Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Lazy Town. They belong to their respective company of the same name. I am just borrowing the characters for this fan fiction. I only own Readsmore and Lidenbrock, but the name of the latter is somewhat inspired by Jules Verne's character from Journey to the Center of the Earth.
Behind the Crystal Chapter 4
By Trynia Merin
My thanks to KrysSaiyan my first reviewer! You've given me a few ideas for the next chapter after this one. And don't worry, there MIGHT be a bit of Robbie/Sportacus coming up possibly… as well as hints of Stephs' feelings for the sports elf!
Although it was sundown, Robbie Rotten was wide-awake. Just hearing the clamor from outside was enough to jerk him from an abnormally long sleep. Therefore, he had naturally used his periscope to spy on the cause. Yet, since his periscope did not come up close to where the new house was, he had taken to creeping up and spying from the bushes.
Something about being close without Sportacus seeing him was entertaining. While he loved using his technology, the words he heard Sportacus speak to that science teacher were very educational. He could not believe Sportacus would have the audacity to convince a perfectly sedate teacher who only enjoyed quiet walks to join in that ridiculous spectacle of basketball.
Yet, another plan spun in Robbie's brain. He crept back towards his lair, the greasy wheels in his mind spinning. Yes, he could use this to his advantage. Schoolteachers had an image to keep up. He knew having spent a brief stint dressed as one in a failed plot to oust Sportacus from Lazytown. What stood out the most was that this person knew something about why Sportacus was here. Judging from what he had overhead about Sportacus knowing one of her relatives was intriguing.
"Very curious. The poor idiot has no idea what he's in for. So there's some 'association' behind sending these heroes here? If they found no reason for Sportakook to remain, perhaps he could go elsewhere. But how to use this… if someone SENT him here, then they can recall him. But how…"
Landing in his fuzzy orange chair, he leaned back, tapping his chin. The teacher did not' care much for exercise. Perhaps if he convinced her she was making a fool of herself she would revert to her old ways. If she could be convinced the children's excercize was affecting their homework he could force them to stop. Perhaps then he could get some rest!
"Too many variables. But there are TWO angles I can exploit. First, find out if this teacher knows anything ELSE she is willing to blab about if Sportacus tries to get her to excercize again. Then there's attacking the old public image. What to do, what to do…"
Grinning he sauntered over to his disguise menagerie. IN dozens of glass tubes were mannequins with various costumes. Passing a few he lit upon the salt and pepper suit with a rather severe wig and horn-rimmed glasses. The trick was passing himself off as the Superintendent of Schools. "They pay visits from time to time. It'll be the perfect way to stick close and hear some more about this hero's association…" he cackled, rubbing his hands together.
Though, something saddened him suddenly about the thought of Sportacus leaving. If not for the disruption in sleep, Sportacus was sickeningly cheerful. He was one of the only people Robbie knew of who could be angry one day and brightly cheerful to him the next as if nothing had happened. For some reason, Sportacus gave Robbie every effort to 'reform' without hauling him off to jail. Not that what he had done was exactly 'illegal' but he had not crossed the line totally.
He tapped his forehead, frowning. Was it all THAT bad having the blue elf around? Something about him piqued at Robbie. Trying to tax his brain to figure out how to get rid of Sportacus kept his muse working hard on inventing. Yet, he was ready for a break.
"They could always send him back, if I change my mind," Robbie chuckled. But that schoolteacher had to either change or go. Something made Robbie feel strange twinges of jealousy the way that Sportacus looked at her. Why would he feel 'jealous' of the superhero paying attention to some schoolteacher? Just why Robbie was not sure he wanted to know. But he admitted he DID like seeing the way that spandex glided over Sportacus toned body when he flipped in front of that periscope.
"No, she has to go. She and that annoying pink brat," Robbie snorted. Both of them at once.
"Then Sportacus will be all mine," Robbie cackled. He suddenly stopped himself.
"Wait a minute, did that just sound like it did?" he blinked. He had some serious thinking to do. Could it be… that Pinkie was not the only one who liked Sportacus? Could he possibly…
"Me… like Sportashave? The very idea," Robbie shuddered. However, the more he thought about it, the more JEALOUS he felt when he pictured the sports elf chasing after that woman. Perhaps Sportacus didn't have to leave if Robbie found ANOTHER reason for him to stay.
Birds chirped through a nearby tree as Stephanie woke and stretched. Her bedroom could easily be an ad for pepto bismol, but she didn't care. She just loved anything pink! Hugging the fuzzy bear to her chest she dropped down and wondered if she wanted to get up. Wiping a bit of tear from her eye, she thought about the last few months. Mother and Father seemed so close and yet so far away. Just hiding the reason she'd moved here permanently was difficult to say the least.
