Mr. Rotten, I'm about to do some serious damage to LazyTown and you have a job to do. And if you don't believe me, just look close at that ring on your finger."
He gave her a strange look then looked at the ring. "Just keep looking at it. You'll see a LazyTown like you've always wanted." He became entranced. Her voice was in his head. "Now all you do is what I tell you..."
As Sportacus got closer there was unusual turbulence that rocked the ship so hard he almost lost control. Once he steadied it, he looked at the place that he called home and it was like he'd been gone for years. Left to ruin. Beyond ruin. Could that elf have done this? He had to find the kids.
Night had fallen. Sportacus stopped the airship before the boarders of LazyTown. He felt it better to keep it at a safe distance. He could always summon it with the tracker on his armband, if needed.
He jumped out landing on the path to the beach. As he ran, the town was more and more desolate. Fallen trees, cobwebs, darkness, everything aged, damaged and deteriorating. His mind was racing. Was this the shadow realm he was told about?
There was devastation everywhere. He ran to the mayors house.
"Mayor! Bessie! Stephanie!" He burst through the door. It was dark. The only light was coming from what little moon there was through the clouds. The inside was in a shambles. "Stephanie!"
He was about to leave when there was a rattling of something in the hall leading to the bedrooms. He slowly approached the entrance to the hall. "Mayor?" He said quietly.
He put a foot forward and peeked around the corner. The hall was just as wrecked as the living room.
He heard something from the closet fall. He turned quickly. He walked closer and as quietly as he could. He put his hand on the knob and quickly opened the door. He looked down to find a blood soaked Mayor Meanswell slumped in the closet.
He was aghast. "Mayor!" He knelt down. He didn't know what do to. The blood was all over his chest. The mayor weakly opened his eyes. "What happened?"
"Sportacus. Elena took Stephanie. Where were you?" He was very weak.
The mayors bloody hand grabbed his vest. "Why weren't here for us?"
Sportacus was taken aback. But he was right. He wasn't here. But how could he have known? "Elena took Stephanie and the others?"
"Yes. Find Stephanie. Find the children." His hand fell and he became lifeless. "Mayor? Mayor!" Sportacus was horrified and he fell backwards on the floor. His eyes were filled with tears. Was this his fault? He stood up and ran out of the house. He was filled with pain. What had this elf done? Why?
He wiped his eyes and he was determined to find the children. He ran to Ziggy's house jumping over any damage in his path. He opened the door and called out. "Ziggy?" He went in and looked around. Torn bed sheets and furniture strewn about. He saw blood on the floor. "No." He whispered. He ran out. He'd searched the rest of the houses and they were all in the same state.
He ran to Lazy Square and fell to his knees. All his friends. Gone. And what of Elena? Was it coming to pass that he would have to kill? And kill her? This was already becoming more than he could handle. He bowed his head as tears welled up. After a few moments he lifted his head. No. He couldn't give up. There was no proof they were dead. Only taken.
He had to know more about what was going on. Robbie was always watching what was happening in LazyTown. He ran to Robbie's lair. If he was alright, maybe he could help him find the children.
He got to Robbie's lair and opened the hatch. Without hesitation he jumped down. He looked around and saw broken tubes with shredded costumes. His orange chair was in pieces and the work benches were destroyed. "Robbie?" He waited. "Robbie please!" He had to be somewhere.
A moaning came from under the costume tubes.
Sportacus jumped up and saw a torn pinstriped pant leg down to the spat of the shoe. "Robbie!" He yelled removing the debris. He found a moaning Robbie with some blood trailing down his head. After he freed him, he tore some of the cloth from one of the costumes and dabbed his head. "What happened?"
"You?" He looked up at Sportacus. He grabbed the cloth and hobbled away from him. "You're supposed to be the hero. Where were you?"
Sportacus was speechless. "Robbie, listen. I came back as soon as I could. You must know I would never leave if I knew of all this in the first place." He walked over to him. "Please let me help you." He took the seat part of his orange chair and placed it in front of Robbie. Reluctantly, he sat. He took the cloth from him and continued to clean the wound. "What happened?"
Robbie looked at him with a low grumble. "All I know is I was happily sleeping when there explosions and rumbling that woke me. I looked through my periscope and saw Elena laying a clear path of destruction."
Sportacus looked at Robbie. "Elena was?"
"Yes! I saw her take Stephanie. She did something to her. Paralyzed her I think. Then made her disappear. Then she went after poor Ziggy."
Sportacus listened, horrified, as he listened to Robbie tell his tale. "Ziggy?"
"Yes, then Elena saw me watching and the next thing I knew she was down here trashing everything in site. She threw me over there breaking my beautiful lair." He looked longingly at his now demolished home.
"Robbie, I need your help to find the kids."
"What?! Are you joking? You did see LazyTown didn't you? You did hear what I justbtold you, didn't you? You saw what she can do! Why is she doing this? And where were you?"
Sportacus looked uncomfortable. "It's not Elena. There is this..elf. She has taken her body. I think a portal opened up when Elena was brought here. It's been planning this for a while I think."
"Another elf? How many are there?"
"Now's not the time for that conversation. I need your help, Robbie, please."
"What do you expect me to do?"
"If we stick together you'll be safer with me than if you stay here and she comes back."
He made a face at Sportacus. "Fine! But if I die, I'm going to kill you." He felt an arm helping him up. He protested. "I can do it!" He stood up and the two of them left.
They got outside and Robbie looked around in disbelief. "She did this?"
"She did." He looked at it with a heavy heart. "I think it's trying to make its world a part of ours." Robbie turned and looked at him for more of an explanation. "It was trapped in a shadow of our world. It's been there ever since. It escaped and wants revenge. I just don't know how to stop it."
"What?! What do we do if we find her?"
"Her?"
"Elena."
"It's not really Elena. It's just using her." Sportacus pointed out.
"I hate to say this but, you might have to-"
"Robbie! We can't give up on her or any of them."
Robbie quickly looked past him. "Did you see something over there?" Robbie pointed.
"Come on." Sportacus led the way towards the forest and he saw something move on the ground. He signaled for Robbie to keep quiet as he looked for the movement. He saw a figure get up and stumble. It was walking like it was drunk.
"It's the kooky boy!"
Sportacus was there in a flash as Ziggy fell into his arms. "Ziggy!" He was so afraid. The youngest of the children, who he was supposed to protect, was injured in his arms. He started to cry. "Ziggy. Talk to me." He brushed his hair back.
"Sportacus? You're here." He said weakly. His throat was dry. "Told the others not to give up. But you didn't come. You let us down." He turned his head away.
His heart broke hearing Ziggy say that. "Ziggy." He didn't know what to say. He wasn't here. "Ziggy, I'm so sorry."
Ziggy wiggled free from Sportacus. He started walking, head bowed, in the direction of his house. "Just leave me alone."
Sportacus jumped in front of him. "Ziggy, I have to save the kids. Where are they? Please help me." He pleaded with watery eyes.
Ziggy just pointed further in the forest and continued towards his house. Sportacus watched him leave.
"We have to go." Robbie said.
Sportacus wiped his face with his hand then marched into the forest with Robbie following. The only plan he had was to rescue the children and Elena. He still was concerned about destroying the black elf. But he was sure of one thing. The pain of that was nothing compared to the pain of losing his friends.