Chapter 8

Robbie walked around in his salesman's suit, looking around LazyTown. No one was outside. So far the plan was working. Then he saw Ziggy leave his house and head toward the Mayor's house. Robbie followed him at a close distance. Ziggy knocked on the Mayor's door and 'Stephanie' let him in. Robbie hid under the open window to listen to the conversation. Ziggy asked why they were watching TV and 'Sportacus' explained it to him. Ziggy shrugged his shoulders and joined them. Soon all three of them were laughing and watching the cartoons. Robbie smiled and headed back to his lair and his prisoners.

"Sportacus I got it! Since your shoulders are stuck why don't you use your legs and press against the outside of the tube. Your shoulders shouldn't move and it'll be great leverage." Stephanie said.

"I'll give it a try." Sportacus told her. Then Sportacus picked up his legs and began to push on the tube. The harder he pushed the more the tube moved.

"Yes! It's working!" Stephanie cheered. Then Stephanie heard some footsteps and she told Sportacus to hold it a minute. Robbie walked in and changed into his regular outfit. Then he walked over to Stephanie and sneered at her.

"Well, my plan is working perfectly just like I predicted. No one is outside. No one is playing and no one dancing." Robbie laughed. Stephanie just looked at him with a straight face. Sportacus could see she was angry and he was unsure of what she was going to do. Then Stephanie just opened her mouth and started to speak. No she wasn't speaking, she was singing.

"… Though nothing, will keep us together

We could steal time, just for one day

We can be Heroes, for ever and ever

… Though nothing will drive them away

We can be Heroes, just for one day

We can be us, just for one day

… We can be Heroes

Just for one day…"

Robbie covered his ears and shouted at her to be quiet. She refused and kept singing.

"There is always a way…"

Finally Robbie left the room but Stephanie didn't stop.

"You gotta know you can make it…"

Sportacus began to push more on the tube and was finally able to move it enough that he could get his foot through the bottom. Stephanie kept singing and Sportacus kept pushing. Soon, however, Stephanie was losing her voice and Sportacus' legs were getting tired. Finally Stephanie was too hoarse to sing any more and Sportacus thigh muscles were twitching. Exhausted, Stephanie sat down and rubbed her throat. She looked over at Sportacus who was trying to get his aching muscles stop twitching. Soon Sportacus noticed that Stephanie's eyes were drooping and her head was practically on her chest.

"Sleep well Stephanie." Sportacus murmured. She was out like a light when Sportacus said, "I love you." Then he too fell asleep. Robbie took his fingers out of his ears. POP! POP! He listened and heard nothing. Then he did his little dance. "Finally, I get some peace and quiet around here!" He said to the walls. Grabbing his little purple blankie, Robbie curled up in his big fuzzy chair and fell asleep.

Back at the Mayor's house, 'Sportacus', 'Stephanie', and Ziggy were still watching TV. It was nine o'clock and passed Ziggy's bedtime. The Mayor had let the real Stephanie to stay up until 9:30 since she was older now. But Ziggy stayed with what he thought were his friends. Mayor Meanswell came into the living room and told Ziggy that he had to go home and that 'Sportacus' should go back to his airship. Ziggy didn't put up a fight and left. 'Sportacus' however started to give the Mayor some attitude. Mayor Meanswell got angry and told 'Sportacus' to leave. 'Stephanie' decided to go with him. The Mayor tried to get her to go to bed but she refused and the two left. The Mayor didn't know what to do. Something was definitely wrong but he couldn't figure out what. So he went after 'Stephanie'.

Sportacus' crystal went off waking him and Stephanie. Sportacus gazed into it and saw the Mayor fighting with 'Sportacus'. They were yelling back and forth. Then 'Sportacus' shoved the Mayor. He had to get out and safe him! Without a word, Sportacus took all the strength he had left and pushed on the tube.

To Be Continued…