4
Anyone who worked for the Hounder Organization did their job fast and right the first time. Hounder was a philanthropist with a flair for throwing money at people as though he didn't care to have it around. In all essence, this was the truth. Caleb was sick of having excessive amounts of wealth slowing him down, so anything he could pick up on that could take money off of him was a welcome charity case.
In the case of Timothy Neogene, charity was an understatement. The mansion that took the place of his house, the residential upgrades for all of his friends, the Ivory Tower that baffled the school faculty... everything was done in roughly four days. It helped that a majority of the workers sneaking in to do construction were members of Caleb's android team.
With such drastic changes being made, Timmy sought peace elsewhere, fed up with the noise and the constant reports being made to him on what was happening with one project or another. Genis was a cute kid-robot-thing, but one more report from him and Timmy was going to snap. So, with the thought of keeping at least one android in working order, he fled the safe house and made his way to the cemetery, plopping himself down by his grave marker.
"This is chaos." he sighed tiredly, plucking up a stuffed bear and toying with its shiny plastic nose. Wanda sat on his knee, watching him and shrugging.
"It's for the best, in the end. Isn't it?" she asked softly. Despite his aversion to being separated from his pink-haired wife, Cosmo was spending the day confronting school officials, acting as Timothy's 'father' in heading off any chances of investigation into the bizarre school yard fight that caused two young teens to pass out and left one of the richest teens in Dimmsdale covered in bruises and black eyes.
"At this rate I'll end up forgetting who I was before I fell off that stupid jungle gym." the boy muttered and managed a grin as he gave the bear a tentative squeeze and it squeaked back at him. And it was that unnerving feeling that drove him to skirt the Neogene wardrobe and return to his classic outfit. Short-sleeved pink shirt, normal pair of blue jeans and sneakers, the familiar pink hat that he kept since his death; it was comfortable and comforting. He picked up another toy, clicking the mechanism to activate the lights and sounds of a plastic toy train. He'd only been there for a few hours and his quiet musings were often interrupted by his scrambling for a hiding place each time someone dropped by to 'visit'. Some mourners he knew already but surprised him; Doug Dimmadome and his son, Dale; Catman as played by Adam West (who still creeped him out to some extent), and then there were those that he couldn't figure out. Random people, the majority of which he'd never met, brought gifts and flowers, spent time telling younger siblings and small children about what they knew of the Heart of Dimmsdale.
The train blew a little whistle and he blinked back to alertness, unaware that he'd drifted off in thought again. He rubbed away tears, gave a small sigh and set the train down, looking back at the pile once again.
"What happens to all the stuff that piles up on my grave after a while?" Timmy asked his godmother, plucking a flower from one of the bouquets and twirling it in his fingers, "They don't just gather it up and trash it, do they?" Wanda shrugged again. "How's your magic?"
"Almost gone. I couldn't grant a wish even if I tried, and Cosmo's using up what's left of his supply trying to cover up that fight at Oberon." she sighed. Timmy winced at her words.
"We really should find Tootie and Romi. They said they'd help you and Cosmo get your wands recharged." he murmured and set the flower aside, "Should we go look for them?" The fairy began to nod, then managed a glance past him before gasping and hurling herself away from him into the pile of plush toys. "Wanda?!" the brunet exclaimed in surprise, twisting to pull her out... and freezing in place at the sight of anther visitor to his grave.
She was blonde, hair tied in a ponytail and eternally dressed as a cheerleader. Often titled the second most popular girl in the school, she was what Cousin Danny's friend, Tucker, once labeled girls like her 'satellites', the friend who orbited around the most popular girl in an effort to gain equal favor in the eyes of the public, but doomed to always be second best. She just stood there, staring at him, her face torn between erupting in a rage that sent many running for the mountains and a joy that would rival Tootie's elation at seeing his return.
This was Veronica, the 'crazy one' that harbored a near-violent crush on him despite social differences.
Looks like she's picked one.
"Who the hell are you and how dare you dress up like that here of all places?!" she snapped at him, stomping up the hill towards the tombstone.
