Pinball Wizard(s)

There was a time, many centuries ago, when Merlin and Mavis were trusted and true friends. They studied each other’s craft and sparred with the utmost respect. All that changed one fateful day. After that neither wizard was ever the same.

That was the day that The Who’s “Pinball Wizard” became a hit. One of the wizards scoffed at the very idea, and coded to ignore the silly mortal game. The other wizard wanted to learn all about the Magic of Pinball, and master it. These snap decisions ended sealing their fates.

Merlin fell in love with pinball, and with it, the endearing mortals who created it. But Merlin’s delight only intensified Mavis’s hate for all things human. “Such a supple wriiiist” Merlin sang, just as Mavis brought her staff down, shattering the machine into 10000 butterflies.

Merlin glared at Mavis through the cloud of butterflies. This was the last straw. She would pay for what she did to his beloved pinball machine. He pulled out his wand and screamed “Abraboozelbam!” A blue electric current streamed out of the wand, searching the way to its target.

Mavis had expected Merlin’s overreaction, and ducked out of the way of the oncoming magic stream. “Merlin!” she cried, exasperated, “can we take a break? I’m starving.”

But it was too late, the stream curled around Mavis and she slowly felt herself being turned into the thing she wished for the most at that moment. A Neapolitan pizza with wonderful leoparding… then Merlin ate.