Canto 1

O Calliope, I pray you sing of love,
A romance great and set in stars above,
To me grant voice to tell this history,
The tale of love that is this Song of Sea.

A story beginning not too long ago
A story not far from all the world you know
But I shall tell you what background I can
For you deserve to know how this began.

In era filled with lawlessness and strife
Piracy, war, and robbery were rife.
The seas were ruled by the Pirate King,
But land was the domain of Warrior Queen.

Perseus was the Pirate King's true name,
They say he was born of the sea and dame.
Through every sea his ship the Blackjack went,
'Till all who dared defy this name had bent.

None know from where the Warrior Queen did come,
But she did wish to rule, her will be done.
From humble depths she rose with striking speed,
Amazon strength, keen mind, heroic deeds.

Their worlds apart, beyond each other's ken,
I know 'twould seem to be no good omen
For two to be so far away and gone.
Fear not, the Royals intersect here on.

[Canto 2 coming soon. Or maybe not that soon. Man, heroic verse is hard. At least I decided to stick with English heroic verse (Iambic pentameter & couplets) rather than Greek heroic verse (dactylic hexameter). Maybe I'll switch to prose for the main story... but on the other hand, that would mean giving up on the challenge.]

"Shut it, Seaweed Brain!"

Annabeth Chase glared at her boyfriend. She and Percy were standing outside Cabin 7, looking at the piece of paper pinned to a noticeboard next to the door.

"You're just jealous", replied Percy.

"I still don't get why we have to put on a theatrical production at camp this summer," said Annabeth. "It's not like being good at singing and dancing will help us against the next monster we encounter. And even if we have to, why are we doing such an outdated and boring show?"

"Lighten up a bit, Wise Girl," responded Percy. "It may not exactly be my favourite either, but Will Solace got to pick the show, and since he's chief counselor for Cabin 7 I guess we're stuck with it."

"The fact you got selected for the lead role wouldn't have anything to do with it, would it?" asked Annabeth sarcastically.

"Hey, I happen to think I make a pretty good Pirate King" said Percy. "And just because you didn't even get a part is no reason to be jealous. Not everyone can have a good singing voice".

"Percy. I am a warrior, dammit. I do not need to be able to sing well in order to defeat you in the next game of Capture the Flag... and I guarantee you that I will." Annabeth's grey eyes flashed dangerously at the gently mocking expression on Percy's face.

"Easy there, Wise Girl," laughed Percy. "You are the queen of all warriors, and there's no one at camp I'd rather have by my side in a fight... but please don't make me ever have to listen to you sing again!".

He stuck out his tongue and ran off along the line of cabins, leaving Annabeth fuming in his wake.

"Oh you'll pay for that, Seaweed Brain!" she shouted after him, and started off in pursuit.

Behind her, the paper pinned to the noticeboard fluttered in the breeze. It read:

Cast List for Camp Half-Blood Summer Musical:
Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Pirates of Penzance".

Family Reunited (Star Wars): What happened between to Obi-Wan and Athena during Order 66 and can they reunite with all their loved ones.[One-Shot in between Kidnapped and Rescued]
((OMF(orce) Percy Jackson crossover?!?!)) (crossover confirmed!)

"No, really," Luke said. He'd leaned against the wall and crossed his arms, staring hard at Obi-Wan's Force ghost. "What did happen? Because she's really being very persistent--"

"Nothing happened," Obi-Wan insisted again. "She misread the situation, that's all. I told her we had one shot to get from Kidnapped to Rescued, if we wanted to see our loved ones again, and she decided not to come! I haven't seen her since."

"And this was a while ago?" Luke asked. "Because, well, she seems to think it was yesterday."

Obi-Wan actually threw his hands in the air. "Order 66 happened years ago! Maybe that's yesterday on her planet, but it certainly isn't here--wait. Let me talk to her. Maybe if she goes through me, she'll take the hint."

Luke shrugged. "Your funeral," he said, and set off towards the Millennium Falcon.

Five minutes later, the woman who'd introduced herself as Athena was staring (quite literally) through Obi-Wan.

"Ah," she said. "Time has passed for you."

Obi-Wan looked at her warily. "Obviously. You seem...different."

"I have regained my strength," she said. Her grey eyes were bright with intelligence. "Finding myself in your world was--disquieting. But by remaining I managed to fulfill my quest. I wanted to reward you for what help you attempted to give me--but I see that would be difficult now."

"Just to clarify," Han said from his seat, "what kind of reward were you thinking of?"

Athena spread her hands. "I am a goddess," she said. The others exchanged looks. "There are many things within my power."

"Could I ask you for something to be given to the living?" asked Obi-Wan.

Athena nodded. "I would be willing."

"Good," said Obi-Wan. "Now, if I might have a minute to think about this..."

*

A Little Unsteady (Avengers): It's been three days since Loki joined the Avengers Initiative, two months after the battle of New York City. Loki's body decides to kick off the celebrations by fainting...multiple times. How will the other Avengers react to this new development? And will Loki feasibly be able to join the team if his problem continues? Reviews are candy!
((Reviews are candy! Yeah, I passed over a Harry Potter crossover for this.))

"It's hardly my fault!" Loki complained. His arms were crossed, and his expression fell just short of murderous.

