A/N: Appreciate the reviews everyone! Yeah, I'm a HUGE fan of The Phantom of the Opera (love the new movie, highly recommend it). To answer a question: yes, Norm is aware of Tootie's crush on Timmy. It was made kind of clear by the posters and stuff. He's just biding his time so she's less suspicious of his motives. Plus he needs to find out three ways of making her wish for something, not just one. To answer another question: while Mark is totally freaked out by the way humans show their emotions (mainly affection) in this fic he still harbors a love for Vicky. Her hugs are lethal yet her evilness is still appealing. Good questions! Oh yeah, for some reason whenever I type a question mark and exclamation mark together at the end of a sentence one gets deleted when I upload the chapter. So sorry about the odd punctuation, not my fault! It's just a bug that needs to be worked out of the site. Same deal with semicolons and punctuation in the chapter names. :shrugs:
Phantom of the Music Biz: Genie Gypped
Chapter Three: When Worlds Collide
The bus arrived in Drizzleboro a short half hour later. Now it was time for Tootie and her mischievous traveling companion to seek out the college and keep a watchful eye on the at-risk redhead.
"C'mon Norm keep up," Tootie urged tossing a look over her shoulder at sliding bus door.
The passengers were still filing out one-by-one and finally a male figure wearing a long tan trench coat and floppy brownish-gray hat emerged. He bobbed up and down in a floating manner (Norm hadn't bothered to shift his lower half to human form) and glared at her from over the top of his black shades.
"Remind me never to rely on public transportation again," he grumbled, "the only thing worse than the smell of old gym socks is having to share the experience with about twenty other car-less losers."
"Gripe...gripe...gripe..." Tootie sighed while waiting for him to catch up.
A map of the city was posted on the front of the bus stop stand.
"Ha," the genie scoffed, "you call this a city? The slogan on the bottom of their welcome sign probably reads 'Welcome to Drizzleboro/You are Now Leaving Drizzleboro, Please Drive Past Us Again'."
"I can see that this is gonna be a long mission," Tootie groaned.
The college was easy enough to find once they knew the right direction to head. The campus contained three buildings: one newly constructed computer lab/reception area with meetings rooms and the like, a slightly remodeled brick building with classrooms and an on-campus daycare center, and last an old theatre/auditorium off to the side.
The third building was really showing its age on the outside but once inside Tootie could see that the students had definitely put a lot of work into remodeling it. Everything looked almost new, yet not quite modern. It had a classy feel and a real art-lover's touch.
"It's beautiful," she breathed in amazement.
"Eh," Norm shrugged, "it's no Roman coliseum but it'll do. Now, why are we here again? I thought your sister was some childcare major?"
"She is," Tootie answered walking down the middle aisle towards the stage, "but she's been helping out here as a cast member for a play. Her roommate roped her into it, least that's what she said over the phone a while back."
"Well I don't see any alien prince," Norm muttered skimming the theatre.
"He'll be here," Tootie replied with narrowed eyes, "Once during dinner Vicky mentioned some foreign kid that had a huge crush on her. She said he was weird and talked funny. I'm betting he'll show up in some lame disguise."
"Wow," the genie responded in his usual sarcastic tone, "the women in your family sure have an interesting taste in men. Next you'll be telling me that your mom's married to Eddie Stapler Toes."
Frowning Tootie decided to ignore the jerk for a while. Upon reaching the stage she spotted a blond guy with brown sideburns and sea green eyes. "Excuse me," she asked tapping him on the shoulder, "I was wandering if you could tell me where to find Vicky?"
"Yo?" the student began turning on his heel and freezing in place when he saw the attractive teen. "Hello..."
Norm rolled his eyes, Save me from the terror that is teenage hormones.
"Um, hi." Tootie blinked, "Now—uh—"
"Troy," he beamed, "the name's Troy Bannings. And you are?"
"To—ur—Trudy." Tootie stammered, "Now about Vicky..."
"Oh, so you're one of Vicky's friends?" he assumed, "She and Bri are backstage getting fitted for their costumes. Ya go up those stairs by the fire exit and it's the second door to your right."
Tootie thanked him and started off for the stairs with Norm lagging behind.
"So..." he began once he was certain no one else was paying attention, "about those three wishes you get."
"Don't start Norm." she warned.
"Ya know they're not just gonna go away." he frowned, "And neither am I. Only AFTER you make the third wish will my lamp suck me back in. So stop dragging this out. What do ya want?"
"From you?" she snorted, "Nothing."
