BEST
ROMANCE
::A spotlight follows Melissa Mayfield as she enters the
stage in her floor-long strapless evening gown made of black silk. The
half-Japanese mouse is accompanied by the orchestra playing an instrumental
version of Alphaville's Big In
Japan. That is, most of the song comes from synthesizers, and the acoustic
instruments in the orchestra sound like mere decoration. After the music has
stopped, Todd White comes from the orchestra and joins Melissa. He is wearing a
Todd:
Sorry, but I just had to play this song.
Melissa:
(smiles) For me?
Todd: That, and they let me play real synthesizers, not that
homebrew PDA software stuff. Am I glad that they hired the Destiny Unlimited
Orchestra again.
Melissa:
(turns to the audience) See, when you love a geek, you need a whole lot of
understanding for him. Which is quite easy for me, as cute as
he is.
Todd: Aw,
thank you, Melissa.
::Todd pulls Melissa close and kisses her. Before wrapping
his arms around her, he gives the orchestra a sign, and the moment Todd and
Melissa start kissing, the musicians start playing Barry White's Play Our
Love's Theme::
Audience:
Awwwwwwwww...
Melissa: Heh, when you lovers out there kiss, there are violins in
the air. When we kiss, it's a whole orchestra.
Todd:
Talking about kissing, now it's time for the Best Romance award. Of course,
this award is limited to fan fiction.
Melissa:
Yes, there's so much romance here already that whatever is awarded couldn't be
better than third-best. At best. Because
this is hard to top.
::This time, Melissa kisses Todd::
Todd: And
we've been told that there's another young couple among you.
Melissa:
A certain mouse...
::
Todd:
...and a certain platypus...
::Racebest's face appears next to
Sara's::
Melissa:
If there was an honorable Best Real Life Romance award, it'd be them who'd win
it.
Todd: Or
there might be a tie with us.
Melissa:
But we're here tonight to give a lucky fan fiction writer his or her
well-deserved Best Romance award.
Todd: But
who did the best job making their readers feel warm and fuzzy inside?
Melissa:
Here are this year's nominees.
Todd: A
Swing and a Ms by Dynamoe.
Melissa:
For the second year already, Diamonds In The Desert by
Todd:
Does that mean us by chance?
Melissa:
I think so.
Todd:
Anyway, then there is Awakening by
Melissa:
Flying to the Light by TinManNFO.
Todd: And
Fly to the Moonlight by Gyrotank. Hey, these last two titles both remind me of
a story I heard of that takes place in
Melissa:
Gorgeous, you say?
Todd:
Yes, maybe the two of you are related. They say she's cute, and you are cute.
Melissa: Awww, Todd, you're so nice. (pecks
him on the cheek) And you're cute, too. Will you tell me and everybody else
whom the award goes to, cutie?
Todd:
Whatever you say, Melissa. (takes the still sealed
envelope out of the desk)
Melissa:
Oh, wait, let me open it for you.
Todd: You
brought a katana?
Melissa: Naw, I'm not Japanese enough for a katana. No, I prefer
these.
::Melissa slips a kind of steel wire into the envelope,
pushes it so it comes out again on the other side, and then pulls it and rips
the envelope open::
Todd: A
violin string. Yes, that's my Melissa. (takes and
unfolds the paper) The winner of the Golden Acorn Award in the category Best
Romance is... Awakening, by Zap and Spu!
::Stunned at the announcement of
his name, Zap approaches the podium in a daze. After accepting the award, he
stares at it in amazement for a moment before looking up at the gathered Rangerphiles with a small but incredibly appreciative
smile::
Zap: Uh...wow, this...this is a great honor - an amazing honor...I can't think
of anything that could express my gratitude to you all. I suppose all the
romance I put into "Awakening" kinda
reflects my own hopes for my future...for what God has planned for me. I'm a
hopeless romantic, what can I say?
::He shrugs honestly and light laughter ripples
through the crowd. He then grins and winks to a certain mouse and platypus in
the audience::
Zap: Of course, the antics of a certain couple helped to inspire my writing in
the last few chapters, for which I am quite grateful. I wish I could express to
you all my thanks, but I don't words would do it justice, so...thank
you...thank you all.
::He smiles gratefully and leaves the stage::
Melissa:
Congratulations, Zap and Spu, and to a wonderful thing called romance. Come
here, Todd.
::Melissa and Todd share a third kiss which ends in perfect
sync with the song the orchestra plays. They both wave to the audience::
Todd:
Good night, everybody!
Melissa:
And may love be with you!
::Hand in hand, the two mice leave the stage::