"Sportacus would say get up," she murmured. Thinking of the hero made her heart flutter a bit and she decided to see if he was up patrolling the town with his usual summersaults and flips. Sometimes she caught him doing pushups on the wall outside her window. Lately he'd found excuses to run on his morning jog by her window to give her a smile.
Yawning, Stephanie swung her legs around and then put both feet on the floor. She walked over to her dresser and opened the second drawer from the top to pull out a pair of pink sweatpants and a T-shirt. Excercize always raised her spirits. If she wasn't out she was sure her friends would come after her.
Soon she had eaten a nutritious breakfast and trotted down the steps of her front porch. Nobody was up yet except for the occasional neighbor gardening or watering his or her lawn. Her uncle waved his goodbye as she began a brisk jog.
The flickering lights of the morning sun pixilated through the tree near the window of her new neighbor. Sitting on her front porch, Gretchen Lidenbrock finished eating her breakfast of rolls smothered with butter and jam. She took a sip of the orange juice and folded her legs while glancing at her paper. When she heard the tap of shoes on pavement and heard someone panting she peered over the top to see a small figure wearing a pink jogging suit. It was Stephanie, pumping her arms and jogging briskly past her front porch.
"Hello!" she waved.
"Good grief," the schoolteacher shook her head. "Since when did a nine year old jog like that?"
Most nine-year-olds she knew would want to stay in bed and watch cartoons. Yet, she figured it was all due to that sports elf. Something strange stirred inside her, and she tossed down her paper. Marching into her house, she let socks and pumpkin out so they could run and do what cats normally did. The orange tabby darted out and rushed into the front yard while the black and white tuxedo cat curled up in the chair she'd vacated. Socks yawned unimpressed as he lay his head on his paws.
Minutes later Stephanie had worked her way back down the street in a second lap. To her surprise the front door of Gretchen's house opened, admitting a woman wearing a pair of baggy loose sweatpants, a T shirt and a sweat top that looked as if it were brand new but barely worn. Down one leg of the pants, it said Intellectual City U, while the sweat jacket had the initials ICU. The T-shirt had a slight faded logo that read Rockhound on it. Glasses held around her face by a band, Gretchen made a jerky attempt at stretching.
"Hi!" Stephanie said. "You're out jogging too?"
"I don't know WHY I'm doing this, but if a nine year old can get up, I must be out of shape," Gretchen mumbled.
"C'mon and join me!" Stephanie said,
"That kid shouldn't be THAT peppy this early," mumbled Gretchen. She started at Stephanie's side, fumbling to put the headphones in her ears and click on her favorite CD.
"It's always nice to jog with someone. That's what Sportacus says," Stephanie panted, setting the pace. Gretchen huffed after her, the sweatband around her upswept hair soaking up the droplets already pouring down.
It was a sunny Saturday as the two females jogged down Shady way, and onto Main Street. Stephanie started to outpace her teacher, and Gretchen huffed as she picked up the pace. She had to admit the kid was a good incentive. Something about wanting to know why Stephanie had suddenly come to live here permanently tugged at the teacher's curiosity. From looking at her student's file, she knew the girl lived in a town miles away by train. Her uncle Milford had brought her in and signed all the transfer papers. Where were her mother and father? A maternal instinct overrode Gretchen's annoyance at her wheezing breath and she started to move a pace ahead of Stephanie. As if things couldn't get any more strenuous, she saw something blue and white out of the corner of her eye flash by. She kept her vision straight ahead when she saw Stephanie wave and saw her bright smile. That dreamy schoolchild crush look twinkled over Stephanie's young face. Gretchen knew that look well, for what girl or boy wouldn't look up to the handsome muscled figure flipping head over hands to keep up with their pace.
"Oh brother," Gretchen mumbled, feeling extremely embarrassed by looking like a slob in workout clothes. Just why she should care around a sports clad hero escaped her, but she was relieved when Sportacus turned his full attention on her running mate.
Over the loud rock music, she heard pieces of the convo. Sportacus was eagerly chattering to an excited Stephanie. Just seeing how the girl's face lit up around the hero proved that Stephanie had a very strong Jones for the athletic elf. To be nine again, and mooning over a handsome older man who paid you so much attention was the dream of any girl. Especially when his face and eyes lit up like the sun. Those eyes of his seemed so unnaturally blue, and the boundless energy didn't seem human.
"Come on he's a hero. An elf," she blinked, seeing one of his ears slightly poking out from under the cap he wore. That blasted moustache made her remember Captain Nimrod's fine moustache and beard, defying gravity. Sure not every hero had to be elfish but some did tend to be magical beings. Elves were charming to everyone. The gears in her head turned. Something about an icelandic elf that her brother or uncle knew. But his name wasn't Sportacus. It was Ithrottaalfurin something.
"Hello there!" he seemed to yell. Tearing her headphone out she struggled to keep up the pace because Stephanie was suddenly rushing faster to keep up with Sportacus.
"Huh… good morning…" she huffed, pushing her legs to move faster.