"Oh I get it," he grinned slyly, "you think that if you try wishing for something big like oh say Timmy Turner's love, I'll just twist the wish around somehow so that it winds up backfiring on you right?"
"Pretty much." she was getting sick of this topic already. He just HAD to find out about my crush on Timmy! Maybe I oughtta tone down the decor in my room a bit?
"Look, regardless of what you may have heard from the floating greeting card I am a fairly nice guy...sorta." he lied.
"Psh, please I wasn't born yesterday ya know?"
They had reached the door by now; Tootie raised a hand to knock but was stopped by a murmured threat from behind.
"Yeah well, all I'm sayin' is that having a genie hovering around may not be the best thing for someone trying to keep a low profile." he was stooping pretty low but hey it was nothing he hadn't pulled plenty of times before on his previous 'masters'.
"What are you getting at?" she questioned suspiciously.
Smirking in triumph he clarified, "If you don't make a wish soon I might just let this whole Cupid's co-op thing slip to someone you know. Someone like—oh say—your parents? Or Vicky? Or hey, why not Timmy? Ha...ha...I'm sure he'd love to know!"
Blue irises shrinking Tootie gulped. Norm had hit a weak spot and he clearly knew it. She was being forced into making a wish. But that didn't mean she had to like it...or make it a stupid one.
"Argh...fine! I wish you wouldn't tell anyone or anything any of my secrets in any way whatsoever!" she shouted. Just hope that was worded carefully enough.
Raising his fingers in preparation to deliver the first blow the genie halted. No way, I can't believe this! The little ankle biter just made a completely un-misinterpretable wish!
Tootie winced as he snapped his fingers, preparing herself for the worst.
GONG!
"There," he replied with a sour face, "it's done."
Resuming her upright position she looked around warily, "That's it?"
"That's it," he grumbled, "just my luck I'd get a detail-specific wisher."
Tootie's face lit up, "Great! Hey, you were right Norm," she smirked giving him a quick peck on the cheek, "deep down, you're really not such a bad guy after all."
"Ah smoof," he grunted.
"Who's out here?" a blonde student wearing a ballerina's tutu asked after poking her head out the door.
"Um...it's just me, Trudy. I'm uh..." Tootie tried to think of something inconspicuous to say, "...I'm here to see an old friend of mine from Dimmsdale, Vicky."
There was a brief pause as the blonde ran the stranger's story through her mind.
"Oh," she finally replied, "well c'mon in. We're fitting her for the soloist costume right now but it shouldn't take more than a few minutes."
"Thanks," Tootie smiled politely entering the room. When she noticed that Norm wasn't following she shot the sulking genie a warning glare. Staring up at the ceiling in annoyance he huffed and floated in behind her.
Back in the front section of the theatre Mr. Bickles burst through the side doors followed by Brad Cuspidor, the orange haired teen host of Teeth TV.
"I know my first production was a bit of a flop Mr. Cuspidor," the teacher babbled, "but this time I've discovered genuine raw talent in the form of a rather high spirited young lady named Vicky!"
"And by high spirited you mean?" Brad inquired skeptically.
"A fire breathing dragon with a surprisingly melodic singing voice." Mr. Bickles answered frankly.
"Ah."
"Just wait until you see her up on stage!" he continued, shaking head-to-toe in excitement. "The only thing we lack now is a leading male to play the role of the Phantom!"
"FOOLS!" a masculine voice boomed.
All eyes fell upon the stage where a mysterious figure stood with their cloak wound tightly around them and one hand held up high for emphasis.
"NO ONE SHALL DARE REPLACE THE PHANTOM—of the music biz."
"Huh?" the host quirked an eyebrow. "Music biz?"
"The play's a rewrite," Mr. Bickles explained staring up delightedly at the sharply dressed actor. "My goodness my boy, that was perfect! Bravo! Who may I ask is the genius behind the mask?"
Smirking the figure removed 'his' mask and took a bow, allowing the cape to unwind revealing that the actor was in fact an actress.
"Brianna Styles!" Mr. Bickles gasped.
"Dude!" Brad yelped, "He's a she!"
"That's right," Bri stated proudly pointing to a device strapped at the base of her neck, "and it's all thanks to this lil baby."
"What's that?" the director inquired, "Some sort of voice box?"
"Uh-huh, this puppy takes my sweet voice and brings it down a few octaves so that it can pass for a man's." she explained, "It's just something the boys in the sound department have been tinkering with for a while. Thought I'd give it a try. I mean, c'mon, back in the old days plays were all preformed by men anyway. So if a guy can star in a female role who's to say that a woman can't be the Phantom?"
