Author's note: Since we have a cliff-hanger, am going to do something I really wanted to do. My own version of some episodes. So we don't go too fast with the story. Enjoy!
Songs property of Simple Minds and Lifehouse.
7. Into the Memories.
If anytime before, Stephanie had felt like Alice down the Rabbit Hole it is now. She feels like falling through a huge and never ending tunnel with Angry Hound speaking in her ear.
"Remember, my dear Alice. Remember what brought you so close to your friend. Then you will find the strength to get over your enemies." Before she can ask anything, an urge takes over her and Stephanie opens her eyes.
Looks around. She is in the train heading to Lazy Town. All the past things seem like a dream. And they are dreams or not? The train is arriving at her new home. Her uncle is waiting and so is a new perspective full of games and new people.
"Won't you come see about me?
I'll be alone, dancing, you know it, baby
Tell me your troubles and doubts
Giving me everything inside and out
Love's strange - so real in the dark
Think of the tender things that we were working on
Slow change may pull us apart
One a life gets into your heart, baby
Don't you forget about me
(don't, don't, don't, don't)
Don't you forget about me
Will you stand above me?
Look my way, [or] never love me?
Rain keeps falling - rain keeps falling down, down, down
Would you recognize me?
Call my name, or walk on by?
Rain keeps falling - rain keeps falling down, down, down, down
(Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!)
Don't you try and pretend
It's my feeling we'll win, in the end
I won't harm you or touch your defenses
Vanity; Insecurity
Don't you forget about me
I'll be alone, dancing, you know it, baby
Going to take you apart
I'll put us back together, at heart, baby
Don't you forget about me
(don't, don't, don't, don't)
Don't you forget about me
As you walk on by will you call my name?
As you walk on by will you call my name?
Will you walk away?
Or, will you walk away?
Will you walk on by and call my name?
Will you call my name?
La la la...
When you walk on by will you call my name?"
First impression: Not very good. Closed ice cream tents, grass under the mail box. Hu hu. This place is quite lifeless, why would that be? The first attempt to play with the rest of the children is ruined by the local lazy "tyrant" Robbie Rotten who loves the inhabitants to be as slothful as him.
Why is he so determined that nothing changes?
Sitting on her bed, writing on her diary, she feels like she was missing something really important. Someone above all the rest of the people, that can not only help her but also bring back the life that it is also being taking away from her.
Her uncle seems "optimistic" but there is no way, he can know a way to fix this or is there?
"I remember a story about a hero. Came from an island in the North Sea. I can't remember his name but there was big number nine in his chest. And he moved around all the time. Swiss swiss. I think the named him a superhero." Sounds great. But then, that means he left for some reason or the kids will not be that idle.
"A superhero?" Stephanie loves the idea.
"Yes, yes. And he lives in an airship. When people wanted to contact him, they writed him a letter and send it by a tube by the mail box." Wow!
"Do you think I can send him a letter?" Worth's the shot.
Robbie sighs in his lair. That was a close shave.
That girl can only mean trouble. After all he had to work to drive Nine out of town by jamming the tube, there is no need of anyone trying to make children noisy and active again. But maybe, he can now have a walk and relax. That girl won't try anything. Is a new puppy in town. Knows nothing about that superhero bluff and his secrets of the past are safe kept. All right, maybe a stroll around the block will help.
Stephanie walks to the mailbox and starts to clean it of weeds. Robbie stares in horror. It can't be!! SHE HAS HEARD THE STORY! NO! Nonononononono! She will ruin all his hard work. But wait, there is a chance it might not work. They have not heard of the so called hero in years. Let's see.
A few minutes and nothing happens. YES! He has won. No superhero is coming.
"Maybe it won't work. Maybe he's on a vacation. And maybe he has quit all the superhero business" Yes. After so many years, no elf is going to come and ruin his plans. Or maybe… A small paper plane lands in the girl's hands and Robbie goes pale. That can only mean one thing. A large shadow crosses the city and a big airship stops above them. Seconds later, a blue dressed athlete arrives at the scene doing amazing jumps. Oh, holy chocolate!
"Are you Number Nine?" The girl is going to explode of glee.
"No. I'm Number Ten. My name's Sportacus." They shake hands.
"Please to meet you, am Stephanie." She smiles.
"ANOTHER ONE!?" Robbie feels sick. All his work destroyed! NO WAY! He is going to get rid of that pink wimp and the blue tornado before they turn Lazy Town into hell.
"Are you a superhero?" Asks the girl.
"Let's say, I'm a slightly above average hero." Oh, great! And now he thinks he is cool cuz he is humble and cocky. Gimme a break! No time for second thoughts, let's kick this guy out of town NOW! Suddenly a light starts to glow in the ten of the chest. Someone is in trouble. The elf jumps away and Robbie does not wait for him to come back. He grabs Stephanie from behind and drags her to some bushes.
"If Wonder Boy wants to see you again, he better start saying Goodbye." They wait until Sportacus is back at the mail box. "And now, off to somewhere where he can't find you." The man walks away from the place.
"Stephanie… Steph… Where did she go?" The girl is gone. The hero is surprised. "She was here just a minute ago." The crystal goes off. And this time is not Ziggy, Stingy or Trixie. "She needs me." Not a minute to lose and starts looking for the girl, finally making her out tied to a tree while Robbie has gone to look for the canyon. In just seconds, he is there to save here leaving Rotten like a rabid dog foaming in the mouth. "Are you ok? I was worried something might had happened to you."
"Thank you." She smiles and hugs him. Inside her, something says now everything is ok. He is the one she has been waiting for.
They go back with the others. Once back in her room, getting ready for bed, she smiles. Something has changed. Sportacus is more than a hero for her. He has bring back life but also has brought hope, she feels no loneliness.
"What day is it
and in what month
this clock never seemed so alive
I can't keep up
and I can't back down
I've been losing so much time
Cause it's you and me and all of the people
with nothing to do
nothing to lose
and it's you and me and all of the people
and I don't know why
I can't keep my eyes off of you
all of the things that I want to say
just aren't coming out right
I'm tripping inwards
you got my head spinning
I don't know where to go from here
Cause it's you and me and all of the people
with nothing to do
nothing to prove
and it's you and me and all of the people
and I don't know why
I can't keep my eyes off of you
There's something about you now
I can't quite figure out
everything she does is beautiful
everything she does is right
You and me and all of the people
with nothing to do
nothing to lose
and it's you and me and all of the people
and I don't know why
I can't keep my eyes off of you
You and me and all of the people
with nothing to do
nothing to prove
and it's you and me and all of the people
and I don't know why
I can't keep my eyes off of you
What day is it
and in what month
this clock never seemed so alive"
This is the start of something that goes far beyond anything.
I thought that Robbie was capable of more in the first episode.
More to come!
Next Stop: More than a Friend…