The Horror of Popularity

can't think: Thank you SO much for letting me know that I had been correct in the first place. If I had changed their names then had to change them again, I'd be really pissed. Well your wait is over since I'll be posting this today Mon: 8th of Nov. 2004 (faster than I've posted a few previous chapters).

lucyrocks73: None taken. I'm glad you loved the action. I thought it up especially for you since you wanted a bit less dialogue. I'm also glad that no one else seems to mind either.

Catlover15: Glad you loved the story and the action. Hopefully I can put in some action in one more chapter. But no action in this one though.

Chapter 11: Dimmsdale

(Following Day at Timmy's new Residence)

"Well it was the least we could do," the Mayor said showing Timmy the large expensive mansion that was now to be his new home, "we have a nanny here to take care of you since your parents are incarcerated," he said with a hint of distaste, "the curse is gone thanks to you revealing that there was a witch among those children!" he cried joyfully and Timmy grinned, "now everyone will be able to put this problem behind them and move on with their lives," he said and sighed happily.

"Mayor I think you want to see this," one of the Mayor's guards said seriously, "it seems someone has gone to the barn and is currently making everything being viewed worldwide," he told the Mayor.

"WHAT!" both the Mayor and Timmy cried in unison and hurried off the large TV room to see what was being shown on the brand new flat screen television.

As soon as they reached the TV room they couldn't believe what they were seeing. Both of them just fell on their butts on the shag rug in front of the television and watched.

"This is the exclusive tape of what happened at Black Manor where the elite popular children have been held," a female reporters voice was heard as the tape showed hundreds of children in gray clothing, "I will now be silent as you viewers watch the horror these children went through before their murder," she stated bluntly.

"MURDER!" the Mayor and Timmy cried in alarmed unison.

The children on the tape slowly walked into the barn in a straight line. Guards were positioned along the sides of the path that the children were using and they were armed with rifles. The children stood orderly by either side of the door in immaculate rows.

"Please prepare to proceed with your lunch," Mr. Crocker instructed his face looked as cold as stone and the children proceeded to straighten their gray uniforms and most left dirty hand prints on them as they did so, "and if you finish early please remain seated until your instructed otherwise," he continued, "now go collect a bowl from the large table at top of the room," he told them, "then go sit in the chairs and eat," he said then left the middle of the room and stopped to stand stiffly close the outmost left part of the Lunchroom as the children seemed to take that as a signal and moved forward silently and orderly to the large table to collect their lunch.

The children went towards the large table and took up their lunches in gray looking bowls. They then simply turned around and proceeded to varying tables with what seemed to be with students of their liking to socialize in a not so sociable situation. Their faces looked fatigued and the trudging of their feet didn't look as if they were avoiding being noisy but more like they couldn't move any faster.

"This is soup!" a young male student cried incredulously as he lifted his spoon out of the 'soup' with a loud plop, "it's not even liquid!" he exclaimed as he turned out the contents in the spoon which just fell back into the bowl with a nasty plop, "soup is supposed to be liquid," he pointed out looking up at an emotionless Crocker.

"Then starve if you like," Crocker responded, "no one's forcing you to eat it," he said pointedly.

"You will eat all of your red peas soup Douglas!" the Principal cried suddenly from the back of the room, "no one will leave until you all eat every drop of your lunch," she told them, "no one will be allowed to let you leave otherwise," she declared and gave Crocker a look that seemed to hold a warning, "and if you purposely let this lunch time end late," she hissed, "you WILL be PUNISHED," she threatened with balled up fists, "indiscriminately," she added in a threateningly angry hiss.

The students started to fearfully eat the thick soup that they were given. Many of them made faces and momentarily turned away from their meal looking as if the food was making them ill. But they all turned back and continued eating; most students doing so and giving the glaring Principal furtive glances.

A girl with waist length hair that was in usually huge Goldilocks-like curls suddenly grabbed a nearby bucket and threw up in it.

Mr. Crocker walked a bit further up to a table that was lined with glasses of water. He picked up one and walked slowly towards the girl who just finished vomiting but hadn't lifted her head out of the bucket yet.

"Here," Crocker said emotionlessly and held out the glass to her, "obviously the soup isn't agreeing with you very well," he observed, "drink slowly," he added after the girl had put down the bucket and reached for the water anxiously, "and remember," he continued, "you only get one glass of water with your meal like everyone else," he reminded her as she hungrily grabbed the glass of water and drank hurriedly.

