Ziggy amazed himself. He ran straight, all the way back to the park, and then not finding his friends there, onto their tree house where he knew they must be. Not once did he have to stop for breath. His anger fueled him in a way nothing ever had before. Not even candy. Quick as Sportacus himself, he ran up the ladder and entered the cramped room. They were all sitting down. Stingy was still holding Trixie, who was leaning her head against his chest. She stared quietly at nothing. Pixel was trying to play his game, but it was plain to see his heart was not even remotely in it. Ziggy sat down best he could, and quickly told them everything. When he was done, Trixie looked as if she was almost about to cry again. Stingy for once, had nothing to say, but Pixel mirrored Ziggy's own personal state.
"Those dirty…, filthy…"
It was clear he wanted to curse, but poor, gentle Pixel found it hard to do so, even at a time like this.
"I know, I know. Trust me Pixel, I know exactly what you can't say. That's why we can't let them get away with this. Not for us, so we can still hang out with each other and Sportacus, but for Sportacus and Stephanie. They're the best of us, and shouldn't have to go through this." Ziggy paused, a bit embarrassed to admit what he was about to say, but continued none the less. "A long time ago, I promised myself and God I wouldn't let anything happen to or hurt my friends. That's why I'm going to do something."
Trixie turned to him. "But Ziggy what can we do? We're just a bunch of kids after all."
"I know one other adult who might help us. Usually he's always against us, but I can't think that even he would want this to happen. I'm going to see Robbie Rotten."
"You really think he'll help you?" asked Pixel.
"As Sportacus would say, I won't know until I try."
And so Ziggy opened the bottom latch, but not before taking one of the 2 tree house, group owned, (despite Stingy's protests on that point) walkie-talkies.
"I'll radio you guys when I have a plan from Robbie." he said.
Ziggy then climbed back down and ran off to the pipe that lead to Robbie's lair.
20 Minutes later, he was down talking to Robbie.
"Please Mr. Rotten! I've told you what's happening! You can't want Sportacus to be gone forever! Haven't you had fun trying to take him out all these years? And how do feel about someone else being the one to finally get rid of him? You can't want that!"
"Hmmm. I will admit to you Zippy, that a part of my pride is hurt because I wasn't the one to do it, but, I HAVE wanted him gone since forever it seems. So why should I do anything? Not only will Sportaloser be run off, but all you noisy kids will be kept apart, hopefully for just as long. No, I can deal with a bit of wounded pride for all that in exchange."
Robbie then faced away from Ziggy, and continued working on his television, trying to get the best possible picture. Ziggy slowly turned and walked back to the stairs going up the pipe. He was completely devastated. Somehow, he had just hoped that Robbie would save them from this horrible predicament. There was no historical evidence to backup his reasoning for this hope. He just felt in his heart that Robbie wasn't as bad as he always seemed.
Once Robbie heard the pipe door up top close, he stopped what he was doing with his TV, which was essentially nothing, and said to himself, "I'm sorry Sportacus. I, will…, miss you. But as much as my pride hates being bested by 2 amateurs of villainy, it would be even more damaged if I went against everything I've been preaching these last 4 years and saved you."
Robbie then walked over to his orange chair and dropped his weary body down. He was more tired than he had ever remembered himself being. But it wasn't his body that felt exhausted so much as his soul.
Above ground, Ziggy was in a trance. The wind had picked up, and storm clouds had blown in, cooling the air dramatically. But Ziggy didn't even feel the wind whipping around him. He walked as if asleep. His mind was empty. He had no idea on what to do, so he just walked. Some time later, he found himself in the schoolyard. Since his anger had long ago died down and given into sadness, his body felt all the running he had done earlier. He saw a bench and sat down, crossed his arms in his lap, and then laid his head into them. Pretty soon, he felt the bench shift. He looked up to see Mr. Jenkins sitting beside him, wiping his old hands on a wash cloth.
"Now now, young Ziggy. Don't you know school doesn't start for another 2 weeks? There's no reason to get so sad so soon." He smiled down, and his smile cheered Ziggy enough to wake him a bit out of his depression.
"Its not school Mr. Jenkins. Its something else entirely."
"Well then, why don't you tell this old bag of bones what on earth could be so bad, and we'll see what can be done about it yes?
Ziggy nodded, and began to narrate everything he had seen, starting at Stephanie's birthday party and ending with them sitting on the bench. When he finished, Mr. Jenkins wasn't looking at him anymore, but was instead staring into his own hands. He had a stern look on his face, and for a very long time after Ziggy finished, he was quiet. Ziggy wasn't sure what was going on in his head, but he had the impression, vaguely, that even kind old man Jenkins was mad. Strangely, this old man's, calm, reserved anger frightened him more than even his own had. Then he turned to Ziggy and took hold of him by the shoulders.
"Ziggy, I want you to listen to me, and listen very carefully. You are absolutely right. This is not good what's happening, but rather something of great evil. In some ways, even killing someone isn't as bad as the sins that some of those adults are committing right now. And trust me, beyond just working at a church, I of all people know about sin. We must stop them before Stephanie and Sportacus's hearts go so far down into darkness and depression, that one of them might even do the unthinkable. I want you to go back to your friends and have them get Sportacus and Stephanie. You may need to get Sportacus first, so that he can help you get Stephanie."
Ziggy couldn't help but break in, "But Stephanie's father said that if Sportacus ever came close to her again, not only would the police be after him but so would all sorts of other people, including the army if he had to!"
"Yes, I know. That's why when you have gathered everyone, I want you to bring them to the church. I will be waiting there. I have something in mind. Tell them that. Tell them they will be safe there. I can't explain anymore than that now, but Ziggy, you are the only one who can do this. All your friends are counting on you. You mustn't fail them, brave knight. You are the one who needs to protect them this time, as you have always wished you could."
Ziggy sat there astonished. 'How could he know what I've been wanting my whole life?' he thought. And thinking that, he then felt ashamed. He DID want to be the one who could save them one day, but not if it cost them the pain and suffering they were going through.
"Ziggy, there is no time for self hate or pity, you must go now. Do whatever it takes just bring them to the church. And remember Ziggy, the pink girl is right, there's ALWAYS a way. Now run!"
Mr. Jenkins stood up and Ziggy got on his feet as well and started running back to the tree house. Halfway there, he remembered he had the walkie-talkie. He changed course to Sportacus's airship and turned on the radio. Once Pixel picked up he stopped running and explained to him what happened with Robbie and what Mr. Jenkins told him.
"Well its nice at least one adult is listening to us, but what can old man Jenkins do for us? I know he's a grown up, but I've seen other grown ups give a kid more respect than they give him sometimes. And he's not Sportacus. Heck, I think even us kids are probably stronger and faster than he is."
"I know Pixel, but he told me to trust him, and I do. I don't know how but I feel what he said is true. If we get to the church, we'll be safe. I'm going to go tell Sportacus myself, and me and him will go rescue Stephanie. You have to get Stingy and Trixie to the church. I'm depending on you Pixel."
Ziggy heard Pixel swallow as if he had something large in his throat, then Pixel's voice followed. "I won't let you down Ziggy. You can trust me. Pixel out."