"Oh crud. Uh, be back for ya later, Wanda!" Timmy murmured and shot away from his grave, knowing just from experience that the blonde would chase him. He wouldn't have to look back to know that, given half a chance, she'd be breathing down his neck and ready to tear him a new hole in the head. All he had to do was make sure she didn't have any fraction of a chance to get close, find a really good place to hide, and pray to whoever was paying attention that she figured she just imagined it all.
"Heeee-yah!" her voice screeched into the afternoon air and Timmy had only a split second for a good view of the grass before he found his face planted alongside the little green blades, one dainty foot-shape jammed into his back securely, "Hah! And they said my own special brand of Cheerleader Fu would never amount to anything! Like, screw you, Mr. Counselor! You just got totally taken down by my patented Jump, Three-Quarter Twirl and a Half-Split attack!" He lifted his head, spat out a mouthful of grass and groaned in resignation. Why was he doomed to be discovered by people who didn't need to know he was alive? "Like, okay! Obviously you don't know the rules of this town." Veronica declared threateningly, poking the tip of her shoe into a space between his shoulder blades, "So listen up, 'cause you only get one warning and the next time you screw up, you are so totally gonna get kicked outta town! This is Dimmsdale and in Dimmsdale, we all pay homage to our Heart, who is totally unfairly dead and junk. And, like, rule numero uno here is nobody else can ever be called Timmy, 'cause that was his name and it's, like, sacred now."
"I kinda got that idea already." Timmy sighed, managing to pick himself up enough to prop one cheek against a fist.
"The next rule is a little weird but it's still totally enforced 'cause Timmy himself made it that way. Only that loser kid, Elmer, is allowed to wear Timmy's pink hat as stand-in Timmy!" Veronica went on, tapping her foot on his back as she counted off rules. "Then there's the no-other-pink-hats-can-be-brought-into-this-town rule, and the no-one-can-wear-the-same-pink-outfit-he-used-to-wear rule 'cause on him it looked totally hot and on anyone else it's so gay."
"How can anyone consider a ten-year-old 'hot'?" the brunet grumbled and shot a glare back at the girl, "That's kinda sick, don't you think? Just wearing pink automatically labels me as 'gay'? That's not fair!"
"Hey, you broke the rules, pal! No one but Timmy T. Turner of Dimmsdale, California can wear pink in this town and not be called gay for it!" the blonde shot back and lifted her foot off of him at last, "Now, what else? Oh, yeah! You can't, like, destroy or damage anything that was put up in his name, 'cause that's gonna piss off the whole town. You gotta be real nice to his parents, 'cause they're still sad about the whole thing." Timmy sat up, rubbing his back as he scowled at the list being told to him. "There was one more... oh, yeah! You gotta observe the moment of silence on the day of his death, 'cause if you make a sound and someone hears it, they totally reserve the right to gouge out a new hole in your ass for it!"
"That's a little harsh, isn't it?" the young immortal questioned, wincing at the image of someone being mauled for breaking any of the rules, "Just for one kid?" Veronica nodded, dusting off her baby pink skirt, flecking off bits of earth from the creases.
"He wasn't just some kid, y'know. He's..." she began and Timmy growled at her next choice of words.
"You call me the Heart of Dimmsdale one more time and I'll rip a new hole in you!" he hissed, "I'm sick of it!" The blonde turned on him in renewed fury.
"You're not the Heart of Dimmsdale! You're just some freak job who dressed up like him to break people's hearts!" she snapped and blinked at him, "Like, oh my God, you totally look just like Timmy!" Her head tilted to one side. "If he actually grew up and junk. Huh, you actually look kinda cute in pink."
"Not gay?"
"Not gay."
"Not gay! Hoo ya!" Timmy cheered, "Hah! I win!" He grinned and the blonde blinked again.
