The song in this chapter is 'Only a Fairy Tale" or "Fairy Tale" from the anime "Mai Hime'. It's not the exact lyrics because im lazy but I think it fits better this way, anyways. Omg, Plot!


Chapter 5

To Tell a Lie

"That was a foul ball, Flaky. Get back to the base."

The hair was hot and sticky the the taint of uprooted dirt. The players on the field were flicking their ears or swishing their tails in an effort to keep themselves cool, wearing as little clothing as possible. Over the past week, the temperature had risen from 60 and a near 100 degrees. With it rose the emotional pitch of the beings who walked under the sweltering sun.

The players on the baseball field were no exception to the bad moods. Flaky stared incredulously at Cuddles as he issued her back to the base. She dropped her bat on the ground in a fit of temper, giving the smirking yellow rabbit a glare.

"That was not a foul ball and you know it! I hit that ball just right! I never hit fouls!" She said angrily.

"Well, there's a first time for everything," Toothy, who looked especially heated with his thick waterproof pelt, said hostility, reacting less calmly then Cuddles was. His purple fur was fluffed up and his flat tail twitched irritably as he faced the angry porcupine.

"Says the one who can't even hit a ball. At least I don't have three strikes every time I go up to the bat!" Flaky retorted snarkily, pointing an accusing finger at the beaver.

Toothy looked taken aback. The beaver's fist clenched in outrage. "You take that back!"

"She's right though," Cuddles, who was laughing rather too hysterically, intervened. "You're about as coordinated with a bat as you are with your tail! You'd think a beaver would be used to lugging around heavy things!"

That really rubbed the purple beaver's fur the wrong way, though the intent had been joking. Toothy let out a growl and threw himself at Cuddles, tackling the golden rabbit to the ground. The two boys writhed on in the grass in a wrestling mass, emitting loud yelling when one of them managed to harm the other.

Flaky sighed and took a side glance at Nutty, who appeared to be chewing on his baseball hat, as if he thought it were candy. He seemed oblivious to the violence- well, he'd been pretty oblivious to the entire game- and she smiled at the thought that not all her friends were idiotic. Albeit, maybe sane was not a proper term to describe the lime colored squirrel.

From the stands, Splendid was watching the game with limited interest. It was practice for an upcoming charity game that Flaky and Cuddles had put together, to raise money for those in their town who were still suffering. It was interesting to see how different Flaky acted around her male friends, and how competitive she got with sports. But Splendid had no love for baseball.

He'd come to watch Flaky play because he felt he owed her back after ditching Church. Sitting home alone, Splendid had already felt bad for refusing her offer. His guilt nearly ate him alive when Flaky walked in the door with gauze wrapped around her shoulders and a cast on her hand.

"What- what the fuck happened!" Splendid had asked in an outrage, more upset with himself than the petite girl for hurting herself. Flaky didn't answer- she shook her head and went to the couch, sitting down without a word. No matter how much he had probed and begged her to tell him what had gone on, she refused. The thought of someone hurting her had dawned on him frequently, but he turned his back on it as it made him to angry to think about.

He wondered once again if she had inflicted the wound on herself, in an attempt to help someone do something she really shouldn't of tried to do in the first place. It seemed like an occupational hazard for his young friend, and Splendid couldn't help but worry one day she'd go and get herself in a position where dying wasn't the worst thing that could happen to her.

And now, here she was, out playing baseball only a week and a half after returning from the hospital (albeit, the immortal citizens of HTT where known to heal naturally quickly). She hadn't alerted Cuddles or Toothy to her wound, which suggested to Splendid that she didn't want them to go easy on her because she was hurt. She's so small and fragile, Splendid thought helplessly, looking out at Flaky, so tiny compared to the rowdy boys she hung around. He owed this brave, driven girl everything. She was stronger than he was in so many ways it was uncountable.

If I can't even be around to help the one I owe everything to, Splendid thought bitterly, then what kind of hero am I, really?

Was he even fit to wear the name hero? Before it had seemed so worthy a title. Before, he had had all the confidence in the world. That was the name he had belonged under. But where had that confidence gone now? One little mistake, and you had it all taken away from you...

"Hey, Splendid!"

Drawn out of his thoughts, the squirrel looked up as his name was called. It seemed that the two boys had stopped their petty fighting, and Flaky was waving to him, beckoning his attention.

