Here we go. Sorry for the wait; it's been busy around here. But rest assured, I have not forgotten about you or this story. Let me answer a couple questions that have come up.
For those hoping for a Timmy/Trixie pairing, not going to happen. Chapter 1 explains why it's not going to happen. Don't worry; Trixie will find love – and it should be clear where that love will be coming from – although the full circumstances are not what one would call "ideal."
Veronica is a villain because, frankly, she is perfect villain material. When it comes to Timmy, she is as obsessive as Tootie, if not more so. She is also second on the totem pole, with no realistic chance for advancing. And she has resources. Really, she is one clown suit away from Harley Quinn.
But now, let's go to the next chapter, and a side to someone that you thought you would never see.
Chapter 12: A Link on a Chain (A Cloud in the Sky)
(four years in the future)
It felt so unreal to Tootie. She knew and planned for this, and now even having lived it, it felt like a dream – a dream she never wanted to wake from. Even though her rational mind knew better, her feelings swore saying this was simply too good to be true. Still, she was determined; dream or reality, she was going to savor every moment she had as the bride of Timmy Turner.
As she went to the corner to talk to her new grandparents-in-law, who were so kind to provide the roasted yak (which she did enjoy a lot more than she thought she would), she was stopped by a pink-haired woman wearing a subdued violet and black dress.
"Oh, hi, Wanda," she said, smiling. Although she did not really understand the whole story of how she and her husband fit in Timmy's life, she knew that he meant a lot to them and that they meant a lot to him in return. For now, that was enough. There would be plenty of time for Timmy to sort it all out later.
Wanda hugged her, smiling. "I always knew this day would come, even when you two were kids," she happily commented. Her face turned serious for a moment. "But, there is something I want to share with you, seeing as we have something in common."
Tootie's face contorted to a look of confusion. "What's that?" she asked.
Wanda smiled again. "We're both married to wonderful men who are, well, morons."
Tootie's face contorted to a look of anger. How dare she talk about my Timmy like that! He is, well, yeah she's right, but still!
Wanda continued. "Don't get me wrong. Timmy is a great guy, and that's what I wanted to talk to you about. Even when he gets the book-smart stuff wrong, his heart is in the right place. And he has strengths just like you do. Things that he understands that you don't. Don't ever forget that." She stopped smiling, and frowned at her memories. "I got so used to knowing more than Cosmo that I forgot about his strengths." She stopped, took a deep breath, and then continued. "And I know he'll never admit this, but it almost cost me my marriage."
(today)
Timmy's question was on his godparents' minds. Cosmo answered immediately. "That's easy, Timmy! Don't do it!" he yelled out.
Wanda thought a few moments more. His answer made sense to her, but what if Veronica follows through on her threat? The risks to Tootie were too great. "Actually, Timmy, maybe you should play along with her. Let her think she's winning until we find out what she knows," she sternly said. She then added, "Though I don't like it."
Cosmo blurted out, "WHAT?! Are you kidding?"
Wanda rolled her eyes. She did not like corrected by her idiot of a husband, especially in front of Timmy. "No, I'm not," she bluntly said. "We can't take any chances right now."
Cosmo got louder, and felt his teeth grinding. "And you think she didn't think of that? She's up to something! This will not end with just a party. She's thinking bigger."
Timmy interjected, "I think I'm gonna take Wanda's advice on this. If I do this one party, then Veronica keeps quiet, and nobody gets hurt." Wanda smiled, while Cosmo's eyes reddened with fury.
"Yeah, until she wants more. Where do you think this stops, Timmy? One party, then a dance, then a movie, you give in to this, and she's going to go for more." He waved his wand and turned into a miniature Veronica, wearing a tight white nighty. He said, in a perfect Veronica impersonation, "If you want me to stay quiet, you better fuck me."
