A/N: I'm gonna tease you guys just a little bit longer. I'm still walking on air after what happened to me on Saturday… ahh… but please, do read this next chapter for me? You might find it'll set the stage for later, more important chapters…

XI

The next morning found all the children lining up to say their goodbyes to Sportacus, Clyde and Stephanie after a rousing game of soccer. As the selected members of the Trinity Watch loaded up both airships, Milford stood behind the children, watching them admire his niece while Ms. Busybody kept a loving grip on his hand.

"Do you really have to go, Stephanie?" A girl no older than six asked, her eyes almost watery.

"Don't worry, sweetie, it won't be long." She said and gave her a hug. "We'll all be back in no time and we'll pick up where we left off."

"You promise?" Asked a small boy.

"I promise." She looked at all the children and opened her arms, letting them all in for a massive group hug. "Now you kids be good and try to stay out of trouble. After all, you're the future of LazyTown."

"The future?" Another kid looked up.

"Yeah. Bye kiddos."

Stephanie sent them on their way and came face to face with her uncle. Bessie let go of his hand and stepped back to give them some space while Sportacus and Clyde boarded their ships. It was just the two of them now. Staring and waiting for the right moment to speak. A brief silence and then he held out his hand, his words stuck at the tip of his tongue.

"Uncle…" She took his hand in hers. "I know you're not exactly keen on me going out there and… well, y'know."

"…Bashing heads and kicking all sorts of butt, as you so mildly put it." He chuckled, finally getting over his fear.

"Yeah." She laughed as well. "…I still can't believe I said that."

"I think Trixie's finally rubbed off on you."

"Maybe. Listen, you don't have to worry about me. Or any of us for that matter. We'll be fine. It's your turn to be the hero, Uncle. You just take care of LazyTown and I know we'll still have a home to come back to in the end."

"Thank you, my dear. I'll do my best."

"Bye."

"Goodbye. Be safe."

She nodded and started to walk away when a feeling in her gut told her to stop. She looked back at her uncle, who still had that warm smile across his face, and ran into his arms with a tight hug. He embraced her as well, trying to hide the tears in his eyes and patted her on the back.

"I love you, Uncle Milford."

"I love you too, Stephanie." He trembled. "My dear sweet Stephanie… Now go. Make your old uncle proud."

"I won't let you down."

Louie stood there, holding his wife's hand and kissed it gently before climbing up the ladder. He took one last look at her long golden mane and smiled.

"I'll be back before you know it, honey."

"I'm countin' on it, shug." She blew him a kiss.

"All right, fellas! Let's get on outta here!"

Cosgrove stood beneath the mammoth airships and watched the last few people climb up the ladders. Once the platforms closed, he took out a radio and signaled the pilots for one last roll call.

"Sportacus," He started. "Everyone accounted for?"

"Roger that, Lieutenant." He responded over the static. "Team One: Astral, Demetrius, Bob, Amelie, Robbie, the Professor and Louie."

"Good. Team Two, are you--"

"HOW DARE YOU!?" A familiar voice broke through. "What about me!? Am I not a member of this reputable team of Watchmen that is prepared for God and Country to die in a foreign land which none of us has ever--"

There was a break of static until, "Sportacus here. Roster: Astral, Demetrius, Bob, Amelie, Robbie, Professor, Louie and Dramatik. Counting myself, that's nine."

"Er, right. Of course. Thank you. Team Two?"

"Clyde here. We're all good to go. We--ZIGGY! Put that down! What? No, that's not licorice! Yes, I'm sure! No! Just put it down! Wait!"

There was a loud crash followed by more static. Seconds later, an out of breath Clyde returned to the radio. "Clyde here… me and my team of eight. Me, Stephanie, Ziggy, Pixel, Stingy, Trixie, Jasper & Rottenella."

"Are you sure everything's fine?"

"Yes, we--I SAID PUT THAT DOWN!"

Another crash followed by even more static. "Clyde, what's the problem?"

"Nothing!"

"Are you sure?"

"…GAH!"

"…Clyde?"

