Usual Disclaimers Apply.

Chapter 66

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"Coming soon to a theatre near you!" Eve's voice rang out as she galloped in the open field on Chaos.

"What are you talking about, Eve?" Addy demanded.

"Do you remember that movie Auntie let us watch the other night?"

"Yeah."

"Well, Sam says that in the future you went to a place called a theatre to watch them. And that before the movie you wanted to see would come on there would be previews of other movies and sometimes, they'd say things like coming soon to a theatre near you!"

"So why did you say it?" Mavis asked quietly.

"Because we are going to make our own movie." Eve grinned, her blue eyes sparkling. "I have the twins on a recon mission to get some cool animals that want to be in the movie, and Alex is on a mission to help get the phone with the camera on it that can record movies from the future that Sam doesn't think I know about."

"Why Alex?" Addy asked.

"Because her dad is the King of Thieves and he has taught her well." Eve giggled. "She is the Princess of Thieves."

"Do you really think it's a good idea to make our own movie?" Addy asked as Eve slowed Chaos and dismounted.

Rolling her blue eyes, Eve scoffed. "Of course, it's a good idea. People in the future made their own movies all the time and even had their own channels to put them on. They called them watch me channels. How cool is that?"

"Sam told you all of this?" Mavis' eyes questioned her friend.

Eve shrugged as she noticed Sam and Daria walking with Alex towards her. Running towards her older sister, Eve stopped when she noticed the phone. "You got it?"

"She did," Sam answered for Alex. "And how, little bit, did Alex even know about this phone?"

"That's on a need to know basis, Sam." Eve replied. "And right now, you don't need to know." Putting out her hand, Eve smiled at Daria and Sam. "Now if you'll just hand me the phone, I'll be sure to bring it back unharmed."

"Nope." Sam's voice was firm. "I caught Alex in my closet, little bit. My closet that you know is off limits from everyone."

"You got caught?" Eve turned to her friend and shook her head. "How does the Princess of Thieves get caught, Alex?"

"She didn't account for the goddess of love and auntie Hessie setting traps in that closet. I had barely finished picking the lock when the first alarm went off. I nearly jumped out of my skin. Then the second alarm went off and continued until I managed to grab the phone camera and was quickly on my way down the trellis when Sam snagged me."

"You know that nobody touches this phone camera but me, Eve." My tone grabbed Eve's attention and she finally looked at me with a serious expression.

"But I am making a movie, Sam. And I need that phone and it's camera to make it!"

Sighing heavily, I backhanded Daria in the stomach as she chuckled. "So, I heard. That is why Daria and I are going to help you out."

"You are?"

"We are?" Looking at Daria I merely nodded as she shrugged. Handing her the camera, I took Eve by the hand and pulled her over towards the trees. Kneeling down I became eye level with my sister.

"I will help you by filming this movie of yours, Eve, but if you ever send Alex on a recon mission to steal from me again, especially anything from my closet, you will wish that time travel was truly possible. Do you understand?" I threatened.

Eve nodded and then threw her arms around my neck. "Thanks for not handing me over to the moms, Sam."

Standing up, I tugged on her braid. "I'd never do that for something like this. Besides, little bit, I want to see what that creative mind of yours has come up with…" I trailed off for a minute before I burst out laughing. "Are you serious?" My eyes, so much like Mama's had already caught sight of the twins and their own spoils of a recon mission gone right. "Did you send the twins for the lion cubs?"

Eve turned and stared in the direction I was, "I sure did! Did their mom come back with them?" Spying the cubs and their mother she let out a war whoop and went running in their direction. "This is going to be the best movie ever!" she hollered as she ran toward my other sisters with Addy at her heels.

"Sam?"

"Yes, Daria?"

"You do know that there is a high likely hood that we're all going to get our tail feathers busted, right?"

I turned to my girlfriend and grinned. "Oh yeah, but come on, won't it be worth it? Eve and her gang making a movie?"

"Damn." Daria grinned back at me. "You are so right." Handing me back the camera phone she shrugged and pointed to the little kids and bowed to me. "After you, oh wise one."

Shaking my head, I took her hand and placed the phone in my locket for safe keeping. There was no way I was risking its safety in one of Eve's crazy plans even if I was involved.

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The commotion outside the queen's hut brought Ephiny from her scroll. "What in hades?" Pushing back her chair she grabbed her sword and ran for the door as the queen's guard followed her and Eponin met her outside of the hut.

"Is that what I think it is?" Ephiny asked.

"Is that who I think it is?" Eponin asked as half a dozen armed warriors came near them.

"Is that Sam encouraging this mess?" One of the guards asked as Eve's voice began to sing louder as she entered the center of the village riding on the back of a large lioness with a white handprint on her forehead.

