go with an exasperated sigh. Strife rubbed his head, and went back to laughing at the poor tangled up Maggie.

Solari sneaked up behind Strife, holding her finger to her lips and winking so the other priestesses wouldn't give her away. She ran the last few steps, took a flying leap, and landed on Strife's back, sending him face first into the sand. "Call me a snoozer will you!" she said, smirking at the sand covered Godling.

Ange slid into her short black shorts, and tiny black top over her black French bikini.

Shan walked in. "And where are you going?"

"Oh there is a birthday party at the beach for Em and Zyn," Angelica replied as she smiled at her new husband.

The young warlock arched an eyebrow. "Well babycakes you can have fun I have some things to do here." Shan pulled her close. "Mmmmm my beautiful bad girl." He kissed her passionately. "Don't be gone long."

Ange finally made her way to the beach. The princess stopped and pulled down her sunglasses to see Strife covered in sand. She couldn't help but smirk, as she pushed back her long brown hair.

"Hey I am here," Angelica yelled out.

"ANGIE!!" Strife screeched excitedly running for the refugee princess and giving her a big hug. "You are baaaaack! Dinniekins said you went away! But here you are!"

"Hi Strifey yeah I am here." Ange replied trying to carefully pry the Godling off her.

Kayla slid on her sandals, with her red wraparound over her black bathing suit. She gave a look into her mirror quickly, running a brush through her hair, and walking out to join in on the party that was being thrown.

"Hey KAY!" Emily greeted.

"Oh!" Kayla recognized her face. "Hey girl, happy birthday! Where's Zynny?"

Emily pointed, and they walked over to greet the other birthday girl.

Everyone was having a great time!

Maggie quickly finished getting the net to stop trying to devour her and grabbed one of the poles, shaking the last of the netting off her sandal. She walked up to the slightly uncomfortable Princess and grinned darkly. "Mind if I cut in?"

Angelica smiled, stepping back from the god smothering her with affection. "Why, not at all."

She batted her eyelashes at Strife, brandishing the pole like a broadsword. "Hi there, remember me?"

"Now Mags, let's not be hasty all right? A little humiliation at the hands of your god is nothing to get mad at, right?" He put his hands defensively up in front of his body, even as he started making a hasty retreat backwards down the sand. "I was gonna help you out. I was just kidding. Kidding! I kid 'cause I Lov-Ahhh!!" he squealed and turned tail, fleeing in immortal terror.

"Ha-Keeeeba!!!" Maggie's war cry rang down the length of the beach as she gave chase.

"Oh no," Kayla snickered. "Poor Strife."

The rest of the priestesses were laughing uproariously.

Strife skidded to a sudden stop at the edge of the water, suddenly remembering that he was a god...with powers no less.

Maggie was unable to stop herself and slammed headlong into his back, dropping her weapon and falling hard on her rump.

"Awww...priestess fall down, go boom," Strife teased, just as Mags threw herself at his legs. "Hey! Hey! Hey! This ain't Rugby! No tackling!" He grabbed her by the waist and hoisted her high above his head.

"Pumme down!" she protested in shock.

"Oh great and mighty Poseidon!" Strife shouted to the sea. "In return for this lovely weather and tranquil ocean I wish to make an offering of this nubile young wench!"

She struggled in vain. "You wouldn't dare!"

"Oh wouldn't I?" He smiled wickedly.

"Don't even think about-Eeeet!!!" her threat was cut off as the godling heaved her into the waves.

"Thought about it," he said with a smirk.

After a few moments had gone by and Maggie hadn't stumbled to shore, sopping wet and looking for vengeance, Solari approached Strife.

"Does she even know how to swim?"

His brow furrowed. "I thought she did."

"You thought?!"

"I'll just go see if she's ready to come out then." He crept towards the water, breaking into a jog as he hit the waves.

*Gods, bless it!* he cursed to himself. *Where the Tartarus are you?* Just as he was starting to get nervous, he found a pair of soaked and salty hands covering his eyes.

"Guess who!!"

