Longing for Friendship

Chapter Four

Together

Zeebad was counting the hours until Elora's next visit. He was feeling different but didn't know why. Maybe it was because nobody had tried to be with him and treat him like a normal guy. Others just feared him because they'd thought he was nothing but a twisted, evil, bad guy but Elora didn't see him that way. He couldn't get his recent nightmare in his mind. It had been truly terrifying to him. He couldn't tell Elora the truth about himself and why he was down here or she'd see him just as a bad guy too and he would hate that more.

Meanwhile on a beach in the Caribbean's, Zebedee was lounging on the beach under a palm tree. He had a Rastafarian hat on his head and his springs were resting on the sand. He was trying to go to sleep but was hard considering the last few nightmares he'd just had. His therapist had suggested that a change of scene could help with his lack of sleep problem. Only he got a little bit worried because it was winter soon and he remembered something about Zeebad's imprisonment. Once winter came, Zeebad was freed on the conditions that he'd stay away from the Village and when spring came, he was to be imprisoned again in the Roundabout without a fight. He hoped that he wouldn't have to deal with him because that was something he could live about. It was night time in the Enchanted Village and Elora had gone to the Roundabout. She then went into the core of it and entered Zeebad's room. He had fallen asleep waiting for her. He seemed better than last time. She liked it when he slept because he looked peaceful and didn't want to wake him up. She saw a scar on his arm and something beside him. It was a sword made of ice.

This worried her so. He was moaning in pain and saying her name over and over again. There was a scar on his face. When he wasn't sleeping, he'd been trying to harm himself with the sword but could never hurt himself badly seeing as his veins had turned to ice. "Zeebad it's me Elora! Wake up!" she said to him. He woke up instantly. He saw the look in her eyes. He realised that she'd saw what he'd been doing to himself. "Why're you trying to hurt yourself for? If you did that… we could never be together again. I love you too much to see that happen." She told him. He knew winter was soon here. He smiled at this. He'd be able to be with her instead of her having to sneak into here at night. She then saw Mr Rusty appear. He saw Elora with Zeebad but wasn't worried. "Why're you here? Please don't tell my uncle I come down here!" she told him. "Don't worry I won't tell Zebedee you come down here. I need to talk to Zeebad alone." He said to her gently. Zeebad looked at Elora tenderly as she left them to talk. He hoped none of the others would reveal his dark deeds to her. He looked at Mr Rusty sternly but Rusty could see something different in him. "I'm here to let you loose because it's winter but you do know that when Spring comes around, you're going back in there without a fight or I might tell Zebedee about your romance with Elora." He told him as he let him free. He was happy to be free. He then went off into the forest.

Sam had noticed this and was worried about it. He knew the damage that Zeebad could do more than anyone. The last time he'd been free, he'd used Sam to do his bidding. He hoped that he wouldn't hurt Elora that way. She wondered where Zeebad was. "He's in the forest! What do you see in him anyway?" Sam told her. "He understands me more than others in this village do and doesn't want to use me just because of my powers. Where's the forest?" she said to him quietly. "It's outside the village. Just be careful, okay?" he told her. She saw something on his chest. It was a singe mark. "What happened to him?" she asked herself as she walked towards the forest. Zeebad was there making it snow and revelling in his powers. He smiled as Elora ran to him. He watched as she turned a lake to ice. He felt good but didn't feel evil or wanting to freeze everything in the world. "I can't believe you're not trapped in the Roundabout anymore! Now we can be together all the time." She said to him.

