A/N Wow, the feedback has been great for this story. I'm glad everyone seems to be enjoying it. ;) Norm is starting to warm-up to the idea of being a genie godfather. Much as he hates to admit it he's starting to like Tootie...as a godchild :-P
Stuck Together
Chapter Five: Needle in a Haystack
"So...how do we find the genie?"
That was the million dollar question. A question Tootie was determined to answer.
"C'mon Twitter," she hung impatiently over the sweating cherub's shoulder as he searched the archive for any information that could reveal the genie's identity and possibly help lead them to their whereabouts.
"I'm searching as fast as I can," Twitter groaned, "There are literally thousands of genies out there. It's like trying to find a needle in a-"
"I'm sorry," Tootie pulled at her pigtails in frustration, "it's just that we don't have much time. A day or so at most! Isn't there anything you can tell me about them?"
"Not until I find a match for the bottle you described." Twitter sighed.
With a moan Tootie sunk to the floor and flipped through the pile of folders scattered across the tiles. "No...this bottle's too curvy, that one's the wrong color, the neck isn't long enough on this one..."
"No luck yet?"
The two looked up from their work to see Cupid enter with a fresh pot of coffee. Poofing up two mugs he filled one and handed it to Twitter. A can of soda appeared and was tossed to Tootie while he filled the other mug for himself.
"No match, but we are managing to narrow it down a bit." Twitter answered clicking on an icon at the bottom of the screen which brought up a list of genies currently with masters. "That knocks out a couple thousand possibilities."
"Hmm..." Cupid studied the still image his mother had given him of the bottle when it was still strapped to the operative's utility belt, "...from the looks of it I'd say we're dealing with a female genie. Probably in the upper forty to mid fifty thousand year range."
How does Cupid know so much about genies? Tootie found herself wondering. Well, he is the fairy of love. He's probably been around a while.
"Anything else you can tell us about the bottle?" Twitter asked desperately.
"Sorry," Tootie shook her head.
Cupid studied the distressed preteen, it was just past three in the afternoon on a Saturday and already she looked completely exhausted. That genie godfather of hers was right to worry. She was really beating herself up over the accident in the temple and holding herself personally responsible for the homeless genie's fate.
"Maybe you should head back home for now kiddo," he suggested gently, "My cherubs and I can handle it from here and if we get any new leads you'll be the first to know, okay?"
Whether or not she would admit it Tootie was rather tired. Stifling a yawn she nodded and got to her feet. "I promised to meet someone at the mall today."
"Great, you go hang out with your friend and leave everything to us sweetie." the pink haired cherub highfived the weary girl who managed a small smile.
Threading an arrow in his bow Cupid took aim and poofed Tootie back to her home in the suburbs of Dimmsdale.
No sooner was she gone than all heck broke loose.
"Hey! You can't go in there!"
"Sir! That's a restricted area!"
BAM!
A sliding metal door was knocked off its hinges revealing a rather peeved genie hovering in its place.
"Oh goodie," Cupid sighed, "it's you."
"That's Norm to you Java Breath," Norm sneered as he flew into the head cherub's face.
"We're sorry sir," Sergeant BeMine apologized.
"He just stormed right in!" a blonde secretary outside huffed.
"That's alright," Cupid dismissed them with a wave, "I've been expecting a visit from this hot head for a while now."
"Yeah, well this 'hot head' is gonna give you the worst atomic diaper wedgie in history if you don't tell me what the heck happened to my godkid!" Norm shouted.
Cupid arched an eyebrow, "So now you're concerned about your godchild?"
"I didn't say that!" Norm snapped defensively, "I just...I'm...it's getting on my nerves! That's all!"
The love fairy crossed his arms and stared at Norm doubtfully, "Uh-huh, who do you think you're foolin' bub? I'm in the business of love here and I'm no stranger to the inner emotions of humans or magical creatures."
Norm started to fume. How dare this diaper clad mama's boy presume to tell him how he felt! He didn't care about that little twerp! Tootie was nothing but a pain in the backside, a constant aggravation, and embarrassment to his pride!
