A/N Aw, thanks you guys. The reviews are excellent and yes evil Norm-ness rocks. :-) Tootie has a moral dilemma with simply wishing Norm back in his lamp (which might not count as a wish anyway). Would you leave a being that powerful and cunning floating around in a lamp where someone like Crocker might get their hands on him? Plus he did come from a lamp that belonged to Timmy and shrine-worthy items are hard to come by. ;-) As to Wandissimo and how to spell his name, I've seen it spelled both ways. I debated on which to use but then chose Wandissimo instead of Juandissimo because it makes his name sound more fairy-ish yet retains the Spanish origin.
Cast:
Chip Skylark...Phantom of the Music Biz (Vicky's mysterious 'singing coach')
Vicky...Aspiring Singer (uses her own name in the play)
Tootie...Critic
Norm...Mastermind Antagonist (others presume him to be a talent scout)
Mark Chang...Handsome Boyfriend Chevy (Phantom's Rival)
Bri (OC)...Ms. Bleary (Vicky's second-rate manager)
Camille (OC)...Nurse Maggie/Vicky's Friend (background singer)
Reggie (OC)...Doctor Dirk/Assistant Stagehand/Record Producer
Troy (OC)...Stage Manager/Record Producer
Timmy...Head (Director) of Record Company
Wanda...Director's Assistant (to Timmy)
Cosmo...Director's Assistant (to Timmy)
Mr. Bickles...Director (magically manipulated by Norm)
Phantom of the Music Biz: Genie Gypped
Chapter Seven: Opening Night
The small town of Drizzleboro had never seen so much traffic. People were flocking in from miles away to see the celebrity cast production of The Phantom of the Music Biz! Teeth TV's camera crew had arrived earlier that day and already had everything set up for the nationally televised live performance.
It was standing room only inside the theater of the packed community college. Mr. Bickles was thrilled beyond words—well—almost.
"EEK!" he squealed in girlish delight, "This is it! My big break! Places everyone, let's get this show on the road!"
Three sharply dressed cast members entered through the side door and surveyed the bustling auditorium as they made their way towards the front row.
The green haired kid grinned absently, "Hey Timmy where's the party?"
His pink haired companion sighed, "No numbskull this is opening night!"
Timmy beamed, "And what a night!"
Wanda, "Oh the best!"
Cosmo, "Hey I even got dressed!"
Timmy and Wanda, "Much to the relief of everyone here."
No sooner had they taken their seats than the curtains parted and the spotlights all turned to illuminate the beginning scene.
Cameras rolled and the crowd was hushed. The band off to the side started to play at the fall of the conductor's baton.
Timmy glanced over to the next set of rows and spotted his parents staring eagerly at the stage. The first scene was actually the newly added 'soap opera' rendition of how the phantom came to be.
"Oh doctor," Camille stated sadly, "what a tragedy."
"Yes Nurse Maggie," Reggie replied in a solemn tone, "but luckily he survived the plane crash."
Backstage a dreamy dark haired teen was nervously wringing his holographically disguised hands (tentacles).
"Okay Mark," he coaxed himself as beads of sweat ran over his brow, "this is it. Don't panic, you are the prince of Yugopotamia! And that earth punk Chip is merely some unworthy fool trying to steal away your love. Yeah," he breathed, "I can so like handle this."
"Would you stop pulling on this stupid sash!" snapped the irritated object of his alien affection.
"My beloved!" he beamed rushing over to her.
At first she didn't seem to notice him as she yanked the material away from an apologetic wardrobe girl. "If you tug this thing any tighter I'm gonna wrap it around your neck and see how much you like have your oxygen supply cut off!"
This small display of fearful prowess was enough to set the prince's heart all aflutter. "Ah my dearest Vicky," he swooned, "your threats are most alluring."
"Do I look like a skinny, malnourished supermodel to you?" she seethed, "No! I-"
Giving him a sideways glance she growled and spun around giving the frightened girl a chance to make a run for it. "You! What the heck do you want buster?"
"Um...well...I..." Mark anxiously fiddled with his tie before answering, "I merely wanted to wish you good luck in the play tonight."
"Oh," Vicky folded her arms and glanced away, "look, maybe I've been a little harsh to you lately but it's just because I—I don't like you okay. I mean geez, I've got a boyfriend! So uh...sorry for being—uh—abrasive?"
