Sportacus was peddling as fast as he could looking all over Lazy Town for something to help him get to Ziggy in time. Then he spotted it. A trampoline in Stingy's back yard. He lifted his arm and out came the magnet shooter from his armband. It flew across town to Stingy's yard attaching to the trampoline. Sportacus pulled as hard and fast as he could. The trampoline soared through the air landing in the sports field just as Ziggy connected with it and bounced back up.
"Hey! That's MY trampoline!" Stingy hollered as he and Trixie arrived.
Sportacus peddled fast reaching the sports field.
"WHOOOOOOA!" Ziggy yelled soaring through the air.
Sportacus leaned forward, reached out and grabbed Ziggy flinging him on his back. "Gotcha!"
Ziggy put his arms around Sportacus and held on tight as Sportacus headed in to land. When they reached the ground, Ziggy jumped off.
"Wow! Thanks Sportacus. That was really close."
"Yes it was. Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm ok."
"What happened? How did you get up in the air?"
"That was kind of our fault." Trixie answered. "We made a giant sling shot and Ziggy accidentally set it off."
"A giant sling shot? What for?"
"Water balloons."
"Water balloons?" He chuckled. "Maybe you should make it a bit smaller to shoot them."
"Sorry, Ziggy."
"It's ok. Even though I was scared, it was kinda fun."
"Ziggy?"
"Yes Stingy?"
"Please don't bounce on my trampoline again."
"Uh...ok."
"I gotta go. Be careful guys." Sportacus flipped and jumped on the chaser and peddled away.
Robbie turned and let out a snort as he woke up. He sat up to the voices of Stephanie and Pixel. "Can't you keep it down? It's bad enough to hear you noisy brats on the sports field."
"You could always go home if you don't like it, Robbie." Stephanie pointed out.
Robbie looked around. "Maybe I will!" He bolted to his feet and looked around. "I won't be recommending this place in the travel brochures." He marched out grumbling and growling.
"Robbie Rotten." They shook their heads laughing.
Elena thought about the images she saw when she closed her eyes. There was something going on and it had to do with her. She didn't know what but she had to find out. She felt incomplete. She was on the edge of town when she saw Sportacus on his sky chaser heading in her direction.
Sportacus hopped off landing next to her. He saw she was deep in thought. "What's wrong?"
She looked at him but was unable to convey what was on her mind. Which was part of the problem. She didn't understand why she couldn't talk. She turned away frustrated.
"Oh my goodness!"
She turned back.
"You are really sunburned." She looked at him puzzled.
"Uh, your back." He walked behind her. "It's very red."
She looked at her self and saw she was, indeed, very red. She touched her shoulder and found it very painful. She pointed at him.
"I always wear sunscreen in the summer. I have something that will help you. I'll be right back." He got back on his sky chaser and headed to his airship.
She sat down on a nearby bench. She yawned, tired from swimming most of the the day, and closed her eyes. When she did there was another rush of images. Images of the town, of places she's never seen but yet felt like she was there. Then there was something else. She saw the satellite dish and a flash of light. But there was something darker. Something frightening. Something that wasn't supposed to be there.
Robbie, on his way back to his lair, spotted Elena.
"Hm. The blond elf and no Sportakook? This is my chance to win her over." He approached her. "Hello?"
She jumped.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you. Are you ok?"
She slowly shrugged.
"Why are you here? Where's Sportacus?"
She pointed up.
"In his airship? You shouldn't be alone. Why don't you come with me, my dear?" He extended his hand. "This way you'll have company until he gets back."
Curiously she took Robbie's hand. They headed towards the billboard. She felt she could trust him. Sportacus said he was a friend after all.
Sportacus made it to his airship. Once inside he went to the room behind his bed.
"Sportacus. What are you looking for?" The airship asked.
"It's a special salve for sunburns."
"Did you forget your sunscreen this morning?"
"No. It's for someone else."
"It's in the blue container to your left." A panel slid revealing the blue box.
"Thank you." He grabbed it and headed back. "Door!"
"Door opening."