He whirled (or did the best he could wearing a leather bodysuit in hip-deep water) and knocked her back into the surf.

"You are an evil, evil girl!" he reprimanded.

She spit a stream of water at him and beamed proudly. "Why thank you."

"Oh!" he seethed, using his powers to send a medium sized wave her way.

"Hey no fair!" She heaved water at him the best she could with her hands.

Soon the two of them were involved in a full contact water war.

"Splash Fight!!!" Ems leapt to her feet, pointing excitedly and running towards the ocean with a wild whoop.

Ange watched from the beach. *Serves Strife right, he finally has met his match!* she thought as a grin formed on her face.

Strife disappeared just before another wave rolled over Maggie, he reappeared behind Angelica.

"Save me," he whispered.

"Oh Strifey I thought you weren't afraid of a girl let alone one of your priestesses?" Ange cooed to her friend who held her by the slender waist.

"Please Angie, pleeeaaase!"

Angelica looked up at Maggie who was coming closer covered in seaweed, holding her arms out like she was a monster from Poseidon's ocean. "Excuse me dear princess? May I have that godling backpack you are wearing?" Maggie asked kindly.

"You sure may Mags enjoy!" Angelica slipped away from the scene.

"Angie don't leave me like this babe!" the Godling whined as he gasped at Maggie. "What happened to you?"

"It was a tereeble tereeble acceedent," Maggie said nasally, doing her best Igor impression. "They said eet would drive me mad. But who's mad now??" She threw her head back and attempted and Ares-style maniacal laugh.

The Godling cocked a disbelieving eyebrow at her.

"I was in the water you dope!" she spluttered. "What do you want me to be covered in, gossamer and fairy dust!!"

"It would make for a nice change from all that doom and gloom black leather."

She pointed at him indignantly."You wear black leather!!"

"She's gotcha there!" Sillen shouted from the waves.

"You stay outta this!" he yelled back, still a little peeved about the shaking she'd given him.

Maggie pulled a few pieces of seaweed off of her and flicked them in Strife's direction.

"You want a change in wardrobe? You got it." With a flash he was suddenly wearing some sort of tightly clinging black and yellow suit zipped up to his neck; the words 'Body Glove' were printed on the side and a swash of blue zinc crossed his nose.

"Oww my eyes! I'm blind!" Maggie cringed away, covering her eyes while trying to mask a grin.

"I'll blind you," he threatened making a grab for her arm but missing as she ran to the hopeful safety the water and the other priestesses would provide.

"Anchors aweigh! Avast me mateys, scurvy dog off the port bow!" Mags warned as Strife plunged into the sea.

The Godling clumsily splorshed through the water, grabbing the first priestess that came to hand and scooping her up into his arms. "Have no fear fair maiden for I shall save you!" he said with false bravado as Emily wiggled in his grip.

"Oh no," Strife faked a sob. "She's not breathing! I'll have to give her mouth to mouth!"

"Don't you dare," Ems giggled. "You'll find live crabs in your bed tonight I swear!"

Solari stood ankle deep in the water, watching the priestesses, princess, and Godling try to drown each other. She laughed and shook her head when the others invited her to swim. Lari closed her eyes and twirled around, feeling the wet sand squish beneath her feet.

Suddenly she felt herself being thrown over a muscular shoulder and heaved into the waves. She floundered for a minute and regained her footing, glaring around for the culprit

"All right who did that?!"

Zynthiel took this opportunity to wrap her arms around Strife's neck in an attempt to 'rescue' Emily from the pirate/lifeguard.

Lari brushed some soggy hair out of her face and paused in her manhunt. "Do you guys hear that?" she called to the others.

Everybody stopped what they were doing as a high-pitched chortle echoed across the beach and a being burst into view.

Kayla was the first to unfreeze. "Deimos," she whispered.

"Hi guys," the blonde god grinned, balancing two packages on a hand. "Am I too late for the bash?"