"Well..." Mr. Bickles gave the matter some thought. He had to admit she was pretty good, and thus far she hadn't really been given any key roles to play. "...why not? It worked for Peter Pan!"
"Yes!" Bri jumped for joy. She'd always dreamed of playing the lead role in a musical production, now was her big chance! "Thanks Mr. Bickles! You won't be disappointed!"
"Looks like you'll finally have a chance to shine in front of the public," Vicky remarked (referring to Brad's show) as her friend joined her offstage.
"You know it," Bri beamed, "My big break's finally arrived! You can't tell me you're not excited about being televised on Teeth TV?"
"Why is Teeth TV even doing a segment on this play?" Tootie asked, she'd entered wardrobe and immediately had to chase after Vicky. Her sister had been racing off after her roommate who'd been tucking the voice box beneath the collar of her puffy white shirt. She'd always wondered how another human being could stand living with her cranky sister, now she knew...they both had a screw loose.
"If it involves singing, it involves mouths." Bri shrugged, "And that's typically where you find teeth."
"Plus Mr. Bickles wouldn't stop nagging Brad until he agreed." Vicky added with a grin.
"Ah," Tootie nodded. "Listen Vicky, there's something I've gotta talk to you about."
"It'll have to wait," the redhead said dismissively as she headed out onto the stage, "rehearsal's just started and I can't waste time. I've got a class right after this."
"But-" Tootie sighed, so much for doing things the easy way.
She spotted Norm sitting on the edge of the front row where Brad and Mr. Bickles were waiting for the scene to begin. Moaning in temporary defeat she trudged over and took a seat mid-way through the gap between them.
Mr. Bickles frowned down at his clipboard, "What I really need now is a critic. Someone from their age group to view the play and analyze it down to its every last detail. Then they can give positive or negative feedback so we can make the necessary adjustments and get a feel for how our target audience will respond before opening night."
"Don't look at me man," Brad sighed, "I've got enough on my plate just trying to convince the network to air this segment."
Glancing over at the young lady in the black leotard the teacher's face lit up, "What about you miss?"
"Huh?" Tootie pointed a finger to herself, "Me?"
"No the other out of place teenager in the goofy spy gear," Norm scoffed.
"How would you like to help out our production by critiquing each scene and the performers?"
"Um..." Tootie gulped, "...I don't know. I'm really just here to-"
"Pst, genius," Norm whispered, "did you ever think that agreeing to the job might just provide you with the perfect cover for staking out your sister incase Prince Fugitive shows up?"
"Uh..." she had to admit it did sound like a pretty good plan, "Alright Mr. Bickles, you've got yourself a critic!"
"Wonderful!"
Unseen by the others a mischievous grin spread across the disguised genie's face. Now to make sure Turner has front row tickets for the show.
Back in Dimmsdale...
The front door to the Turner's residence swung open as Mrs. Turner headed out to get the mail. She paused a moment after hearing a sudden-
GONG!
-but decided to pay it no mind.
"Ooo," she exclaimed rushing back into the house waving an envelop, "look Dad and Timmy, Vicky's college is putting on a rewrite of a famous opera called Phantom of the Music Biz, and she's invited all of us to come to the big premiere!"
Timmy and Mr. Turner exchanged less than thrilled glances.
"Gee honey, that's great and all but—uh—" Mr. Turner wracked his brain for an excuse to get out of attending some dull poorly rewritten play, "Drizzleboro is so far off. Wouldn't that waste a lot of gas?"
"Yeah Mom," Timmy nodded eagerly, "and you and Dad are always saying 'money doesn't grow on trees'."
"Ooo, except that one time," Mr. Turner recalled, "but it turned out to be fake and I was arrested for counterfeiting. Good thing the charges were dropped when all the evidence magically disappeared!"
"Oh yeah," Timmy forced a laugh remembering a certain poorly thought out wish Cosmo had granted without first consulting Da Rules, "weird huh."
"Hm," Mrs. Turner frowned staring down at the invitations, "I guess you're right. Still it's too bad, according to the big red print at the bottom of these front row tickets Chip Skylark will be starring in the lead role."
"WHAT!" Mr. Turner gasped spitting out his coffee so fast that he nearly scalded his son. "CHIP SKYLARK? He's delicious! Why I'd drive a thousand miles to attend one of his dreamy—I mean—classical productions!"