"We're gonna go down to Cro Marmot's ice cream parlor to meet Petunia and Handy! Wanna come? "

Splendid nodded obligingly and hopped down from the stands in one jump, making his way over to where the group was standing. Cuddles and Toothy glanced at him uneasily, notifying Splendid that it had not been there idea to bring him and they were not exactly pleased about it. He didn't expect a warm weclome from either of the two, and considering he cared for Cuddles about as much as he cared for a flea, it didn't exactly bother him. By now, he was used to the town's open hostility, even if the hurricane's affects were beginning to fade thanks to him.

Nutty seemed to be having a manic attack at the ideas of ice cream, and Flaky was patting his shoulder in an attempt to calm him down. Splendid remembered with a smile how Flaky was always supportive and kind around the hyper sugar-obsessed squirrel when no one else could be.

The five took Cuddle's car. It was a nice sized car, white with light gray insides. Splendid wrinkled his nose at the idea of taking the rabbit's car, but really, it was the only option. Flaky was still in college and could barely afford her house, Toothy had just graduated from high school, and Nutty was certifiably insane so wasn't really in a place to earn his license. Cuddles and Toothy took the front while Splendid, Flaky and Nutty all sat in the back.

"I think you should of gotten a jeep, Cuddles. Like Flippy's." Toothy said, looking scornfully around Cuddle's car.

"Yeah, his car is cool," Cuddles admitted sheepishly, "but I like mine. Besides, all four of us would never have been able to squeeze into that car."

"Did you hear that, Flaky?" Toothy said with a smirk, turning to look at the red porcupine.

"I think what Cuddles is saying is that you need to drop a few pounds!"

Flaky shot Toothy a furious expression. She seemed angered and offended by his words, her ears swiveling backwards as the purple beaver laughed. However, she did not open her mouth to retort. Splendid glanced at her, wondering if she thought that there was some merit to Toothy's joking. How could she? Flaky had a great figure. If she was fat, Splendid was pink!

"Shut up, Toothy," the squirrel said in a low growl. Toothy winced, blushing from embarrassment at the super squirrel's reprehension, and turned away from the back seat. Cuddles, oblivious to the hostility going on in the back, had pulled out his cell phone and appeared to be texting.

"Cuddles, p-put the phone away!" Flaky said angrily, distracting from the look that Splendid was giving her. "D-do you w-want to get into an ac-accident?"

Cuddles snorted and dropped his phone back into his pocket. "Honestly, Flaky. It's no big deal. I just got a text from Giggles, saying that she's going to cut her shift at the storm shelter early and come to meet us."

Splendid's heart sunk into his throat.

Giggles? Of all people? The pink chipmunk was the one he wanted to see least right now. The fact that she had been one of those who had turned him down had hurt Splendid worse than anything. And to have to see her with Cuddles, who she was so damn crazy about...

"Why her?" Splendid muttered under his breath. Flaky looked over at him, overhearing his whisper.

"I know, I'm not thrilled we have to see her either," she said softly, as if trying to reassure him that he was not the only one that didn't like the pink chipmunk. Splendid didn't reply. It's not like that, he thought sadly. It was never like that.

The ice cream parlor was packed as they pulled up. There was a line outside of the door, and kids were running around screaming, unable to hold their parents patience in the bad weather. Handy and Petunia were sitting at one of the outside tables, already eating their ice cream. They were sharing a cone, and Petunia was holding it for the both of them, making Splendid mentally vomit at the shear adorableness of the image.

Handy cast Splendid a glare as the five of them walked up. Petunia, indifferent to his hostility, smiled and waved.

"Hi, guys. Glad you could make it. How did practice go?"

"No worse than usual," Cuddles told her.

"I don't know about that," Toothy muttered, casting a look at Flaky. Flaky pointedly ignored him, taking a seat next to Petunia, who, if Splendid remembered correctly, was the tomboy's best girl friend.

"You guys better get your ice cream fast," Petunia said as the others went to do the same. "They're giving it out free to victims of the big mistake, so there isn't a lot left. Nubkins and I got the last chocolate soft serve." Petunia smiled graciously at Handy as he gave a disgruntled face when she used his pet name.

Splendid flinched. Big mistake? Is that what they're calling it now? He couldn't help but think that was just a bit too specifically named. He withheld a lengthy growl, clenching his jaw.

"That's the matter, Splenidiot? Guilt got you by the balls?"

