Written for the Secret Santa event at the Phoenix/Maya Fan Club [So it's dedicated to BlackWiddow.]

This fic is narrated by Pearl. Set after GS3, probably in an alternate timeline where GS4 didn't happen.

Since Mother had to go away, some of the other Mystics here help attend to my needs.

Mystic Maya has instructed Mystic Mira and Mystic Martha to be my private tutors in reading and writing English and Japanese. I do not like reading and writing, but anything Mystic Maya says or does is most definitely a good idea.

Mr Eh-ji-werth has presented me with something titled a 'computer'. I do not know how it works. I searched the entire Kurain Library to explain this kind of spirit power, but there did not seem to be anything on this subject.

When I asked Mystic Maya, it did not help my understanding very much either. While Mystic Maya is almost always correct, based on her answer, I think she may be mistaken.

Mr. Nick merely said "I don't know," and quickly rambled onto some other topic. Perhaps I will be required to ask Mr. Ehji-werth again.

Mr. Ehji-werth did however train me in the spirit power called 'spell-checker'. This is useful in the gruelling task imposed upon me by Mystic Mira and Mystic Martha in my reading and writing training. Even with this, however, when my tasks are returned after they have been 'edited' by the Mystics, I can barely read them myself any more.

The Mystics have instructed me to report on events in my life. When I recounted the lovely true events of Mr. Nick rushing across a burning bridge, blacking out when his Special Someone was kidnapped and then saving her, and breaking down a door because his Special Someone was in danger inside, they scolded me that I was to recount real recent events, not 'write a romance novel'.

I do not understand.

*****

3 July

Today I partook in an extremely exciting activity – secretly following Mystic Maya and Mr. Nick on their date to Pink Princess® Movie IV!

Mystic Maya told me it was not a date (actually screamed at me with quite intense passion) but I know she is only a bashful blushing maiden. Because in all my study of the city and its cultural practices from Mystic Maya's exalted reference of choice, the 'television', when a man takes his Special Someone to the movies and buys her entertainment and food, it is always regarded as a date. And Mr. Nick always buys Mystic Maya a very large and expensive quantity of food. He also always buys her a gift. He does not buy flowers, but this is because he knows his Special Someone intricately and he knows Mystic Maya does not really like flowers. "You can't eat them," she explained once in her infinite words of wisdom.

Following is easy because the doe-eyed lovers take the bus. Mystic Maya suggests to her handsome prince they call a taxi, but her Special Someone laments he cannot afford this AND the office rent this month.

Mr. Nick appears to waste a lot of time purchasing 'tik-kets' but I just follow Mystic Maya's example and confidently saunter past. The bus driver doesn't bat an eyelid.

I strain my ears during the bus ride to hear the lovers' romantic conversation from a few rows away, but it's not very interesting. Mr. Nick complains about how he thinks the bus driver overcharged him for the tik-kets. Mystic Maya enquires why he did not shout 'Objection!' and point his finger in the bus driver's face. Mr. Nick admits last time he did that he was thrown off the bus. Perhaps the tik-ket price has merely risen, again. Mystic Maya says she knows how he feels. When she went to the burger place without Mr. Nick, they ripped her off with her '4x4 Burger' having only 3 meat patties instead of the advertised four, and they wouldn't give her a refund because she'd already eaten it.

I am waiting with baited breath to see if Mr. Nick will get all mad and yell about 'suing' the burger place to defend Mystic Maya's honour, but unfortunately the bus has already arrived at their stop and they leap hastily to their feet and rush out. In the crowd and commotion they don't notice me leap out too.

I know they are going to the movie theatre, so it does not matter that I lose them temporarily.

When I see them again, I have disguised myself adequately, so Mr. Nick and Mystic Maya will not see my presence. Some kind man is giving out Pink Princess masks made of paper, so nobody will see my face. At first I am a little sad when the man refuses to give Mystic Maya one also. Perhaps I should slap him, but that may reveal my identity. Also, it will prevent Mr. Nick from gazing starry-eyed into Mystic Maya's beautiful face. So he is a kind man indeed for preventing this disaster from occurring.

I do not own any clothes other than my spirit medium uniform, but I have borrowed a long jacket from a very large store. I think you are supposed to pay for it at that magic box, but there were a lot of them there, so I do not think it will matter if I just put I back again later. Mystic Maya knows more than me, and I have observed her borrowing items sometimes, so it must be an acceptable city custom.

Now that they have their movie tik-kets, Mystic Maya is dragging her partner with great intense affection to the snack bar.

"I want a Quadruple Samurai Burger and a Jumbo Hyper Pink Princess Combo!" she trills excitedly.

"Objection! It's cheaper to buy the items in the Jumbo Hyper Combo separately," protests Mr. Nick.

"But the Combo comes with a collectible toy you can't buy separately," Mystic Maya replies back.

"What? Then just buy a different toy separately!"

Mystic Maya's face falls.

"…Okay, okay," Mr. Nick stammers hastily. "One Quadruple Samurai Burger and one Jumbo Hyper Pink Princess Combo with toy," he repeats to the attendant. I know his lack of enthusiasm is only to hide his intense feelings!

"Aren't you having anything, Nick?" asks Mystic Maya.

"No. Maybe I can share yours?"