There was a loud shriek as Lari hurled herself in Deimos' direction. Strife latched on to her waist, trying to hold her back, as Maggie grabbed onto him, beating him with a string of seaweed. Sillen grabbed a hold to Maggie, trying to make peace, and Ems grabbed onto Sillen, just because, and Lari slowly towed them towards shore and a hysterical Deimos, who was doubled over laughing. Lari broke Strife's hold on her and threw herself on the sand, reaching for the god.

"Aw my favorite priestess," he said putting his packages down on the table. "By the way, nice suit," he said, glancing at the tiny red bikini she was wearing.

"Deimos," Lari said with mock sweetness. "You're gonna die."

Ange watched and shrugged as she couldn't help but stare at Deimos. Who the Tartarus is he? She thought to herself, *He looks kinda like Strife*.

The blond god caught Ange's glance. "Helllllooooo gorgeous!" he growled at her.

Angelica rolled her eyes. "Don't even think about it blondie!" The princess snapped going into her kick ass mood.

"Oh I like them frisky!"

"How about married?" she asked ,waving the ring under his nose.

"Hey man leave Angie alone!" Strife yelled.

"Oh this is Angelica! The one who ripped your heart out and did a little dance on it!" Deimos said as a smile formed on his face. "It is an honor your highness!"

Angelica turned to Maggie who was still picking seaweed out of her hair. "I didn't think I hurt Strife that bad. I mean he is one of my closest friends."

Maggie smiled at her friend. "Hey don't feel bad, you are happy and married to a handsome sexy wonderful guy that you always loved and knew in your past."

"You're right Mags. I do hope to see Viky soon, and maybe some of the others arrive, I don't know how much longer I can wait for Em and Zyn to open their presents from me."

Emily grew anxious as well. "Yeah can I open one present now?"

Most of everyone was out of the water now, either chatting, sunbathing or planning on how they were going to bury Strife in the sand.

Sillen walked by the food table she had nicely organized earlier.

"Ewww!"

The food was okay, except for the sweet, sticky, gooey dip, which was completely covered with bugs. Sillen grabbed the bowl. Not being able to find somewhere to dump it's contents, she tossed it over her shoulder. The dip slid out of the bowl, which she held on to, with a slurpy, sucking sound.

"Aaaahh!"

Sillen quickly turned around, and realized she should have looked before she'd thrown.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't know you were there!"

Angelica just glared as the dip oozed its way on her face and down her hair, until she was almost covered in it. Then she smiled an evil smile as she grabbed some goo and threw it straight at Sillen.

"I'm really, really... hey!" The goo splattered all over her front. "Oh, so you want war, well that's what your gonna get!" She grabbed a handful of slime from another bowl.

Angelica ducked away, the slime completely missed her, but hit someone else.

"Gee," Maggie said, wiping the slime out of her eyes, "Thanks, guys. That felt...refreshing."

Sillen covered her mouth in shock. "Oh Gods I...I meant to hit Ange!" She pointed to the Princess accusingly "It was her! She moved! Get her!"

"In the interests of stopping a full out food fight, I am going to calmly and rationally walk into the dunes and beat the sand to a bloody pulp," Mags said tightly.

"Hey!" Strife protested. "How come you had no problem trying to pound the tar outta me?"

"Because you don't play fair! Besides," she teased, "I don't like you."

Strife stuck his tongue out at her and crossed his arms in front of his chest.

Deimos wiped a finger through the slime on Mags' chin and tasted it. "Mmm, lemon." He licked the side of her face, running his tongue up the entire length of her cheek.

Maggie's eyes opened wide in shock and horror.

Strife cringed."Oh no, here it comes."

The priestess started clawing at her face as Deimos giggled like a kid on Solstice morning.

"Ew! Ew! Ewwww!!!" she squealed, making a run for a pile of napkins. "Must...scrub off...god spit. First three layers of skin...expendable. Feel...so...dirty !" she whimpered as she rubbed vainly at her face.

"Hey, some chicks would kill for that kind of attention from me," the god snorted.

"Oh, I am going to kill. I am!" Mags snarled. "Why I even invited you to this soiree is beyond me!"

"You invited him?!" Zynth exclaimed.