Sportacus leapt through air landing where he left Elena. He looked around but didn't see her. "That's strange. Where did she go?"
"I don't have a conventional door, well, you'll see." They reached the billboard. Robbie opened the door for Elena. He climbed up the small ladder and struggled to open the heavy lid to his lair then he hopped down. "After you, my dear."
Elena looked at it and Robbie strangely. Robbie gave her an 'it's ok smile'.
She climbed in and slid down. She slid left and right hitting corners all the way down. She saw the opening and flew out the chute tumbling and rolling landing in Robbie's orange chair. Robbie hurled out of the chute landing next to her on the floor.
She looked at the chair open mouthed and amazed. She played with the fluff on the chair. She had the biggest smile.
"Impressed are we?" Robbie asked happy with her reaction. He stood up brushing off his sleeves.
She looked at all the wonderful looking equipment. She bolted up and ran over to one of his workstations and excitedly started turning the knobs and opening doors to the machines.
"What? Wait! No, no. Don't touch that!" He ran over turning everything back where it was.
Meanwhile above-
Sportacus saw the door to the billboard was slightly ajar. "Robbie." He went through and lifted the lid. He opened his mouth to call out when he heard a panicked Robbie yelling 'not to touch.' He smiled and headed down. Along the way he heard Robbie shrill in protest. Something told him he was going to enjoy this.
Below-
Elena opened drawers and and pulled out a variety of toys including springy neon shoelaces, a wind up robot, and a rubber duck.
Robbie was putting everything back trying to explain nervously why he had them.
She pulled out a rubber chicken, wiggling it happily.
"No! Now stop that!"
Sportacus made to the bottom and hid behind Robbie's equipment.
Elena, having fun going through the treasure trove of toys, pulled out a slinky, which she let spring to the ground and back up again. She found purple goop as Robbie grabbed the slinky and put it back in the drawer.
She made a disgusting face as she stretched and played with the sticky goop. Robbie grabbed the goop from her hands and got stuck in it himself. While he was struggling to get the goop back in its container, she found a small pouch. She opened it before he could protest and marbles fell out.
"Ahh, my marbles! I can't lose those!"
Sportacus held his laughter, which was difficult.
Elena sprang to another work bench and picked up small gadgets, and tubes. Off to her left she saw Robbie Rotten, Stephanie and Sportacus dolls. She happily picked them up and was dancing them around. She absolutely loved them.
Robbie gasped in horror staggering for words. He sprang over to her and took the dolls looking for someplace to hide them.
Sportacus happily watched her enthusiasm unravel Robbie.
"Ok," he chuckled nervously, "your starting to upset Uncle Robbie now. Why don't we sit down and have some cake?"
Sportacus bent over and put his hands over his mouth. 'Uncle Robbie.'
Elena caught sight at the costumes in the tubes and ran up the steps looking at them in amazement.
Robbie dropped the dolls. "Oh no!" He ran up to stop her from doing anything else.
She found the organ and hit the keys. She jumped when they rang through the pipes. She hit a few more as Robbie hit a button retracting the organ. He leaned against it catching his breath. Out of the corner of his eye he saw her reach up and pull the control lever. "This is-not a-Stop!"
She started spinning around. When she stopped she was in the purple knight costume. Beard and mustache included. She looked at herself and ran past Robbie, to the mirror, spinning him around. She was very excited.
When Robbie stopped spinning he ran down to her as she ran back up, spinning him again. She reached up and pulled.
"No don't-"
Too late. She was now in the Miss Roberta costume. She looked at Robbie curiously.
"Um, yeah, well, I don't usually dress as a woman-No, wait!"
She pulled it and changed again.
"She's worse than Sportanerd!" He tried to stop her but couldn't.
Sportacus, now on the floor, was on the verge of busting loose.
She was absolutely delighted at his costume machine. This time she was dressed as Rottenbeard. She loved the clothes and was amazed at what the machine could do.
He made it up the steps and guarded the lever. "Ok, all done with dress up." He said huffing and puffing. She reached up. "No! All done! It's my disguise time, not yours." She put her hand over his and pulled causing them both to spin.
