Elena was rigid, still holding on to Robbie. She would be lost forever if she found her way into the net.
Pixel was typing madly trying to keep ahead of the program making sure that didn't happen.
Robbie, in her grip unable to escape, was paralyzed with a surge of power running through him.
Sportacus's crystal beeping, he knew he had to move fast. With a determined look he jumped over the other side of Pixel, reached down and pulled the plug to the main computer.
Then he jumped back to the other side.
Robbie's arms were released. His head wobbled and he pointed a finger up. "Hello. I'm prince Robbie." He fell backwards and was caught by Sportacus.
Elena's eyes closed and she fell forward. Sportacus pivoted and caught her with his other arm.
Pixel was surprised when the power went off. "Wha-!" He looked to see Sportacus holding Elena and Robbie.
He carefully set Robbie on the sofa then lifted Elena up and removed the wires. Then he picked up her up and placed her on Pixels bed.
Pixel plugged the computer back in and it came back to life. He turned to Sportacus. "Is she ok?"
Sportacus sat next to her. He brushed the hair away from her face. She was breathing. "I'm not sure. I think so. " Her eyes, now normal, quickly opened.
"Elena?"
She blinked a few times then looked at Sportacus puzzled.
"Are you ok?"
She nodded as Sportacus helped her up. "Just sit here."
Robbie growled flying up off the sofa grabbing his head trying to get his balance. His feet moving as if he were drunk. He spun around.
"What-what-what?" He steadied himself. "What happened?"
"I don't know...yet." Pixel answered. "But...did it work?"
Sportacus turned to Elena.
Elena wanted to say something she didn't know how. She sighed in disappointment.
"It didn't work? But it should have. She should be able to talk." He was upset. He turned back to his computer determined to find out why. "Even with what just happened the programing should be there."
"So, all that work on Poodles computer was for nothing?"
"Robbie, what did you come here for?" Sportacus asked impatiently.
"Ah!" He raised a finger then looked befuddled. "I forgot! Perfect! Wait!...no." He was about to speak but growled and folded his arms instead.
Elena walked over to Pixel and put a hand on his shoulder expressing a 'thanks for trying' look. She walked over to Robbie and gave him an apologetic kiss on the cheek then walked out the door.
Robbie got a glazed look on his face. He stood there twitching his nose and gave an awkward 'thank you' as she passed.
Sportacus turned to Pixel. "She is learning. Maybe in time she will talk." He took off after her.
Robbie put his hand to his cheek and got a love sick smile and passed out.
Pixel watched as Robbie hit the floor. "Oh brother."
Outside-
Sportacus looked around and saw Elena in the sports field. Her head tilted up towards the sun. She took a deep breath then ran off. Sportacus took off after her.
After about ten minutes he stopped and looked around again. He caught sight of her near the edge of town. She, again, looked up and took a deep breath. "Elena!" He yelled running and flipping to her.
She turned around and waited till he reached her.
"Are you alright?"
She shrugged and continued to walk.
"Wait!" He jumped in front of her. "What are you doing? Where are you going?"
She pointed to a path leading outside the forest and continued walking.
Sportacus didn't understand but he walked with her. After a few minutes he broke the silence. "You can stay in Lazy Town if you like. It's a great place to live. I've been here for a while and there's never a dull moment." He saw her listening. As they walked he told her about all the kids and Robbie with all his disguises and the adventures that followed.
He mused about the time Robbie dressed up as a detective and tried to blame him for swiping Bessie's birthday cake. And the time when Robbie turned him into a kid, when he dressed up as a ghost and scared the kids, and Rottedbeard the pirate to find the famed Lazy Town stone. The the funniest of disguises was miss Roberta.
Elena smiled listening to his stories.
"But it's felt like home ever since I arrived." He stepped in front of her and she stopped. "Everything will be alright. I know it." She smiled at him then continued walking.
After a while they ended up at a lake outside of town.
"Crystal Lake? Why here?"
She shrugged, smiled and took in the sweet scent of the lake. She closed her eyes continuing to breathe it in and soaked in the sun.
The lake was absent of pollution or murkiness one would usually find. It was calm and had many different hues of blue and green, reflecting the bright blue sky and the trees surrounding it. By the shore it was pale green, almost crystal clear. As it became less shallow it got darker but still glistened a beautiful sea green. It was worthy of a painting.
"I don't think I've ever been out this way before." He looked around and smiled feeling invigorated. "It is beautiful. It reminds my of when I was a boy. There was a lake I used to swim in all the time."
She looked at him puzzled.
"Swim? Well, it's, when you go in the water, move your arms" he demonstrated. "and your body moves in the water. You can go under water but hold your breath. Just don't forget to come up for air." He chuckled and turned back to the water.
"I used to swim everyday." He reminisced with great fondness.
The lake rippled as he skipped a stone into it. He knelt down looking for another as he reminisced. "I love to swim. I used to race with my friends all the time. It wasn't easy getting me out of the water. If anyone was looking for me they always knew where to find me. My father used to swear I was part fish." He chuckled quietly. "He always said-"
SPLASH.