"Geez, you even have his buck teeth, don'tcha?" Veronica pointed out and Timmy immediately clapped his hands over his mouth, startled. The dental work should have taken care of that! But then again, his front teeth were too much a part of him to give up entirely. He'd told Caleb not to disguise them too well; in retrospect, maybe that wasn't the best idea. "Same hair, same eyes, same teeth, look good in pink..." she mused softly, narrowing her eyes at him, "No way..."
"Gotta go!" Timmy yelped and began scrambling away. She stuck her leg out and tangled his own, tripping him up and trapping one leg beneath her.
"Oh, no, you don't, pal! You are so not getting away from the Number One Cheerleader Fu Master in Dimmsdale!" Veronica declared, ignoring the yelp of pain from her recaptured audience.
"Urgh. There's a couple hundred bucks in my wallet. If I give that to you, will you leave me alone?" Timmy complained.
"No! Well, I did have my eye on that cute little purse from Saks Fifth Avenue online... hey!" she yelled, "Don't distract me! I see it all clearly now!" She began to laugh, a strangely unsettling giggling that hinted at underlying madness. "I get it! I knew it! They called me crazy, but I knew it all along! You can't kill the Heart of Dimmsdale! Nothing can hurt the one I loved!" she crowed, "I knew it! I knew it!" Timmy clawed at the grass, trying to pull himself away from the certified nut that held him by one leg.
"Why do I always get the crazy ones?!" he whimpered and choked at the sudden shift from trapped leg to tightened hold around his neck.
"They called me crazy, but I knew it! I totally knew you couldn't be killed, Timmy! No one ever really hurts the losers in school!" Veronica gushed joyfully, holding him close, "You were just faking it the whole time! You faked it for four whole years, like, oh my God, didn't that just bore the hell out of you? But you're here! You're here, you're home, like, did you build some muscle while you were gone, and you're all in one piece and still totally gorgeous in pink!"
Danny was right; he didn't need air.
But Timmy definitely needed to get away from this nutcase. He squirmed and twisted, trying to get loose, all while Veronica babbled on about psychic feelings and tarot readings that proved she was right. Somewhere among all the chatter Ms. Cleo got involved, and then there was a fortune cookie that told her to wait for her angel. Wanda was still buried in toys and she didn't have the magic to grant a wish. He was going to have to get out of this one on his own.
"I still have that threat-mantic letter you sent me! I still love that last line! 'My love for you burns with the white-hot intensity of a thousand suns!'" the blonde prattled on, clutching at him so tightly it hurt, "I wanted to have it put on a statue of you, but no one wanted to make it for me! I had to make it myself, out of gum you chewed and lollipop sticks you threw away..."
Oh, sick...!
He pointed his fingers at a nearby vase of flowers, murmured an apology for what he was about to do, and focused through the incessant chatter and the digging of her nails into his clothes and skin.
"Release the light! Photon!" he cried and the vase broke apart in an explosion of light that startled Veronica enough to loosen her hold. That was all Timmy needed to jerk himself free and race away from her.
"Noo! Timmy! Come back here! You haven't told me how you tricked the town! Get back here!" the blonde screamed, "I can make you love me, y'know! I'm Trixie! That's what you want, right?! It's me! I'm Trixie!"
Timmy spent a full hour stuck in a tree until she finally left the cemetery, laughing softly to herself. He dropped out of it, headed back to the grave and picked apart the pile of stuffed animals to find Wanda curled up and posing as a toy herself. With a sigh of relief, he picked her up and made his own way out of the cemetery.
"Not as relaxing as you thought it would be, huh, Sport?" Wanda murmured with a slight grin.
"Nope." her godchild returned with a chuckle, "Looks like I'll have to watch my back from now on as both Timmy Turner and Timothy Neogene, at least until I can make a wish to make her forget what happened here."
--
Tootie asked right away what was wrong when he arrived on her doorstep a couple of hours later. The brunet gave her a strange look. What tipped her off on something like that? Veronica babbled on about 'knowing' he was alive, but this was different. The little Goth didn't say anything about it, just looked up at him, tilted her head in puzzled concern, and asked if he was all right.