"Wha-?"
Sportacus peeked around and saw the two of them spinning. He didn't know how much longer he could contain his laughter.
When they stopped she was in Robbie's clothes and Robbie was wearing Sportacus's costume.
Sportacus could no longer hold it in. He burst out laughing as he entered the room.
"I was wondering-" he laughed. "where my spare costume was."
"Will you please do something?!" He said unconcerned that he was there to begin with.
She spun around in Robbie's clothes which were a bit snug. She reached up.
"Noo!" Robbie grabbed it when she did and they both went spinning again. This time Robbie was back in is clothes and Elena was in Sportacus's. Robbie grabbed his head. "This is too much!"
Sportacus, laughing, managed to flip over the rail to Elena and took her hand. "Ok, Elena. We have to go. You can come back and visit "Uncle Robbie" again later." He was still laughing as he guided her out.
Robbie, exhausted, went to his orange chair. "I need a nap." He plopped down and passed out.
Sportacus and Elena exited Robbie's lair and Sportacus was chuckling all the way out. Elena was happily dancing around wearing Sportacus's costume. From time to time she played with the ends of the mustache.
He watched her really enjoying herself. And it made him happy that she was so happy. He couldn't get the image of Robbie trying to reel her in, out of his head. It made him laugh even more.
"Ok, ok," he said between laughter. "Looks like we are going to have to go to my airship to take care of your sunburns since your dress is somewhere at Uncle Robbie's." He was going to have to take care of her in private since she was now wearing his costume.
He was surprised when she came face to face and put her hands on her hips and looked him at him sternly in the eye. "What is it?"
She wiggled her mouth making the mustache move from side to side and he went into hysterics.
"Very funny." He said watching her smiling face. "C'mon," he took her hand. "Let's get you taken care of."
They walked a short distance to the airship. He pointed, "Ladder!" The ladder unfurled. "Ok, up."
She pointed to herself.
"Yup. After you."
She started to climb and grabbed his cap on the way up.
He smiled, rolling his eyes, as he followed her up.
She stepped off the ladder on the platform joined by Sportacus.
"Up!" He commanded.
She grabbed his arm as the platform raised up into the ship.
Inside it was very white, very open and oval in shape. There was a large window across the front half of the ship overlooking Lazy Town. She walked over and looked at the view and was awestruck at how beautiful it looked. The back of the ship there were many different sized circular shapes that were emitting light and cabinets behind an opaque enclosure.
"It's my home. I live and train here."
She tilted her head.
"Watch." He jumped, flipped and spun around. "Ball!" A ball flew out of the chute surprising Elena. Sportacus bounced it off his head ricocheting off the wall. It came back and he caught it with his chest, bounced it off his knee, flipped and kicked it back where it came from.
She pointed to herself grinning ear to ear.
"You want to try?" She nodded emphatically. "Ok, ready?" She positioned herself.
"Ball!"
The ball shot out connecting with her head. It bounced and she brought up her knee bouncing it up a couple of times.
"How do you know how to do that?"
She shrugged as she kicked it back to its hole. She turned to face Sportacus not realizing she missed the hole and it bounced off the wall back at her.
"Look out!" He yelled as the ball hit her sunburned back. She arched forward in pain.
"Are you ok?" She stood stiff, mouth open in shock. He threw the ball back. "Ok, ok. Come here. Bed!" The bed slid down horizontally and extended into the room.
"Sportacus. It's not 8:08. You still have fifteen minutes."
Elena spun around looking for the owner of the voice.
"It's my airship." He told her. "It's ok. Sit here and I'll put the salve on. Let's get your face first." He walked in front of her and began applying to her sunburned face. He noticed she was looking at him. He looked down to get more of the salve. She was still fixed on him. He gave an awkward smile.
Curiously, she reach up and touched his face. He cleared his throat.
"We should take off that mustache." He said with a light chuckle.
Her emerald eyes followed his hands as he carefully removed it. She moved her fingers over his lips.
He gently took her hand. "I think it's time we get the vest off. I'm going to need to get to your back."
