Without thinking, Sportacus dropped to all fours and dashed toward the villain's lair. He moved so swiftly that his limbs were a blur; in no time at all, the elf had reached his destination. Magic hung so thickly in the air that it made his head spin. When Sportacus opened the hatch leading underground, the feeling of being drenched in magic became even stronger.
"Robbie! Can you hear me?"
Sportacus strained his pointed ears, and just barely made out Robbie's reply.
"Sportacus...?"
The elf leapt down the tube and landed next to the fluffy orange chair. He scanned the lair; instead of its usual organized chaos, all the inventions appeared degraded and broken. Even the disguises in their tubes looked like they'd been attacked by moths. Sportacus spotted Robbie huddled in the corner of the room, surrounded by broken glass.
"Robbie! What happened?"
"G-go away! Don't look at me!"
Despite the villain's protests, Sportacus ran to his side.
"Please, let me help you!"
After a moment's pause, Robbie held one of his hands out to Sportacus. His fingers were cut and bleeding.
"Oh, Robbie..."
The elf gently took the offered hand. Blue light shone from his claws and soaked into Robbie's skin, sealing the gashes. Even once the flesh was healed, however, Sportacus couldn't bring himself to let go.
"What happened?"
"...I was angry."
"About what?"
The magic in the air pulsated, making the hairs on Sportacus's arms stand on end. He almost missed the villain's whispered reply.
"About what happened with the skogsfru. About failing."
The elf released Robbie's hand and let his gaze drop to the floor.
"I'm so sorry, Robbie. This is all my fault...if I had just thought to mention that the skogsfru hated humans—"
"Then you wouldn't have brought a filthy half breed like me along."
Sportacus was taken aback by the loathing in Robbie's voice.
"What? That—that's not what I meant!"
"But it's the truth!"
He whirled around, angry tears dripping from his eyes.
"A full fae would have been able to beat her! Hell, she probably wouldn't have even bothered to pick a fight if I weren't part human!"
Sportacus took a step back from the seething villain.
"Robbie, it isn't as though you could change how you were born. Besides, there's nothing wrong with being human!"
"Don't lie to me!"
The scent of cane sugar in the air suddenly became stronger.
"You only found me interesting when you learned I could do magic! I was nothing to you before, but then you thought I was fae, and all of a sudden, it was 'Your wings are beautiful, Robbie!' and 'I'll protect you, Robbie!'"
With every angry word, the machines in the lair creaked and groaned. The sweet smell around him and the guilt inside was enough to make Sportacus feel sick. He tentatively took a step toward the villain.
"That's not true—"
"But I'm just a half-breed! I have dirty human blood running through my veins! What do you think of me now, Sportacus?!"
"I think you're beautiful!"
Suddenly, the choking scent fled the air. Robbie froze in place, gaping at the elf. Sportacus himself was also shocked, but he pressed on.
"I've always thought that. Robbie, I've been falling for you since the first time you ever danced with me."
"Y-you're lying..."
The elf gently placed his clawed hand on Robbie's arm.
"That's not true. Remember all the times I've tried to help you, all the times we've danced together? I care about you, Robbie. I always have."
Robbie was blushing furiously. Sure, he had always felt warmth from the elf, but he had assumed it was his own feelings playing tricks on him. For Sportacus to return the feelings...wasn't that wrong?
"But I'm a villain—you're the hero."
Sportacus's chest clenched. The terrified faces of the townsfolk, of the children, filled his vision.
"I don't think I'm a hero anymore."
Robbie's mouth dropped open. Sportacus, not a hero? Now that was wrong!
"But your crystal went off for me! You're still saving people!"
"And I shouldn't be! I terrified the whole town, and I almost bit Ziggy. What if I actually hurt someone—what if I hurt you?!"
The elf's blue eyes teared up, and he wiped them roughly.
"I'm turning my crystal over to the Íþróttaálfur Council. I'm leaving Lazytown tomorrow."
With that, Sportacus got to his feet and started toward the hatch. The villain stared at his retreating back in horror.
"You can't just tell me you love me and leave town! Y-you can't...please..."
"I'm sorry, Robbie."
He leapt out of the lair, closing the hatch behind him and leaving Robbie reeling in the darkness.
Sportacus was leaving. It was what he had always wanted, right?
Everything was upside down. So why not break the status quo a little further?
"Tomorrow, for the first time, a Rotten scheme will be used to make Sportacus STAY in Lazytown!"