"Now until you admit the real reason for barging in here like this I'm afraid I just can't help you." Cupid headed for the door fighting back a smirk. So-called 'tough guys' like Norm were always the easiest eggs to crack.
"Hey!" Norm followed closely behind trying to halt the smug cherub. "I'm talking to you Diaper Boy! I want answers!"
Suddenly Cupid had spun around and flown up nose-to-nose with the surprised genie. "Then maybe you should learn to ask nicely Mr. Icy Heart!"
Cupid's tone left Norm stunned. He hadn't expected the pink and fluffy love fairy to have a backbone, let alone one that could actually intimidate an all powerful genie!
They hovered like that--glaring at each other venomously--for a moment before Norm's shoulders sagged as he released a sigh.
"Fine," he conceded, "the little creampuff's starting to grow on me okay?"
Satisfied by this confession Cupid backed off a bit and waited patiently for Norm to continue.
"It's just, well, lately she hasn't been the same perky, affectionate, wisecracker that she used to be." Norm fumbled for the words. It felt so out-of-character for him. He wasn't one to openly express his concerns for others--heck--he wasn't one to HAVE concerns for others. Just how had that little ankle biter managed to get to him like this? "It's like, ever since she got back from that last 'mission' you sent her on in Greece she's been all...moody and...depressed."
Instead of the mocking laughter he'd expected to receive from the second rate holiday Norm got a genuine smile followed by a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "See, now was that so hard? Ya big softy."
Frowning Norm muttered, "If anyone finds out I said all that you'll find yourself strapped to a rocket on a one way trip to Canada at the speed of light."
"Hey, your secret's safe with me," Cupid promised.
Norm turned to glare at the blond cherub sitting at the main computer, "And that goes for you too Blondie. What's your problem?"
Twitter pattered his face with a handkerchief before blowing his nose. "That was just so--HONK--sweet!"
Cupid rolled his eyes, "Oh suck it up Twitter. Even I have a mush limit."
"What's all this?" Norm finally noticed the photos of magical containers scattered across the room and floated over to the large heart shaped computer screen. "This is a list of genies. Every genie from Rome to Malibu must be on here."
"We figured it'd be best to start with the U.S. and Europe." Twitter replied absently.
His boss glared at the cherub's thoughtless mistake causing him to eep and cover his mouth.
"Sorry sir," Twitter said sheepishly, his apology muffled through his hands.
"Wait a minute," Norm began putting all the pieces together, "that mission at the temple. Something happened there involving another genie didn't it? Hn, what'd she do? Break a lamp?"
Both cherubs clammed up and exchanged dismal looks.
Behind Norm's trendy shades...a pair of violet eyes widened.
Tootie waited patiently on a bench outside the Dimmsdale Mall. It had been almost twenty minutes since she was supposed to meet Veronica outside.
Just when she was about to leave a blonde figure peeked out from behind the sales sign near the main entrance. Tootie watched in baffled amusement as Veronica cautiously skimmed the area before spotting her and waving shyly.
"You're late," Tootie shook her head when Veronica darted over, "I was about to go home."
"Sorry, Trixie came with me and it took like forever to ditch her."
"You brought Trixie to tutoring?" Tootie arched an eyebrow.
"Well," Veronica laughed uneasily, "not exactly...I told her I was shopping for shoes and then she offered to give me a ride in her dad's limo so I couldn't take it back."
"Why'd you lie?" Tootie idly wondered why she bothered asking questions with obvious answers.
"Because if anybody else found out about this I'd be...well I..." Veronica fumbled through an explanation. "...look no one can know okay? I'd be this big dumb blonde cheerleader who needs a geek's help to pass."
The instant the words left her mouth she regretted them. Tootie glared, calling her a 'geek' wasn't exactly a thoughtful show of gratitude.
"Why do you have to do that?" she suddenly demanded.
Veronica was confused, "Huh? Do what?"
"Label people!"
"Um..."
"For all you know your little clique won't even exist by the time we're in high school!" Tootie was surprised by her outburst, she seemed to be having a lot of these lately. It felt good to be speaking her mind for once instead of bottling everything up until she was safe in the privacy of her room.