"You can let go of the glass," the Principal suddenly said coldly, "Kimberly's a second grader after all," she continued and Crocker still held onto the bottom half of the glass as Kimberly gave a quick peek from the corner of her eye at the Principal then suddenly stopped drinking, "not a kindergartner," she added and her glare at Crocker became fierce.

"I can hold the glass by myself Mr. Crocker," Kimberly spoke up softly in a voice that sounded like a small bell as she smiled warmly, "thank you," she whispered and looked down at her feet as she started to lightly blush.

"What ever," Crocker said simply as he shrugged his shoulders and let go of the glass, "remember," he said to her as she carefully placed the barely quarter glass of water on the table, "that's the only glass of water you'll get with your mea...." He started to remind her.

"I think that she already knows that!" the Principal exploded interrupting Crocker, "we're punishing these children Crocker," she cried angrily, "not being a nanny by holding stuff for them!" she cried furiously.

"Do you plan to be their undertaker too!" Crocker countered, "because I sure as hell don't!" he told her angrily and many students started to look around fearfully and then eye what was left of their food with great fear.

"Don't worry children!" the Principal cried with great cheeriness, "the food's not poisonous," she said kindly but gave Crocker a quick dirty look when the students weren't looking, "now hurry up and eat!" she cried angrily and the students started to eat even faster.

"I feel si..." a little boy who barely looked six started to say and his stomach could be heard gurgling.

"This Program has been intercepted," a computer operated voice suddenly stated as the screen suddenly turned blue with a yellow button in the middle which had written on it 'Timmy Rocks! OUR HERO!'

"Whew," both Timmy and the Mayor said in unison and wiped sweat off their foreheads.

"Thank God that tape filmed everything in black and white," Timmy said with relief, "imagine what would've happened if it was in colour!" he exclaimed his face filled with relieved happiness, "our bacons would really be fried then!" he cried and leaned back on the rug as he started to relax.

"But how do you know that no one will react negatively?" the Mayor asked Timmy nervously, "it was still not a very encouraging viewing of the incarceration of the children," he pointed out, "and remember they ARE dead," he told Timmy pointedly.

"We'll simply say it was the witch who did it," Timmy responded, "the carbon monoxide used is unable to be traced," he pointed out, "we can thank Richard Richton and his research lab for that," he stated, "and the advanced arsenic that Crocker created can't be traced without a sample of it at someone's disposal and we've destroyed every unused sample," he reminded the Mayor simply, "and with no quick explanations of the massive child death at the barn," he continued, "there is no other assumption that they can use," he concluded with a laugh.

"I guess you're right," the Mayor admitted, "but what if...?"

"The President gave us his undying and absolute approval!" Timmy exclaimed, "what's he going to do?" Timmy demanded, "claim absolution and pretend that we took his approval of our cause and methods and went insane?" he asked incredulously.

"I guess that wouldn't happen," the Mayor said with a nervous laugh, "right?"

"Of course not," Timmy said dismissively, "we're in the clear," he told the Mayor, "you just need to realize it."

(10 Minutes Later at a Hotel in Antigua)

"This is fun!" Wendy cried excitedly as she splashed water back at Mr. Caulfield, "I'm glad that you decided to take me on a vacation," she declared, "thank you!"

"Your Welcome Wendy," Mr. Caulfield responded, "what's wrong?" he asked suddenly as Wendy's face suddenly contorted and she placed a hand at the side of her temple, "is it those headaches again?" he asked urgently.

"Yes," Wendy answered her face becoming more contorted; "I think I'm going to have another flashback of Dimms..." she started but stopped when the flashback began.

(Flashback)

Rustling and crunching leaves were heard as two figures ran through the night. One was an adult female with flowing ankle-length blonde hair and another a boy with matted and stringy straw blonde hair. The boy seemed to be disoriented and it was possible that it was more like the blonde woman almost running for him than him for himself.

"We have to find somewhere to hide," the blonde woman said urgently as she looked back and saw a large barn in the distance, "if Marilyn finds you she'll kill you first then come for me," she told him, "come on Cory!" she cried in urgent annoyance as the boy pressed his booted feet into the ground to stop her from running, "we can't save the others," she said knowing what he was thinking, "even if Joseph was around we'd barely have a chance," she said frankly.

"Then let me die with the others!" Cory cried trying to get out of her tight grip which was on his left hand, "you think we're demon children," he reminded her, "why save me then?" he asked her as she started to run again dragging his along even harder.