"Archers stop!" Eponin's voice rang out. "That's Aunt Hestia's lioness. Nobody bothers it or the two smaller lions!"

"What about the other animals?" A voice from the crowd rang out as a startled goat ran from the compound as fast as it could only to be replaced by a very young boar, a young deer, 2 wolf cubs, a leopard cub, 2 owls flying overhead with Harry, and finally 4 bunnies rounded out the strange parade with 2 rabbits following closely behind.

"Leave them!" Ephiny's voice this time as Solari joined her. "Bet you're thrilled to be regent right now, aren't you?" The woman joked. "Gabrielle on that trade agreement with the stopover for the bard festival near Pydna."

"Solari?"

"Yes?"

"Shut up."

"Yes, my queen." The tall woman moved away from the blonde and winked at Eponin as she made sure to keep an eye on the animal parade going on in front of her. "Are they…"

"Singing?" Eponin finished.

"Yes, they are." Ephiny ran a hand down her face as the entire village was now in the center of the village watching Eve and her friends ride around the village singing some strange song while Sam and Daria stood off to one side. Ephiny looked at them closely and realized that Sam had something held up to her face and was pointing it at the mess Trouble was causing while Daria seemed just to be watching the action before her.

Wishing that the rightful queen was in the village and that Argo had chosen any day but that one to go into labor Ephiny headed to the now stopped Eve and her group as the song seemed to be winding down. "Hakuna, matata, hakuna, matata…." Was heard by all and Eve dismounted the lioness and gave her a scratch behind the ears and a big hug. "Thanks for the ride. That was wonderful."

The twins suddenly did the same from their smaller lion counterparts hugging them tightly about the necks and whispering something into their ears before the family of three disappeared into thin air. "Thanks, Auntie Hessie!" Came as a group dialogue from all the girls involved in Eve's parade and Ephiny was glad that she wasn't going to have to deal with that.

Moving forward she noticed that Sam and Daria had done the same thing and that Sam was now positioned to the best advantage of seeing her and Eve. The animals began to circle them as if waiting orders. Ephiny sighed realizing that they probably were, being one of the few people knowing of the twins' amazing gift of being able to talk to the animals.

Eponin was now next to Daria and gave the girl a playful shove on the shoulder. "What's going on?" She near whispered.

"Trouble and her cohorts are making a movie." Daria shrugged. "Something from the future. Sam is filming it."

"Future again?"

"Yep." Daria replied. "Anyway, we decided we couldn't miss the action and no matter how it played out we had to be here to watch this."

"I am so glad I wasn't dumb enough to be regent." Eponin's smile lit up her face. "This should be good. Too bad there's no popcorn."

"Oh, there will be when we show the movie." Daria told the clueless weapons master. "Shh, sounds like it's getting good."

"But that's not what you're supposed to say, Aunt Ephiny!" Eve protested pulling out her scroll.

I rolled my eyes as I watched my little sister shove the scroll into Ephiny's face. "See, it says right here. "Aunt Ephiny says, what a lovely group of animals you've brought into the village, Trouble. What was that nice song you were singing?"

"Trouble, I have never spoken like that." Ephiny argued. "And yes, you have brought an interesting group of animals into the village and I did find that song you were singing like nothing I've experienced. So, what in Tartarus are you doing?"

Rolling her eyes, Eve glared daggers at Ephiny. "Cut! Everyone take five while I explain to Aunt Ephiny about scripts and movies!" Her voice carried over the compound and I snorted as Ephiny's confusion grew on her face. I watched as Daria explained to Eponin and then watched as Eponin broke into laughter and explained to Solari. Soon the Amazons surrounding us were trying hard not to laugh while Eponin stood next to me.

I finally paused the camera on my phone having gotten all I could for the moment, being sure to get the expression Ephiny had when Eve explained to her about movies, scripts, and directions. I thought the regent's eyes were going to fall out of her head. Instead she came to me. "Sam?"

"Yes, Aunt Ephiny?"

"Why didn't you stop this?"

"Little bit making a movie?" I asked looking at her.

"Yes."

"They haven't really hurt anything yet," I tried. "I mean, yeah, they've managed to use a few animals and bring them into the village, but look, the boar piglet and the wolf cubs are playing and even the baby deer is enjoying it. I say let them get along for now. The twins have it under control, for now."

"For now, being the operative word, Samina."

I turned at the full use of my name. "You really are getting cranky, Aunt Ephiny. I think you need to ask her what the movie is about and what she plans next. She won't even tell me." I shrugged my shoulders at the look. "At least I came along to film it. I can stop anything too bad before she gets it started."

"And they aren't even naked this time, Ephiny." Eponin pointed out happily.