Timmy and Wanda's Jaws dropped at Cosmo's last statement. He morphed back to his usual form and responded to their stares by angrily yelling, "Yeah, I said fuck! Fuck fuck fuck! Because that is what this girl is – fucking crazy! She is making her play here, and if it works, that is where it is going to go! And you know what, you're even stupider than I am if you think somehow this will help Tootie!"
After a full two minutes of stunned silence, Timmy meekly asked, "So what should I do, Cosmo?"
Cosmo, calmer, took a deep breath before continuing in a quieter voice. "You refuse. You tell Crazylocks, 'No!' Then forget about it. Even better idea: you go right now and tell Tootie everything that happened here, so even if everything comes out, she is ready for it."
Wanda jumped in, "Or we can make sure nobody gets hurt. If we have to tell Tootie, we will, but right now, we can keep her from worrying. At least this will buy us some time."
Cosmo growled, then blurted out, "Time for what? We know her goal. I just don't think that …"
Wanda interrupted, an angry flash of her own. "That's the problem, Cosmo! You just don't think!"
Timmy pulled out his whistle and blew it hard, causing the godparents' arguing to halt. "Guys! I think I am going to go with Wanda's plan for now. If Cosmo's right, we can change it later. I just don't want Tootie to get hurt or worry about this." He sighed as he started walking toward home again.
It was an eerie quiet walk home, nobody saying anything. Every so often, Timmy would look back and see the squirrels following him, but there was something wrong. Both of them were quiet, and Cosmo seemed particularly angry. When they approached his bedroom, Wanda took her usual fish form and noticed Cosmo not doing the same.
"What are you doing, Cosmo?" she asked him, irritated.
He said nothing, but he seemed to be thinking of something. What is he doing, Wanda thought.
"Cosmo! Whatever it is you're thinking about, …"
Cosmo snapped, "I just don't think. Remember?" He waved his wand and poofed out of the room.
Wanda stared for a moment, then moved out of the fishbowl, taking her usual fairy form, and waved her wand. She suddenly had a look of shock and horror on her face, and a few tears started sliding down her face. Timmy, a witness to all of this, was confused; they argued before, even argued louder before, but this felt different. And based on her actions, this was different. "Wanda?" he asked. "What is it?"
Wanda looked at Timmy, more tears sliding down her face. "I can't find Cosmo."
Timmy sighed. "He'll cool off. Just give him some time."
Wanda shook her head. "You don't understand, sport. When fairies get married, they can track each other. That way, if one is lost or hurt, the other can find them. It's almost like a mental bond, and it's come in handy a lot, especially as godparents." She paused, and then continued, a light sob escaping as she spoke. "He severed the bond. For the first time ever, I can't find him. I think …" She stopped talking and started crying. After a few minutes, she was crying harder, but managed to sob out, "I think I just lost my husband."
Anti-Cosmo got the message through his want that he had hoped to get for quite some time. "Green light. Do your worst." He smiled; even though it woke him up from his dreams of wicked plans, that was fine with him. This was more important to him.
He walked down to the cell door that he had built – a project for fun long before he had need for a cell. He unlocked it and walked in. His captor was sleeping on the stone slab she used as a mattress. He walked up to her and slapped her face as hard as he could; he was done playing nice.
"Time for you to wake up! I finally got the right to treat you like you deserve," he cackled, smiling wickedly.
She sat up and felt the chains on her wrists and legs tighten. She knew she would be stuck to her slab helpless. But this was different from before; he often told her that she deserved worse than she was getting, and now she knew she was about to find out what "worse" is.
He turned his wand into a crowbar and pressed the flat of it against the side of her knee. "Now, I could just beat you, or maybe even kill you," he continued, with the unholy combination of mirth and malice in his voice. "But I have a better idea." He smiled wider as he ran the crowbar up her leg slowly, making sure to put pressure on her leg and not to cut it. "You humans have a concept I find intriguing." She felt the flat of the crowbar blade against her upper thigh. "I believe the word for it is … karma."
For the first time since her capture, Nicky Flanagan screamed.