"Because you didn't do anything," the blonde woman responded, "it was that bastard Joseph," she said with great contempt, "plus I couldn't save the others without alerting the rest of the witches and I hope to hide you well in 'Ye Town with no Name'," she told him, "you know that," she said more kindly.

"But Joseph's innocent," Cory insisted, "he even told me who really...." He continued.

"Bet he said that it was one of us," the blonde woman snapped, "Gwendolyn took you all in when we were wary of you," she stated, "and that boy repays us by murdering people and causing townspeople to think that it was us doing it," she spat, "then he murders the very person who allowed all of you to stay here in the first place!" she cried incredulously, "how can you still defend him?" she demanded.

"We told all of you that Joseph ran away and told me to be careful of Marilyn," Cory said, "why won't you believe us when we say that we're not demon children?" he persisted tears coming to his eyes, "you've always been the nicest witch next to Gwendolyn Sasha," he told her.

"You didn't tell us to be careful of Marilyn," Sasha said suddenly and stopped running, "is there something about Marilyn that I should know about?" she asked as a quick breeze blew at her ankle length white cotton night gown, "tell me Cory," she urged, "AHHHHHHHHHH!" she cried suddenly and held unto the side of her head.

(Flash Back Interrupted)

(Another Flashback)

"How come you carried so much?" Veronica asked curiously looking at the pouch filled with lunches, drinks and fruits, "you don't eat THAT much!"

"My mother packed it," an African American boy said simply, "you'd have to ask her," he told her.

"I know why," a beautiful black haired girl who looked beautiful and very rich said suddenly, "everyone," she said firmly, "take some of Chad's lunch, we can no longer trust the school," she said and ripped the paper with her order to pieces.

The others followed the girl then proceeded to proportion Chad's lunch. It was enough for all of them making it possible that the black haired beauty's theory was correct. They started to eat quietly and seemed a bit subdued.

"Well I see that you all have lunches," a woman looking very official said icily from behind them half-an- hour later, "probably best," she said, "I'll add it to the alert that you're all obligated to carry your own food," she said happily and walked off.

"I don't think I'm coming back tomorrow," Chad said seriously, "this alert is stupid," he muttered.

"You're coming tomorrow," a blonde haired boy dressed just like Chad said firmly, "if I go to school, you go to school," he said seriously and no seemed bold enough protest, "I'll drag you screaming if I have to," he added in a low voice that almost implied a threat.

"Let us not argue amongst ourselves," Veronica begged, "it will only cause ..." she continued but was interrupted when a kid suddenly shouted.

"Hey look at the Popular kids at that dirty old table!" a white kid with spiky orange hair teased, "finally getting what you deserve," he said, "and since when did Veronica the tease tell people what to do," he continued, "I thought that was Trixie the slut's job!" he cried and their were a few gasps but those were drowned out by the majority of the unpopular kids who were laughing.

Meanwhile at the old table Chad and a handsome black haired boy held back the now furious blonde haired boy while a blue haired girl slapped each of her hands over both the beautiful black haired girl's and Veronica's mouths to keep them from reacting to the out of line boy.

"That's just what he wants," Lorna whispered, "ignore him."

But just then there came loud barking and suddenly five Dobermans came rushing into the lunchroom out of nowhere and they went straight for the orange haired boy. The now scared little boy tried to run but the Dobermans got to him quickly. By the time an adult in guard uniform came to stop the crazy dogs it was too late. The orange haired boy had been murdered.

"Stewart!" a bald African-American blue eyed boy screamed from another table that looked way better than the one Veronica and the others were sitting at and broke into sobs, "he was in my Chemistry club!" he cried as he continued sobbing beside a shocked brown haired buck tooth pink hated little boy.

(End Flash Back)

"Wake up Wendy!" Mr. Caulfield cried urgently, "please wake up!" he begged slapping the sides of her face as she lay limp on the Queen Sized Bed he had taken her to up in their room from the moment she lost consciousness in the pool.

"My head," Wendy moaned as she moved her head slightly, "Jeremy?" she asked softly her eyes still closed, "are you there?" she whispered.

"Yes Wendy I'm here," Mr. Caulfield responded stroking her still damp head, "I'm here," he repeated now running his hand through her shoulder length dark brown hair.

