The Sleepover

Judi walked across the street with her packed bag to Beth's house and through the gate into the backyard. There were no stars out yet, but Beth was already setting up the tents.

"Hey, Beth. Sorry I'm late, but it's getting harder and harder to convince my mom to let me come every year," Judi called out as she walked closer, "Need any help?"

"Sure, you can help. How are you doing?"

"Pretty good," Judi answered, "Although I may need some extra starlight this year."

"More activity than normal?" Beth asked.

"Yeah. The Pain had upgraded his tools, if you hadn't seen on the news," Judi explained as she began setting the tent up.

"No, I hadn't," Beth said, a confused look on her face.

"Oh, right, that was yesterday. They probably haven't come out with the story yet."

"Tell me about it!"

"Well, okay," Judi agreed, picking up a tent peg.

Judi told the story of The Pain and the Jade Warrior's battle on the bridge while the two young teens finished setting up the tent. Beth payed complete attention to the story, taking in every word. Judi knew this was because Beth loved superheroes, and wanted every word for ideas for the comic book she had been thinking of making. As Judi was telling the tale, she noticed the sun rapidly setting.

"Wow, I almost wish I had superpowers like you do," Beth remarked.

"I think you'd make a great superhero!"

"Oh, thanks, but I have too many things I'm signed up for. You know, soccer, the Cookie Club, karate . . ." Beth said.

"Well, okay. How much begging did it take for your family to leave you alone this year?" Judi asked.

"Not much. They wanted to go to the movies, so they left me here by myself. I kind of wanted to go, but I'd rather hang out with you," Beth explained.

Beth and Judi both looked at Judi's exposed skin, which was beginning to turn green. Judi felt super-strength returning to her limbs.

"Looks like the stars are out," Judi laughed, "Wait, what was that sound?"

"What sound?"

"Sounded like The Pain's Painmaker."

"Wasn't that a sliver?" Beth asked.

"Yes, specially made to sting and make noise . . . And that smell . . . it's like Mr. Hate's Rotten Egg Machine."

"So . . . rotten eggs?"

"Get in the tent," Judi ordered.

Beth scrambled off as her friend told her while Jodi zoomed into the other tent and changed into her green Jade Warrior costume. She came back out and surveyed the area.

"Looks like it's all clear," Judi, still in costume, announced.

"Oh, is it?" a gruff and gravelly voice said from behind her.

Judi spun around until she was face to face with a man dressed entirely in black, including a black facemask.

"Hi, Vince," Judi said, "I thought you were in prison."

"That was a year ago. I have been plotting my revenge ever since," the man hissed, "And its 'Mince' now."

"Okay, well, prepare to be taken back to jail."

"But I haven't done anything wrong," Mince whined.

"Hmm, I suppose you haven't . . ."

Mince pulled his cape off and untied the knot, turning it into a big black fabric bag almost larger than himself. He scooped it around the Jade Warrior and sealed it closed.

"Oh, now I did," Mince laughed.

It didn't take Judi long to realize she had run out of superpower trying to break out of the big bag. She could feel it being dragged along for a little while before she was dumped into an underground jail-like cell.

"No, no, the Observatory," a voice called out.

Judi was gathered back into the bag and dragged up a flight of stairs before the sack was untied and she was abandoned. Judi climbed out of the bag and looked around.

How ignorant are they?" Judi wondered, They know I get my powers from the stars, right?

The Jade Warrior pulled her long sleeves back and her long gloves forward until a large patch of skin was showing. Judi felt power rush into her and her skin began glowing green once again.

I'm so glad it's the winter solstice, Judi thought, If it weren't, the stars wouldn't be out yet and I wouldn't have this charge.

Judi left her skin showing as she bent the bars and flew off to where a large bonfire was burning. She noticed Mince standing there, another cape on.

"Vince, er, Mince!" Judi said as she landed, startling the man.

"How'd you get out? No, nevermind that, I'll just capture you again."

"Not this time!" Judi said, rising into the air.

"How'd you . . . ? Oh, whatever!"

Mince pulled out a bunny from behind him, hidden in his cape.

"Fall at the cuteness of my partner!" Mince shouted.

"Oh, yeah, you used to be a magician, didn't you?" Judi chuckled.

Judi grabbed Mince's cape, untying the knot at the same time, and pulled the large bag down over the villain and his bunny. She carried the heavy sack all the way to the town jail, where he was dropped off.

". . . And that's what happened after I told you to go to the tent," Judi finished telling Beth after Judi had taken her super-suit off.

"That sounds like quite an adventure!" Beth exclaimed.

"I'm glad it was this late in the year," Judi said, "Otherwise I wouldn't have gotten my powers back in a long time, and who knows what Vince, I mean, Mince would have done in the meanwhile."

"Well," Beth yawned, "I'm tired. I need to get to sleep. See you in the morning!"

"See you tomorrow, then."

After Beth zipped up her tent, she sat down and continued filling out a form. At the top, in big letters, were the words 'Villain Sign-up Sheet.'