She snapped back to reality. She wasn't sure what came over her. Confused, she unfastened the number 10 and the vest opened.
"Let me do this. It will be less painful." He went behind her slid it slowly down her arms. He moved long blond hair to the front. "The shirt unzips in the back." He eased the zipper down and the two sides separated. "Now this might be a little uncomfortable." Preparing her, he opened the shirt and moved it forwards slowly pulling it down just passed her shoulders. She tensed. "You are very red but this will help." He sat behind her and put some of the salve on his hands.
"Ok, I'm going to put it on now." He gently placed his hands on her back. She flinched. "It's ok. You'll feel better tomorrow." He continued.
She stiffened when he applied over untreated areas. She closed her eyes. With each pass it was tingly and soothing. His hands were gentle as he rubbed. She relaxed.
"This helped when I got sunburned as a kid. But since then I make sure to use plenty of sunscreen to protect myself. My mother made this for me before I left, just in case. She's very good at things like that." He moved her hair back and worked on her shoulders.
He thought about how far she's come since this morning. 'How was she was understanding so much, so fast? How was he going to tell her she came from a computer game? She was going to want answers soon enough. He didn't know what to tell her. What he knew was a he was in trouble and he was going to do everything he could to help her. He turned to get more salve and she slumped against him.
"Elena?" Her eyes were closed. "Sleeping? I guess you had a busy day, didn't you. I guess I'm sleeping in the fly pod." He laid her down and gently positioned her on the bed when the unexpected happened. She rolled over taking his arm with her. "Woha!" She was hugging it like it were a pillow.
"Uh oh." He tried to gently free it. He tried getting his arm level to slide it out but she had a firm grip. He thought up a few other ideas including blowing on her face, buzzing like a bee, giving her a little tickle, which made her turn more pulling him down behind her.
He sighed. "Well," he asked his airship. "do you have any suggestions?"
"It's almost 8:08. Suggest you go to sleep to get the energy you need for an energetic day tomorrow."
He started to say something but it wouldn't help. He decided to wait it out until she moved enough to free it but the night took over and he drifted off to sleep.
It was close to midnight. Elena stirred enough that it woke Sportacus. His arm was free. She was on her back and her head was moving quickly from left to right as if she were reading. He watched her as this went on for about ten minutes. She tensed and relaxed, unaware that anything happened. Whatever it was. She turned on her side and settled into Sportacus.
He felt a little awkward but he put a comforting arm around her and went back to sleep. He didn't know what happened but she was safe.
It was morning and the kids were on the sports field. Stephanie, Trixie and Stingy were playing soccer, Ziggy was riding his bike and Pixel was on the bench with his computer. Stephanie talked him into coming outside but the only way he would was if he could go over his calculations on his portable computer.
"Hey! Look over there by the apple tree! It's Sportacus!" Ziggy hollered and waved. "Hey Sportacus!"
The kids turned to see him collecting apples. He waved and ran and jumped over to the kids.
"Hi guys!" He said in a cherry voice. "Playing soccer I see."
"Yeah. Do you wanna to play? If we can get Pixel off his computer we can have even teams."
"Thanks, but I'm restocking apples for the airship."
"Where's Elena? Trixie asked.
Pixel looked up.
"She's fine. She's in the airship at the moment. She did a lot of swimming yesterday. Among other things." He chuckled.
"Swimming? She can swim?" Pixel was surprised.
"I know. I have no idea how but she can. She can do a lot. Do you have any ideas?"
"I'm still trying to find my mistake with the program. I've gone over this a hundred times. I can't find it. I just don't get it." He closed his computer and set it on the bench.
"Don't worry, Pixel. You did your best. It's probably something out of your control."
"Stephanie, I need your help with something. Can you find some clothes for her?" He asked somewhat awkwardly.
"Um, yeah sure. I think so. What happened to hers?"
"It's a very funny story. I'll tell you later. I've got to get back to the airship. We'll be back later." He ran back to the apple tree and pointed. "Ladder!" He climbed back into the airship. On the way up-
BEEP BEEP BEEP
"Someone's in trouble!" He looked up. "Elena!"