(Four Hours Later)

"I can't believe he claimed absolution!" Timmy cried incredulously as he stormed around the very panicked Mayor in the Mayor's office, "Our own President claimed absolution and pretended that we took his approval of our cause and methods and went insane!" he cried angrily and kicked over a potted plant, "now he's warning people against coming here and even insinuating that the elite popular kids death is suspicious (meaning the President's uncertain if it was really just witch craft) despite no evidence so far!"

"I knew we couldn't get away with it after that tape aired!" the Mayor cried in despair, "we were in the clear before that damn reporter showed that video tape that A. J.'s father had recorded with Tad's help before we caught them trying to escape Dimmsdale," he hissed, "how was I supposed to know that he had given a copy to a reporter?" he asked rhetorically, "now people are going to avoid us (citizens and the town) like a plague!" he shouted, "we should never had listened to Britney's parents," he said and sighed.

"Serves you right!" Tootie declared suddenly as she sat handcuffed to a nearby chair, "the resistance lives on!" she cried and held her free hand in the air.

Timmy walked up to her and angrily boxed her across the face.

"I can't believe that your sister of all people decided to care about kids at such a time," Timmy said angrily as Tootie rubbed her swollen cheek with tears in her eyes, "the popular ones no less," he hissed, "I'm just glad that I was able to get that picture of the entire resistance party from under my parents car driver's seat," he declared, "it was a really good hiding place before I started to suspect them when they started to leave me home without Vicky and mainly without any baby sitters at all," he said with a grin, "your parents didn't return from their business trip after it was televised that my parents were caught as part of the resistance group," he continued, "but I was able to get you wasn't I?" he asked coyly leaning closer to her face as she tried her best to lean away, "when you saw me knocking on the door and declaring my love for you," he said, "you had to let me in," he almost teased, "despite the fact that your sister told you to let no one in while she was out," he stated, "especially me," he said with a wide grin, "and you know," he said now almost flirtatiously as she started to run his index finger along her arm which she immediately pulled away, "I do like like you," he admitted.

"Well I don't like like you anymore!" Tootie retorted angrily, "you've become a monster and as of today," she declared, "I don't love you anymore Timmy Turner!" she cried right into his face.

"That's a lie," Timmy snarled and grabbed her by the collar, "you've always loved me," he told her.

"Not anymore," Tootie stated bluntly, "I wonder if you'll even have any friends soon," she said formally.

"Timmy will always have friends!" the Mayor declared with forced happiness, "he's the town hero after all," he said.

"More like the town idiot," Tootie snapped, "what do you think townspeople are going to think when they realize that their town has become one to fear, ridicule and despise?" she asked, "knowing full well that the culprit is right within their midst," she stated, "why I don't see how you can even get a scapegoat to get you out of this situation," she declared.

A scapegoat? That's it! Things have been a bit harder since Wanda and Cosmo refused to grant me anymore wishes five days before those pests (elite popular kids) were eliminated and I gave them the boot. But Tootie has given me an excellent idea and I know that the Mayor will go along with it! At least he will if he wants a chance in hell to be re-elected! (Timmy's thoughts)

"Thanks Tootie!" Timmy cried and kissed her on the cheek and hurried off to the Mayor, "Mayor I have an idea," he said and whispered something in the Mayor's ear, "what do you think?" he asked as the Mayor's face grew tense and paled slightly.

"But they're upstanding citizens!" the Mayor cried incredulously, "and they've been so deeply involved in catching and punishing..." he continued.

"Exactly," Timmy responded with a happy grin, "they're too deep in to deny involvement," he told the Mayor, "I'm a kid so I can claim that I was just trying to help the town by saying that there might be a witch among those children," he said dismissively, "but adults don't get off so easy," he said suggestively, "have you noticed that you're not exactly a kid anymore Mayor?" he asked.

The Mayor quickly grabbed the phone and called his receptionist.

"Declare a Town meeting for only the lower class citizens of Dimmsdale," the Mayor instructed her, "and tell them that it's urgent and front of City Hall," he declared and hung up.

Done.

Death's Soulmate: Review.

Please note

'Ye Town with no Name' (hope I spelt it right) was what Dimmsdale was called before well Dimmsdale (duh!).

Wendy's Flashbacks were from two different time periods. Observant readers should know that one flashback was previously written.

3) Yes it was Wanda and Cosmo in the last Chapter. They went renegade after Timmy gave them the boot allowing them to not be under his control (even when they refused to grant him wishes on morality grounds they still couldn't leave Timmy without his consent) in any way. They still defied Jorgen by intervening but they wanted to help and did so anyway.