"Not your fault?" Tony Stark gave him a Look. "What, so you aren't the one who separated yourself from your body? You aren't the one who put it on autopilot? You aren't the one who's been letting it fall over at the worst possible times? Face it, this is exactly your idea of a joke."

"Tony." Steve Rogers sighed heavily, setting down the polishing cloth he'd been running over the surface of his shield. "Loki's jokes may frequently be in poor taste, but he is an Avenger now, and we have to believe that--"

"He's been an Avenger for three days, Cap--"

"And he's been doing well in those days, apart from this fainting thing--"

"He has done it again," Thor announced. He walked into the room carrying a limp, dark-haired figure in full armor and green cape. "Oh, hello, brother," he added with a nod to the see-through Loki. "How do you fare?"

Loki rolled his eyes. "As well as I might, having fallen victim to my own curiosity. At least I am currently incapable of developing headaches."

"What, so you're getting your jollies by trying to give us headaches?" Tony grumbled. "Nice try. Next time we go out, you can be the one to deal with everyone who wants to know if our newest Avenger is deathly ill or something. I'll make sure the tabloids get to you, too, don't think I won't."

"I will be able to reverse it," Loki said loudly. "I simply require more time." He turned pointedly away from the billionaire. "Thor, have the materials arrived yet?"

"I do not see why I cannot simply hit it with my hammer," the Asgardian rumbled, but shook his head. "They have not, Loki. I am told they will arrive within the day."

"There," said Loki. He spoke now to Steve, still ignoring Tony. "Tomorrow I will be able to finalize the device that will reverse this...mess. I will be able to return to my body."

"Will your body stop fainting once you're in it?" was the response.

Loki looked like he was contemplating whether or not rolling his eyes was a waste of time here. "I see no reason for it to continue."

"Good," Tony said briskly. He put down his empty coffee mug and got to his feet. "Device gets built, Loki stops fainting and ghosting around, and we all get fewer headaches. I'm on board. And busy. See you tomorrow." He headed for the elevator.

Thor lay Loki's body on a couch and smoothed its hair. "All will be well, brother."

"If the device is built well," Loki put in. "There must be steady hands to assemble it."

"You'll get them." Steve stood, stuffing the polishing cloth into his pocket and settling the shield on his arm. "Tomorrow. Do you need anything before I go out?"

Loki spread his ghostly hands. "I am incorporeal, Captain. I have no need of anything."

"Okay," Steve said. He hesitated and then set off for the elevator with an awkward nod. "Good."

"Good," Loki mouthed behind him, his expression mocking. This, at last, was enough to earn the eye-roll. He joined Thor by the couch, staring down at his body.

"All will be well," Thor said again. He looked up at the ghostly Loki. "You will be able to fix this, brother."

"With borrowed hands," Loki sneered, but then he sighed. "They must be steady. I weary of this."

"They will be," Thor promised. He made as if to clasp Loki's shoulder, and then thought better of it.

Another advantage, Loki thought to himself, but somehow the thought didn't bear the ire it once had.

-
(this Avengers one is very obviously an AU. Maybe it's following that idea I've seen where Loki was somewhat mind-controlled himself during the Avengers movie, and has now come out of it and possibly been exiled to Midgard or something. Either way, being Loki and an Avenger, he's promptly got himself mixed up in some unfortunate magical situation. Blame the Enchantress, maybe!)

(Reminder that you're absolutely allowed to redo the same summary as someone else.)

Oh, take me back to the start
Ginny tried to protect Harry from his own mind. It played tricks on Harry the same as Tom still played tricks on Ginny.

"Preciousssss..."

Ginny Potter (nee Weasley) sat bolt upright in bed. That hissing voice, the sudden chill down her spine, could it be... but he was dead, gone to dust years ago--!

"No, I won't let you have him; you can't!"

"But I can, precious, and I will."

That was Harry! Ginny swung her legs out from under the covers, fumbling for her wand. Her husband was fighting... someone or something... and she was damned if she was going to let him do battle by himself.

"He's ours, my preciousss," the something hissed, and with an icy shock Ginny realised two things: the evil voice was also Harry's... and James wasn't in his crib.

White-faced, teeth clenched, and wand extended, Ginny crept up to the bedroom door. Beneath Harry's argument with... she refused to consider what it could be that would twist her husband's voice into that hissing parody that summoned back her darkest nightmares... she could hear the soft burbling of her son. He was in there, with... that... and that seemed to be winning the fight.

Ginny drew a slow, deep breath, braced herself, and then shoved through the door, a Petrificus Totalus on the tip of her tongue. If Harry had been taken over, she had no time for half measures-!

She stumbled to a halt, staring down in bewilderment. Harry Potter knelt on the floor next to their clearly-enthralled baby, wrestling with his own hand. "No!" he exclaimed. "You're not allowed to tickle him!" Then, making the most ridiculous face, he hissed, "I am the greatessst tickler, precious, you can never sssstop me!"

James made a bubbling noise, reaching out one chubby hand towards his father's wriggling fingers. Harry chuckled, patted his cheek, then looked up at Ginny.

"Sorry, love," he said, smiling clean up to his eyes, "he was fussing, so I brought him in here... did we wake you?"

---

Because there's nowt better than turning angst into fluff. Hey, it said she tried to...

hS