"Ha, that's totally cool," Mark assured her with a wink, "I dig flirty chicks."
"Urgh!" throwing her hands into the air she pushed past him and headed off towards the curtains to await the next scene. Men! He's worse than Mr. Turner's "women mean the opposite of what they say" theory!
"Okay like later my princess!" Mark waved obliviously, "Commence with the breaking of a leg!"
"Sweet HMO!" Reggie gasped.
"AAAHH!" Camille shrieked in well faked terror, "H-his face! It-it's horrible!"
"What!" Chip exclaimed, "Let me see!"
Reluctantly Reggie handed him a mirror. The pop singer quickly checked his reflection before a look of horror appeared on his face too.
"NOOOO!"
Out in the seats Norm yawned openly and muttered complaints, "Every time I see it this scene just gets worse. Whoever told that Bickles clown he could direct has some serious jail time comin'."
"So will you if you try anything buster," Tootie warned.
The two had come dressed for the occasion. Norm had ditched his trench coat and slacks for a sharp looking tux that complimented his ever-present shades. Tootie was poofed up an evening gown after her latest report to Cupid and reminded that this was her last chance to save her sister's relationship and remain an 'agent of love'.
"Relax kid this is only Act 1," Norm smirked, "we're a good hour away from the climax."
Tootie glared sideways at him then went back to pretending to critique the performance on the notepad she'd brought along.
"So what's the tic-tac-toe score?" the genie yawned.
"Xs 7, Os 5, and CAT has 3." Tootie murmured, clearly just as bored as her conniving companion.
"Thrilling," Norm answered in his usual sarcastic tone. As game sixteen was started he turned his attention back to the play. All the cameras were pointed directly at the stage as the scene change took place. He could see Turner sitting up ahead completely unaware of the trouble he was about to land him in. He had to suppress a snicker as images of Turner's baffled face crying out "B-but I didn't do it! I was FRAMED!" played over and over in his mind. This'll teach ya to try to outfox a genie. Nobody stuffs me back in the lamp and gets away with it!
Unbeknownst to Norm the raven haired girl beside him had caught the menacing glint in his eyes and followed his gaze straight to Timmy.
Timmy...she frowned, What'll I do? The climax is coming up and I still don't know what Norm's up to. Maybe I should just wish him back in the lamp so he can't cause anymore trouble?
A quick glance back to Norm shot that plan to pieces. There's no way I'm using up my last wish like that. He'd find a way to con himself out of imprisonment. Plus...his next master might not be as careful with their wishes. What if they're really gullible? Or worse...evil!
On top of everything she had her sister and Chip to protect. They didn't know it but Mark was plotting to abduct her! That only left Tootie with one regrettable option...tell Timmy the truth.
Hm...maybe I could do it in a roundabout way? Let Timmy know that he's in danger without giving my identity away? Admittedly she didn't really look much like her younger self while in secret operative form. Well, she did a little, but Timmy'd never seen her without glasses and pigtails so he wouldn't know.
With her mind made up she drew a line across the row of Xs she'd made on the tic-tac-toe board. Come intermission she was heading over to Timmy to warn him about Norm's scheming. And she would do it as Special Operative Trudy.
"So then he scraps the whole 'Vicky unveiling the Phantom' scene and comes up with this extravagant 'Awards Day' nonsense!" Troy exclaimed backstage as people were chatting and rushing about during the start of the intermission.
"Hey man at least the drama students get a chance to ACT now." Reggie shrugged sipping his soda.
Troy grabbed a soda from the cooler and huffed, "One lousy appearance as an awards ceremony crowd hardly makes up for being made extras in our own production."
"Oh but you're forgetting," Camille piped up sardonically, "this is a Mr. Bickles Production!"
"Well if it isn't Nurse Maggie," Troy teased, "ready to give up a promising career in psychology to be a second rate actress?"
"Cute," she smirked throwing some corn chips at him, "but speaking of the inner workings of the human mind, has our director seemed a tad off to you?"
Troy and Reggie stared back with half-lidded eyes. "The kid or the crackpot?" the latter inquired.
"Mr. Bickles, his revisions have just been too erratic...too..."
"Nuts." Troy stated, "Yeah we've noticed. I mean c'mon, who cast a twelve-year-old from another city in a crummy college play?"