Elena found herself in total blackness. She could feel something was not right. Something bad was coming and she had no idea what. It was closing in on her. On everyone. She couldn't move her feet. The blackness was all around. She couldn't push it away. It would envelop the whole town. It was everywhere and no where. It was going after Sportacus! It grabbed him! He was being pulled farther and farther away and she was powerless to help him...
Elena saw Sportacus being taken. She was lost in nothingness. Something in the distance called her name. Something reached out for her. It touched her shoulder and she was instantly pulled back. She bolted up wide eyed and afraid.
"Elena? Are you alright? I think you were having a nightmare." She focused, looking at him, relieved he was safe. She wrapped her arms around him.
"It's ok. I'm fine. You just had a bad dream." He held her.
She pulled back looking at him, then shook it off.
"Are you sure you're ok?"
She nodded. The dream was becoming more distant but the feelings were still there.
He gave her back a supportive rub and got up. "Table." A table slid out from the wall which had different kinds of sports candy.
"Are you hungry! I've never had a" he cleared his throat. "a sleep over here before."
She stood up and stretched. She stopped suddenly and tilted her head from side to side. Something was different. She felt strange.
Sportacus watched her and saw something was on her mind.
"What is it?"
She looked around and shrugged.
"Maybe you need to eat. Would you like a banana, apple, peach or pear?"
She walked over to the table and saw all the many different colored fruits. She picked up a peach, brought it to her nose and sniffed. She smiled at the aroma. She took a bite and her face brightened as it tickled her taste buds.
"You like it! That's great! Sports candy gives you the energy you need."
Elena happily finished the peach. She looked at Sportacus and she slowly opened her mouth then closed it again.
"Are you ok?"
She stood wide eyed. "Ss-." She slapped her hands over her mouth
"What?" He saw a look of anticipation and excitement on her face.
She put her hands down and blurted out- "Sportacus." She covered her mouth again then removed them. "Sportacus!" She jumped. "Sportacus! AH! I can talk!" She started jumping up and down. "Sportacus! Sportacus! Sportacus!" She jumped and laughed and danced around.
Sportacus was amazed. She had her voice. "Pixels program must've worked after all!"
"I can talk! I can talk! I can talk!"
"I know!" He laughed excited for her. "It's wonderful!"
She was so excited she wrapped her arms around him and gave him a kiss.
"I can talk!" She ran out on the platform door. "I CAN TAAAAALK!" She yelled. She jumped off the platform down to the streets of Lazy Town!
"Elena!" Sportacus gasped and jumped out after her.
The kids on the sports field heard 'I CAN TAAAAALK!'
"What in the world was that?" Stingy asked.
"Look!" Stephanie hollered.
They saw Elena running, jumping and yelling, heading towards them with Sportacus not far behind.
"Woohoo!" When she reached the kids she ran up to everyone. "Pixel, I can talk! Stephanie, I can talk!" She scooped up Ziggy and spun him around. "Ziggy, I can talk!"
Sportacus arrived as she put a giggling Ziggy down.
Trixie and Stingy were a bit nervous as she approached.
"I don't know who you are but, I can talk!" And she continued dancing, spinning and shouting in jubilation.
The kids gathered around Sportacus.
"Sportacus, what happened?"
"I don't know, Stephanie. She just woke up and it happened. She could talk." He watched her bounce around.
"Woke up?" Pixel hit himself in the head. "Of course! She needed to reboot. That means there is no mistake! I did it!"
"Yes you did, Pixel!" Sportacus gave him a pat on the back.
"She's funny. Is she gonna stay, Sportacus?" Ziggy asked.
"Well, I did mention she could. But we all have to help her. There is still a lot she needs. But on that note, Pixel, how does she she know things? How does she understand?"
Pixel thought for a moment. "I've got it! The only thing I didn't think of. Your crystal! It must've passed along information based on your experiences. That's the only explanation!" Pixel was relieved. "Everything makes sense."
"What doesn't make sense is why is she wearing your clothes, Sportacus?" Stingy observed.
