EPILOGUE PART ONE
Three weeks later, Stingy, Trixie, Pixel, and Ziggy were playing soccer in the park. Life had returned to as normal a state as was possible for all those involved. The hero sent to replace Sportacus left the church immediately after the children did, and neither he nor the organization he came from were ever heard from again. Father Allen, along with the police chief, told reporters that the storm had damaged the doors, and that the two suspects had escaped. Several days after that, Father Allen was found gone, and no one ever saw him again either. Most of the police who were there that day took after the chief, and decided to say nothing on what really happened. Not only because no one would believe them, and maybe even think they were crazy, but because it was something that they didn't want to tarnish in their minds. It was a singular perfect moment that they kept close to them their whole lives.
Stephanie's parents left at the end of the week like they planned. During that time they didn't come out of their hotel room almost at all. The father was starkly quite when he was seen outside, and wouldn't talk to anyone. Stephanie's mom, however, did come up to the kids, one day before she and her husband were to leave.
"I wanted to thank all of you." she said. "I know that while my baby girl was here, you were her best friends. And I just…"
Apparently even saying 'baby girl' was enough to start her crying again.
"I just wanted to tell you how wonderful you all were to care for her so much."
She buried her face in her hands and silently wept. Ziggy came up to her and hugged her.
"Don't worry, she's in a much better place! She'll always be happy from now on. There's no reason to be sad about it."
Lauren Meanswell lifted her face up and smiled at Ziggy.
"I know, its just that she and Sportacus could have gotten married and lived happily here on Earth before they died. Like normal. But, because I was so weak in front of my husband, even though I knew Sportacus was a good man in my heart, I'm the one that sent them away essentially. Its all my fault."
Before the kids could convincer her otherwise, she turned around and started briskly walking away. Ziggy was about to go after her, but Pixel stopped him.
"Its ok Zig." Pixel told him. "Just let her go. She'll have to get over this in her own way over time. But she'll see them again one day. I'm sure of it."
Ziggy slowly nodded in agreement.
A few days later, Trixie told them that while she had been walking by the mayor's house earlier, she heard through an open window what the mayor was saying to Miss Busybody. He was crying and saying similar things as Stephanie's mom. About it being his fault and that he should have done something like the angel said. Miss Busybody held him and tried to console him best she could, but Trixie could tell the mayor still blamed himself.
One night later, the kids decided to go to their tree house and stay up late telling jokes since it was the weekend. When they got there, sitting at the foot of the tree, was none other than Robbie Rotten. His knees were up against his chest, and as they got closer, it became clear that even he had been crying. At first the boys stopped and stood in uncomfortable silence, not really knowing what to do, but then Trixie confidently walked right up to Robbie and kneeled down to hug him. Amazingly, he didn't push her off, but returned the hug. Feeling a bit ashamed of themselves, the three boys walked over and they too hugged Robbie.
"Thank you kids." Robbie said in a quiet voice that none of them had heard before.
"I guess I have a lot in common with Scrooge. Neither of us could bear the weight of our conscience. All those years I worked to push you kids and Sportacus away, I now know I was really just wanting to do whatever I could to be around you all. Every time I put on a disguise, it was more to fool myself about my intentions than to fool anyone else. And now that Sportacus and that pink tornado are gone, I'm so lonely."
"You're not alone Mr. Rotten." said Trixie. "You're always welcome to play with us. We don't have an adult anymore to hang out with us and teach us things, so you could take Sportacus's place."
Robbie smiled. "There was a time when I would rather have died than permanently take up Sportaspaz's place. But now, I think nothing would make me happier."
Trixie hugged him again.
"I do hope though, that I will be allowed to see them again. It was my fault that Sportacus and sir-pinks-a-lot had to leave. I could have done so much, now that I think about it, to help. But the angel was right. I let my pride rule me."
Then Stingy spoke up. "Well, you heard what he said, so long as you're a good person and do good things, and love someone, you'll see them again."
"Yeah, that's right." replied Pixel. "We'll have to work on the first two with you, but that last one might be harder. Is there anyone you love Mr. Rotten?"
Robbie was silent for a time, lost in thought. Then he spoke up. "I believe, the only people I can say that I actually do love, would be you kids. It just took me this long to see it for myself."
With that, Trixie fiercely hugged him once again, then the others jumped on board the Robbie attack hug as well. When they were done, all the kids used their sleeves to dry off Robbie's face, and then he bunched up his shirt and wiped off the tears on their faces. They all lay down on the green grass, and with the warm breeze blowing over them, and the white moonlight shining down, they soon fell asleep.