"Good point." The Amazon rubbed her hand through her curls and once again made her way to Eve who was now sitting on the ground holding one of the bunnies.

Sitting crossed legged across from the child, Ephiny reached out to pet the bunny and then sighed. "So, Trouble, what's up with this movie? I'm kinda in charge until your mom gets back and I need to know what you have planned."

"I'd like to keep it a surprise, Aunt Ephiny." The girl replied with a smile.

"I'm sure you would, but you can't." Remembering something about movie permits that Eve had told her about a few moments ago, the regent looked at the girl. "I need to get the correct scrolls written for the movie permit. I mean you are filming in the village and we need to make sure you have got the right permits. I have to know what the movie is about and what's happening next."

"I never thought about that." Eve put the bunny down and slowly stood up as Ephiny stood as well.

Waving to me, I smiled and moved towards Eve and Ephiny. "Yes, little bit?" I asked. "I guess I should let you know what the movie is about. I don't want Aunt Ephiny to write up the wrong permits."

I nodded seriously. "That would be bad." I agreed. Hearing something in the distance I stopped the camera and looked at Eve. "Did you ask all the parents of the animals for permission for them to film?"

Turning to the twins Eve shrugged. "Wonder twins?"

"Yeah, we asked all of them except the piggy's mommy and daddy and the puppies mommy and daddy."

"Shit."

"Wonder twins," I looked at my sisters. "Tell all the animals to leave the village. Except for the piggy and the puppies.

"Okay." Soon the baby animals were gone except for the three I asked they leave behind and their very upset parents who had entered the village as the others took flight.

"This does not look good, Sam." Daria commented as she came up near me.

"Nope."

"What was that you said, Sam?" Ephiny asked me. "They haven't really hurt anything, the twins have it under control?"

"Okay, I may have been a little overconfident," I admitted. As the mother boar and mother wolf squared off and the fathers did the same.

"Suggestions?" Eponin asked.

"Wonder twins!" Eve ordered. "Get them to stand down."

"We're trying!" Zoe and Emily spoke together and held hands as they finally seemed to get the adult animal's attention. "Please don't fight!" They spoke out loud. "It's our fault your kids are here. We could not find you to ask and they wanted to be in our movie. They can go now. Just don't hurt each other."

Finally calming, the adult animals looked around the village and seemed to take in the situation around them. Stepping forward I gulped and moved behind the twins. "Please think of the situation you're in right now. You are in a village with Amazon warriors. You do not want your kids hurt and we don't want you hurt. Will you just leave now, and we promise to ask you next time before having your kids come over to play."

Relaxing a bit as the adults calmed some more, I watched in awe as the twins waved to them and then giggled. "They said we'd better ask next time and they want to know exactly what a movie is because if it's something bad we're all in trouble."

Letting out a big breath I moved quickly towards Eve as she began to walk in circles and rant in every language, she had ever picked up from Mama but in a style, she'd learned from Mom. "And I thought you were like both of them." Ephiny said quietly.

"Yeah," I shrugged my shoulders. "Let me see if I can get her to calm down before she really gets going." Moving towards her I knelt and took her by the shoulders stopping her never ending pacing. "Little bit, enough. Time to calm down." I tried.

"Calm down?" Icy blue eyes stared into mine. "Calm down? And how can I do that when the movie was ruined?"

Trying to shake me off her arms I held her a little tighter. "Tell me how it was ruined."

"Well, first, the dialogue was way off." Eve listed raising one finger. "Secondly, the adult animals were not supposed to crash the movie that way in that scene. And they took the babies with them!"

"True, but I think it turned out pretty great." Standing up I motioned around the village. "I mean you have the adults in the movie this way and with a little editing…. I left off with a wink and Eve's smile began to grow.

"I never thought of it that way, Sam! You're a genius! Do you think it'd be okay if we went and practiced our scenes for tomorrow's finale in the open field behind the house?"

Turning to Daria, I nodded. "Sure. Daria will go with you and I bet aunt Eponin will too. I have a feeling aunt Ephiny will want to talk to me and then I'll need to work on the edits for today." Giving my sister a hug I watched as she and her gang took off at a run followed by Daria and aunt Eponin with at least half a dozen Amazon guards who looked as if they were ready for anything to happen at any moment.

Looking around Ephiny shook her head at the remaining crowd. "Unless you want to be the ones to clean up all the animal dung, move out!" Amazons scrambled right and left as fast as possible to get away from that fate as I laughed at the now empty courtyard.

"That was brilliant." I smiled at her. "I guess Mom isn't the only one who has a way with words."

"Guess not." Blonde curls were brushed back from her face as her arm linked with mine. "We need to have a talk, Princess."

"I know." I sighed looking down at her. "I guess I screwed up, didn't I?"