He decided that this was a bit better.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little tired." Timmy replied with a grin, "I brought Cosmo and Wanda's wands. Do you think you can get them charged?" Tootie opened the apartment door and let him in. Her family had been relocated to an all-expense paid hotel room until the renovations to their house were completed. It annoyed her older sister, Victoria, to no end, but the fact that she was getting free stuff and her status was going to be boosted made up for it. She was currently out at the site, scoping out potential boyfriends among the workers.
"My parents are asleep in the next room, so we'll be okay here." Tootie remarked, leading him into the main room of the apartment, "Romi? It's safe!" A blue-black cat leaped from the floor onto the sofa, then poofed into the form of the dark-haired fairy. She took flight and politely bowed in greeting.
"I've been to Fairy World in search of a way to recharge Wanda and Cosmo's wands without rousing suspicion, and I think I've found a way." she told the boy nervously, "The safe zones extend from here to the edge of the city, right? I'll take the wands to Fairy World, charge them with my own power, then recharge my wand at several stations. This way, no one knows Wanda and Cosmo are getting the power. They'll just think it's me."
"Oh, I get it! Then, because Fairy World can't connect directly to Dimmsdale, you'll poof back outside the city, then back here!" Timmy exclaimed in understanding, "Cool!" He held out the wands and Romi accepted them, tucking them both into one of the large sleeves of her dress.
"The bridge is currently one way only." she explained, "I can transport myself to Fairy World from Dimmsdale, but I can't do it in reverse." She waved a hand and shrugged. "Apparently, according to the rumors I heard in Fairy World, Jorgen set up a mass evacuation order for Dimmsdale's fairy godparent squadron. Every fairy in this city should have received a notice to get out before they're killed from the nullification field."
"But you haven't evacuated, and neither has Apollo." Timmy pointed out, shaking his head at Tootie's questioning look, "Sorry, Tootie, I can't tell you about him. Rules."
"Since when did you start following Da Rules?" the young Goth muttered petulantly, flopping down onto the sofa. Timmy shrugged.
"Seemed like a good idea at the time, whenever that was." he replied, "So, why no evacuation?"
"Because it's a fairy godparent's duty to ensure the happiness and well-being of their assigned godchild!" Romi answered fiercely, "How can we abandon the kids of Dimmsdale in a time when they're so miserable, we're the only ones who stand between them and suicide?!" The brunet stared at her in shock, then looked down at the girl on the couch. "Tootie made one attempt, early in her days as a Goth. I got there just in time to have her make a wish to live and be whole." The fairy sighed and shook her head slowly. "As far as I can remember, that was the last time I ever went back to Fairy World on my own for any kind of duty. Wherever Tootie goes, I go. Wherever I go, I take Tootie with me. Her happiness is my only goal now." She held her wand out before her, a determined look on her face. "You know now, deep inside, that this city's hopes and dreams were tied to your life. When it was lost, the other children gave up any hopes and dreams they possessed to join you in the other world. Fairies everywhere have been working to revive them, to keep them alive, knowing that you lived and knowing that they could never reveal you to help those kids cope."
"What can I say? Sorry isn't enough for that." the young immortal sighed, "You're all risking your lives to save kids who want nothing more than to cast themselves into Death's arms. How can I repay that?"
"You're already doing it. Tear down the field that stops us from helping our godchildren. Tear down those Spires that threaten to end our lives and the light of magic in Dimmsdale." the fairy returned, "Just as Cosmo and Wanda are your fairy godparents, protecting and caring for and loving you, be this city's godparent, and let your love and kindness for the ones who live here be the power that keeps them alive." She poofed out of sight with those final words, a burst of dark blue smoke that wafted away to nothing as she headed off for Fairy World.
Fluffy clouds, brightly colored buildings in strange shapes, paths made of playing cards, gold and silver, the smell of magic so thick one could almost taste it; this was Fairy World, the realm of all fairies. Romi made her way among the hustle and bustle of everyday fairy business towards the first charging station. She was shaking already, trying very hard not to look as though she were doing something that could possibly separate her from Tootie. But this was the first time in ages she'd come back to her homeland alone, and she had to put her trust in Timothy to keep Tootie safe.