"That's not a toy! NO! Somebody get that dog under control!"

"Dog? I don't remember anything about a--"

"AAH! Not on the seat! Quick open the hatch!"

"Hatch? Clyde, what on earth is--" Cosgrove soon found himself being doused by a fountain of liquid that was coming down from the sky. "…What in the name of--!?"

"Aw crap. Let's move, move, move!"

And just like that, the two airships were off. They soared through the clouds side by side and left LazyTown and its people behind, beginning their journey into the unknown. Inside the Track One, Stephanie sat by Clyde and looked out to see her home vanish behind the clouds and the mountains.

She closed her eyes and clutched the three amulets that hung from the gold necklace secured around her neck and for a brief moment, could feel their power calling to her. She gasped at this odd sensation and let go of them, forgetting for a second where she was.

"You okay, Steph?" Clyde asked her, keeping one hand on the pilot controls and another on her shoulder.

"…Yeah." She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"I know what it's like to leave home for the first time."

"I've left LazyTown before."

"I'm not talking about CrazyTown or HazyTown. Or Coast City for that matter…"

"I didn't like Coast City. First time I went there, I felt a little… strange. Like something was gnawing away at my conscience."

"Must be the air. My point is, I know how you feel. When I left my home to come here and meet with my uncle, I was nervous. I was tense and I was harboring some old friends in my head. I think you met them before."

"I have, actually." She giggled, playing along with him. "Nice guys but they were a little too rowdy for my taste."

"Yeah." He smiled, holding her hand. "But it all worked out in the end, didn't it? That's when I met you. And when I did…"

"What were you thinking at the time?"

"I'm not sure exactly. But I think my heart skipped a beat."

"I literally fell for you, if I remember correctly."

"That you did!" He leaned forward and kissed her.

At that moment, Ziggy walked out of the bathroom with his hands on his stomach and a sick look on his face. "Oh, dear God… this always happens to me. Airsickness… ugh…"

He saw Stephanie and Clyde kissing at the controls and held in a burp, deciding to walk over to his seat. When he saw Trixie and Stingy holding hands and cuddling together, he gagged and rushed back over to the lavatory.

"He still gets airsick, huh?" Trixie asked Pixel, who sat casually in between her and a gloomy looking Rottenella.

"As far as I know." He grinned as he took out a small device from his pant pocket. "Or it could be the fact that I've been using this baby on him the whole time."

"What?"

"It's a sickness inducer. It triggers brainwaves to mess with your body and give you that uneasy feeling you get when your grandparents talk about their sex life."

"Gross, Pixel!"

"I'm just saying is all!"

"And what, may I ask, is the purpose of this contraption?" Stingy's eyes widened with curiosity. "Surely this wasn't one of those oh-so-important blueprints you needed to take with you on this mission?"

"Well not exactly but…" He put the device away when he saw Ziggy return. "…I can't mess with him a little?"

"I see your point."

"And I thought I was the trickster in the group." She shrugged as she rested her head on Stingy's chest.

"Oh…" Pixel groaned. "…This is gonna take some getting used to."

"What are you talking about?" She looked up at him.

"Do I have to say it? You know exactly what I'm talking about. You. Him. Together. Ugh." He shuddered.

"Aw, feeling left out? Don't worry, Pixel." She nudged him playfully. "You'll find someone."

"Yeah, whatever…" He rolled his eyes.

--

Inside the other airship, the passengers sat down in the newly furnished deck and admired all the changes Sportacus made to better suit their needs. The man in blue kept to his controls and sighed dreamily, thinking to himself whether or not redecorating his beloved airship was such a good idea. After contemplating the horrid thought of everyone wandering around like mindless zombies and drifting away like spare change across the deck should the ship encounter harsh weather, he shrugged contently and continued his way through the clouds.

He could see from the corner of his eye that a very anxious Robbie was fidgeting in his seat and looking at the Track One through the glass pane. The above average hero closed his eyes for a brief second and opened them, leaving his seat much to the crew's horror.

