> Here we go...
>
> My first take on the Medium Challenge, not for judging:
>
> **********************************************************************
>
> "Sakura-chan, put a Shield around the apartment for a week, please."
>
> "Okay!"
>
> We ordered takeout to survive, and lasted the entire week without Mara
> able to attack Belldandy. After they went home, I discovered the city
> was under martial law because Mara had been rampaging in anger for a
> few days. But at least Belldandy and Keiichi were fine, and that's all
> that mattered, right?

> **********************************************************************
>
> Three paragraphs, and by a strict reading of the Challenge, it's a win,
> but... it lacks a certain something. So I dodged by Excel and got the
> Great Will of the Macrocosm to use one of her resets, and now present
> my real take on the Medium Challenge, picking up from the omake that
> gave everyone clothing to survive the chill of the local mid-winter.

> **********************************************************************
>
>
> Team Lovely But Dangerous - 2007
> Part the Fourth (a.k.a. the Medium Challenge)
> Tell Me, What Do You Want?
>
>
> Sorry, did I say "the chill of the local mid-winter"? The weather
> forecast made it obvious that my guests weren't going to need heavy
> coats while they were visiting...
>
> "Rob-san, are these temperatures normal?"
>
> "No, Belldandy-sama, they're not. We should be dealing with -10 degree
> highs, not +10 degree highs." I was using the Celsius scale, of
> course; none of us were American. "Something's seriously wrong."
>
> "What's wrong with warmer winter days?" asked Sakura. "It's more
> comfortable outside if you don't have to wear a heavy coat."
>
> I couldn't argue with that... but then I remembered one of Sakura's
> favourite foods. "That's true, but there are some plants that need
> cold weather to grow properly. If it doesn't freeze, we won't have
> winter wheat to make flour for pancakes, or maple syrup to put on
> pancakes."
>
> She looked *very* worried. "We have to stop the warmer winter
> temperatures!"
>
> Chisame also looked worried, but for a different reason. "When we
> arrived yesterday, Belldandy-san said something about noticing a
> disturbance, and something about a demon. Could the demon be changing
> the weather patterns?"
>
> We all thought about it. "Maybe," I finally replied. "It'll be easier
> to fix if this is due to demonic influence."
>
> Belldandy's expression became steely. "I'll have to find that demon,
> then..."
>
> I raised a hand. "Please, no. Did you read the scroll that you
> brought for me?"
>
> She looked surprised. "Why, no. It was addressed to you; reading it
> would have been rude."

> "Please allow me to read it to you, then." I picked up and unrolled
> the scroll, and cleared my throat. "'To The Summoner, I, the All
> Father, am leaving these two in your care. The Yggdrasil crew is in
> the process of debugging their particular dimension, and since they are
> currently the major cause of the bugs, this seems the simplest
> solution. We will retrieve them in approximately one week.' If you're
> a major source for bugs, then you should be using your powers as little
> as possible, no?"
>
> Belldandy frowned. "Yes," she whispered.
>
> "Then leave things to us, please. Although you could help us by
> sitting still and smiling when the news photographers come by later
> today to interview Yomiko-san, Sakura-san, Chisame-san, and myself
> about the Carnage incident."
>
> Sakura looked puzzled. "How will that help us find the demon?"
>
> Chisame answered before I could. "The demon will see Belldandy-san in
> the news coverage, and come looking for us. We're bait, aren't we?"

> "Bait and trap both, Chisame-san..."

> "What I want is a trifle - just take a small... gift... to your friend
> Belldandy. As for what you get... well, I've read some of the stories
> that you're in. I can remove all of those annoying magical influences
> from your life, 'Chiu-chan'."
>
> The recording was quiet for a moment. "That's... certainly tempting,
> Mara-san. How do you propose to get rid of the magic in my life?"
>
> "I have some powers that I will use to isolate you from magical
> influences - if you agree to do me that favour."
>
> "Magical powers, right?"
>
> "Yes. What of it?"
>
> "So you intend to add magic to my life to get rid of the magic in my
> life. What's your encore - pouring water on me until I'm dry? I'm not
> an idiot; I know that what you're offering won't work. Go away, Mara."

> "Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!"
>
> "Really lousy Anakin impression there, Mara," I snickered.

>
> Epilogue
>
>
> "I'm home."
>
> "Where the hell have you been, Yomiko?"
>
> "I'm sorry, Nenene-sensei. It was a mission, and I couldn't tell you
> before I left."
>
> "You don't go on missions any more! Tell me the truth."
>
> As Yomiko did so, Nenene realized she was hearing the plot of a new
> novel. A hackneyed novel, to be sure, but she could fix that.
>
> *****
>
> "I'm back."
>
> "You left?"
>
> "Oh. Never mind that now; we still have work to do. When Negi-sensei
> wakes up, tell him '4000 meters straight up, and don't get shot'." Then
> Chisame dived into cyberspace - for the first time, as far as her
> companions knew.
>
> *****
>
> "I'm home!"
>
> "Welcome home, Sakura."
>
> "I'm glad to be back, Eriol-kun. Tomoyo, I learned about a wonderful
> thing this trip, and I think I can make them. It's called a 'pactio
> card'..."
>
> *****
>
> 'Nobody to see me come back. Good, I won't get chewed out for failing
> my mission.'
>
> "But We *are* here, and We *will* chew you out," came a voice from
> behind Mara, answering her unspoken thought.
>
> "Oh, no. H-h-Hild-sama, I... I can explain..."
>
> *****
>
> "We're home!"
>
> "Welcome back! Did you two have fun on your vacation?"
>
> Belldandy and Keiichi blushed at Urd's question. Skuld's reaction on
> noticing that was "Ewwwww..."
>
> *****
>
> "Hi, Rob!"
>
> "Aaaah! Oh... Hi, Kaolla-san. How are Shinobu-san and the others?"
>
> "They're doing well. How're you?"
>
> "Well enough, all things considered. You're five minutes too late for
> the fun this year."
>
> "Drat. What'r'you doing today, then?"
>
> "Going shopping for a new mattress for my double bed," I replied with a
> grin. "The one I've got is shot..."
>
>
> **********************************************************************
>
>
> And that's that.
>
> (Yes, the temperatures in Ottawa *have* been that high this week. Given
> a choice between climate change and demonic influence, I'd rather
> blame demonic influence...)