He would. His presence alone would ensure Tootie would keep her life and her sanity.
Wanda's wand needed charging badly. It already drained away a large portion of her own wand's power and still was nowhere near the minimum limit for granting wishes. Standing outside the door to the magic charging station, she took a deep breath to try to steady herself, then headed inside.
"Just act normally. Pretend that it's just your wand that got screwed over and needs a boost in power." She smiled at the attendant as he set her wand within the charge machine, watched the dials spin and the lights wink on and off, then gave a shaky thanks to the other fairy as she fluttered out the door. Ducking into an alley, she brought out Wanda's wand again and let it float as she aimed her own at it. The magical blast filled another portion of the gauge and she eyed it carefully. Still not enough. She'd have to keep visiting stations, maybe four more to get Wanda a full charge. Then more to fill Cosmo's wand. How were the two getting along without their wands? Without the ability to fly and conjure up whatever their godchild desired?
Next station, just smile and hand over the wand, chatter on brightly about random things. Oh, the Tooth Fairy was still keeping her radar open for Chip Skylark III. Poor guy; without Timmy around, he simply vanished from the spotlight to keep his teeth, and his sanity, protected. That made Skip Sparkypants happy for all of fifteen minutes. Said the bum atmosphere of Dimmsdale was too uncool for him and he headed for brighter towns after getting a cold audience for his debut concert.
Romi returned to the alley when the charging was done and repeated the transfer, studying the gauge a second time. Getting there. She sighed and tucked it back into her sleeve, making her way to the next station.
By the time Wanda's wand was fully charged, Romi had gotten the hang of the charge ladder system. It was easier now that she learned no one was bothering to check her out or was stalking her. Heaven forbid that really happened! She remained bright and happy as she moved along the series, cheered by the idea that, with one last trip at another station, Cosmo's wand would be filled and she could give herself a full charge before heading back to Dimmsdale.
"That was easier than I thought it would be!" she giggled and halted with a startled yelp as Jorgen Von Strangle, the toughest fairy in Fairy World, blocked her path, scowling down at her with huge wand in hand. She squeaked and stared at the staff-like creation, a wand that only Jorgen had the strength to wield. It did everything a normal wand could, but 'manlier' and with a near-destructive bent to it. "Um, uh, good evening, Mr. Von Strangle!" she stammered out with a grin, "Nice evening! Earth sure looks pretty tonight, doesn't it?"
"You're blocking my way, puny little girly fairy!" the older man barked at her and she fluttered aside. "You look familiar." Jorgen added in a suspicious tone, glaring down at her with narrowed eyes, "You are... Andromeda. Correct?"
"Yes, sir." Romi murmured shakily.
"You were assigned a godchild in Dimmsdale, correct?"
"Yes, sir."
"Is this admission of your evacuation?" the muscled fairy demanded. Romi shook her head.
"No, sir. I'm just here to recharge my wand and then I'm heading back to Tootie. Lots of wishes to grant, now that the fairy traps in her neighborhood were cleared out." she replied as cheerfully as she could, "I'd better be on my way! My regards to the Tooth Fairy and her continued search; I hope she finds Chip Skylark soon!" She waved and flew off as fast as her wings could carry her, stopping only to be sure he was far away. Breathing a sigh of relief, she fluttered into an alley and poured the last charge into Cosmo's wand, tucking it back into her sleeve when she was done. She made her way to the final station.
Another act, another smile, and Romi was floating out the door of the station, pleased with her trip to Fairy World. She paused in surprise at a plain brown box left on the sidewalk just outside the station. Looking around in confusion, she stepped closer to it, then blinked at the top of the box. 'CW'; just two initials, written in elegant handwriting. What was this for? 'C' and 'W', she remembered seeing those initials on Cosmo and Wanda's bedroom door of Timothy's former house. Was this a package for Cosmo and Wanda? From who?
Checking to be sure no one was watching, Romi picked up the box and shoved it into her other sleeve, then waved her wand to poof back down to Earth.