She threw the dirty napkin down and grabbed another one to get the rest of the goo off. "I felt sorry for him, okay?"

"Ahh...good old pity," Deimos sighed wistfully. "Where would I be without it?"

"Somewhere far, far, away, not harassing me!" Maggie started punching him in the arm and shoulder.

"Awww...isn't that just the cutest thing?" Strife crooned.

"Shut up Strife!" Deimos and Mags yelled in unison.

Solari watched wide eyed as her friends proceeded to cover themselves, and each other in sweet goopy stuff. Sillen and Ange were slinging slime all over the place, while Maggie scrubbed furiously at her face, lecturing Deimos and Strife (Who was rolling around on the sand laughing) about the horrible diseases you can get from god spit.

"Must...get...off...poisonous...yuck...eww" she said as she buried her face in another napkin.

Deimos picked up a bowl of yellow looking gooey stuff. "Mmm, lemony fresh. This stuff is good!!" he exclaimed, using his hands to scoop the mess into his mouth. Just then, he tripped over Strife, who was still on the ground laughing and holding his sides and spilled the entire bowl of slime, all over Lari's unsuspecting figure.

Zynthiel ducked as some of the slime whizzed by her head. She was so busy laughing that she barely reacted in time to avoid being as slimed as everyone else was. This was not how she expected to be spending her birthday but it was still fun.

She sidled over to Emily who was the only other one not hit as the two of them backed off as soon as the food was in flight.

"Psst, Ems. Wanna go open some presents while they're distracted?"

Emily grinned conspiratorially. "Yeah, let's go. Hurry before they notice."

Angelica grabbed more ammunition as she slung her last bit of gooey stuff. Her silky long hair was decorated with dip and goop. The princess let out a war cry as she threw pudding hitting Deimos in the back of the head. "DIRECT HIT!" she screamed happily.

Ange then caught Maggie's eye. She held up a can of whipped cream and gestured toward the giggling Godling on the ground smoothing the sand with his body.

The girl ran over and quickly took it from Ange's hands. "Don't forget the cherries." The refugee princess whispered in Maggie's ear.

Maggie had an evil look in her eyes as she quietly snuck over to Strife. She then picked up a cream pie and noticed Sillen was turned around.

"Hey!" Ange yelled. Sillen looked toward Angelica as the princess sent the pie flying toward hitting her in the face. "HA HA! BULL'S EYE!"

Maggie crouched down with a malicious grin and tapped the manic Strife on the forehead.

He stopped giggling just enough to look up at her quizzically.

"Payback is so very, very sweet," she smiled, letting loose a spray of whipped cream in Strife's eyes.

The Godling squealed, trying to get the confection off him, even as Mags drew a big smiley face on his bodysuit, marking the cheeks with cherries.

"Awww...you look almost good enough to eat," she cooed, doodling curly hair on the face with some leftover lemon slime.

"Yeah," Deimos snorted, chucking a handful of fruit salad at Ange's derriere. "Almost."

"And if you're lucky," Lari snarled, "I'll almost consider letting you live!" She leapt at the pudding splattered blonde god and tackled him to the ground.

"How do ya like me now?" she asked sarcastically, grinding a key lime pie into his hair.

Strife finally managed to get the cream out of his eyes and grabbed Maggie by the arm. "Y'know what they say don't you?" he asked, reaching for something behind him. He smeared pudding all over her neck and upper chest. "Sweets for the sweet!"

She gasped, partly in shock, but mostly because the pudding was absolutely freezing. "You're just as bad as Deimos!" she yelled, punching him in the stomach.

"No, he's not!" Deimos protested. "I'm taller and he's--Mmmph!" His retort was cut off as Lari shoved his face into the sand.

"I take that back." Mags smeared lemon over his mouth. "You're worse than Deimos."

"Ooh! Lies! You'll pay for that madam!" Strife quickly pulled her down into the sand and pinned her with a leg. "Now open wide and say 'Ah'," he giggled wickedly, armed with a bowl of strawberries and cream.

"Yeep!" she squeaked.