"It's a pleasant morning for a jog, isn't it? Great to see you out and working out first thing," he waved.
"It's Stephanie's fault," Gretchen stopped herself.
"I'm trying for five miles this time," Stephanie cheerfully chirped, her eyes wide and moony at the grin Sportacus shot in their direction.
"Oh brother," Gretchen rolled her eyes, then chuckled. Already her heart slammed against her breastbone while her legs started to complain. Already Sportacus and Stephanie had outpaced her by five feet, then ten. Biting her lip she summoned more strength knowing it would probably cost her later in aches and pains.
"Five miles, why that's good."
"Five what?" Gretchen groaned. Still looking at the rear view of the sports elf wasn't bad, but she wasn't about to let a nine year old girl stay before her too long. Her feet pounded against he pavement, wearing the very sneakers Sportacus had given her yesterday. The entire front of her shirt was saturated. Finally, when her knees began to cramp she knew it was hopeless.
"I'm out of shape. Admit it. I hate jogging," Gretchen mumbled as she let herself drop back. Sportacus and Stephanie shot hopelessly far ahead. Her arms flopped like lead weights and she seemed like she was a tortoise running after a hare.
"Are you okay?" the Icelandic accented voice asked.
"What the?" she blinked, seeing Sportacus suddenly jogging much more slowly to keep pace with her. "Do I look okay? This is the first time in YEARS I've done this! I'm lucky I'm not comatose on the ground."
"Take it easy, it's not a race. Breathe in through your nose and out your mouth. Let your whole chest move…"
"I know… how to breathe," she gasped, suddenly flopping.
"Come on, you can do it!" he said. Stephanie had dropped back as well, letting her slowly catch up.
"Oh hell," Gretchen groaned. "I need to stop!"
"Maybe you need some water?" Stephanie asked.
"Are you sure you ate a good breakfast?"
"I… huff… ate!" she heaved. "It's just… I'm out of breath."
"Then just walk for a little bit. Let your body cool down. If you're not used to this, it's not a crime to take it slow. Just as long as you're moving that's what matters," Sportacus said gently. She felt a water bottle pushed into her hand and took it gladly from the sports elf.
"I remember that time I didn't eat breakfast and I almost crashed," Stephanie said sympathetically, dropping to a slow power walk.
"This is embarrassing, I'm only slowing you both down. Don't worry just go on ahead," she finally gasped after chugging a quarter of the bottle down.
"It's okay, really," Stephanie said brightly, but there was a hint of jealousy in the girl's face that Gretchen knew was typical of a schoolgirl crush.
"No, really, you two… I'll just go back and take a rest, I'm sure Stephanie and you do this every morning, I don't want to intrude," she said, turning around and struggling to jog back home. Sportacus and Stephanie exchanged glances and jogged quickly after her.
"That's weird," Sportacus mumbled. Stephanie blushed when she realized what had just happened. Was it THAT obvious she wanted time alone with the superhero? She couldn't help but feel a bit guilty and a bit glad to have him all to herself.
"No, let her go. I'm sure she's just worried she's going to hold us back," Stephanie took his arm.
"It's a shame. She wasn't doing too badly," Sportacus shaded his face with his hand. "Ah well, I'm sure there's something ELSE she likes to do."
"Why are you so worried about her? She doesn't look like she really wanted to jog in the first place?" Stephanie asked.
"Well she WAS trying," Sportacus said.
"True. But you don't understand something about girls, Sportacus."
"Which is?" Sportacus glanced down at her with a confused frown.
"She was embarrassed at how she looked maybe? I mean women get all self conscious when they don't look their best and maybe she didn't expect you to suddenly pop in… sometimes girls and women, they worry about how they look in front of someone so handsome… oops," Stephanie realized what she was saying and clapped a hand over her mouth.
"And what was wrong with the way she looked?" Sportacus asked.
Stephanie chuckled and shook her head. "Most women would rather look their best?"
"How can she not look her best if she doesn't exercise? I mean why should she be embarrassed, eh?" Sportacus shrugged.
"Oh never mind," Stephanie sighed. "I'm sure she's okay. If she wants to come out later, I'm sure she will. But maybe it's better if we didn't push her."
"True, but she DOES need exercise, and I hate seeing someone out of shape and not moving when they'd feel so much better."
"Well then maybe we can do something to make her feel better. Uncle Milford was going to send over a cake…"
"A cake?" Sportacus looked at her in horror as they stopped in front of Stephanie's front door.
"Oh well maybe to you… I could convince him to make a carrot cake?" she chuckled.
"A basket of fresh fruit would be much nicer don't you think," the sports elf mumbled. He was thankful for the bleeping in his crystal. Waving to his friend, he rushed off in a series of flips. Stephanie noticed he was chasing after Mrs. Readmore's dog that had chased an orange cat up the tree in the yard across the street.