"She's taking an awfully long time." Timmy mused aloud, watching the clock worriedly. He was getting nervous; funny, being in one place for a long while didn't make him so antsy before. Maybe a side affect of living two lives? Or a life and a death? He should really ask Cosmo and Wanda to explain this whole immortality thing to him. Tootie picked at her plate, toying with her slice of pizza as he took a deep, calming breath, exhaling slowly.
"Things are going to be really different now, huh?" she murmured, glancing up at him quickly before returning to her food, "We're all going to be turned into the new Populars to keep you safe from Remy. That means that Trixie is going to want to chase you even more." She managed a smile. "I bet you're going to like that; you've always liked her, even when you were just a little kid and you were alive, really alive." The brunet shrugged lazily, eyes still on the clock ticking away on the wall. Tootie pushed her glasses up on her nose, letting them slide down on their own. "Are you sure you're okay?" she asked again.
"Yeah, I'm okay. Really." he sighed and pulled his hat down, fingering the bill of the pink cap, "Just thinking about what I would be doing now if I hadn't died that day."
"Probably homework." Tootie replied with a grin, "It's nice to see you're wearing your old outfit. It really feels like it's you." She jumped at his sudden harsh sigh.
"That's another thing that's bugging me. I think I'm starting to lose touch of who I really am. I know I'm Timmy Turner, and I still answer to it, but I have a hard time feeling like it's really me." he grumbled, "And when I'm dressed up in all that black and dark colors, going around and telling people I'm Timothy Neogene, I feel like... like I'm not part of this world." He tossed the hat aside and shrugged, "Like I don't belong here. I feel wrong. It's not who I am, but it's who I have to be to keep from being discovered."
"So people don't carry you off to do experiments and junk?" Tootie asked, collecting the hat and running her fingers along the fabric. It was old, somewhat faded, and it had the soft, beaten feel of well-worn fabric that remained in one piece only through a miracle of God, or two lovable fairies.
"That's actually starting to sound good right about now. At least I'll belong somewhere." Timmy muttered, stretching out on the sofa and glaring up at the ceiling, "Two names, two identities, two personalities... who am I really? Am I Timothy Neogene, the rich kid from New York City who can never die, or am I Timmy Turner, an average kid who got himself killed out of stupidity and just managed to escape the Grim Reaper?"
"I think that's something you have to find out on your own." the young Goth murmured and looked up in alarm as the door suddenly swung open. Victoria stood there in her dark green business suit, a scowl on her face.
"Not a single phone number, bunch of lousy..." she began growling and blinked at the boy staring at her from the couch, "Huh? Pink shirt? You!" Tootie could just about swear that the pupils of her older sister's eyes converted themselves into tiny flaming skulls. "You little rat! Don't you know it's against the law to dress up like that here?!" Timmy gave a disdainful huff and got to his feet.
"I should have known. First Veronica, now you. Fine, go ahead. Lay it on me already." he told her dully, "Just make it quick. I have things to do."
"You never got around to answering my questions, and now I catch you alone with my sister, dressing up like that twerp!" the older woman snapped at him, "You better not have done anything to her, or I'll turn you into a permanent choir boy!" Tootie blinked at her in shock, then turned a frightened gaze on the young immortal. He didn't even flinch at the threat, just stood there with one arm akimbo, looking up at her impassively. "I heard from the guys at the sites that you're the one behind all this upgrading and crap! What's the deal?!" Victoria demanded, "What are you doing about the anti-magic crap that's screwing over the city?! You were the one who told me that junk was going to doom Dimmsdale to death because it would ruin all the 'special' kids! Why aren't you doing something about it like you said you would?!"
"I've destroyed two towers responsible for it, but there are six more to go. You're all getting upgrades because Tootie is helping me bring down those towers and she's acting as a point of defense for me." Timmy returned evenly, "And never mind why I'm dressed like this. Just know that I'm doing this for that stupid Heart you all seem to covet so much."