In the days and weeks that followed, Robbie Rotten performed a metamorphosis that, while not as quick as the grinch's own change of heart, was no less powerful in its fullness. Slowly, he became what Sportacus had been to the children. Teaching them, playing with them, laughing with them. And then he began to help the other towns people, just like Sportacus did. Pretty soon, it was almost like Sportacus never left. Robbie became a paramount of virtue and kindness. He never let anyone go hungry, never let anyone stay in pain or be sad. One day, someone spoke in passing that he should be called 'Robbie Right.' Peculiar how small statements like that can lead to large changes, because that is how Robbie was known for the rest of his life.
For Ziggy, that first year after Sportacus and Stephanie had left, passed by amazingly quickly. Trixie and Stingy began to see more of each other, apart from everyone else. A few other kids joined the established group. Robbie and the mayor both seemed able to forgive themselves. But although life was good, Ziggy still felt like he had lost something when Sportacus and Stephanie left. Something he had yet to regain, or even figure out what it was that he'd lost.
And then one night he had a dream. In the dream, Ziggy was standing in the woods beyond Lazytown. It was daytime, but cloudy. He walked for a while along no path, without knowing where he was going. Eventually he came to a small clearing with one respectably big tree in it; maple, he thought. He saw a mountain lion curled up sleeping in a large space between two of the maple's upraised roots. That area was clear of smaller trees and rocks, and looked as if it would be a very comfortable place to sit down and rest if he was tired. Then Ziggy heard the voice. He would never forget that voice as long as he lived.
DO YOU KNOW WHY I HAVE BROUGHT YOU HERE?
Ziggy looked around for where the angel was, but he didn't see him anywhere.
"No. Is it really you, great angel? Or is this just part of my dream? I don't normally know I'm in a dream until I've already woken up. But this time I'm sure I'm dreaming."
YES. IT IS I, AND YES, YOU ARE IN A DREAM. I HAVE BROUGHT YOU HERE TO HELP YOU FIND WHAT YOU HAVE LOST.
"You have? So I was right about myself. What is it then?"
YOU SWORE AN OATH LONG AGO, TO GOD AND YOURSELF, TO PROTECT YOUR FRIENDS AGAINST ANY HARM THAT WOULD COME TO THEM, NO MATTER THE COST TO YOU. WHEN SPORTACUS AND STEPHANIE WERE MADE TO LEAVE, YOU FELT THAT IT WAS YOUR FAULT, THAT YOU HAD FAILED THEM. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE ALSO TAKEN THE BLAME FOR WHAT HAPPENED, AS I KNEW THEY WOULD. BUT THEY HAVE ALL LEARNED TO FORGIVE THEMSELVES AND MOVE ON. ALL BUT YOU ZIGGY.
WHAT YOU HAVE LOST IS YOUR OWN HEART. YOU KEEP TELLING YOURSELF YOU DID EVERYTHING POSSIBLE, BUT YOUR HEART REFUSES TO LISTEN TO THE REST OF YOU. BECAUSE OF THAT, YOU FEEL THAT THE OATH YOU MADE HAS BECOME BROKEN AND VOID, BECAUSE YOU FAILED TO UPHOLD IT. GOD NEVER FORGETS SUCH SACRED VOWS, AND NEITHER MUST YOU.
Ziggy then heard the snap of a twig and spun around. Standing not more than 4 feet away was Stephanie and Sportacus, holding hands. They looked exactly as they had when he last saw them, before they went to heaven. Both of them were smiling at him.
"Hello Ziggy." said Stephanie.
Without acknowledging her, Ziggy called out to the air, "Is it them, angel? I mean, I know I'm in a dream, but is it really them? No tricks or illusion on your part?" Ziggy didn't think the angel would have any reason to trick him, but he had to make sure.
YOU ARE IN YOUR OWN MIND. THEIR BODIES ARE NOT REAL, BUT THEIR WORDS ARE THEIRS. WERE I ONE OF MY FALLEN BROTHERS I COULD LIE TO YOU NOW, BUT WERE THAT THE CASE, I COULD HAVE NEVER TAKEN THEM AWAY AS I DID. A DEMON COULD TRY TO IMPERSONATE ME, BUT THERE ARE SOMETHINGS GOD WON'T ALLOW, EVEN TO BE USED TO TEST MORTALS WITH. I AM TRUTH, AS ARE THEY.
Hearing that, Ziggy smiled and ran to them. He tried to hug them both at once, but his short arms made it difficult. They hugged him in return, and Ziggy thought he would cry but managed to hold back the tears.
"Oh Sportacus and Stephanie, I'm so sorry for what happened! I know its probably very, very nice where you are, but I can't help but feel as if I took away your lives, or at least helped others to do it. If only I was a bit taller, and stronger and not so fat and shy and scared, I could maybe have given you time to get away, or think of something. I failed you both the one time you needed me, even after swearing to not let anything ever hurt you."
