Disclaimer: Only a few chapters left – and we finally meet the Roma Clan! I don't own Fairly Odd Parents, but I do own Dwalin, Mieg, Morrigan, the kingdoms, and kinda-sorta the Roma-Demons. This is a bit long as well. Read, Review, and Spread the word.
FOP
The travelers were once again in a forest, but this one was definitely not Dimmsdale City Park. It was deeper, more natural. There were birds chirping, animals rustling in the distance, and the humans could feel the strong sense of magic that flowed through, around, and with everything.
Turning to face the way they came, Timmy and Tootie as well as the faeries watched the oak trees that had come together to form the gateway, pulled apart slowly. Dwalin, on the other hand, didn't even notice as he continued on his trek towards his home.
"Come on Tootie-Man-Brat! Almost there!" he called back with excitement, and Tootie couldn't hold back a smile as she helped Timmy follow their Goblin Guide. The teen had suffered a harsh bite on his leg, and with the faeries all but useless and Dwalin being no healer, she knew it was up to her to get Timmy to see a Goblin Nurse.
Timmy, on the other hand, was trying to force an epiphany as he fingered the Crystal Rose he put in his pocket when they had entered the Kingdom of Rust. Trixie was the one he always wanted, right? So why was he feeling all goofy around Tootie, enjoying her company and the feel of her arms around him? When they were fighting the Pooka, and he was being repeatedly picked up, bitten and thrown against nearby rock formations, all he could think of was Tootie. Hoping she was still alive. Hoping she was safe.
Hoping he would see her again.
And when he hugged her in that cave, she felt perfect as he held her to him. Just the form of her small body pressed to his, got him excited and he had to push her away, lest he get further arouse. And here she was now, helping him. Always helping him.
Just what was a guy to do?
"Faeries! Man-Brats! Look! Look! We're here! Riocht Cluricaune!" Dwalin whispered animatedly, and it was then Timmy realized how long they had been walking. While it was dark in the forest, the travelers could still see the sun. Now, it appeared to be well after nightfall.
How long had he been trapped in the confines of his own mind? And had Tootie pretty much carried him this whole time?
Dwalin's gasp of sorrow brought Timmy once again out of the thoughts that consumed him, the Goblin's breath followed closely by Tootie's, and then his faeries'. Once he directed his gaze away from Tootie and towards what lay in a valley in front of them, Timmy couldn't help but join in their surprise.
A large part of the forest had been cleared away, exposing a hill with trees on top. The trees on the hill, and the mound itself, had been hallowed out, resembling a city. The earth had been used to construct pillars and archways, as well as homes atop the ground and even within the branches of the trees. It was an island within the mud.
But where the plant life had been cleared away, now sat huts with smoke rising from inside as well as campfires. The trees on the other side of the camp were swiftly losing color and leaves, like it was autumn or winter for them even though all the other trees were green.
"Dwalin, what's going on?" Tootie whispered as the group moved behind a rise in the ground before it sloped towards the activity. Dwalin peeked above the crest, making a count of how many huts there were.
"Roma-Demons siege Riocht Cluricaune. Mieg-Mistress and other Goblins ward them off by summon magic from surrounding nature. But Goblins can't hold off much longer." Dwalin sounded more determined than ever, and Timmy, in a rush of compassion and companionship, leaned forward to try and get a better look at the people in the campsites.
They looked like what one would think of when they hear the term European Gypsies. Maybe Romanian or Hungarian. Dark hair and somewhat tan skin, skirts and trousers with metal in the shape of coins, a lot of facial hair and scarves.
"Just who are these people?" he asked, more himself than anyone else, but thinking out loud is often lost on Goblins, and Dwalin was more than willing to answer.
"Roma-Demons are Man-Brats that migrated to the Magikal Plane many many years ago. Some live in peace and trade with creatures, but some want to have only wealth. They harvest magik, and like war. This year they come for Goblins first." He explained, and everyone but Tootie looked at him funny. She was the only one used to his answering every question that was said aloud, as long as it sounded as if it could be directed to him.
"And just how are we supposed to stop them? Jeez, we just rushed into this and we didn't even have a game plan!" Timmy fretted, and Tootie was only able to stop him be placing a delicate hand over his mouth.
"Dwalin, how are they defeated?" she asked calmly, and Dwalin looked at them worriedly for a moment before grinning.
"How else are Man-Brats defeated? Kill the leader." The Goblin answered smugly, and Timmy just gaped at him.
"Murder? You want us to commit murder?!" Timmy pushed Tootie's hand away to shout at the little creature.
"I'll do it." Tootie said suddenly, and everyone whirled around to stare at her.
"What? Tootie, no, you can't just -" Timmy started to reason, but she silenced him with a soft smile.
"I'm the only one who can, Timmy. Dwalin will be killed on sight, Cosmo, Wanda and Poof are useless in Goblin Lands, and you're too injured. I'm the only one who can." Her determination was strong, but Timmy was just as stubborn.