"Just a bit. Let's go back to the queen's hut and I can figure out who does get to clean up all the dung from the parade."

Chuckling I walked next to her slowly. "That's easy. Who's ticked you off the most this week? The elders, the junior warriors, the border guards, or the rest of the village?" Jumping aside before her hand met my backside she huffed and pointed to four random young women. "You four, start cleaning up after Eve's animal co-stars and if anyone teases you or bothers you, they can have the privilege of joining you by order of the regent."

Nodding the women took off at a fast pace as I followed Ephiny into the queen's hut. I watched as Ephiny sat down in a chair at the table in the hut and I sat down next to her. "So, I figured you probably wanted to talk to me about what happened out there." I began. "I guess I messed up, huh?"

"Oh, I don't know, Sam; were you planning on the parents coming into the village to find their children?"

"No, but I should have known something could have happened with little bit involved." I chuckled and then shrugged. "I guess I didn't have it as under control as I thought. That could have gone south really fast if the twins couldn't have calmed them down enough to get them to listen to us."

Ephiny's blonde curls nodded. "That is very true, Samina. I have to admit that I was worried we were going to have to do something I didn't want to do there for a moment."

"Me too." I sighed and looked down at my hands. "For what it's worth, I am sorry about the movie trouble."

"I'm sure that you are, Sam, this could have been a highly deadly situation. And I didn't want to have to explain to your moms why we had a wild boar and a wild wolf having a fight in the middle of the village!"

"Yeah, I think they'd probably be upset by that." I tried to smile at her but let it faulter when I saw her eyes narrow at me.

"This isn't funny, Samina." Ephiny stood and began to pace. I can't let this go, Princess."

The use of my royal title caught me by surprise accompanied by the tone she used, and I knew that she was dead serious in what was to come next. My consequences for not supervising Eve and her cohorts better about the movie. I had found it all in good fun and never even thought to ask her how they managed to get all the animal actors to come along and cooperate. Realizing that I had truly messed up in this part of my movie making I simply nodded. "I know, Aunt Ephiny. Regent."

Ephiny stopped pacing and looked at me, "I don't know how your mom does it."

"Does what?"

"Acts like queen and mom." Hand went through curls. "I'm having a hard-enough time being aunt and regent." Brown eyes looked hard at me and I knew she was contemplating my punishment. This was serious, Sam."

"I know and I'll accept whatever punishment you deem fit. As regent, and as my aunt."

"Alright then, let's get this over with, Princess. I'm not messing with the elders or council or any of that. Your mom wouldn't as queen and since I'm acting in her stead, I want to know what you think she'd do if she were here right now."

"You know what she'd do," I began. "She'd bust my tail feathers."

"As queen or Mom?"

"Both." I chuckled. "Queen always gets first dibs on something this stupid that could have effected the entire nation and then when we get home, Mom finishes the job."

Ephiny nodded. "Then I guess this regent gets first dibs on your tail feathers."

"I guess you do."

"Stand up, Sam." Ephiny had moved to the corner of the queen's hut and opened the cabinet there removing a wooden practice sword. Groaning inside I stopped myself from running. Mom had only used it on me once and I had never wanted to repeat the experience. I suddenly wondered how aunt Ephiny's use of the paddle would compare to Mom's. Shaking my head at the thought, I wished I'd had made sure to be a little more through with Eve and her movie animals than I had been. Deciding that I wouldn't make that mistake again, I waited for further instructions.

"Leggings down, hands on the table." Ephiny's voice was no nonsense and I followed her commands quickly. Moving behind me I waited. "I'm not going to lecture you, Princess. You know why you're in this position. Just know that I hope not to have to do this again anytime soon, but I will if I have to; understand?"

Gulping I nodded, "Yes, Regent Ephiny."

Giving no warning Ephiny brought the paddle down on my unprotected backside causing me to go up on my toes. The strikes were firm and measured in quick succession and had quiet tears falling by the sixth and last stroke. My tail feathers were on fire and I knew that if I found myself in this position again with my regent it would be an even more unpleasant experience.

"You may stand and put on your leggings."

Following her directions, I gingerly pulled my leggings over my bottom and turned around. Happy to see my aunt Ephiny waiting for me rather than my regent. Falling into her arms, she hugged me, and I smiled as I bent down to hug her. "You really know how to use that thing." I sniffed.

"I should," she pulled back and helped brush a tear from my cheek. "The gods know I felt it often enough from Melosa." She quipped tilting her head with a half-smile.

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I do hope this chapter was worth the wait. Please let me know what you thought, and I promise that the movie chapter will be forthcoming.

I know this is a rather long chapter but there wasn't anywhere good to cut it off as I wasn't going to leave anyone a cliffhanger. That isn't fair after making you wait so long for an update.