"Gosh Tootie I'm-"
"And for you information," may as well not stop now, "I'm nearsighted, so I have to wear glasses to see the board. We can't all afford to keep buying contacts and no one likes sitting in the front row all the time! These braces aren't permanent either! Once I take them off my teeth might ever look better than Miss Perfect Trixie Tang's!"
Veronica blinked and stood motionless for a moment. Tootie panted from the exertion of her rant and glared. Her pigtails nearly stood on end when the perky blonde burst out into wild fits of giggles.
"What?"
"I'm sorry!" Veronica laughed, "It's just--ahahaha--you said---ahaha--Miss Perfect!"
Tootie stepped back thinking the cheerleader had finally lost it. Not that she was the sanest person in the world to begin with...
"Nobody ever--ahahaha--talks about Trixie--ahaha--like that!" Veronica was almost in tears now as she gripped her aching sides.
"Oh I get it," Tootie's eyes narrowed, "so now you're gonna run and tell Trixie what I said so she'll get mad and start picking on me?"
"No," Veronica wiped a tear from her eye leaned forward and whispered, "don't tell anybody okay? But I so agree with you!"
This was a shock, "You do?"
The blonde's smile instantly changed to a frown, "Yeah, it's so hard being friends with Trixie. She's always blowing you off, putting you down, making tons of snippy little comments like 'oh but that pink frilly skirt is so last year'. Urgh, it's enough to drive you crazy!" she laughed at her own comment, thinking about the black wig she used to carry around. "I should know."
"Then why are you still friends with her?" Tootie inquired.
"Because," Veronica sighed, "being Trixie Tang's best friend does come with its perks. Like getting to hang around with all the other popular kids. I really wanna fit in Tootie and I can't do that on my own. Let's face it, there's two kinds of kids in this school: the leaders and the followers. And I am not a leader."
"Yeah," Tootie admitted with downcast eyes, "Trixie Tang is a leader...if ya count trend setting and stuff like that."
"Exactly," Veronica nodded with a faint smile, "and I'm a follower. But at least I'm like a lead follower, right? Second best, and that's not so bad. It does make us being seen together kinda risky though...for my rep."
Stupid cliques. Tootie inwardly grumbled. "That sounds really cowardly...and shallow."
"I know...but I still wanna be friends!"
Tootie eyed her skeptically, "You just don't want anyone else to know about it."
"Right," Veronica flashed her a sheepish grin, "I know it's like shallow and gutless and stuff but at least this way we'd both have a real pal at school. So whaddya say? Friends?"
The ebony haired girl stared doubtfully at the preppy cheerleader's outstretched hand. Veronica was perky, spineless, and had a definite screw loose...but hey, nobody's perfect. And it wasn't like Tootie had a hoard of kids banging down her door to be friends. With a defeated sigh she reluctantly accepted the handshake, "Alright, friends."
"Cool!" Veronica squealed. Before Tootie knew what was happening she was trapped in a lung-crushing bear hug.
"Um...gasp...pal? You're...choking me!" she wheezed.
"Oops," Veronica giggled and released the suffocating girl from her vice grip, "well c'mon, if we hurry we can hide out in the back of the food court and you can teach me all about those alphabetical equations!"
Slapping a hand to her forehead as Veronica dragged her inside Tootie muttered, "You mean variable equations."
"Whatever!"
Ten minutes earlier...
A white haired girl wearing unusual clothes for a junior high student was hiding out in a tree at the edge of the mall's parking lot. Through a pair of binoculars she watched another young girl with ebony pigtails and lavender glasses sigh and shift about on a bench. She appeared to be waiting for someone...but who?
Desmona growled to herself as she lowered the binoculars and slumped back against the trunk. "This kid's tougher to crack than a Sphinx's riddle. I've been at this for days and I've still got no clue about what the heck she wants."
Pushing up a sleeve she took a look at the dreaded energy counter on her wrist cuffs. The golden glow had dropped to one fourth the full height of the hour glass. "I'll be lucky if I last another day at this rate."
