Chapter 2: The Emotions that Lead Us Asunder

Robbie was clever. He knew he couldn´t properly interfere with the relationship that Sportakook had developed with the girl, but he did know that that did not mean he couldn´t have a part to play.

He dressed himself carefully. It wasn't easy pulling on a fatsuit by oneself, but Robbie was skilled at disguise.

---

Sportacus was a little uncertain of how to find a job. He had never had to look for one before. Mr Meanswell had mentioned something about "hitting the pavement," but he was certain he must have heard it wrong.

He wandered up and down the streets in Lazytown where all the stores were huddled together. Surely someone would have a need for him. Or would they? What exactly could he offer to a store? He could teach healthy eating and exercise and sports, but it had seemed to him since giving away his birthright, that those things didn't matter as much to the people of Lazytown without a hero behind them. And he didn´t feel like much of a hero anymore.

He didn't pace for too long before a rounder gentlemen stepped out from a building and beckoned for him to come near. The man was wrapped in a purple apron, and had a purple cook's hat on his head.

"Hello there, young sir," the man said with a chuckle. "My name is Robin Layers. Do you mind helping me out for a moment? Would you lift a few things in the back room?"

"Of course, Mr Layers. My name is Sportacus, by the way."

The man jumped a little.

"Yes, yes, of course," he said. "Sorry about that. Sportacus, you say? Most unfortunate name. What was your mother thinking? I do hope that's your last name, anyway."

Sportacus smiled slightly. It wasn´t the first time his name was criticized.

"Well, parents these days," Mr Layers said with a shake of his head. "No wonder you turned out so, erm, so unlike others. Please, this way."

He lead Sportacus through the door into a very modest bakery, and through to the back. There were lots of boxes stacked up everywhere, with no real explanation as to what was inside them, or what their purpose was.

"Please, please, pick up the boxes," Mr Layers said while scratching his chin. "Show me how strong you are."

Sportacus shrugged and lifted the nearest box. It was very light, to the point that he wondered if it was in fact empty. The baker didn't seem at all interested at first, but then, as if reminded to react, suddenly started acting surprised and thrilled and clapped his hands.

"Oh, how strong you are!" he raved. "I am so busy with my shop, you must come work for me as my stocker boy. It is so much work to run a candy shop all by myself."

It did seem a little odd for him to think of working with candy, but he wouldn't actually be making it, and it was far better than no job at all. He looked over the baker, who was busy scratching his sides and chest to wonder what took Sportacus so long to respond.

"Mr Layers," he said at last, "you have yourself a stocker."

"Oh joy!" said the baker. "I'll need you once a week. Just move boxes from here to here until they are all on this side. See? Not hard. Not hard. Now let me show you the rest of the shop."

---

Stephanie sat at the open doorway of the airship, overlooking the town.

Álfheim. It was a mystical word. A word that made her fingers tingle and her heart race twice as fast. It was a word that called her name with the use of no language and no sound, only the silent tug of its power. Álfheim.

The oddest part for her was that it really wasn´t a question anymore of whether she belonged there or not, but rather when she would go. And it hurt her to admit it.

Her home was always Lazytown. It didn´t matter that she wasn´t born there, or that she spent the first eight years of her life unaware of its existence. Lazytown was home. This place, this Álfheim, was nothing to her until now, now that it was everything.

She remembered the laws of the elves. She remembered what Sportacus had taught her. If she wanted to live, then she needed to follow her path to her piece of land, and if her heart told her this was no longer where she belonged, then she no longer belonged here. No matter how much it hurt.

She thought of those bright blue eyes, and the body and that smile. She thought of nights spent curled in his arms after expressing their love in the deepest, most personal way possible. He had given her life, his life, and somehow still found more in him to give: his love. She loved him almost as much, but also knew that it would be an insult to stay and die, and destroy the life that he had given her.

She knew then that she had to go.

---

Robbie was pleased with himself. It wasn´t often he subjected himself to a fatsuit, for the horrid itching, but it guarrenteed that Muscles wouldn´t recognize him. It was important that he wasn´t seen. He had to be near him again, to touch him if possible, without being completely rejected.

And it seemed like he might actually get his wish.

---

Stephanie walked along the sidewalk slowly, trying to come up with the words in advance: the words that would split her from her love. But she didn´t have as much time as she would have liked to think it over, for Sportacus came flipping over to her from around the corner.

"Stephanie!" he cried as he picked her up and spun her around. "I found a job!"

"Oh, that's great, Sportacus," she said.

"A new candy shop is opening up. Not that we really need another one."

"A candy shop?"

He nodded.

"All I have to do is move boxes."

"Well," she said, "it's a start, I guess."

He ran a hand through her thick pink hair.

"I can tell you're worried," he said, seriously. "You need to follow your heart, and quickly. When you refuse the promptings of your emotions, of nature, then you…"

"I know," she said, shivering.

"You don't have to worry about me," he said, as if reading her mind. "I have a job now, and well…"

She nodded, keeping her eyes down.

"…I'll miss you, Stephanie. You will always be mine. You always have been. But you're very young, and you don't belong here anymore. And I, I have to stay."

"I know," she said, feeling tears begin to form.

He leaned in close to her and whispered into her hair, "I love you."

"I love you too," she said, "but I have to go."

---

Sportacus waited by the airship while Stephanie hurried to her uncle's house to say goodbye. It was hard to imagine Lazytown without her. It was hard to imagine anything anymore. He didn't know if it was the process of losing his birthright, or simply of losing his life, but he could feel his happiness start to slip. It was getting harder to feel like himself.

He felt a tap at his shoulder, and turned to see Robbie and his wicked grin. Sportacus held up a hand to keep him from speaking.

"Let me guess, you already heard about Stephanie."

"I have my methods," Robbie said.

"She's going to Álfheim."

"You mean she's going to try to find Álfheim," Robbie laughed. "She's been an official elf for a total of four months?"

"Five."

"Whatever."

Sportacus turned to look at the airship.

"It'll be lonely without it here, watching over us," he said.

"Don't be so sentimental."

He could feel Robbie come closer, and breathe on his neck. Robbie had never really gotten over him, no matter how much he objected to it. Sportacus didn't need to be a mind-reader to figure that one out.

"You're never going to see her again," Robbie whispered.

Sportacus closed his eyes. He knew. When an elf was called away from his land, it meant that his work there was done, and that a new piece of land awaited him elsewhere.

He could see Stephanie hugging her uncle, who looked a little surprised at the sudden decision to leave. Sportacus straightened his back and held up his head high, leaving Robbie without another word to give her one last kiss.

---

Stephanie watched as the figures of her childhood watched her leave. She waved, feeling ridiculous doing so, as if it was not a strong enough symbol to say goodbye with.

Closing the door, she walked slowly to the helm and buckled herself in. She took a deep breath. Although she had never been to Álfheim, not knowing where exactly she must go, she knew, somehow, that it was a long way away.

She tried to take comfort in her memories of Lazytown and childhood and long nights with Sportacus, telling herself that she would one day return; for the trip wouldn´t be as bad knowing it was only for a short while.

---

He eyed Sportacus as he looked out over the sky, even after the airship had long disappeared into the distance. He could sense the man begin to weep, though no tears were apparent. The thickness of the air made him uncomfortable. He decided to try to lighten the mood.

"So, my pet," Robbie said with a smirk, "when you come to accept that the little pink rodent isn't coming back, you know I'm still available."

Sportacus turned to him, disgusted.

His smirk faded. He wasn't certain he was going to like this new version of Sportacus. Wasn't certain about it at all.