"And who the heck is that kid anyway?" Reggie added.
"His name is Timmy Turner," another voice replied.
"Vicky," Troy waved her over and tossed her a soda, "come on, join the 'cast party'."
"That little twerp must have a homing device or something on me." she seethed, "No matter where I go he's always showing up! First it was my house, my high school, now this!"
"Sounds like someone's got a pint-sized admirer," Camille joked.
"Psh, hardly, more like an annoying kid brother wannabe. My little sister's got some dorky crush on him though."
"Where's Bri?" Camille questioned.
"Getting into costume," Vicky answered with a grin, "and plotting ways to make Mr. Bickles pay for stuffing her in a business suit on national television."
"And the rivals?"
"Chip's signing autographs and Mark went outside tampering with some weird cell phone." she sighed, "It's official, tonight's gonna bite."
Just outside the backstage fire exit Mark was pressing buttons on his handheld tracking device. His parents' ship was mere miles away from Earth's atmosphere now. He needed to hurry up and convince Vicky to return with him.
Before he could've just sprayed her with knock out gas and transported her back to Yugopotamia on his own but his engagement to Princess Mandie had changed that. If Vicky wasn't willing to marry him when they arrived then his royal fiancée (who was all too willing to wed him) would officially take her place. Not good...for Mark.
"Oh man," he panicked, "they are like really booking it! How much longer will this dreaded 'intermission' last? I must complete this play, get off camera, and obtain my bride!"
The fire exit door was suddenly jerked open causing Mark to yelp and reactivate his cloaking device.
Bri stuck her head out the door just as he resumed his human form. "Yo Chevy, the wacko in charge wanted me to tell you we've got less than five minutes before showtime. So wrap up your call and get back in here."
"Um...yes oh demanding friend of Vicky!" Mark saluted. Call? Shrugging he pocketed the tracking device and headed back inside.
Tootie fidgeted about in her seat trying to think of some way of sneaking past Norm to warn Timmy before the intermission was over. Skimming the room she sighed, Why didn't I sit at the end of the aisle?
"Yo rocket pop what's the matter?" Norm studied her warily, "You gotta go to the little spies room?"
A high pitched perky voice cut off her answer. "Hi there Mr. Talent Scout!"
Norm spun around to come face-to-face with Britney Britney. "AH! DON'T DO THAT!"
"Like sorry!" she apologized, "I was just wondering if you caught my awesome performance in that last scene?"
"Huh? Oh yeah," he scoffed, "best belching I've ever heard. Hit every note, you should compete at the next county fair."
Her face reddened a bit but she tried to play it off. "Oh, hahaha! Right. Funny! So um...mind if we chat a bit about your big record company?"
"My what?"
Tootie's face lit up. "Why that's a great idea Ms. Britney! Norm was just telling me how much he enjoyed your new puppy song! Weren't you Norm?"
The genie was dumbstruck, "Well—I—uh...that is I-"
"Really!" the pop diva was grinning ear-to-ear.
"Yep! In fact, why don't you take my seat while I go freshen up and you two can chat a little about that record deal Norm's been dying to have you sign?"
"WHAT!" Norm tried to object but Tootie got up and brushed past him leaving the fame and fortune obsessed pop diva behind for him to deal with.
When she was sure he was distracted she darted over to where Timmy and his two friends with oddly colored hair were sitting.
"And that's how I won first place in the Little Miss Diva pageant back when I was in elementary school. Oh! And after that my parents hired a tailor to make me a sequined bodysuit to wear for my first L.A. Vocalist competition!"
Norm sat cross-legged with folded arms glaring boredly ahead as Britney Britney rambled on about her life's story. When I get my hands on that little liar she's goin' on a one way trip straight to Mars!
Unfortunately for Tootie the bustling aisle became less crowded giving him a clear view of her approaching-
"TURNER!" he gasped springing to his feet. "What the heck is that brat up to? She'll ruin everything!"
Thinking fast and ignoring the blonde's irritated inquiries he recalled a rather important weakness and snapped his fingers.
GONG!
Tootie was about two feet away with her hand outstretched to tap Timmy on the shoulder when something fragrant suddenly appeared pinned to the strap of her dress. Sniffing the familiar scent she glanced down to spot...A ROSE!
Her blue eyes widened in shock, "Oh no!"