The war continued. Ange and Sillen were engrossed in the great pie war, Strife had Maggie pinned to the sand and was about to garnish her with strawberries and cream, and Lari was diligently shoving Deimos' face deeper and deeper in the sand.

"MmmwwId quanth mbweeth!" he tried to say, his voice muffled by the sand.

"What was that honey?" Lari asked, shoving his face farther into the sand.

"He says he can't breath," Strife said, still attacking Maggie with whipped cream.

"Oh, isn't that a shame," she said sarcastically.

Unfortunately, Deimos had had enough of breathing sand, and reached up, grabbing her by the arm and throwing her off him. He rolled over on top of her and pinned her arms above her head.

"Ugh, my ribs!" she yelled, squirming. "Ease up on the Wheaties baby boy."

"Hey!" he said defensively. "Wheaties are good!"

"Get off me you big lug!" she yelled.

"No, no," he said, an evil grin on his face. "Because of you, I'm all sandy." He paused for a minute, getting a better grip oh her wrists. "Is the priestess ticklish??"

Her eyes widened. "You wouldn't."

"I would."

"You couldn't"

"I could."

"You won't!"

"Watch me."

Lari shrieked as he dug his fingers into her sides. "Help!" she yelled, between laughs. "Re-enforcements!!!"

No one among the sea-side group noticed the incoming wave... or that an almost full-grown ocelot, next to her invisible master, appeared to be enjoying riding the surf, minus a board.

As he watched the silly antics of his priestesses...his friends...as they took turns slinging food and mock insults at his cousin, God of Fear, and his own alter-ego from the alternate universe, his unobservable expression quickly changed from a broad, kind of goofy grin to a sullen, petulant frown.

"So NOT fair!," he yelled. "DEIMOS! YOU OLYMPIAN SLIME TOAD!!" The pale blond newcomer, in brown leather, was dressed in an exact replica of Deimos' normal attire.

Deimos had to shove a couple of the beauties off of him, as he leapt up out of the sand to stand face to face with his almost identical cousin now materializing in front of him on the wave as it washed ashore. "Nice 'do..."

The women were quite surprised when the newcomer, obviously quite annoyed, used his powers to change his Deimosian blond spikes back to his usual tousled black locks. His clothing also changed back to a snug-fitting black vinyl body suit, covered in silver safety pins.

However, he still wore the Hephaestian-forged ankle cuffs that Discord had earlier placed on him, thinking him to be his cousin. "A loser style for a loser with NO style, you mean! Don't ever try to pull something like that on me again, you son of a harpy!," hissed Strife.

"Ah, Cous'," Deimos smoothly replied. "C'mon, I was just pulling a prank on you. You know how much you like pranks! Think of Dinniekins..."

"Not when I'm the butt of the joke or when you're involved! And don't call Diana that! You know how much she hates it! I promised her I wouldn't call her that anymore and I've been trying to keep my word.

"Uncle Ares was the one who found me, you little sneak. Do you have any idea how that makes me look in his opinion?" He pulled back his hand, ready to unleash a fiery ball of pure energy.

Noticing the table a few steps to his side, though, Strife felt inspired to grab a handful of chocolate pudding, which he promptly slung at his cousin. The gooey mess hit its target straight across Deimos' nose. Strife let out a whoop, "BULL'S-EYE!"

Deimos fell backwards, landing on his rear on the sand, as the ocelot pounced on top, holding him down.

"Good girl, Shanna. I just wish that Adrianna were here to see how much you've grown!" The God of Skirmishes looked around, dusting his hands together. When he saw his alter-ego cowering, he couldn't resist his impulse to reappear beside him and yell, "BOO!!" The otherworld's Strife disappeared, at least for the moment.

Seeing the 'birthday girls,' their favorite Godling walked over to them to apologize. "Heya, sweet Ems! Hi, Zynthie! Sorry I'm late for the party, but thanks to Deimos' little stunt, I've been left kinda just hangin' around Discord's temple... literally! After Unk took care of things, he had me workin' for him. Up until Nebula came around, that is. I finally got a chance to take off from his place to join you."