"Don't call him stupid!" the carrot-top shrieked, ignoring Tootie's yells as she lunged forward and grabbed the brunet by the neck, shaking him, "You take that back, you little orphan bastard!"
"Vicky! Stop it!" the little Goth yelled louder, "He's not doing anything bad! Let him go!" The older woman made no motions to listen to her, but she did yelp suddenly and jump back, waving her hands in surprise.
"You shocked me!" she exclaimed incredulously. Timmy coughed once, rubbing his throat gingerly.
"You tried to strangle me first!" he snapped back and winced in pain, "Ow." Tootie jumped from her seat on the couch and hurried up to him, holding up one hand so both he and Victoria could see the bracelets on her wrists glowing.
"Look, Vicky! We're working together to save Dimmsdale! This is what he taught me!" she declared, the circle of light blooming at her feet, "Light of mana! Heal these savage wounds! Heal!"
Her older sister watched in stunned silence as the shimmering cloud of healing magic surrounded the boy and vanished into him. Timmy pulled his hand away and gave her a faintly grateful smile before turning a stern glare at the older woman. She still stared at Tootie in disbelief, looking at him only when he called her name.
"I told you that some of the kids here were special." Timmy murmured, folding his arms over his chest, "I can't be killed, but I can be injured to the point that I can't use magic on myself. Tootie has learned a few of my healing spells to help me in case that ever happens." Victoria swallowed, frowned, then grinned.
"How much can I charge for healing? Hmm, miracle healing tends to bring in a lot of profits..." she mused aloud, a devilish gleam in her eyes.
"Vicky!" Tootie scolded, "You can't use magic and mana like that! It's mean!" The older woman shrugged, that slightly cruel smile that showed off her teeth still spread on her face.
"Money is money, twerp." she remarked, "And enough with that kiddie name. It's Victoria, remember? Grown-up name for getting grown-up moolah."
"You're already getting all the money you could ever want from the Hounder Organization!" Timmy yelled angrily, "How much more do you want?! Selfish and cruel, why can't I ever fix that part of you that was once sweet and gentle?!" The two girls stared at him in shock. "Why can't I use magic to make you who you once were?! I wish that evil part of you found another host!"
No one moved, no one said a word, and the only sound in the apartment was the brunet's haggard breathing. He finally sighed and collapsed back onto the sofa, one hand running through his hair as he closed his eyes.
"Forget it. I negate the wish I wished." he murmured, "Heck, for all I know, the stupid bug would jump down my throat if it was actually granted. After all, what's more powerful in this world than an immortal magic-user?" Victoria blinked at him, tilted her head in confusion, then looked down at her sister again. She lifted an eyebrow and frowned, narrowing her eyes.
"Where did you get that hat?" she growled. Tootie blinked up at her, puzzled, then gasped as she realized that she still had Timmy's pink hat gripped in one hand. She quickly put it behind her back.
"Um, what hat?" she stammered lamely.
"Give it up, Tootie. Just give it back to me." the brunet sighed in resignation from his seat. He didn't bother opening his eyes, just held out a hand for the cap.
"But...!"
"I said, give me back my hat. If Icky Vicky wants to hurl a battle axe at me for wearing it, that's her deal, not mine."
"Hey! Don't call me that, you stupid little...!" the carrot-top snarled as Tootie sighed and passed the pink hat along. Timmy collected it and pulled it on, finally looking up at the older woman with a bored expression. And for Victoria, it all suddenly seemed to hit home. The strange familiarity she felt from him since that first meeting she had with him in the cemetery one night, over a month ago. The reason why Timothy Neogene wanted the nickname of Timmy, knew so much about the dead Turner and tried all he could to deny it. "Twerp?" she whispered in shock, staring at him.
"Hello, Victoria." Timmy returned and smiled, the two front teeth that were so familiar to the town displayed for her to see, "I didn't think you'd be so worried that night, when that thug emptied his whole gun into me. That's still the first time I've ever been shot. Lately, I just have to worry about little things, like buildings falling on me and junk." Victoria took a step back, face pale.