"Sportacus, what are you doing!?" Louie yelped. "You're gonna kill us!"

"AAH! I knew it! He hates us!" Bob screamed. "Lemme outta here! Lemme out!"

"My air! My precious air!" Dramatik pranced about in a circle, waving his hands forward. "Quit taking my air, you thieves! It's mine, I say! All mine!"

"Autopilot."

"Autopilot engaged." The computerized female voice said, calming everyone's nerves.

Sportacus walked over to Robbie and grabbed him by the collar, dragging him to the corner of the ship for a long delayed one-on-one conversation.

"So now you decide to talk."

"Listen to me, Robbie…" He pressed a button on the panel that activated a glass wall to separate them and the rest of the crew. "Whatever you have to say to me, say it now."

"I don't know…" He looked away. "Why bother? I mean it's obvious that you're not comfortable with it."

"Robbie…"

"Then again, I do enjoy putting you in those tight situations just to watch you squirm your way out of it like a greased piggy!"

"Well?"

He leaned against the glass. "Haven't you noticed by now?"

"Noticed what?"

"I'm trying my hardest out there to prove to you that I've finally turned over a new leaf!"

"Have you?"

"Yes!"

"No more sneaking around?"

"Well I've… cut back a bit."

"No more plans to ruin the children's playtime?"

"I… might have a few inventions that need some disassembling."

"And no more lying to everyone? Especially me and your fiancée?"

"Hey!"

"She's heartbroken, Robbie. You should have told her the truth right from the beginning."

"How did you find out!?"

"Never mind that, Robbie. Just promise me you'll patch things up with her. I don't want you two to lose what you have."

"And why the concern, all of a sudden?"

"It's not all of a sudden. I've always looked out for the well-being of everyone."

"Ah, so you've finally come to terms with it, have you!? That you and I are in fact --"

"Don't say it."

"Good God and we're right back to square one! You still can't say it! Amazing! I've never seen such pigheadedness come from a towering example of human perfection!"

"I never said I was perfect."

"Well it's not like you have to!"

"Robbie, can we please…" He hesitated. "…Move on to another subject?"

"All right, fine. But we're going back to that one later!"

"Fine."

"Now what is it?"

"There's something else I haven't told you. I… well, I haven't told anyone really…"

"Oh, this just keeps getting better!" He clapped his hands and giggled. "You mean to tell me there's this huge secret you've been keeping from everybody and I'm the first to know!?"

"Robbie, please…"

"What is it?"

"…I…"

"C'mon, I promise I won't tell! After all, how else am I gonna prove myself to you unless you spill the beans to me and pray to whatever deity it is you believe in that I won't do the same!"

"They'll find out eventually but…"

"Go on then! Spill it!"

Sportacus hesitated and took a deep breath. Despite there being a glass wall in front of them that could mute an explosion, Sportacus leaned in and whispered into Robbie's ear. The reformed villain backed away momentarily and gave him a funny look, shaking his head in disbelief. With a nod, Sportacus leaned in again and repeated to him what he had just said. Robbie shook his head again with that silly grin of his and studied the grim and serious look on Sportacus's face.

"You're joking…"

"No, I'm not."

He studied his face again and popped his eyes right open with a gasp. "Sweet Shasta McBuddha! You are telling the truth!"

"Mm-hmm…" He nodded.

"So that means…" His face was now filled with mischievous glee. "Besides the fact that you and I share the same DNA, we're also…"

"Yes."

"And Clyde is also…"

"Yes."

"And you never even told Pinky LePew!?"

"No. And neither has Clyde."

"Oh, this is brilliant!"

"Robbie, you have to promise me you won't say anything until we arrive."

"What's the big deal? I'm sure they won't mind! I mean you said it yourself, they were gonna find out anyway!"

"But I'd rather my parents handled the situation."

"Our parents."

"Our… I promised them that they would handle all the arrangements. Including the initiation."

"Initiation?" He thought about it for a second and further expanded his grin. "You mean we have a--"

"Yes."

"YEEESSSSSSSS!"

"Oh, Robbie…" He shook his head.