I practically squeal at such a romantic gesture.

"Hey! Not the burgers!"

I follow at a distance as the Special Someones enter the dark movie room. Mystic Maya leaps in excitedly carrying her two burgers (one was from the Combo meal) and her plastic Pink Princess toy. Mr. Nick teeters behind her carrying a huge bucket of popcorn, a huge bucket of chocolates, and a huge drink. Little pieces of popcorn seem to be spilling everywhere.

I sit in the row behind them, along a little way so I can watch them. I think the movie must have already started, though for some reason the Pink Princess hasn't showed up yet. A huge burger, as tall as Fey Manor, fills the big TV screen. Mystic Maya gets very excited.

Now the movie is about drinks. I don't know why the Samurais have not appeared yet. Mystic Maya's eyes are stuck to the screen. At the same time, she is chewing through her burgers at an amazing speed. Mr. Nick looks very bored. He hesitantly reaches for a chocolate.

Mystic Maya has devoured her burger. She licks the wrappings with her elegant tongue. She plunges her hand into the popcorn and chocolate buckets alternately, eyes still focused on the giant TV screen.

She shovels her hand into the popcorn bucket just as Mr. Nick is tentatively trying to take some. I am not close enough to see what goes on in there, but for some reason Mystic Maya drops her eyes away from the screen.

"Heehee." "Um…" the Special Someones are muttering. This must be a secret romantic language.

Then Mystic Maya throws a handful of popcorn at Mr. Nick. This must be that romantic activity where the Special Someones feed each other!

It goes nowhere near Mr. Nick's mouth, and some of it gets stuck on his hair, but Mystic Maya was always very bad at sports.

Then Mr. Nick throws a chocolate at Mystic Maya, and she swerves and catches it in her mouth.

This is the most exciting day of my life.

I am confident they will kiss next, but some nasty man comes and tells them they will be 'evicted' if they don't stop throwing food. I force myself not to slap him. Surely true love will defy all odds!

But the main part of the movie must be starting now because Mystic Maya is glued back to the screen. Words I can't read come up, but I also see the Pink Princess logo.

***

Mystic Maya is very excited at the action on the screen. The handsome Nickel Samurai has just arrived to save the Pink Princess from the evil Titanium Magistrate. I can barely turn my eyes away from the screen because they are probably going to kiss. But it would be even more exciting if the scene inspires Mystic Maya and Mr. Nick to kiss for real!

Mystic Maya turns to Mr. Nick, but we both see something very bad. Mr. Nick's head has dropped onto the corner of his seat. His eyes are closed. He may even be snoring.

"NICK!" shrieks Maya, and shakes him. "How DARE you miss such a pivotal scene!!!"

"B..but it's bo.. Um I'm really tired…"

She still looks upset and Mr. Nick suddenly seems genuinely worried.

"I'm sorry. I'll watch the DVD when it comes out."

"Okay," agrees Mystic Maya. I let out the breath I have been holding - the lovers' tiff is thankfully over! Actually, Mystic Maya is now smiling for some reason, but maybe it is because she is back watching the movie.

Mystic Maya is enthralled with the screen so I decide to keep an eye on Mr. Nick on her behalf. Perhaps I can throw something at him to stop him ruining the date by sleeping again.

So when Mr. Nick's eyes again wander, I am down collecting some old rubbish, but then I look more closely.

Mr. Nick is ignoring the screen. But instead he is now watching Mystic Maya.

Mystic Maya is so excited by the movie, she's oblivious to everything else. Every so often, she beams happily about something happening onscreen. When this happens, Mr. Nick smiles happily to himself too. He watches Mystic Maya this way for most of the remaining movie.

The credits are rolling, and the people around start getting up and leaving. Mr. Nick begins to gather together their rubbish and get to his feet.

"No!" protests Mystic Maya. "What if we miss the stinger?"

They sit and wait.

The lights are now coming on in the movie room. Mystic Maya and Mr. Nick finally get up. Suddenly, I see Mr. Larry rushing toward the happy couple.

"Nick! Oh, it's AWFUL, man! Hayliee stood me up! She just didn't show and then she sent a text dumping me! Can you be… Why hello, Maya! You look more beautiful every time I see you! Would you like to…"

I forget that I am in hiding and am about to slap someone, but then Mr. Nick suddenly reaches out and grabs Maya's hand.

"Oh, oops," mutters Mr. Larry. "I didn't remember you were dating."

"It's not a date," protests Mr. Nick.

"You're in so deep it's up to the 'undate' stage? Congratulations, Nick! When's the wedding?"

I almost swoon. Even Mr. Larry knows it's true!

"N…never. Look, sorry, Larry, we have a bus to catch…"

Mr. Nick leaves very quickly, still leading Mystic Maya by the hand. "Bye Larry!" she calls after them. But the couple do not go in the direction of the bus stop. And they are still holding hands.

"Maya," begins Mr. Nick, shuffling his feet. "I, uh…"

"Nick," begins Mystic Maya, gazing up at him then shifting her eyes. "Uh.. Wait. Hey, is that… Pearly?"

"Where?"

"I saw this kid with the same hairstyle as Pearly."

"What? But nobody has that hairstyle outside the 1300s…"

"Really? Then it must BE Pearly!"

I run.

******