Ducking behind the seats she barely managed to conceal her transformation back into her twelve-year-old body. NORM!
GONG!
As the flower disappeared she rushed back out into the aisle to find Norm smirking back at her in triumph.
"Jerk!" she snapped.
"Tootie?"
Spinning around she gulped, "Timmy!"
Timmy shook with fright, "Oh great, it is you! What are you doing here!"
"I-I um...I'm here because...my sister invited me!"
"Oh," Timmy nervously tugged at his collar, "so you're not just following me again with that creepy tracker of yours?"
"Nope," Tootie smiled, "I left that at home."
"Stay put Cosmo!" Wanda warned yanking her husband out of view, "We can't risk Tootie recognizing us!"
"Aw don't worry baby," he assured her, "I mean what are the odds?"
"She's seen us as dolls and temporary godparents," Wanda reminded him, "and if she sees us as 'human kids' she'll start to put the pieces together."
"Oh...right." Cosmo grinned sheepishly and scooted away from Timmy.
Remembering her original plan Tootie pondered on how to discreetly warn Timmy of Norm's plot.
"So—uh—you weren't planning to sit next to me were ya?" Timmy questioned, "Cause um...I'm technically a part of the play and-"
That's it! Pointing back to where Norm was getting his ear talked off by Britney Britney she cheerfully replied, "I'm already sitting back there where Britney's talking to that talent scout."
"Talent scout?" Timmy looked to where she was pointing and freaked, "NORM!"
Tootie quirked an eyebrow, so they did know each other. Suddenly the whole thing made sense. The lamp had originally belonged to Timmy, so Norm must have been his genie first. Timmy must have somehow used up all three wishes and tricked Norm back in the lamp so now Norm wanted revenge!
"Yeah, I think that's his name." she tried to act as naive as possible, "Anyway I heard him talking to Britney before I left and he's really looking forward to the climax in the next scene. I guess he's heard that something really big is gonna happen."
Timmy gulped, "Really big huh? I'll bet."
The lights dimmed signaling the end of the intermission. Britney Britney hurried past them on her way backstage.
"Okay well I'd better get back to my seat now Timmy," she turned to leave then added, "Maybe later you could come over and play?"
"Uh...sure." Timmy's attention was still on Norm who was staring back at him and looking particularly peeved...at Tootie?
Tootie skipped happily back towards her seat and stuck her tongue out at Norm.
The genie fumed silently but was determined to come out on top. So what if Turner's on to me now? He still doesn't have a clue about my foolproof plan. No one does.
"Guys!" Timmy panicked turning to his godparents, "What am I gonna do? Norm's here and he's planning to get some kind of revenge on me during the next act!"
"Well I wouldn't worry about it too much Sport," Wanda tried to calm him down, "We are in a crowded theater with plenty of cameras all airing live."
"Yeah," Cosmo laughed, "what's he gonna do? Use his magic to wreck the play and somehow frame you on national television?"
Timmy's pupils shrank, "I knew I should've stayed home playing video games today."
The scene opened to an extravagant gala event, one that no music biz musical would be complete without—Awards Day.
Drama students and extras from various majors stood in place dressed in trendy, attention grabbing attire. If not for that fact that none of them were celebrities and the majority of them weren't scantily dressed it could've passed for the real thing!
Vicky and Mark were easy enough to spot. They stood at the edge of the stage watching the spectacle unfold. Vicky was sour faced as usual and Mark looked petrified from the knowledge of impending singing!
Awards Day!
Celebrities all on parade...
Awards Day!
Hold your breath
Cross your fingers
Hope you win!
Awards Day!
All the stars are out tonight...
Awards Day!
Look over there-
There's another one
right behind you!
Camera flash...
Interview...
Rolling film...
Close-up of you...
Red and gold...
Pearly shine...
Sparkly grin...
Lift and tuck...
Nominees...
Photo op, great big smile
Show off your good side...
Popularity contest...
Brand new nose...
Rear lipo-sucked...
Real-ly fake...?
Pouty lips...
Curvy hips...
Sequined gown...
Broken hearts...
Ambitions drowned...
Nominees...
Drinking fine, imported wine
Wash the caviar down
But good luck...
Keeping it down...
Mark and Vicky, "Tsch, image hyping twits..."
Awards Day!
Silver cufflinks,
Stylish threads...