Came Toothy's low whisper. The purple beaver hadn't said It loud enough for the others to hear, but it was just the right level to meet Splendid's super hearing. Splendid closed his eyes, trying not to look at the younger boy and incidentally cut off his head with his heat vision. He knew that the teenager was just pawning off some aggression on him after Splendid had stopped him from teasing Flaky in the car. But the message was there all the same.

"Help me! Someone!"

"Shut up, Toothy. Crying out for help isn't funny." Splendid snapped angrily, opening his eyes. He realized that he had just cut off someone talking, and now the others were staring at him in puzzlement.

"I-I didn't say anything," Toothy stammered, glancing at the others with a 'wow, he's off his rocker!' expression. Puzzled, Splendid glanced at the beaver, trying to decide weather he was telling the truth or not.

"Oh god! Please help me! I can't breath!"

"Someone please help us, please!"

The squirrel started as he realized the voices weren't coming from around him. They sounded like they were coming from inside of his head. They were loud shrieks of desperation, not at all a joke. Somewhere, someone was in a dire situation.

"I... I have to go," Splendid said in an under tone.

He didn't wait for a reply before taking off in a run. He had to get away from the crowded parlor to take off- once he was far enough way, he felt his knees bend under him, the muscles in his legs swelling as he prepared to take off. It was difficult at first as his shirt burdened the aerodynamic flaps on his under arms. Growling at the distraction, from the task at hand, he pulled the shirt over his head, exposing his light gray belly fur to the hot summer air.

Taking off was an odd, but goodly familiar feeling. The ground lifted out from under him as his body got carried by the air, forceful but light. His arms snapped as his 'wings' caught an air current, sending him gliding gently through the air. Splendid took a moment to get re-accumstomed to the feeling of flying before he put on a burst of speed, soaring high over the city.

From a birds eye veiw, it was clear there was still much work to be done on Happy Tree Town. Buildings still lay in ruins, collapsed rubble blocking off roads.

"H-help me!"

Splendid swiveled automatically as the cries of despair grew louder. They were coming from some where below, and the super squirrel let his instincts guide him down to the sounds.

An odd odor came to Splendid's nose as he drifted down towards some buildings that were half way collapsed. It was both intoxicating and sickening, flipping his stomach. It tickled the insides of his nose and made him feeling dizzy, and he landed rather uncoordinated, stumbling as the world become disoriented.

Pulling himself together, Splendid honed into the sounds again. The screams were coming from a building at least a hundred feet away, but it appeared to be blocked off by all angles. He would have to go into one of the standing ones and make his way over. No, that will take to much time!

Thinking fast, Splendid took a moment to prepare himself before hopping into the roof top of the nearest building. They were small apartment-shaped buildings, with flat roofs, which only made his task easier. However the smell in the air was beginning to make him sick to his stomach.

What is this, kryptonut? Surely it can't be. It's not like it's a common type of mineral.

Whatever it was, it was getting heavier as Splendid dashed across the roof tops, zig zagging over debris in search of whoever was hurt. The toxins in the air were now visible, creating a heavy purple fog that obscured Splendid's vision and bit at the lining of his lunges as it crawled down his throat. His limbs felt heavy as he tried to make his way through the thick air, weighing him down and handicapped his speed.

The screaming had stopped all together, and Splendid suspected the toxins were beginning to claim whoever was in need. But the sound hasn't stopped all together. A tone was drifting through Splendid's brain, an eary, low melody that had been blocked out by the screaming.

Who are those little girls in pain?

Trapped in castle in dark side of moon

Twelve of them shining bright in vain

Like flowers that blossom just once in years...

The singing faded in and out. Splendid came to a stop as the apartment complex came to an end. Where? Where were they?

A flash of movement caught his eye. A building had crumbled down on itself, barring all exits, and creating little cove inside of a wall of debris. Violet vapors were streaming from any holes in the mound. A soft singing was coming from inside of it.

They're dancing in the shadows

Like whispers of love

Just dreaming of place

where they're free as dove...

Over and over Splendid punched at the walls. The pieces of walls and broken items began to fall away, creating a hole. Light streamed down on a debris covered floor. Someone was moving below.

"Help...me..."

Splendid shielded his eyes against the poisons, blowing some of it away with his ultra breath. He jumped down through the ceiling, landing heavily. He could barely see through the violet fog, and it stung his eyes in such a way that Splendid almost shut them completely. He could only make out shapes, and he had to hobble towards the before they became clear.