"No way. You're dead! The funeral... I was there... we all were there! I saw you in that coffin! You were buried!" she cried, still stepping backwards. Timmy shrugged, folding his hands behind his head.
"A fake. Something whipped up by a friend of mine to cover up the fact that I wasn't there to be buried." he remarked, "I'm an immortal, Victoria; you already saw that I can't be killed. That's because I'm already dead."
"You're a zombie?"
"Ugh! No! That's why I have healing spells; so I don't end up turning into one of those!" the brunet griped and made a face, "Blech!" His face cleared and he gave another little shrug. "So, now you know I'm really Timmy Turner. Here's the problem. I can either let you keep the knowledge, as long as you promise not to reveal it to anyone, or..." Victoria glared at him, tapping her foot as she planted her fists on her hips.
"Or what, twerp?!" she demanded.
"Or I'll 'magic' with your head and erase your memories of this whole conversation." Timmy returned coldly, looking up at his former babysitter's disbelieving expression, "You don't get it, do you? I've been in Death's grip; no one escapes Death unchanged. I'm not exactly the same Timmy Turner I used to be. You don't scare me anymore." Tootie whimpered and he gave her a look to quiet her. Not now, he didn't need distractions now. Victoria grumbled irritably to herself, tapping her foot again as she glowered at him. Again, there was that air of tension, but it didn't last as long. She gave a harsh sigh and threw up her hands in defeat.
"Oh, fine! Be that way, little bastard! I'll keep my mouth shut, but you better not get my sister hurt in this whole 'save the city' thing!" she declared in frustration, "'Cause I'll figure out a way to kill an immortal if anything happens to her!" Timmy grinned at her.
"That's the Vicky I know! Deal!" he laughed. Tootie brightened and pumped one fist into the air.
"Yeah! We're all okay on this!" she cheered and looked up at her sister, "Vicky, I know how you can help me stay safe when I go to help Timmy! Teach me how to use your swords and stuff!" The older woman blinked at her in surprise, then looked surprisingly touched, startling Timmy for the first time since he entered the apartment. "The way you smashed up that trap in my room long ago, that was awesome! I want to know how you do it!" the young Goth went on cheerfully. Victoria laughed and gave her a thumb's-up sign.
"Okay! Let Big Sis show you how to maim a piece of junk!" she agreed and headed out of the room, "We've got time before I need to crash for my beauty sleep, so lemme grab a couple of practice swords for ya!" Timmy watched her leave and turned back to Tootie in surprise.
"What are you planning?" he asked in confusion. The young Goth only grinned, pushing her glasses up her nose and letting them slide down again.
"I'll tell you if you kiss me!" she teased and laughed at his baffled expression. A burst of dark blue smoke erupted by them and both teens looked up at Romi as she fluttered in the air.
"Whew! That's was kinda close!" she remarked, "I had to time my entrance just right!" She dug into her sleeve and held out the wands to Timmy. "They're fully charged now. The process was easy to do, so I can do it again if you ever need another recharge." Timmy accepted the wands and murmured a thanks, relief crossing over his face. Romi dug around in her sleeve again and produced a brown box. "Also, I think this is for Cosmo and Wanda. I found it outside the last charging station, but it doesn't say who it's from." she added in concern. Timmy took the box in his hands, puzzled as he studied the elegant handwriting.
"I don't recognize it." he murmured and the dark-haired fairy shrugged helplessly before poofing back into the guise of a cat on the sofa. "Thanks, Romi. You too, Tootie. This really means a lot to me and Cosmo and Wanda." he remarked with a grin, "I guess I'll leave you to train, then. I'll take these back home for the two of them." He gave a small wave and headed out.
"What training?" Romi asked in confusion and Tootie sighed dreamily.
"I'm going to learn to fight so that I can go with Timmy in the next Spire mission." she replied wistfully, "All I have to do is prove that I can be a big help and then he'll fall in love with me! It's destiny!" The cat only gave a little sigh as her ears drooped.
"Oh, this does not bode well." she moaned quietly.