Awards Day!
Pan around-
Star vanity
Surrounds you!
Awards Day!
Competition
In your way...
Awards Day!
Glad faces
And they're all waiting
To one-up you!
Television cameras panned across the stage making sure to get plenty of close-ups as Britney Britney shoved her way through the crowd of performers. In her sparkling hot pink gown with the large matching feather boa she sashayed right up to the front and locked eyes with Norm (who felt his stomach lurch).
The other cast members in charge of singing the upcoming 'conversation' with her just shrugged and walked over making sure to stand on either side. Stealing the spoiled diva's spotlight was not a wise risk.
"What a night!" Bri exclaimed, tossing her arms as far up as her stuffy business suit would allow.
"What a crowd!" Camille added.
"What a zit!" Reggie exclaimed (pointing to Britney's face).
"Not so loud!" Troy grinned before muttering. "Is that a whisker on her chin?"
Britney eeped and covered the lower half of her face, "Find my make-up artist! FIRE HIM!"
"Six months..." Reggie continued.
"Phantom free!" Troy nodded.
"It's gone now right?" Britney was still obsessing over her 'blemish'.
"Shout out to Teeth TV!" Reggie and Troy struck 'Chip' poses at the cameras.
"It's sure to be quite a blast!" Camille chuckled.
Britney, "Eek my nose!"
Reggie, "No more ghost!"
Bri, "Here's to fame!"
Troy, "Word a toast, to a wicked cool show!"
Reggie "Packed with everyone hip to know!"
Britney, "Oh yay it's starting to fade!"
Troy (rolling his eyes), "Six months!"
Bri, "More or less!'
Camille, "Who'd have guessed?"
Reggie and Troy, "No lame phantoms here!"
"Ah I love Awards Day." Bri smirked. Actually, I love any day where Ms. Perfect looks like a fool.
Camera three turned to get a shot of the front row where the 'director' and his 'director assistants' were supposed to be watching intently.
Cosmo lie snoring with his head tilted back and the program placed over his face. Wanda was leaning on the far armrest looking embarrassed and ticked because of her husband's behavior. Timmy would've been mimicking his godfather had it not been for the fact that Norm's evil plotting was keeping him on edge.
Oh man! Oh man! Oh man! Oh man! he panicked as he nervously twisted the program he was holding into a series of tightly woven knots.
Shrugging the camera guy turned back to the stage where the redhead and dreamy teen guy were going on about some secret engagement hoping that the paparazzi wouldn't overhear.
Wanda noticed Timmy's dreadful expression and leaned over to ask, "Timmy? You okay hon?"
"No!" Timmy squeaked, "Norm's sitting back there just waiting for the right moment to set his evil plan against me into action! How can I be okay!"
Wanda elbowed Cosmo and gestured for him to say something to calm their godchild down.
"Aw Timmy," Cosmo yawned, "it's not like he can kill you or anything. Ahahaha! There's way too many witnesses for that!"
Slapping a hand over her face Wanda growled. That little statement had been anything but helpful.
Sensing his wife's increasing anger Cosmo laughed nervously and tugged at his collar, "I'll be quiet now."
The scenes continued to change, everything went according to plan, and the play seemed to be going off without a hitch.
The Phantom had reappeared during the Awards Day celebration. The scenes involving a newly scripted music video and Chevy and Vicky's love scene on the roof had been scrapped about a week ago due to time limit. Instead Chip lured Vicky close with his pure and amazing voice, snatched her up in his arms, and disappeared in a cloud of red smoke and sparks. Chevy had leapt into the midst of the chaos before the trapdoor was sealed off and now the remaining performers all stood around in shock and horror, the Awards Day ceremony now the scene of a scandalous abduction!
Throughout it all Norm remained stationary and didn't so much as lift a finger to snap up a disaster. Timmy was starting to hesitantly calm down. Tootie was still a bit warier yet began hoping that perhaps Norm had had second thoughts about his whole revenge scheme.
But just as the curtains were about to close in preparation to move on to the final act the silence of the auditorium was shattered by a loud and ominous-
GONG!
Tootie whipped around a split second too late. The placement of Norm's fingers showed that he had just completed the trick. Gasping she turned her attention back towards the stage wondering what in the world her companion had done. She didn't have to wonder for long...