Just barely turning around, he cooed to the other priestesses, "Hi there, girls! Smoochies, Sillen! Hey, Mags! Hi there, Panthera! Hello, Kayla! Ange, babee... Whoa, Lari! You look GREAT! Where did ya get that suit? Hey, where's Cassia, Vixie, Deirya, Viky, Angel, and the others? Oh, wait... tell me later."

Excitedly, he turned back to the 'birthday girls.' "I've got a present! I've got a present!," he crowed, just before singing...

"Happy birthday! Happy birthday!

May the candles on your cake burn like warlords in your wake!

Happy birthday! Happy birthday!"

As Strife's voice uttered the final note, a very confused looking mortal materialized. His appearance was almost that of Strife's, except for fairly short dark blond hair done in Ceaser-like curls and a light tan. He now stood between the two women and the Godling.

Strife's face was beaming as he made the introductions. "Ems... Zynth...This uncannily handsome fellow is King Beraeus! Beraeus... Meet the world's most awesome babes!"

"So lemme get this straight," Lari frowned at the Strife who had just surfed in. "You weren't you?"

"Exactly."

"But the Strife we were with wasn't Strife."

"Nope."

"So you're Strife, and Strife isn't you?"

"Right."

"I'm still confused," Sillen said, wiping goo off her arms.

"I think we all are," Ange smiled. "But at least we can be glad we'll never be as confused as Strife always is."

"Hey, I heard that!" Strife pouted.

"Okay, one more question," Lari had her hands on her hips now. "If you are you, and Strife is Strife...who the heck is he?" She jerked her thumb in Deimos' direction.

"Deimos is Deimos, duh!"

"My head hurts," Maggie complained, flopping down in the sand and scratching the ocelot behind the ears.

Strife snorted. "Well, there's a big surprise."

She narrowed her eyes. "Y'know I liked you a lot better when you weren't you."

"Hey, there's always a room and bed free at my temple," Deimos offered, still pinned by the cat, after Strife turned back to the very confused mortal.

"Gee I can't imagine why," Kayla giggled.

"Oh yeah, I can see it now. I worship Deimos, pudding pop of the gods," Maggie deepened her voice dramatically and retrieved a fingerful of chocolate stuff off his face to emphasize her point.

He grinned at her shamelessly. "I'll be your sugar daddy any day."

Mags simply rolled her eyes, but the slight smile of amusement that crept onto her face undermined the gesture.

Ange looked over at Strife. "It is about time YOU got here, as in the real you!"

The Godling smiled at his best friend and old crush. "Awww Angie baby I know you can forgive me, besides I learned everything from your mom, Dinniekins."

The refugee princess smugged a grin. "Leave mom outta this just cause she is the queen of pranks and gavels, but I do forgive you hon." Ange then punched him in the arm. "I still love ya pal!"

Angelica turned away, and Strife grabbed his arm where she hit him, wincing in pain.

She then glanced at Beraeus. "Uh hi I am Angelica Refugee Princess and Strife's number one friend."

He smiled from ear to ear. "Very nice I must say."

Angelica stared at the King. "What?"

"I mean umm you are very nice," he stuttered.

She glanced over at Maggie and Lari who rolled their eyes a bit. "Yeah that's what I thought you said, of course my husband thinks so too," Ange said as she thought of her beloved Darshan.

"Hey gals, who wants to play volleyball?" Strife called, his arm around the shoulder of the nervous mortal. "Grab a side. We'll do five on five," he instructed.

"I call a 'no powers' game," Kayla yelled, getting on the same side as Emily. "I don't wanna be going to spike a ball and suddenly find it's turned into a muskrat or something."

"Aww, you're no fun. Besides," Strife pouted, "it was just that one time at the Olympian picnic and it wasn't a muskrat, I'll have you know. It was a mink!"

Sillen snickered as she watched Maggie pick a side, keeping her distance from the net while eyeing it suspiciously, daring it to try something.

"Yeah laugh all you want," Mags snorted. "You won't be laughing when you wake up in the middle of the night to learn one of this guy's kin has eaten your family and destroyed your home. You'll see!"