Everyone sat in puzzlement, watching the two blurry figures stand behind the glass window. After a few seconds of Robbie shouting for glee, the Professor turned to his colleagues.

"Tho, uhh… what do you think ith going on?"

"I don't want to know…" Demetrius shook his head.

--

Rottenella looked at the young couple and smiled for a moment before she eventually stood up and wandered around the airship. She leaned against one of the wall panels and suppressed her tears when a friendly voice caught her off guard.

"Are you okay?"

"Huh? Oh, Pixel. Hi."

"You looked like you were about to…"

"Oh, no. I'm fine."

"Oh. Okay. So why isn't Robbie here with you?"

"We… we kind of got into an argument last night."

"Oh. Well I'm sorry."

"…So am I."

"If it's any consolation, I'm sure he's hurting right now too."

--

"I can't believe it!" Robbie danced a jig. "All this time and you never even told me!? HA HA HA!"

--

"Somehow, I think you're right."

"Yeah." He patted her on the back and headed back to his seat when,

"Pixel?"

"Yeah?"

"…Why didn't you want to tell me?"

"Tell you what?"

--

"Oh, man! Why didn't you tell me this sooner!?"

"Robbie, calm down…"

"Calm down!? This is so incredible! I can't wait till we get there! How much longer!?"

"We still have to make a little detour."

"Detour!?"

--

He studied her sad yet beautiful expression then suddenly realized what it was she was talking about. In a panic, he backed away from her and put his hands up, fearing physical retaliation from the woman.

"Oh my God, you found out somehow! Please don't kill me! Aah!"

"Pixel, relax…"

"Not the face! Not the face!"

"What's going on?" Clyde turned his attention to them.

"Pixel, I'm not going to hurt you!"

"…You're not?"

"No."

--

"What sort of detour!?"

"A little survey mission. That's all."

"Survey mission?"

"Mom and dad sent out a group of men and women towards Reykjavík. They've been having a little trouble there."

"What? Reykjavík? You mean… we're going to Iceland? Huh. That would explain the accent, I suppose… Though judging by that goofy mustache, I'd have thought you were from France."

--

"Listen, Rottenella, do you think this is something we should be talking about here?"

"…I suppose you're right."

"And I'm sure Robbie will explain everything to you when we get settled. And if you need me to help explain further, then I will. Okay?"

"Okay." She smiled and sat back down.

Pixel grinned and took a seat next to her, watching Ziggy toss and turn in total sickness. He took out his sickness inducer and offered it to Rottenella. "Here, play with this. It'll make you feel better."

"What?"

"Yeah, just point it at Ziggy and press the little button. Yeah, like that. Good job."

"Ohhhh maaaan…" Ziggy got up and hurried back into the bathroom.

At the controls, Clyde noticed something strange on the monitor and began punching up a few schematics on the ship. Stephanie leaned over his shoulder and watched with him.

"What are you looking at?"

"Something's not right. I don't remember the storage compartment being that full."

"Do you want me to check it out?"

"No, I got it."

Clyde set the controls on auto and walked over to the back of the ship, where he activated a wall panel. In a few seconds, a rack of luggage, jackets and sports equipment elevated from the floor. He looked at a suspicious looking green suitcase that was bulging from the middle and slowly unzipped it from the side. He dropped his head and chuckled softly to himself.

"Hey, Steph?"

"Yeah?"

"I think we have ourselves a couple of stowaways."

"What?"

Stephanie hurried over to the luggage and was surprised to see two familiar faces poking their heads out and smiling awkwardly at her. A ten year old boy with blond hair and a nine year old girl with dark hair, Stephanie knew since they were toddlers.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me…"

"Hi Stephanie!" Said the girl.

"Hey…" The boy cowered behind her.

The Pink One shook her head and chuckled. "Gloria. Ritchie. You're in big trouble…"

A/N: Surely you remember them? Or do I have to go back and remind you? I'll do it, no problem! Just say the word… BTW, I'm gonna need your help for the next chapter. But more on that when it comes…