The person in the debris was Sniffles. He looked wretched, his glasses broken and strewn across the floor, his nose bent at an odd angle. His blue fur was spiky and matted, damp from the toxic air. He reached out weakly towards Splendid, eyes beginning to roll back from pain. Mime was laying not far away, unconscious. As Splendid gathered the two- Mime on his back and Sniffles half-dragged half-supported under his arm- he reminded himself to ask what the hell they were doing here anyways.

Casting one look back at the dusky inclosed cave-of-sorts, Splendid stiffened momentarily. There was a little music box, lying on the floor. It was a tiny thing, made of nice white wood, the likes of which must have been expensive. A golden inscription was carved into the side, one that Splendid couldn't make out. It was open, and a pink girl with a long beautiful tail was spinning on a tiny pedestal inside. A beautiful song drifted from it.

They've never been allowed to love

In this cursed cage

It's only the fairy tale

They believe...

Taking no time to consider the consequences of his actions, Splendid made is way back over the debris, grabbing the music box. He tucked it inside of the pocket of his jeans, going back over to the exit. With an escape the fog was becoming less heavy, but Splendid still had to try many times before he found the strength to lift off.

His flight was awkward and agonizing, with the weight on his lunges and the persons he had to fairy away from the destructive place. Splendid shut his eyes, repeating pain is only an illusion in his head as he drifted slowly towards the hospital, dropping in altitude with ever few yards.

Splendid hit the ground hard only a few feet from the hospital. Sniffles and Mime rolled away, laying motionless as Splendid struggled to pull himself up, gagging and choking as he tried to expel the venom from his lunges. There was blood in the vile he coughed up, and the sight was sickening to the eye. His entire body was writhing in pain he'd never felt before, and wasn't accustomed to. Nausea, head ache, burning, exhaustion... all so unfamiliar. This must be what it feels like to die in misfortune. I'm so lucky it doesn't happen to me often.

"Oh my god- come quick!" Someone, presumably a nurse, was yelling to the people in the hospital. There was suddenly people at his side, saying things he couldn't hear, and lifting the two unconscious animals onto stretchers. The sudden change in atmosphere upset his stomach and he spat out vile copiously onto the concrete, unable to fully vomit with the itchy feeling in his throat.

Splendid felt a hand on his face. He opened his eyes, squinting as he looked up into concerned, bright green eyes. Giggles?

"Oh my god, Splendid, it's you! You need immediate help!"

No, the voice wasn't giggles. The face around the eyes became more definable, and he realized that it was Lammy, wearing nursing scrubs. Her eyes were dark, almost a hazel, and Splendid wondered how he could of ever mistaken them for Giggles. Hers were one of a kind.

"I don't need help," Splendid murmured softly, his voice rough and barely intelligible as his own. "I don't need help."

"Don't be stupid! You can't be a hero all the time, so stop lying. You need help!" Lammy was saying urgently, trying to pull Splendid up by his arm. His weight was too heavy for the lamb, and he pushed her away rather ineffectively.

"No," He said weakly, forcing himself to his feet. He swayed slightly, and Lammy rushed to his side to support him, but he turned away from her hand.

"No, I'm fine. Just take care of these two."

Objections began to come form the small purple lamb, but Splendid heard none of them. His lunges still burned like they were on fire, but his limbs felt less heavy. He figured he'd be able to make it to Flaky's house, if not far enough that he could walk the rest of the way.

Without another word to Lammy, Splendid forced himself into the air, clumsily climbing into the sky. That gas had to be kryptonut. Nothing else affects me like this. His body convulsed several times as he coughed up more vile, and he had the desire to stop and vomit, but refused to stop flying until he reached Flak'ys house.

Splendid came to a clumsy landing in the porcupines front yard, nearly mauling over her mail box in his descent. The world was blurred and hazy, and as he stumbled to the door, he realized there was something soft and furry in his way.

"Don't touch me there, you perv."

Splendid backed up a bit, realizing how close he was to whoever was in his way, squinting to try and make out the outline. When he did, he almost vomited, more out of anxiety than of the poison this time.

"I've been waiting for you. It's not nice to stand up a lady for ice cream, you know. But from the looks of you, you have a good excuse- and I was right about where you've been staying."

Splendid didn't respond. He put his face into his hand, rubbing his head in an attempt to clear the throbbing.

"So," Giggles said again, hands on her hips, watching Splendid with her clear emerald eyes. "What kind of trouble did you cause this time?"