ASTRAL EXPLORES THE MANY WONDERS OF THE MODERN UNIVERSE!

EPISODE ONE: GUMBALLS

Astral floated behind Yuma, gazing around in awe at all the wonders of the modern universe. This place is so different from-wherever I came. he thought, observing the cars and passing people. " Yuma, where are we going?" he asked. " Hmm? I gotta run an errand for Gramma."

" What's an errand?"

" What? Oh, it's like going and doing a chore out of the house."

" And what errand are you doing?" Yuma counted out the money in his hand. " Gotta buy Gramma her potatoe chips, pop-corn and soda."

" What are those?"

" Another episode, okay?"

" What?"

" Oops, broke the fourth wall. Sorry!"

" Why don't you fix it?"

" It's not that type of wall! It's a-oh never mind. Don't wanna break the fourth wall again."

" Then you'd have to fix it even more, wouldn't you?"

" ARRGH!" While they had been talking, Yuma had reached his destination. He went in, bought what he needed, and was just leaving when he spotted something. " Oh, boy! Gumballs!" As Yuma leaped forward, Astral asked, " Yuma, what are these gumballs you speak of?" Yuma was cramming a quarter into the machine. " Huh? Oh, they're this candy." He twisted the handle, and, lo and behold, out popped a brightly colored gumball! Astral was amazed at the magic. " Yuma, how is it that you put in a coin and out comes a peice of...candy?" Yuma popped the gumball into his mouth, sucked on it, then chewed furiously. " It's not magic!"

" Then what is it?"

" Another episode- Oh, man, I did it again!"

" You really must be more careful, Yuma."

" YOU DRIVE ME CRAZY!"

" Always breaking things..."

" WILL YOU BE QUIET?" After a glare at Astral, Yuma tromped home. " Yuma, what is tromping?"

" Uh oh, Astral, you just broke the fourth wall!"

" What evil have I unwittingly commited? FATES SPARE ME!"

" Astral, RELAX. I did the same thing and I'm still alive, aren't I?"

" Hmm...maybe doing so chips away at your mind..."

" WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?"

" You aren't exactly smart, Yuma."

" Oh, geez! Insulted by my own imaginary friend! Or foe. I have no idea. But still!"

" Are you upset?"

" YES! I AM, IN FACT, UPSET!" His grandmother looked at him strangely. " Why are you yelling at air, Bubbles?"

" GRAMMA! HE STARTED IT! I mean, don't call me that and nothing!" He dropped the groceries next to his grandma and went up stairs. His gum had been mashed so much that it no longer held flavor. So he tossed it away. " Yuma! Where did that chewed and slimy thing come from? Is it alien off-spring, focused on eating you?"

" What are you TALKING about?"

" I watched it on that odd magic box."

" Oh, TV. I told you, that's fiction. Like the Sparrow!"

" But what IS it?" Yuma guestured to the trash can. " That, my friend, or foe, is the end result of a gumball!" Astral looked into the garbage with an expression akin to both disgust and wonder. " That gross rubbery thing is that treat you so gladly recieved from the magic object?"

" Yes."

" Why would you eat something so weird-looking?"

" It isn't weird-looking to start with!"

" And why did your grandmother call you Bubbles?"

" That is none of your business!"

(Actually, he got it from when he was a baby. He blew spit bubbles all the time, hence the dumb name.)

YUMA: Why would you write that?

KIANNAYUDO13: What?

YUMA: That nick name! It's lame and not true!

KIANNAYUDO13: I asked your Grandma. She said that's what it was.

YUMA: WHAT?

GRAMMA: Hi, sweety.

YUMA: Oh, this can't be happening.

ASTRAL: Yuma, who are all those people staring at these words?

YUMA: AAAUUGHH! PEOPLE STARING? THEY'RE-THEY'RE READING THIS?

KIANNAYUDO13: Oops. Sorry. Did I mention I posted this on FanFiction?

YUMA: MY LIFE IS RUINED!

KIANNAYUDO13: Nah, just your reputation. And besides, people already think you're an idiot.

YUMA: You really think so? Hey, wait! You're a jerk!

KIANNAYUDO13: Really?

YUMA: YES!

KIANNAYUDO13: Huh. Anyway, tune in next time for episode two!

YUMA: NO, DON'T TUNE IN! FORGET THIS EXISTS! PLEASE! MY LIFE DEPENDS ON IT! PLEE-HEE-HEESE! *starts to cry*

KIANNAYUDO13: Aw, it's okay.

YUMA: SHUT UP!

KIANNAYUDO13: And please review! No flames!

YUMA: YES! FLAME IT! USE A FLAMETHROWER! FLAME IT TO HECK! SET IT ON FIRE! FIRE!

KIANNAYUDO13: Pyromaniac. Can we get a therapist in here?

YUMA: FIRE! FLAMES! INFERNO! MUAHAHAHAHA!

KIANNAYUDO13: Forget therapist! Tranqualizers, anyone?

AKARI: OOOH!