More time passed before another blonde kid joined Tootie by the bench. Desmona raised the binoculars again. It's that leech who's always clinging to that preppy dark haired girl.
Curious she snapped herself up a pair of headphones with a mini-satellite dish for enhanced sound detection. Using this high tech spy gear she was able to eavesdrop on their conversation.
Apparently Tootie had agreed to meet her here nearly a half hour ago for--tutoring? That was odd...from what Desmona could remember about school cliques the popular kids didn't willingly mingle with the 'geeks'. And if one did it was usually a cute girl getting some smart boy like that A.J. kid to do her homework for her. Not teach her to excel on her own.
Desmona wanted to cheer out loud when she heard Tootie berate the popular kids and their shallow tendencies. There was a lot to admire about the spunky little preteen. She found herself wishing she had more time to spend getting to know the spirited cutie pie.
The blonde spoke again. "I know...but I still wanna be friends!"
Leaves rustled about as Desmona nearly toppled from the tree branch. "Talk about your shockers, the social structure of adolescence is being ripped apart by the seams!"
So if Tootie needed a friend she certainly didn't have to wish for one now. And from what she'd just overheard it didn't sound like Tootie had any desire to be among the popular kids at school. Regardless of the pride Desmona was starting to feel towards her little master she remained at a loss for what to grant her.
"Aw smoof!" the genie exclaimed. "They're on the move!"
One of the drawbacks of being a genie is the lack of legs. No matter how many times she'd used a human disguise over the millennia she never quite got used to them. So it was exceedingly embarrassing when her foot got caught on a branch as she leapt down leaving her dangling upside down like a human piñata.
Her attempt to shake herself loose was equally humiliating. "Stupid, annoying, pain in the-"
Snap!
Ice blue pupils shrank, "-uh-oh."
THUD!
Desmona landed indignantly in a pile of twigs and leaves. "Whoever said that a good deed is its own reward needs to be drug out into the street and shot."
About an hour or so later Tootie and Veronica emerged from the food court then dunked through the crowd into a large department store.
"Aren't you afraid that Trixie will have noticed you were gone?" Tootie asked while skimming the store.
"Nah," Veronica waved dismissively, "she's shoe shopping. A girl can get lost in that for hours. I'll be lucky if she even remembers she's my ride home."
It may have been a joke but it didn't make Tootie feel much like laughing. "Well, at least you'll be ready for our math test tomorrow."
"Yep, so I guess I'll see you after school?" Veronica asked hopefully.
Tootie was distracted by the familiar pale fuchsia hair band she spotted moving around one of the cosmetics stands.
Veronica still hadn't noticed. "Hm...Trixie might have something planned though. I know! Do you instant message?"
"Um...yes?" Tootie was fidgeting nervously, if her suspicions were correct then that girl was Trixie and she was headed straight for them!
"Great! Give me your screen name and we'll chat online!" the oblivious blonde chirped. "Mine's IAMTRIXIE okay?"
"O-kay," Tootie blinked and started backing away. They were almost in Trixie's line of sight. "I'm N2TIMMY."
Timmy? Veronica grinned when she suddenly remembered Tootie's longtime crush on Timmy Turner. That was something they shared, a love for a boy who was head over heels for a girl they both knew would never like him back. At least Tootie's not afraid to tell him how she feels.
She snapped out of her thoughts when Tootie desperately started gesturing behind her. Turning around Veronica spotted Trixie Tang walking their way.
"EEP!" Veronica whipped back around to Tootie and began shoving her towards the fitting rooms, "Okay I'll be online later tonight and we can chat new pal but right now I really need you to HIDE!"
Tootie struggled to keep her balance as the freaked cheerleader pushed her inside one of the fitting rooms and slammed the door shut. Tootie pressed an ear to the door and listened as Veronica called to Trixie.
"Well there you are," Trixie sounded a bit peeved, "Where were you? I've been looking all over the store!"
"You...have?"
"Duh, who else is gonna help me carry all this stuff out to the limo?"
