"So, you tell me that you know exactly what's going to happen to us in the future?" Indiana Gnome asked the little boy-looking figure known throughout the Parodyverse as Joey Z. Joey had gathered a select few of the people in the Parodyverse outside of the Lair Legion headquarters where a humongous party was going on inside.

"That's right," he said as he sat down on the grass that he'd imagined into existence so he wouldn't have to sit on the hard sidewalk. Before him were a few of the less-known characters of the Parodyverse. Indiana Gnome and Gunthar (aka the "Gargoyle of Doom"), Spaztic Chyld (the security officer by day, hyperactive spazz by night), The Men Team (Burly Man, Girly Man, and Multiple Personality Man), and some semi-intelligent lint ball named Fred. A roar of laughter came from inside the Mansion, letting those few outside realize that somehow they must have been forgotten about, that they were somehow insignificant enough to have been left out of all the fun.

"I know what our future is. I've seen it and it's not good for us." Another roar of laughter came from the mansion and a golden goblet crashed through a window and landed at Joey's feet. Picking it up, Joey examined it and then turned it into a butterfly.

"This is ridiculous. Since when has someone been so sure of the future?" Girly Man asked.

"I don't know," Indiana Gnome interjected. "I've met Joey a time or two, and even though he's immature, there are some things that he's right about."

"Hey!" Joey shot at Indiana, "I'm not immature, I'm just a little... burdened. You try and have all of reality resting on your shoulders and tell me how you handle it!"

"This has got to be about that court case that he's in the middle of," Burly Man whispered to M.P. Man.

"It has nothing to do with that!" Joey said sternly. "Well... not entirely," He admitted. "I only wanted to know how the trial would end, so I looked to the future and I saw a little more than I'd bargained for."

"Well what if that was only one of the many possible futures?" M.P. Man asked, who had the most experience with different futures. "What if that one was the one you wanted to see, or maybe one of your darkest fears." His voice seemed to change with that last half of his sentence as an evil personality momentarily surfaced. "Sorry about that last part. He sort of snuck to the surface."

"I know that it is our future because I looked at all of the futures possible." Joey sighed and lay down on the grass, where a pillow had appeared out of nowhere for his head.

"Well, you can do things to change everything around you," Spaztic Chyld spoke up. "Can't you imagine us a new future and make it happen?" he pleaded.

"I've tried, but every time I do, it turns out worse for everyone around us." A roar of laughter erupted again from the Mansion. "Especially for them."

"What are we going to do then?" asked Gunthar.

"We're just going to go away," Joey said with a sad smile. "Oh, come on!" He encouraged them. "It'll be fun! Besides, I can always have us back here in no time if you change your mind!" he exclaimed in true Dr. Who fashion.

A silent nod and a few shrugs from the rest and Joey Z. and the rest of the gang penned in these pages disappeared from the Parodyverse, never to be heard from again...

EPILOGUE:

Somewhere in the mansion someone almost misses and worries about those few heroes who disappeared, but then forgot who they were worrying about.

I'm not sure what to make of this. Please Explain!

...especially since the Joey Z trial storyline was tied into and resolved (in a matter of speaking) in the big "Saving the Future" storyline that the whole board had a hand in. Plus, Indiana Gnome and Gunther are still favorite recurring characters. It'll be a shame to lose them.

If this is a parting story with the intent of closing off the characters I appreciate you taking the effort. However, you should note that the Joey trial did get worked into the major Saving the Future round robin and did find some kind of resolution.

Best wishes for the future.

I've just got too much on my plate right now to even think about writing here for some time. Sorry for not noticing the involvement of my characters in your story lines. I just don't feel that I'm either an active contributor or one to justify my sticking around. I may poke in from time to time and read, but don't expect a post.

As far as my characters are concerned...

Notice the ending that I put in there. That was meant as a way for you all to use them again in your stories.

There is one major term:
My characters are my intellectual property and as such deserve the same respect you'd give me. Namely, you will not destroy, defame, or in any way manipulate them to do lude acts of any sort, as their creation was intended to add mystery and child-like excitement to this world.

With that, I bid you adieu, as I am off to work at 3:45 AM where I live.

PS-
If you so feel inclined to drop me a line, have a question about my characters, or maybe wanted to let me know what you've included my characters in, my e-mail is as follows for those of you who don't have it:

jtntea@gmail.com

For those of you who have received my e-mail address and have e-mailed me before, keep using that e-mail address as that is reserved for you alone.

nt