"Mags...lay off the pudding."

"Okay."

After a few moments of arguing side-swapping, and more arguing, the team lineup was finally organized. The side with first serve consisted of Kayla, Ange, Sillen, Emily and Deimos (Much to the girls' chagrin) while the other side was made up of Solari, Zynthiel, Bereaus, Maggie and Strife.

Maggie and Deimos immediately took to antagonizing one another, stalking back and forth on opposite sides of the net, using macho posturing and various hand gestures to try and faze each other.

"Punk."

"Dye-Job."

"Short."

"Badly dressed."

"Guys do you mind?" Ems asked. "I'm trying to serve here."

"Twit," Deimos muttered across the net under his breath.

"Jerk," Maggie retorted.

"Heads!" Zynth shouted, nailing the ball coming straight at Mags.

"Thanks, I owe you one."

"Repay me by paying attention to the game."

"Ha-ha you got yelled at," Deimos taunted.

Maggie stuck her tongue out at him.

Strife sighed and shook his head at Bereaus. "Sometimes you gotta love the maturity of this group."

"Oh like you're the pillar of adult behavior," Solari snorted.

"Can we get the ball back or what?" Ange shouted, hands on hips. "It's still our serve!"

The King lobbed it over the net like a pro.

Ems whistled. "Whoa nice arm."

"Among other things," Sillen giggled.

Mags wiped some sweat off her face and leaned forward, hands on her knees, determined to concentrate on the ball.

Emily tossed the ball up into the air and gave it a mighty overhand hit. Lari nailed it back. Kayla whacked it over the net to Strife, who sent it flying.

"Y'know when you stand like that," Deimos leered at Maggie, "you give me a great view of your cleavage."

Ange tipped the ball just over the top of the net as the words left his mouth.

Mags leapt up with a snarl and spiked it viciously.

Everybody froze as Deimos hit the ground with a sick yelp, hands clutched to his face.

"Oww! By Dose!! Chee broke by dose!!"

Maggie sighed. "I didn't hit it THAT hard, okay well maybe I did, but you deserved it!"

"Oww, the pain, the pain!!!" Deimos continued, trying to get some sympathy.

Strife just rolled his eyes, while the others gave him annoyed looks. Emily and Ange helped him up while he muttered mean things about Maggie. "I think you're gonna be just fine."

The game continued on for a little while, until they all lost count of the score. Everyone was either swimming, eating, talking, or making fun of Strife and Deimos as they argued over who had won.

"Finished!" Sillen said aloud to herself, looking at her waist-high sand castle.

Emily walked over and took a look.

"You forgot the moat."

"What?"

"You know the little river around..."

"Yeah I know what a moat is, and this castle doesn't need one!!!"

"Whoa, calm down! I was just saying that it's not really a castle without..."

"What's with the pile of sand?" Strife interrupted, walking by.

"It's not just a pile of sand, it's my majestic castle!" Sillen mumbled.

"Majestic?!? Right!"

"It looks better on the other side, why don't ya take a look?" Sillen said in a suddenly friendly tone.

"It doesn't look much differe-whoa!"

Sillen peered over the castle seeing Strife trying to get up after stumbling into the ditch. Emily giggled.

"Well where do you think I got all the sand from?"

"That hole is a bit of a safety hazard, why don't we fill it up?!" Emily said with a sneaky smile.

They pushed the castle onto Strife, who had been just sitting in the ditch, watching a few of the girls splash around in the water. He looked toward Emily and Sillen, but all he saw was a flood of sand rushing toward him.

When Strife opened his eyes, he saw that the ditch he was sitting in was now completely filled. He shook some sand out of his hair while he scrambled to get up.

"Okay everybody!" Maggie yelled, "Who wants cake!"

Within seconds everyone was crowded around.

"This cake is a little different," She added. "It's chocolate frosted, chocolatey fudge, double chocolate, ice cream cake! Mmm!"

Soon the cake was gone, and almost everyone was complaining about headaches.