"But Tootie -" She completely ignored him and turned to Dwalin.
"Dwalin-Goblin, can you help make Tootie-Man-Brat look like the Roma-Demons?" she asked while Timmy fumed.
"Dwalin will try." Was the Goblin's response, and Timmy was stunned. All this time Dwalin has been incredibly protective of her, and now he's willingly sending her to what will probably be her death?
"Dwalin, you can't -" the two paid him no mind as Dwalin gathered the forces of nature around him to transform Tootie's appearance into that of their enemy. Timmy vaguely wondered if this was how Wanda felt as he watched the leaves surrounding them swirl up and around Tootie, blocking her completely from view. After a minute or so, she re-emerged dressed in a brown skirt with a purple sash, brown vest atop a white poet's shirt, foot and wrist bangles, as well as rings and necklaces. Her head now sported a red bandana and her hair had been unpinned. The only thing Dwalin didn't dare touch was her feet, which were still clad in her converse. When everyone looked at him, he just shrugged.
"Dwalin doesn't know shoes." To emphasize his point, he lifted up a foot and wiggled his bare toes. Tootie laughed in spite of the situation she found herself in. She turned to Timmy, and found she couldn't keep his intense gaze, so she focused instead on his leg.
"Dwalin, is there a secret way into the city the Roma-Demons wouldn't know about?" Timmy looked at her suspiciously, but Dwalin ignored it in favor of nodding enthusiastically.
"The tunnels. Tunnels lead to the heart of the city." He informed, and Tootie smiled while picking up a fallen tree branch that looked like it could serve as a crutch.
"Timmy-Man-Brat's leg needs a Goblin Healer. Can Dwalin-Goblin take Timmy-Man-Brat and Faeries into the city for Tootie-Man-Brat?" she asked, and Dwalin drew himself up to his full two feet three inches, looking more serious than ever.
"Dwalin shall help Tootie-Man-Brat with his meager life."
It was a tremendous statement coming from a Goblin, and Tootie smiled, kissing him softly on the cheek. She was even impressed when he didn't run away from the physical touch. With a firm nod, she shoved the branch under Timmy's arm, and turned to face the slope she'd have to descend.
"Tootie please don't -" Timmy started, leaning heavily on the crutch, but was silenced when Tootie suddenly turned on her heal and made her way back to Timmy. Without a moment's hesitation she grabbed Timmy's dirty, bloody face and kissed him.
It was incredibly chaste, needy, and rushed, but Tootie didn't care at all. When she pulled away from him, his eyes were wide and confused. She smiled softly again, and let go of his face slowly, ignoring the gagging noises made by Dwalin and Cosmo.
"I didn't want any regrets." Was all she said, before swiftly turning around and making her way cautiously down the embankment. She didn't turn around again.
Meanwhile, without realizing it Timmy had lifted one of his hands after her retreating form. Why did she have to go and kiss him? Now he knew Trixie wasn't the one he wanted. He needed Tootie, and if her last words to him were anything to go on, she figured she wasn't going to survive the night.
Why did girls have to be so complicated?
Cosmo, Wanda and Poof all watch Tootie disappear, and hoped that this night would turn out alright. They liked Tootie, and they liked Timmy being happy. They saw the look in his eyes after she kissed him – there was definitely something there.
Dwalin, also lost in his thoughts, watched his friend vanish and wished to the powers that made him, that Tootie would be protected.
Breaking away from his wish, Dwalin ushered the group back into the woods, towards the entrance to one of the tunnels, hopeful that the Roma-Demons hadn't found them yet. As he herded, his thoughts strayed back to Tootie, and before they entered the dark and damp, he whispered one last declaration.
"Good luck, Tootie-Comrade."
*
The way down the incline was steep, muddy, and really incredibly irritating. My skirt kept getting caught on precariously downed tree limbs, and my feet kept sinking into sinkholes. By the time I reach the bottom, I had never been so thankful for converse in all my life.
Quickly and quietly, I approached the camp by one of the outer laying, empty huts. I could see the glow from their fires, hear their music and laughter, see their metal weapons. A woman passed in front of me, and I ducked into the folds of one of the huts, noticing that her feet were bare. Sitting down on a box of I didn't care to know what, I stripped off my mud covered shoes, and gratefully pealed off my socks. They were wet and muddy anyway, so if felt good to get my feet somewhat clean.
Straightening my bandana and smoothing out my skirt and sash, I took another deep breath to strengthen myself and moved towards the center of the Gypsy camp. I needed a plan; sure, winging it had gotten me this far just fine, but this was different. I couldn't just wing ending a siege. I needed a plan. I could . . . I could . . .
Winging it, it is.
I could just hear Dwalin encouraging me on, and Timmy telling me this was suicide. Duh, I knew that. But I also knew I was the only one who could pull it off before death. Why couldn't he see that? He never care before, so why did he have to choose now of all times to start? Why couldn't he just hate me, shout his contempt for me after that kiss so that this would be so much easier? Why did he have to be so damn quiet?