"Timmy look!" Wanda exclaimed pointing up towards the ceiling where an enormous chandelier was swaying dangerously back and forth over the stage then sweeping out across the audience.
Everyone started to panic; the light fixture was coming down!
"Norm what are you doing!" Tootie shouted shaking the smug genie's arm, "You're going to hurt somebody!"
Norm chuckled menacingly, "Don't you mean Turner's going to hurt somebody?"
GONG!
"C'mon Timmy we've gotta move!" Cosmo yanked Timmy out of his seat and tried to pull him towards the side door.
"Huh?" Timmy paused when a gold chain appeared in his hand, "What's this?"
The green haired fairy screamed in surprise when he and Timmy were suddenly jerked upwards towards the ceiling.
"COSMO! TIMMY!" Wanda called, "Let go of that chain! It suspends the chandelier!"
"WHAT!" Timmy exclaimed, "So that's Norm's plan! He's making it look like I'm behind the chandelier crashing!"
"Um Timmy-" Cosmo was staring uneasily at the ceiling they were being yanked towards, "-maybe Wanda's right. If you don't let go of that soon we're gonna be smashed like bugs!"
Gripping the gold chain tighter a smirk appeared on the twelve-year-old's face, "No, I've got a better idea."
Down in the seats Norm was watching Timmy and his disguised godfather with unmasked amusement. That's right Turner, whether you let go now or kiss ceiling plaster I still win! And all the cameras are on you so there's no way you can wish your way out of this! Ahahaha!
"NORM!" Tootie shouted, "If you let that thing fall innocent people—and my pink-hatted dreamboat—are gonna get hurt!"
"Relax puddin' pop, nobody's gonna get hurt, 'cept maybe Turner." Norm assured her with his eyes still glued on the duo dangling overhead, "I'll just use my magic to make sure it doesn't squash anybody when it lands."
"But what about TIMMY!" Tootie shrieked.
Norm just laughed which further infuriated the ebony haired girl. Growling in frustration she paused when she noticed Timmy swinging back and forth on the shortening length of chain.
"Ha! Yeah that'll work Turner!" Norm chided, "Tryin' to swing into the theater box before you're flattened like a pancake! You should've let go when ya had the chance!"
Norm glanced over his shoulder to make a crude remark about how 'bright' public school kids were when he discovered that Tootie was no longer there.
"Now where'd that nagging pain in the rear get to?" he wondered aloud. How the heck was he supposed to make sure she didn't get crushed if he didn't even know where she was!
"Hang on Cosmo!" Timmy cried as he made one final attempt to swing for the balcony ledge of the theatre box.
"AAAHHH!" Cosmo screamed in fear, "PHILLIP I'LL MISS YOU—oh—AND RHONDA TOO!"
Down below Wanda stopped biting her nails long enough to shout back, "That's WANDA you idiot!"
Timmy stretched out a foot and managed to catch it on the end of the railing. Unfortunately the pull of the chandelier was too strong. Can't...hold on...much...longer!"
"TIMMY!" Mrs. Turner cried out nearly causing the cameraman next to her to lose his hearing.
"Gah! Timmy!" Mr. Turner scolded, "You get down from there this instant young man!"
Glancing down at the long drop to the floor Timmy's pupils shrank, "Are you nuts!"
"I could always poof us down you know?" Cosmo offered.
"NO COSMO!" Timmy winced under the strain, "Then you and Wanda would be exposed and have to go away forever!"
"Well it sure beats the heck out of dying!" Cosmo cried clutching a nickel to his chest with his free hand.
Just then Timmy's foot slipped and he and Cosmo were once again on a one way trip to the ceiling.
"AAAHHH!"
"AAAHHH!"
"OH NO!" Mrs. Turner covered her eyes, "I can't watch!"
"That's it!" Wanda resolved, "I'm poofing up there!"
In the blink of an eye a grappling hook shot out and wrapped itself around Timmy's outstretched foot.
"GOT'CHA!" a mysterious female voice exclaimed.
"What the-!" Norm's eyes snapped to the 'empty' box to see that it was now occupied by his meddling master, "Her! But how'd she transform back into teen form without a-"
"ROSES! Get your ROSES here!" of all things a rose vendor came strolling down the aisle seemingly oblivious to the danger swaying about overhead. "ROSES for the musical! Can't celebrate a climatic ending without any ROSES to throw!"
