Ballio III: Marika Calls a Truce

If you have not read the original Ballio tale or the exciting, edge-of-your-seat sequel, then you are either new to The Supreme Aglet or you are a loser. I will assume the latter.

In our last episode, Ballio and Boormund had found the magic scroll that granted the balls to Ballio, and a showdown was set for the armies of inerpreters of the law from the Great Wonder Wizard and Zorphine, matched against the mighty white-hearted Stelman.

The clash of these titans produced an awesome nuclear display. Stelman swiftly wielded the magic scroll, and many interpreters of the law fell. Many still stood, however, and the battle raged on.

Zorphine himself engaged in the battle, firing directly at Ballio from his magic mail cannon. Ursal also joined the battle on Zorphine's behalf, attempting to lure the warrior Suraija. Agleteer Thomas put a stop to that.

The fierce battle raged on, when from somewhere in the distance, a soft angelic voice was subtly heard, "Children..."

The battle wore on, with the thunderous noises drowning out the angelic voice.

"Children", came the voice again.

Ballio and Zorphine both heard the voice, and called off their warriors. All was quiet and still, as the interpreters of the law looked in the sky for the source of this angelic voice.

"Children, why do you fight?", came the voice again.

"Look! Over there!", said a warrior, pointing toward the sky where the goddess Marika was descending upon Playton.

The goddess spoke again, "Zorphine, Ballio, you must stop this nonsense."

"Must, stop?", Zorphine said, entranced.

Ballio did not speak, for he too was entranced by the beauty and splendor of the goddess Marika. He had encountered Marika before, and knew that she had much more to offer than Zorphine or the Great Wonder Wizard.

Boormund saw that Ballio was frozen by Marika's words, and tried to break him from his trance, "Ballio, stop! Awake!" It was to no avail.

The Great Wonder Wizard, who also was not affected by the overwhelming beauty of the goddess Marika, was intrigued, but saw no reason to interrupt her pleas. "If this goddess can persuade Ballio to call off Stelman", he thought, "perhaps Ballio and Zorphine can again work together to create wonder dust, which I shall share in."

"Children," continued Marika, "you must call off the interpreters of the law. You must combine your strengths and once again create beautiful balls for the villagers of Playton."

"But, he started it!", said Ballio.

"And he made it worse!", said Zorphine.

"This is lame.", said Boormund.

Marika interrupted, "Shhhh. You must put that behind you, now. I have spoken." And with that Marika ascended back into the heavens.

Zorphine and Ballio looked at each other from across the battlefield, and began walking toward the center. As they did, a banquet table appeared, and each took a seat at the ends of the table.

"I cannot turn away from the admonitions of Marika", said Ballio.

"Nor can I," said Zorphine. "I must also try to do the will of the Great Wonder Wizard."

"Then we must come to terms. We have no choice." said Ballio. "I shall draft a list of terms and send it to you by swift courier tomorrow."

"And I shall review and amend it." said Zorphine. "We will continue thusly until we have an agreement."

And indeed, the swift courier went back and forth the next day between Zorphine's fortress and Ballio's home with scroll after scroll after scroll.

Finally, an agreement was reached. Ballio gave up much, but also had much more than before, and was able to reward those who helped him in his struggle. His long friendship with Zorphine was intact, the Great Wonder Wizard was pleased, and Ballio could be confident that he would get some from Marika, and the world of the Supreme Aglet is once again in perfect balance.