"No way," Timmy muttered suspiciously (still dunking in cover), "there's no chance that Chip Skylark would play the lead role in some lousy community college play. Something's wrong here."
After checking to see if his Dad was java-free he rapidly excused himself from the table and rushed upstairs to consult his goldfish.
"Cosmo! Wanda!"
"Woody!" the green eyed goldfish cried.
"How many times have I told you Cosmo," the pink eyed goldfish nagged, "you can't keep your pet termites in the fishbowl!"
"B-but he needed me," Cosmo sniffed, "he got a splinter from his footstool breakfast this morning."
Timmy glared in aggravation at his overemotional fairy godfather. "Can we PLEASE get back to my problems?"
"Sure sweetie," Wanda smiled, "what's up?"
"Vicky supposedly sent us front row tickets to some play she's in," he explained.
"Aw, that was-nice?" Wanda blinked; it wasn't like Vicky to be nice.
"And that's not even the weirdest part!" he cried, "According to the tickets Chip Skylark's starring in the lead role!"
At hearing that both fairies instantly poofed out of the fishbowl and into their normal forms clad in Chip fan-wear. Timmy plugged his ears as they both let out girly squeals of joy.
"No you guys!" he snapped, "This is way too fishy. Something's gotta be up!"
"Yeah," Cosmo grinned, "their ticket sales once word gets out that Chip's starring in the play!"
Slapping a hand over his face Timmy growled, "First thing after school tomorrow we're going to Drizzleboro. I don't know what's going on at that third-rate college but I'm going to find out!"
The next day in Drizzleboro...
"Ahahaha! AhahahaHAHAHA!"
"Uh-Norm?" Tootie glanced apprehensively at the manically laughing genie beside her.
"Oops," he'd have to work on toning the evil laughter down to a sinister snicker.
"What are you so happy about?" she inquired arching an eyebrow.
"Oh nothing," he smirked. Nothing you need to know about anyway.
"Who is that guy anyway?" Bri asked the blonde sitting next to her on the edge of the stage.
"I dunno, maybe he's like an undercover talent scout or something?" Camille shrugged plucking a loose thread from her dress. "I wish Mr. Bickles would hurry up and start already. I've got Psychology 101 in an hour."
"Yeah," Bri sighed, "and where's Vicky? Her class should've let out ten minutes ago?"
"I DON'T WANT YOU TO GO!" a little blonde girl with pink hairclips wailed clinging to the redhead's leg.
"Hailey I've gotta leave now," Vicky grunted trying to pry the clingy three-year-old's nails out of her jeans.
"NO!" she insisted with tears streaming down her reddened face, "MOMMY'S NOT BACK YET! YOU CAN'T GO!"
"Ms. Cindy will watch you." Vicky sighed. Hailey was perhaps one of the few kids on Earth who had actually taken a liking to her. In fact, Vicky was amazingly the only student in the program little Hailey would mind...which made it extremely difficult when her mother ran late and Vicky had to leave her behind with the teachers after class.
"Now Hailey don't fuss like that," Ms. Cindy, an elderly lady with graying auburn hair pleaded, "You're mommy will be here soon. Vicky has to get over to the theatre and rehearse her lines."
Sniffling Hailey reluctantly let go and trudged over to Ms. Cindy. Vicky hated feeling guilty for leaving the little girl behind while she was still so upset and puffy eyed. Something about Hailey reminded her of a younger version of herself.
"I'll be back tomorrow," she promised, "then we can finish that puzzle of the piggybank we were working on."
"Okay," Hailey nodded waving a sad goodbye to the retreating redhead.
Vicky had just managed to step out into the hall when she collided with-
"Chip!"
"Hey babe," he beamed catching her in a hug before she could fall backwards.
"Wh-what are you doing here!"
"Nice to see you too." he teased, "My manager finally gave me some time off so I decided to spend it chillin' with you."
"Aw, that's sweet," she replied returning the embrace, "Sorry to be in such a rush but they're expecting me over in the theatre."
"No problem," he took her hand and they were both off to the rehearsal.
The front doors to the theatre flew open revealing a very hunky raven haired crimson eyed teen male.
"Where is she!" he demanded of the stunned occupants in the room. "Where is my beloved Vicky?"
"I thought Vicky was dating Chip Skylark," Camille whispered.
With her eyes half-lidded Bri sighed, "I smell trouble girl."
"Norm!" Tootie gasped, "That's gotta be him!"
"Him who?" Norm asked in mock innocence.