"Wha-." He turned and saw Elena's clothes but not Elena. Then he looked in the lake and saw her in the water. He gasped. "Elena! What are you doing?!" He went to the edge and watched as she swam out. She stopped and went underwater.
Sportacus's eyes widened. He slid open his arm band revealing a set of controls. "Airship! Lock on to my signal!" He looked in the water and saw Elena surface with a big smile. He sighed with relief.
"Elena, come out of there before you get hurt."
She just looked at him still smiling.
Sportacus stood there waiting. "Elena, please come out."
She motioned her finger for him to come in.
"What? No, you come out."
She went back underwater.
"Elena! ...How can she swim?" He waited for a couple of minutes. 'Where is she? Can she hold her breath for that long? My crystal isn't beeping. But what if my crystal can't detect her because of what happened?' He became nervous.
He pursed his lips and took off his vest, boots, and pants, leaving him in shorts and his shirt.
He ran in the water and dove under when deep enough.
He came up and looked around. "Elena!" He went under again. He came back up to catch his breath. He felt a tap on his shoulder. Startled, he spun around and she pushed back a few feet. "Elena! You scared me!"
She gave him an apologetic look.
"Alright. Let's go."
She went back a few more feet.
"What are you doing?"
She he tilted her head
"What? You don't think I can catch you?" He watched her swim back a few more feet. "I am very fast." He was now overtaken by just how good the water felt and how much he missed it.
She raised a doubtful eyebrow and swam back a bit further.
"Ok, you asked for it." And with that he bolted towards her.
Surprised, she took off under water. Sportacus came close to catching her. He came within inches of her foot. She looped under coming up behind him and swam in the opposite direction.
He saw her and in one swift stroke was half way to her. She saw him disappear underwater. She looked around and swam in his direction above him. They both came up for air at the same time about ten feet from each other.
At that time something got Elena's attention and she pointed.
Sportacus turned around. "That's my airship." He smiled looking back to Elena, satisfied with his answer, put her fingers in her ears and stuck out her tongue. "What? You're in trouble now." Smiling at the challenge, he took off after her. It was like a couple of fish chasing each other.
The feel of the water around his body brought him back to his happiest days. And there was nothing wrong with that what so ever..
Stephanie, now dressed in her pink striped dress, made her way back to Pixel's. Along the way she saw Trixie and Stingy nursing cool tasty ice pops.
"Hey Pinky, where ya going? Back to see what lover boy is up to with the magic elf?" She giggled.
"Magical elf? I didn't think she was magical. But if she is..." Stingy whispered thinking about the possibilities.
"Trixie."
"Well? Am I wrong!"
"Yes."
"I don't know what the fuss is about. She's mine."
"Stingy!" Trixie yelled.
"Well? Am I wrong!"
"YES!"
Stingy coward at Trixie's protest. "Ok, I was mistaken."
"Uh, ok you two have fun. I'm going to see what's going on. Besides, I think she's a little old for Pixel."
"But not for Sportacus." She sang with a sly grin.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh, nothing, Pinky. C'mon Stingy. Let's go to the tree house."
"My treehouse you mean."
"Arg!"
Stephanie glared at Trixie. She wasn't sure what she was implying. 'Did Pixel really like Elena? No, it couldn't be like that. She was too old. Wasn't she? But she is a video game. Isn't she? It had to be a spur of the moment thing.' She decided. 'It was because she's a cool character from an awesome video game. Besides, she won't have what Pixel and I have.' She stopped. 'Me and Pixel?' She thought. 'Is there a me and Pixel?' She decided to dismiss it for the moment having arrived at his house. She opened the door and went in.
"Hey Pixel, what's-" she looked down. "Um, what's Robbie doing on your floor?"
"Sleeping. I guess. But he's not bothering anyone so, let sleeping Robbie's lie."
"Where's Sportacus and Elena?"
"I don't know where they took off to. I think she was bummed my program didn't work." Pixel sighed and looked down. "I have made a critical error in my calculations somewhere but I just can't find it and I almost lost Elena and Robbie in cyber space."
"Huh?"
Pixel explained what happened while she was gone. He kept going over his calculations. He was determined to find out what went wrong. "I can't find my error! I've gone over the whole thing multiple times. I just don't know what happened or why she can't talk."
"Well, why can't she talk?"
"She doesn't have the programming. She doesn't know how. She doesn't talk in the game. The game pops up a menu of what she says. There is something else going on outside what happened but, one thing at a time."
"So...is she gonna go back in the game?"
"Huh? Not according to the recent data. Why?"
"No reason."
"Oh man! Where is the mistake?"
"Pixel, maybe you should take a break and get something to eat. Recharge. Get a fresh start."
He took a deep breath. "Maybe you're right. I am kinda hungry. And I did skip lunch. To the kitchen!"
"Hey Stingy! Let's make the biggest slingshot in the world! We can make huge water balloons and shoot them up all over Lazy Town!" She laughed.