He felt bad at this. What could he say that would explain to her without revealing his dark misdeeds? She saw the sadness in his eyes. "What's wrong?" she asked him. "I'm only allowed out because it's Winter. Once Spring comes, I have to go back inside the Roundabout but you can still visit me there but be careful that your uncle doesn't find out we're together, okay?" he told her sadly. A small tear was in his eye but froze. She understood. They then had a snowball fight. Meanwhile Zebedee was asleep. He found himself in the Enchanted Village but it was totally destroyed except for the Roundabout. He then fell to the ground. Zeebad then appeared. He had an evil smile on his blue face and his hands glowed with icy lightning. "What've you done here?" he asked terrified. "Nothing. Just having some fun." He replied. Sam and the others were hiding in fear. He then saw somebody standing next to Zeebad. It was Elora. "What've you done to her?" Zebedee yelled angrily. "You fool! She's my girl friend and my loyal apprentice! Your precious friends are so my prisoners. Prepare to die!" he snarled. He then began to fight him but for some reason he couldn't fight back. Suddenly he felt pain. "It's a pity you're fading! You've been a worthy adversary. Goodbye Zebedee!" he yelled as a final blast of ice hit him in the chest. He then faded into darkness, his eyes closed. He woke up sweating. "I hope Elora isn't getting into trouble in the village." He thought as he opened his eyes.

Meanwhile in the forest Elora and Zeebad were creating ice sculptures with their powers when Dougal and brian came skidding fast towards their unfinished art on a sledge. "Oh No! he's loose! Let's get out of here!" Dougal yelled but Zeebad growled angrily. "You're not going away that easily! How about a little fun Elora?" he said to her. She smiled at him evilly. "Oh yeah! How about a little snow tornado!" she cackled as she and Zeebad joined their hands together and thought hard. Suddenly the wind became faster and whipped around Dougal and Brian in a fierce tornado. "This is for treating people like me and Zeebad like dirt! Also you guys use my uncle for his powers. You don't care about his well being at all!" she yelled above the ice storm. Dougal and Brian were then swept away into the village by the tornado. "Good work! We showed them not to mess with us!" Zeebad said as he kissed her on the lips. She giggled as his moustache tickled her a little. Mr Rusty and Florence watched as Dougal ran onto the Roundabout and hid behind one of the horses. "What's up with you guys? It's like you've seen a ghost or something." Florence said to him. But she was unaware of what had happened in the forest.

Sam then walked into the forest. He saw Zeebad and Elora use their powers. He wanted to tell Zebedee but Elora was his friend. He saw how happy Zeebad made her and forgot about telling his old friend. Meanwhile Zebedee was in France. He'd rented an apartment there. He was feeling down still and it wasn't good to be like that, even for a Magical Springer like him. He decided to go into the market for a while. He was sipping a glass of wine as he walked. He was wearing Caribbean good luck charms around his neck. After wards he went back to the apartment and try to get some sleep. He was still worried about the sleep problem but couldn't deal with it. Suddenly he felt weary and his eyes closed without warning. It was nearly Spring so he'd be back to the Enchanted Village soon. Zeebad knew that Winter was coming to an end and was sad but angry. He wished he could stay out with Elora but there was no choice in the matter. Only Zebedee was the one that had to imprison him back inside the Roundabout when he came back. He thought about this as he fell asleep on the ground after Elora had went home to her uncle's house. He then used his magic to create a diamond. He then secured it with a chain and made it into a necklace for Elora.

The next day the residents of the Enchanted Village watched as Zebedee returned. But there was a sad look in his eyes. "Where's Zeebad?" he whispered to Sam in his ear. "He's in the forest." He told him quietly. "Come on, let's go imprison him." Zebedee told him as they walked towards the forest. Zeebad knew they were coming. He felt sad but he knew he had to go back or Rusty would spill the beans on him and Elora. "I need you to do something for me." Zeebad told her. "What is it?" she asked him. He sighed before he said this. "I need you to hide behind a tree. Your uncle and Sam are coming to imprison me and we don't want him to find out about us." He said quietly. She understood and hid under a big tree. Zeebad scowled as Zebedee and Sam showed up. He then looked up at Elora while being led away by them. "I'll see you tonight, I promise." She whispered to him. He smiled at this. At least he'd still be with her. She was wearing the necklace he'd made her. Zebedee then used powerful magic to seal Zeebad back in but was astonished to see sadness in his eyes as he was locked away.

Elora then vanished and entered her uncle's house in the sky. She felt sad that Zeebad was back in there alone but at least he had her to talk to and understand him.