"Mark!" she hissed. "The alien prince!"
"Oh, you mean that him." the genie grinned, "What makes you think that's the guy?"
"Do not attempt to deceive me!" Mark warned as he strode confidently down the center aisle, "For I have it upon a highly reliable technological source that my black-hearted intended resides somewhere within the walls of this oddly decorated educational facility!"
"Uh man-" Bri began only to be cut off by the creaking of another door.
Vicky and Chip entered through the side door and stared in confusion at the surprised expressions of the cast and teacher.
The reddish-orange haired girl's pink gaze finally rested upon the strangely familiar guy standing amidst the center of the shocked stupor. "Who the heck are you?"
"Vicky!" Mark exclaimed in joy.
Norm smirked and snapped his fingers.
GONG!
Mr. Bickles shuddered as the genie's spell took hold. "He's our new male protagonist lead!"
"What!" Troy burst out.
"Mark!" Vicky gasped, where the heck had he come from? And when did he start showing up in public without his dorky alien disguise!
"Mark?" Chip questioned causing her cheeks to go red.
"Norm!" Tootie snapped spinning around to face the smug genie, "What did you do!"
Whistling innocently the genie shrugged, "Sorry fruit cup, I've got no idea what you're talking about."
Tootie growled and considered whipping out one of the new weapons Cupid had equipped her with. Genies were nothing but trouble and Norm was up to something...something that could rip the very fabric of Chip and Vicky's relationship apart!
"Protagonist?" Mark questioned, "Who or what is this protagonist of which you speak puny human?"
"He's the dashing debonair heroic male who wins the heart of the fair heroine!" Mr. Bickles exclaimed giddily.
"Ahh!" Mark panicked, "That sounds WAY too nauseating!"
"He can't play Chevy!" Vicky objected, "Troy's already got that part!"
"Who's Troy!" Chip demanded. Now there were two guys he didn't know about?
"Oh but you simply must agree to take the part!" Mr. Bickles insisted still in his magically induced daze, "With you as the hero and Vicky as the heroine our production will be a phenomenal hit!"
"Wait..." Mark blinked, "did you say that my darling Vicky would be playing the part of this hideously fair heroine chick?"
"That's right!"
"Then I shall do it!" Mark replied happily hopping about with hearts in his eyes.
"This stinks," Troy grumbled.
"Now Troy," Mr. Bickles coaxed, "we must all remember that the quality of our play comes first. Besides...you can be the stage manager!"
"Whoa hold it!" Chip objected, "I don't want some weird foreign kid fawning over my girl the whole time!"
"And I refuse to do all those love scenes with Captain Dorkwad as my partner," Vicky huffed.
"Norm," Tootie seethed, "fix this, NOW!"
"Sure thing shortcake," the genie smirked.
GONG!
Mr. Bickles shuddered again, "Well I have a solution, why don't you star as the Phantom?"
"WHAT!" Bri yelped.
"I do not like where this is going," Mark frowned folding his arms and glaring incredulously at Chip.
"But Mr. Bickles," Bri complained pointing to the voice box, "I thought I was gonna play the phantom!"
"Oh don't get your buns in a bind missy," Mr. Bickles chuckled, "you'll still be in the production. You can play Vicky's second rate manager Ms. Bleary."
"But I—I-"
"I have spoken!" the director declared.
Muttering angrily under her breath Bri stormed back to the dressing room.
Tootie glared down at Norm. "What? You told me to fix it and I did. Now Chip's in the play too so he can stop Mark from trying anything with your sister. Everybody wins...well, everybody who matters anyway."
"Just wait until Cupid hears about this." she murmured, "Then we're both toast."
Amanda/Artiste: Long chapter I know. It was necessary to set everything up. I'll post a list of who's playing which character next chapter just so no one gets confused. Next Chapter: Timmy shows up to uncover the truth about what's really going on. Norm throws in a few more twists. Tootie tries desperately to fix the mess. The cast gets tired of being replaced and Mr. Bickles risks a mutiny. Review as I try to type up the next chapter before class.
Tootie: :adult form: Oh boy, what a mess!
Norm: Finally, an opera I can get into!
Tootie: :glares at the genie: Don't get too cocky Norm, I'll stop you. Just you wait!
:Cupid appears with a grenade launcher full of 'Tough Love' explosives.:
Cupid: Alright, which one of you two goof-ups is responsible for this fiasco?
Norm and Tootie: :simultaneously gulp and point to each other: She/He is!