Norm scowled at the vendor then noted the red tipped object tucked into the strap of Tootie's utility belt. "Ah smoof!"
"Hang on!" Tootie instructed as she pressed a button on the side of the grappler and started reeling the two boys in. Gotta love Cupid's magical spy accessories. What else would be strong enough to reel in two kids and support a crashing chandelier?
The cast members came rushing out from backstage to see what all the pandemonium was about. When they spotted the odd scene above they each froze in their tracks.
"Little dude!" Chip exclaimed.
Vicky caught sight of Timmy's rescuer and sighed, "Don't have a cow, he's fine."
"I actually see this as an improvement to the play," Bri muttered.
"My play!" Mr. Bickles sobbed, "My beautiful play! It's RUINED!"
"And it's all that little meanie's fault!" Britney Britney huffed, pointing an accusing finger at the bucktoothed kid standing in the theater box. "He'll never work in this town again!"
Mr. Bickles was about to agree when Brad Cuspidor emerged from the calming crowd wearing an expression of pure delight. "Yo man! How'd you ever set up such an awesome scene?"
There was a collective "HUH?" from Mr. Bickles and the cast members.
"And it wasn't even in the script!" Brad continued, "Serious props for that idea dude! This play rocks! Our viewers are all on the edge of their seats!"
Elbowing Mr. Bickles in the ribs Bri mumbled, "Just go with it Teach."
"Oh—uh—YES! Absolutely! Behold my genius?"
"Right on dude!" Brad flashed the director a quick thumb's up before heading back for his seat and instructing the cameras to keep rolling, "You the man!"
"Okay, well...you heard him everybody. On with the show!" upon ending his sentence the nervous wreck of a director promptly fainted.
Up in the theater box Tootie helped Timmy and Cosmo down from the ledge and secured the chain around the railing of the balcony.
"Hey...um...thanks." Timmy said nervously to the mysterious yet somewhat familiar blue eyed woman who seemed to be showing up a lot lately whenever trouble struck.
"Yeah," Cosmo nodded, "if it weren't for your help I'd have had to poof us back down to the ground and then BOY would my wife have been cran-"
Timmy slapped a hand over Cosmo's mouth, "Uh...hehe...don't mind him. He's just a little shaken up—and crazy—yep, definitely has a screw loose!"
Tootie gave a lopsided grin to the oddly behaving duo. "Okay then, well, I'd better get going."
"Wait!" Timmy called; he just had to know, "Who are you?"
Pausing at the box entrance she forced a small smile, "Me? Oh—um—I'm nobody, nobody important!"
"Well...uh..." Timmy seemed confused by her reluctance to answer, "...you've gotta at least have a name, right?"
Swallowing the lump in her throat she turned to face the perplexed pair. Giving a sort of soft smile she replied simply, "Trudy, Special Operative Trudy."
And just like that...she was gone. (Okay so she opened the door and ran out, let's not ruin the moment here people!)
"Special Operative Trudy?" Timmy repeated, "I KNEW IT! She's a secret agent!"
"That explains the hot, form-fitting leotard!" Cosmo swooned.
"But...why is she always hanging around Norm?"
"I dunno," Cosmo shrugged, "maybe it's the beard?" the disguised fairy leaned forward with shifty eyes, "Never trust a guy with a beard."
"Well whatever the reason," Timmy found himself smiling, "I'm sure glad she's around!"
Amanda/Artiste: Corny ending to this chapter? Ah well, we're maybe one or two chapters away from the end anyway. And there's a twist! Yay surprises! Next Chapter: With his big plan foiled Norm isn't nearly as discouraged as one might expect. Mark's parents arrive and the Yugopotamian prince makes one last play for Vicky's affections. Will all go according to the script? Or will the Phantom finally hold on to true love? Review and I shall reveal all...eventually!
Mark: Ugh, I LOATHE this hideous human disguise!
Britney Britney: Like oh my gosh! You are so hot!
Mark: AAAHH! Stay back grotesque Earth leech! Your surgically constructed beauty both pains and sickens me!
Britney Britney: :air headed as ever: So...do you like puppies?
Mark: :whips out a super weapon: Depends, do you like—LASERS!
Britney Britney: Neat! A portable lights show!
Mark: :baffled then uninterested: Clearly there is no intelligent life in your sector of this planet.