"Where are we going to find a rubber band big enough to do that?"
"Well actually...I've been working on that in the treehouse." She climbed up and tossed out a huge bunch of rubber bands she had woven together.
"Where did you find all these rubber bands?" Gazing at the pile.
"Sometimes when the mailman comes, he has mail bundled in rubber bands. So, he saved me some every day until- ta da! Now we can attach them to the trees and it's sling shot time! You work on the hook and I'll tie!"
Stingy obeyed. He knew better than to question Trixie when she was in a take charge state of mind. "Hey! That hook is mine!"
"Teamwork! Remember?"
"Ok, teamwork." He winced.
After a few minutes the rubber bands were tied and the hook was in place. "Ok Stingy. All that's left is to hook it and load some water balloons and watch em fly."
"I suppose you have water balloons too?"
"Of course! I have a couple of wheel barrows full over there under the sheet." She pointed behind the tree. "Help me pull the rubber bands to the hook!"
Together they pulled. About half way it got much harder. "C'mon! We-can-do-this! Almost-there!"
"I'm not sure-I was the right guy-for the job!" He struggled.
They reached the hook and latched the rubber bands. "Alright!" Trixie cheered. "Let's go get the balloons!"
Ziggy, happily sucking on a lolly pop, saw Trixie and Stingy disappear behind the treehouse. "I wonder what they're doing?" He walked over. "Trixie? Stingy? Where are you, huh?" He noticed the rubber bands and traced them to the hook. "What is this?"
"Ziggy! Be careful!" Trixie hollered.
Ziggy jumped when Trixie yelled and got his lollypop stuck on the hook. "Huh?" As he pulled it off the rubber bands let loose and connected with his mid section.
Surprised, he looked up. "Uh oh." The rubber bands, now set free, sent Ziggy flying upwards.
"Ziggy!" Trixie yelled.
"Well," Stingy started. "he always wanted to fly."
"C'mon! Let's go!" Trixie bolted with Stingy on her tail.
Elena and Sportacus spent the better part of the afternoon in the lake. Sportacus was having so much fun, like he was a kid again. The feel of the water rushing around his body. The weightlessness enabling him to spin, turn like he was a dolphin or feel like he was soaring like a bird. He had almost forgot about Elena until she came up behind him coaxing him into a game of tag. Swimming underwater, racing on the surface, he was elated.
Sportacus, underwater, saw a pair of feet and came up behind Elena, and tapped her on the shoulder.
Startled, she spun around and he wrapped his arms around, pinning her.
"Gotcha! I told you I could catch you." He chuckled. Sportacus, so wrapped up with the games and the feelings from his childhood, forgot something that he now just remembered. She was not wearing any clothes. His face went from triumphant to shock. She smiled and gave him a playful peck on the lips.
"Um." He let her go. "I think we should call it a day." Blushing, he turned and started swimming back to shore. He was so caught up having fun he didn't think about her being nude. He got to shore and out of the water.
He pointed up. "Towels!" Two towels dropped out of the airship. He caught them and unfolded one.
He turned to find Elena behind him. "Ah." He didn't realize she was there so quickly. He turned his head handing her the towel. "Let me know when you're dressed." He dried off and began putting his clothes back on. She tapped him on the shoulder when she was done. He turned slowly making sure she was dressed. "Good. I had a great time."
She smiled.
"How did you even know how to swim? You're good."
She pointed to her head then shrugged.
"We should get you a bathing suit for the next time."
She looked at her body and back at Sportacus as if there were something wrong.
"No, no. There is...ahem, nothing wrong with it. It's not...its just that it's appropriate to wear one while your swimming. That would be breast-uh best!" He quickly corrected. "Do you understand?"
She thought for a moment then nodded.
Beep beep beep. "Someone's in trouble!...Ziggy." He looked at Elena. He didn't want to leave her alone but he had to save Ziggy. "I have to go rescue Ziggy."
She nodded.
Pointing up he yelled. "Sky chaser!" Immediately a circular part of the airship turned and something that looked like a scooter with wings flew down to Sportacus. He quickly ran and flipped high in the air landing on it perfectly. His feet stepped on the alternating peddles and took off to the sky and out of sight.
Elena watched him as he disappeared. She walked over to a big rock not to far from the shore and sat down. She closed her eyes and a flash of images ran through her mind. She opened her eyes with a start. She looked around. She was still at the lake. She closed them again. More images flashed. Images of everyone in Lazy Town. The kids singing, Robbie and his disguises, Sportacus and his saves.
It changed to video game images including the Woodland Warriors game. Her eyes opened hard. She didn't understand what she was seeing. She got back on the path and headed back to town.
Ziggy, scared for his life, hollered as he was flying upwards. "HELLLLLLLLLLLP!" And he took in a loud gasp as his trajectory was now heading down towards the sports field. He was falling fast. "AHHHHH!"
Sportacus saw Ziggy falling. "Oh no! He's too far away!" Sportacus was worried. For the first time he had no idea how he was going to get to Ziggy on time.