There were several Gypsies dancing around the fire, singing in a tongue I'd heard in my Food and Culture class, it was definitely Eastern European. They looked like they were celebrating, and for a moment I forgot that they were my enemies. They were just people. But then I saw the swords and the magical symbols and heard the chants for victory, and remembered why I was here, sneaking around in the dark and dressed like a Gypsy.
Playing theme music in my mind that sounded a lot like Flying by Secret Machines, I approached the fire closest to me, effectively stopping the celebration. They probably knew one another by name; of course they would know I wasn't one of them.
"Who are you, sister?" one young woman asked me. She couldn't have been any older than Vicky, and at the thought of my sister I felt a pang in my heart. I would probably never see her again.
"My name doesn't matter. I have important information about the Goblins I think your leader would like to know." Was my answer, and she looked me over once before deciding I was harmless.
"Follow me." she ordered, and I nodded, watching as all eyes followed me before continuing with the celebration. She led me towards a much larger tent, and on the way we passed a weapons hut, which – with as much subtly as I could muster – I snatched a small blade from that I figured could do the job.
She opened the tent flap for me, and as soon as I had entered she passed me to sit on a large pile of mats.
"My name is Sybilla, and I am the leader of this little troop of Gypsies. What kind of information do you have for me?" she prompted, and I bowed even as I thought of the dagger hidden within the folds of my skirt.
"The Goblins have a secret labyrinth of tunnels that lead into the heart of the city. I know where all the entrances are, I can lead you to them." I half bluffed, and she looked me over one more time before laughing.
"Did you really think it would be that easy, killing me?" Sybilla mocked, and I was thrown through a loop.
"What?"
"I know you are not a Gypsy, but an agent of the Goblins, sent here to kill me so that the war ends. I also know about the dagger you stole on the way to this tent." She told me, and I smiled sheepishly even as she called for the guards to come and hold me.
"How did you know?" I asked, and for a moment I saw a flash of genuine compassion.
"For starters, all Gypsies greet each other as friend, brother, or sister, while you just made demands. Second, even if your introduction could have been written off as simply rude, you would have immediately known I was the leader from the markings on my face," she then pointed to the intense red tattoos on her eyes brows and forehead, "and lastly, your accent is terrible." I couldn't hold back my laugh of defeat as two big, burly men I could only assume were her guards gripped my arms and removed the dagger from my possession.
"So, I ask again, did you really think it would be so easy?" she asked as she stood and approached us, placing her hand almost lovingly on top of my head. I once again smile sheepishly, which brought about a smile from Sybilla.
"Well, I was certainly hoping." She laughed, and stroked the side of my face with care.
"Will you tell us the way to these tunnels?" she prompted, and I shook my head.
"I'm afraid I can't do that now that I've been caught." He eyes turned sad, and I couldn't believe how civil this whole situation was.
"That's unfortunate. I hate to do this to one so young, you're still just a child. But you give me no choice. I am going to have to have you tortured for that information." She then motioned for the men to take me out of the tent. The argument of my age died on my lips the moment she said the word tortured.
So much for winging it.
*
Timmy hobbled along with Cosmo and Wanda behind Dwalin in the dark tunnel. Poof was sleeping deeply in his mother's arms, and the little Goblin carried the only torch as he led them down into the depths of the earth. Timmy was brooding over Tootie's decision, and finally unleashed his bottled up anger on the one person he felt deserved it.
Dwalin.
"How could you just let her go and do that?!" he shouted, and Dwalin didn't turn around to face the young Turner.
"Tootie-Comrade made her choice. Dwalin's place to not to order Tootie-Comrade." He said softly, and Timmy used his crutch like a baseball bat to swing at the Goblin. Dwalin sensed it though, and ducked, kicking Timmy's good leg out from under him.
"She's my friend and you just let her go to die!" Dwalin had been will to get the brunt of Timmy's wrath, after all Timmy cared for Tootie and she just volunteered for suicide. But that last accusation made something in him snap. Thrusting the torch into the ground so it wouldn't go out, he lifted Timmy partially off the ground by his collar.
"Dwalin cares for Tootie-Comrade too! Dwalin loves Tootie-Comrade just as much as Timmy-Man-Brat! But Tootie-Comrade did this for Dwalin and for Timmy-Man-Brat and for Wanda-Faerie and for Poof-Faerie and even for Cosmo-Faerie because Tootie-Comrade loves them too! So Timmy-Man-Brat should do this like Dwalin, because Tootie-Comrade asked him too!" None present knew the little Goblin had it in him, not even Dwalin. After calming down, he released Timmy and gave him back his crutch.
"Dwalin, I, I'm, you're right. I'm sorry. Timmy-Man-Brat is sorry." Dwalin smiled and nodded, picking up the torch and motioning forward.
"Hurry, Riocht Cluricaune not far."
FOP