Sportacus puts his hands on Ziggy's shoulders. "Ziggy, you did everything possible. You did more than anyone else could have. And in the end, not even an army of hero's could have changed the eventual outcome. What happened was meant to, for better or worse. Neither of us blame you."
"That's right Ziggy." Stephanie said. "Where we are is the best place possible. We came back for this brief time because we both wanted to let you know that we love you. There's nothing to be forgiven Ziggy, so please forgive yourself."
Stephanie and Sportacus both hugged Ziggy again, then let go of him and stepped away. They held hands and smiled as they faded into the air.
Ziggy stood quiet and contemplative for several minutes. Then he spoke aloud. "Thank you angel."
The angel replied in authoritative tone.
THERE IS ONE MORE STEP TO BE TAKEN IN HEALING YOU. YOU MUST RETAKE THE OATH YOU SWORE LONG AGO. THERE ARE STILL FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND OTHERS THAT YOU NEED TO HELP. BUT FROM NOW ON, YOU WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER YOUR PROMISE. WHEN YOU WAKE, YOU WILL FIND THE TWO OBJECTS THAT SPORTACUS AND STEPHANIE HELP MOST DEAR TO THEM IN LIFE. FIND A METAL BOX AND PUT THEM IN IT. THEN BRING THE BOX TO THIS PLACE, UNDER THE TREE, AND BURY IT WHERE THE CREATURE YOU SEE SLEEPS. PLACE A ROCK FOR A TOMBSTONE, AND RETAKE YOUR OATH. ON THE FIRST SATURDAY OF EVERY CHANGE IN THE SEASON, COME TO THIS PLACE IN THE EARLY EVENING AND STAY UNTIL DAWN TO GUARD YOUR FRIEND'S RESTING PLACE. DO NOT FALL ASLEEP AND DO NOT WANDER DURING YOUR VIGIL. AS TIME GOES ON, YOU MAY ADD OTHER OBJECTS TO THE BOX . YOU WILL KNOW WHAT AND WHEN TO DO SO. DO THIS ZIGGY, NOT ONLY TO SHOW GOD YOUR DEDICATION, BUT TO ALSO SHOW YOURSELF.
The next thing Ziggy knew, he was awake. It wasn't quite dawn yet, but would be soon. He was very aware of how badly he had to use the bathroom. As he was walking back to his bed afterward, he saw something casting an unfamiliar shadow on his desk. He turned on the light and walked over to examine it. Laying on his desk was the SportaBarbie doll everyone had made for Stephanie for her tenth birthday. They all chipped in to by the doll, then each one added his or her own contribution to make it look more like Stephanie. Complete with pink hair, dress, purse, and tennis shoes, Ziggy had actually not seen Stephanie take it out to play with ever. But that was because he knew she kept it in a safe place on top of her shelves where it would never get hurt. And then he noticed the picture next to it. In it, Sportacus stood with Stephanie and the other four kids on the small dock of a lake. Everyone had towels wrapped around their wet bodies. It had been a hot summer day and they had spent nearly all of it in the water playing games.
Seeing the two items, Ziggy knew it had all been real. He went to the garage and found exactly the perfect box to keep them in. It was an old lock box his dad had bought for some important paperwork that he long ago stopped needing. Now it held nothing. It was easily large enough for the two items with plenty of room to spare for other stuff. He wrapped the photo and doll in a plastic bag and then used duct tape to seal the box and make it as water proof as possible. Then he put the whole thing into a bigger plastic bag.
Later that day after school, as soon as he came home he told his mom he was going out for a pre-dinner walk, and that he'd start on his homework as soon as he got back. Since it was exercise, she couldn't complain. He borrowed a spade from the garage, put it and the bag with the box into his backpack and made off for the forest. The walk to the woods isn't a great one, although that last bit is uphill getting to the tree line. Once he got there, he began walking along the path that the kids had made for walking and bicycle riding. He remembered the way the land looked from his dream, and using that he managed to eventually detour from the path and find the spot. It was exactly as it was in the dream, minus the mountain lion (thank god).
So Ziggy got to digging, and within an 25 minutes of hard work he had the box safely buried about 6 inches below ground. Being right below the tree, he was sure erosion of the soil would be negligible. Then he found a rock which was generally round, free of dirt, and also happened to have a lot of pink in it. Nestling it right underneath the tree, he stepped back to examine his work. Knowing that Stephanie and Sportacus never had a proper funeral, he bowed his head and gave a small prayer and retook his oath to protect those he cared for. Then he packed up his spade and marched off back home.