Chapter 7: Broken Pieces

Sportacus carried her once again to the town garden. She had been getting weaker; her fever was higher and there was now perpetual sweat on her forehead, plastering her hair to her skin.

He wasn't sure what else he could do for her. All he knew was that when he took her to the garden each day, she always found a newfound strength, though each day's duration grew shorter and shorter.

---

Stephanie was only barely aware of being moved. Then she was touching something: it felt dry and rough like leaves.

She woke up suddenly as if she had been in a dream. She was propped up against a raised bed in the garden, her hand touching the plants there.

She wiped the sweat from her head and eyed her hand as it shook from weakness.

---

He watched her, helpless.

"Would you like me to tell you about my kind's history?" he asked.

She looked up, shocked, as if she didn't realize he was there.

"Oh, um, yes please," she said.

He grabbed her hand and held it in his own, steadying it, comforting it, comforting her.

"The first elves, the Originals, came from the land. Sprouted from the first prosperity of the earth," he said slowly. "So we're connected to the land's fertility. In a way, we are the land's fertility."

"Really?" she asked.

He nodded.

"Some of the Originals, er, got lonely. Their children are referred to as the Secondary Elves, and were given numbers to distinguish them from their elders."

She looked straight down at his chest, at the number ten that hid his crystal.

He winked.

"Yes, I'm a Secondary Elf. 'Sportacus' is a self-given name."

"Wow," she said. "Do you ever miss being away from all the other elves?"

"Nope," he laughed. "We tend to travel alone anyway."

"I'd miss them," she said. "Just like I hate being away from Lazytown. Like I hate being away from you."

He held in his breath.

"It's nice to have someone there to save you," he said.

"It's not like that, though."

"Oh?"

She blushed, which looked far redder than normal against her pale, fever-stricken skin.

"I've loved you all my life," she said.

He couldn't believe what he was hearing. She looked up at him with dewy eyes.

"I know you couldn't possibly feel the same way," she continued, "but I just…"

He placed a hand over her mouth, stopping her. He leaned in closer until his lips found hers and kissed her softly, tenderly, but intensely.

When they finally separated, there was a moment of pure joy and understanding between them, shared only through the silent gaze of lovers.

But the moment didn't last long, as her eyes rolled back and she fainted in his arms.