"Ah. That," he started chuckling. "is a really funny story. " He told them how she was down in Robbie's lair, getting into everything, upsetting 'Uncle Robbie'. He started laughing again barely getting the words out. He explained how he let Robbie off the hook when she ended up in his costume.
He, between Elena happily bouncing around and Uncle Robbie, went into fits of laughter. The kids had always seen him happy and even laugh but never like this. It was contagious and they all started laughing.
Below in Robbie Rottens lair-
"Yaaaaaaaaahooooooo!" Came in loud and clear over his speakers. He fell out of his chair. "What is that awful noise!" He made an angry face and ran up, arms swinging to his periscope. He looked around and saw the kids and Sportacus happy and laughing. He turned the scope around to see where the cheering was coming from.
She saw Elena's face as she grabbed the pair of eyes and shout, "I can talk!"
Robbie, startled, flew over the rail onto the floor. "What?! She can talk now?" He sobbed. "I'm never going to get any rest in this town."
Elena hopped over and sat next to Sportacus catching her breath.
"How are you doing?"
She looked at Sportacus. "Great!" She hugged him and jumped up and started moving around again.
"I'm so haaappyyyyyyy!"
"Wow," Trixie began, "that is one excited elf."
"Can we keep her?"
"Ziggy." Sportacus chuckled. "She'll need a place to stay."
"I can ask my uncle for help with that." She offered.
"Let's ask her to stay! Can we? Can we?" Ziggy pleaded and the other kids agreed.
He smiled " Of course, but I have a feeling she's already home."
"You might have to find the off switch before you ask." Trixie giggled.
"Elena!" He called. She jumped off the monkey bars and on the ground and ran over to the group.
"Hi! I'm just so excited. I can't seem to stop moving!"
"That's wonderful!" He smiled. "We have a question to ask you."
"Yes! Yes! Yes! Ask!" She was bright eyed waiting for the question.
"Would you like to live here, with us, in Lazy Town?" Stephanie asked.
"Really?"
"Yes." Sportacus answered happily.
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" She jumped up and excitedly gave Sportacus a hug and a peck on the lips and started jumping up and down.
"And we're all gonna help you." Blushing a bit chuckling at her enthusiasm.
"I'm so excited! I wanna talk! I wanna shout!" she jumped around.
"How about sing and dance?" Stephanie suggested.
"Sing?"
"Yeah! C'mon everyone! Let's teach her Bing Bang!"
The kids cheered and went into a rendition of the Bing Bang song.
Bing bang diggiriggidong
First thing that I say after I wake up.
Bing bang diggiriggidong
I say those words before I go to sleep.
Get on up it's time to dance yeah.
It's so much fun being up on our feet.
So we go
Up up - do the jump
Move around and clap your hands together.
Down down - turn around
Having fun is what it's all about.
She ran over to Sportacus, and looked at him. "Sportacus? I'm having so much fun but later can we talk about that paper with my picture that was at Pixel's?
He looked at her. "We will talk. You have my word." He lead her over everyone and they continued the dance to Bing Bang!
Bing bang diggiriggidong
Funny words I sing when I am dancing.
Bing bang diggiriggidong
Silly words that can't mean anything.
Get on up it's time to dance yeah.
It's so much fun being up on our feet.
So we go
Up up - do the jump
Move around and clap your hands together.
Down down - turn around
Having fun is what it's all about.
Ooohh
One two - me and you,
Move around and clap your hands together.
Three four - on the floor,
Having fun is what it's all about.
For those of you new readers the stories in the arc are- (in order to be read)
Love is in the Air, Wedding Day, Sunshine, Lollypops and Sleepwalkers (rated M)
Loquia, Tale of the Blue Knight, What's on the Menu Tonight (a Halloween short)
The Wedding of Spartacus and Elena, Upside-down in LazyTown, T'was the Day of Thanksgiving (another short)
First Snow, LazyTown Christmas, Alternate Realities, Number Nine and Crossover with Torchwood-It came from the Rift
Thanks for reading and please review.