Veronica sighed and allowed Trixie to pile mounds of boxes and shopping bags onto her arms. And the other cheerleaders wonder how I have so much upper body strength.
From behind the door Tootie rolled her eyes. I finally manage to make a friend who likes me for who I am...and Veronica was the best I could do?
Desmona watched from behind a stand of sweaters as the two popular girls headed out to the parking lot.
"Talk about shop 'til ya drop." she muttered approaching the fitting rooms, "Hm...I think I'll pick--door number one!"
"Aaahh!" Tootie fell forward when the door was suddenly yanked open.
"Oh!" Desmona exclaimed in mock delight, "Just what I've always wanted! My very own Tootie doll, and it's life-sized!"
Moaning Tootie pushed herself up and scowled at the smart-aleck. "Dezzie?"
"Hiya sunshine," the white haired girl flashed a toothy grin, "ya know that outfit looks just like the one you wore to school today."
"Haha," Tootie laughed dryly and smoothed out her wrinkled skirt, "I was just--um--"
"Ah ah," Dezzie held up a hand, "I operate on a strictly need-to-know basis. My policy: don't ask, don't tell."
"Why's that?"
"Two words," Dezzie held up two fingers, "plausible deniability!"
Tootie laughed, why was it that the only two kids in school she'd managed to befriend were complete goofballs?
"Hey I know!" Dezzie clasped her hands together, "Why don't we have a sleepover tonight? It's a great way to get to know each other!"
"Okay," Tootie shrugged.
"Ack!" Dezzie slapped a hand over her face.
"What?"
"I totally forgot!" she exclaimed, "My dad said I couldn't have anyone over until we'd finished unpacking all the boxes from our move! Crud!"
"Oh," Tootie bit her lower lip in hesitation, "well um...we could have the sleepover at my house if you want?"
"Really?" This was just what Desmona had counted on. The perfect way to learn more about Tootie and find out exactly what she wanted most. Plus it's kind of hard to hold a sleepover at your place when it's broken beyond repair. "That'd be great!"
"I should warn you-" Tootie added nervously, "I've got an older sister who drives down from Drizzleboro on the weekends. She's not as bad as she used to be but...she's not exactly a 'people person' either."
"No prob," Dezzie shrugged, "I'll fly so low under the radar it'll be like I'm not even there."
Tootie managed a lopsided grin, "Okay, but don't say I didn't warn you."
A grouchy older sister, Desmona smirked to herself, now we're getting somewhere.
Amanda/Artiste: I said earlier that Vicky was just going to be mentioned in this fic, I'm holding to that. Of course you can't pal around with Tootie and not learn a thing or two about her 'icky' sister. Next Chapter: Now that Norm knows the truth will Tootie's biggest fears come true? What will happen when Desmona's magical energy becomes dangerously low? Will Tootie learn her true identity in time? Review and find out!
:The room is dark and eerily silent. Suddenly a light switch is flipped revealing pink walls, a colorful ball pit, and stacks of educational wooden blocks. And then...the real terror begins...:
Male Voice: :sings: I'm happy peppy Gary!
Female Voice: :sings: I'm happy peppy Betty!
Gary & Betty: :sing together: And we would like to welcome you to our post story segment preview!
:crickets chirp:
Betty: Say happy peppy Gary, why don't we show our special guests what would happen to anyone who was mean enough to flame the writer?
Gary: That's a great idea Betty!
:They step aside to reveal a lavender cloth covering a cube-shaped object. Both pink clad caregivers grab a corner and yank the cloth away to reveal...:
Gary & Betty: THE FUN BOX!
Francis: :inside the 'Fun Box': But I didn't do anything.
Gary: Think of it as a punishment for something you'll do in the future!
Betty: Or something you've done in the past that nobody found out about!
Francis: You guys are nuts! Let me outta here! I'm callin' my dad's lawyer!
Gary & Betty: :singing: Fun Box oh Fun Box! Cold and small and dark! Fun Box oh Fun Box! Check out these cool fun locks! YAY!
Francis: :panicking: HELP! SOMEBODY! ANYBODY! MOMMY!