"So, when do we get our present?" Zynthiel asked the group.

"Presents?!?" Emily echoed.

"Oh, they're buried in the sand," Sillen answered, handing the two girls each a little shovel.

"The sand?"

"Yep, it's so you wouldn't find them!" Kayla added, smirking.

Zynthiel looked at her little shovel and laughed.

"Emily, they're joking!"

"Hmm? Joking?!" She looked up at the others who had watched her frantically attack the sand with her shovel. "Yeah, I knew that," She said, covering up the little ditch. "So, when are we going to start opening presents!"

"They're hiding over here." Sillen said moving away some loose shrubbery, revealing a bunch of pretty packages. "I guess I'm first to hand over gifts. Remember, if ya don't like what you've got, I'll be happy to have it!" Each girl got a present, Zynthiel's was wrapped in a golden cloth, while Emily's was wrapped in a dark blue cloth.

Zynthiel opened hers, revealing beautifully carved grapes in a colorful stone.

"I figured it would be something you'd like, seeing as how your the priestess of grape-feeding. Also if Strife starts to get annoying, they you can throw it at his head or something."

"Thanks!" she said, testing it's weight.

Emily quickly took of the cloth wrapping off her gift. "Ooo sweets!"

"They're shaped and flavored just like Strife!"

"Flavored?"

"I think he's a pretty sweet guy, ya know, like sugar!"

"Oh, I get it. Thanks."

"So who's next?!"

"Ooh, me, me!" Maggie wiped some chocolate off her mouth and leaned over the side of the table she was seated on to grab two flattish boxes wrapped in blue marbleized paper.

"Gee Mags," Deimos smiled bitterly. "I didn't realize you could gift wrap a punch in the nose."

"You're just jealous 'cause I didn't tie a bow around yours." She wrinkled her nose at him and held up a fist. "But you know, If Emily lets me borrow some ribbon I could garnish lefty up real good for you."

"Oh for us?" Zynthiel cooed and grabbed the packages, knowing if things continued at this rate she and Ems would never get their presents. "You shouldn't have."

Eagerly, the two priestesses tore into their respective gratuities (Thank heaven for gift tags!).

"Cool!" Emily exclaimed, pulling a black cloak out of the box and holding it up to reveal its' silver velvet insides. Zynthiel pulled the same thing out of her box, only the lining of her cloak was crimson red.

"Well, that's original," Deimos sneered.

"And I suppose you got them something really clever, like see-through lingerie that glows in the dark?" Maggie asked.

He threw his arms up in mock exasperation. "Well now you've gone and spoiled the surprise!"

"Check the hoods," she pointed, deciding that maybe if she ignored Deimos long enough he'd just disappear off the face of the planet.

Tucked inside each hood was a smaller, unwrapped box. Zynth's held a set of small throwing knives with black onyx spiders embedded in the hilts, while Emily's had a silver bracelet with a similar spider crouched on a web that, when pulled on, opened up to reveal a small compartment.

"Y'know, for hiding sweets and stuff from the rats," Mags grinned.

"Oh, you mean the ones that show up the second Strife leaves?" Sillen asked innocently.

"And stay for months at a time," Ange added.

"Because he's never around," Solari said pointedly.

"Okay okay, I get the picture," Strife snorted. "Sheesh!" He turned to Bereaus, "You give 'em a roof over their heads and a hunk of burning love to worship and still they complain."

"Well," Deimos pretended to be interested in his fingernails, "I'm always around my temple."

"'Cause nobody else wants you around," Lari muttered.

He chose to ignore the barb. "And I've said it before there's always a free bed at Deimos' place."

"I think you mean free bedding," Maggie joked.

"That too," he conceded.

"Guys," Emily interrupted, "I think we're forgetting about the one all important thing here."

"Presents?" Bereaus asked.

"Presents."

Everybody slowly began turning their attention once again to the gift-giving.

"Wanna lick the dish?" Maggie leaned over and offered the cake platter to Deimos, by way of truce.

He contemplated for a moment before giving her hair a good-natured tousle. "I'll split it with you."