Seis

"Hey big boy...wake up!"

B5 groaned. Where had he heard that before? An insistent prodding on his back told him that his sensory faculties were functioning 100%.

"Hey...wake up!"

B5 sighed. So much for getting that needed rest. He opened his eyes to assess his environment and saw Lollipop's face up close. So close that their noses nearly touched.

"Gaa! Don't do that!" B5 jumped.

"Okay, okay... I'm sorry!" said Lollipop.

B5 looked around to see where he was, and discovered that he was in a cosy and dark cave. Well, dark except for the part where Lollipop's fairy glow bounced off.

"What happened? Where am I?" B5 asked.

"You passed out. From a punch in the face by Mai-Noot. You are now in my cavern (that's cave to you, in case you didn't know)" Lollipop monotoned. "And by the way... you quit your job as of this morning."

"I did WHAT?" B5 exclaimed.

"You quit your job".

"Did NOT! I didn't even go to the scribe to ink it on parchment!"

"Okay, so I did it for you. Big deal. Now quit being a huffy cry-baby and let's think of what to do next and will you please stop calling yourself B5? Your name is LAW-RENCE."

Through his grumbling, Lawrence managed to show a peep of gratitude, realising the wonderful opportunities that lie ahead of him. But...what should he do next? What can he expect? Suddenly, his world shrank again.

Lollipop beamed.

"Don't worry, Lawrence... I'm here for you, remember? We are a team, we can make it through this!"

'Right..." he thought sarcastically, 'fat much a skinny nothing and a glowing pip of a fairy can do against the horrible world out there'.

"Excuse me!" Lollipop was miffed. "Do you think I stick around because I personally like listening to your negative thoughts? I am here because the Upper-Upper assigned me to you. If you think no one can help with your situation, then YES, no one can."

Lollipop left in a fairy-like huff.

'Strange' thought Lawrence, 'I never knew fairies took things personally'.

YOU THINK THAT'S STRANGE?

'Huh?' Lawrence was startled by the voice. He surveyed the cave... and found no one.

'STRANGE' IS THE PERSON WHO THINKS HE CAN'T DO IT. 'STRANGE' IS THE PERSON WHO SHUNS HELP BECAUSE HE BELIEVES THAT NO ONE CAN HELP. THAT'S STRANGE.

"Who's there?" he asked aloud.

UPPER-UPPER, WHO ELSE?

'I didn't know the Upper-Upper was a lady'

WHY... DID YOU THINK OTHERWISE?

The voice laughed before fading into oblivion.

Now Lawrence felt a wee bit scared.