Author's Note: And here we are with another chapter. Probably the last for a while since I'm trying to figure out how to do the bandshell and concert episodes. Maybe I can get some suggestions from you if you don't mind.

The song featured here is a parody of "Looks Like I Got Me a Friend" from the Pebble and the Penguin.

Any and all comments are welcome.

"GO, LEMMINGS! YOU JUST NEED TO BELIEVE IN YOURSELVES!" Molly cheered to her town's local softball team. Of course, they keep tripping over each other during their game. "And be aware of your surroundings! You just need to believe and be aware of your surroundings!"

"Well, that's one William Palmer reported." Scratch said after sending away his completed Scare Report. He then looked at the softball scoreboard surprised by how badly the Lemmings were losing. "18 to nothing? Is there any other team we can root for?"

"Oh, come on, Scratch. It's not that bad. Why, look at Loki." Molly pointed behind her to where Loki sat keeping his eyes glued to the game. "Even Loki's invested in this."

"Not really." Loki said, but the voice didn't come from where they thought he was. The real Loki walked up to the bleachers where Molly and Scratch were with a bag of popcorn and a soda drink. With a snap of his fingers, his lookalike duplicate vanished.

"Did you just cast a fake?" Molly asked.

"Duh. I know it's hard for a mortal to understand, but seeing a tiny competition like this is beneath the likes of me. Especially since the outcome is so predictable."

"Oh, they'll pull off a win." Molly said. "See, there's Libby right now! GO GET IT, GIRL!" Her friend was so distracted by her call, she didn't notice the ball until it hit her head and knocked her unconscious. "Okay, I admit, they're terrible. By the way, Loki, I've been meaning to ask something."

"If it's where I get my clothes, I'm afraid it's waaaaaay out of your price range."

"Not that. So Asgardians are like gods, right? Does that mean you're immortal?"

Loki shrugged. "I age slower, if that's what you're asking. Meaning that I can live thousands of years compared to mortals like you."

"Are you invulnerable too?"

"I can take more punishment than a Midgardian." Loki said. As if on cue, a softball struck him hard on the head and he yelled out in pain before rubbing it. "Ouch! That doesn't mean it still doesn't hurt though!"

"That's why you should wear a helmet." Molly said.

Loki scowled at her. "You mean the helmet that was mine until you threw it away on our first day of school?"

"You're still hung up on that?" Scratch asked.

"Yes, I am livid about that."

The halftime horn yelled out and everyone went to rest, or in the Lemming's case, mope. They slumped down miserably with their heads way down and their hopes nonexistent. Molly sympathized with them.

"This isn't good." Molly said. "If the Lemmings don't believe in themselves, I'll never be able to enhappify Brighton."

"Enhappify?" Scratch asked.

"It's a word." Molly said. "If only there was a way for them to know all they need was to believe in themselves." She gasped out as an idea hit her head and widened her smile. "That's it! What if I join the Lemmings team?"

"What?" Loki and Scratch asked at the same time.

"That's right." Molly said proudly. "If a lifetime diet of animated films have taught me anything, it's that if I believe in myself, I can do… ANYTHING!"

Scratch rolled his eyes. "Right. So have you ever played softball before?"

"Have I played softball before?" Molly asked. "You're asking me if I played softball before? Well… no. Have I ever wanted to play softball before? …Also no. But do I want to join now? Absolutely! Watch!"

Molly picked up a baseball and prepared to pitch it. She released her ball upon release only for it to fall right at the tip of her toes.

"Airball!" Loki mocked.

Molly scowled at him. "Okay, Mr. God-of-Superiority-Complexes. Why don't you give it a shot?"

"Maybe I will." Loki said as he picked up a baseball and threw it like an actual pitcher.

Surprisingly, it was a perfect throw shooting straight across the empty baseball field fast as lightning. Molly and Scratch both dropped their jaws as Loki brushed his hands together.

"And that's how it's done."

"Loki… THAT WAS AMAZING!" Molly cheered running to hug Loki. Suddenly, she phased right through him. The real Loki was right next where Molly landed dropping the illusion.

"Are you ever not going to fall for that?"

"It doesn't matter." Molly said picking herself up. "Loki, I have the perfect idea. What if you joined the Lemmings team, help them win, and help them believe in themselves? Sure, it's a girls team, but all you have to do is change into Lucy."

Loki smacked himself on the face. "Molly, I'm not going to be Lucy just because it fits your ridiculous scheme."

"But it's for the good of enhappifying Brighton." Molly pleaded. "With your natural talent, you can lead the Lemmings to victory, and more importantly, to the path of believing in themselves!"

Loki rolled his eyes. "Oh, please. That's not going to raise their spirits. That's only going to…" He stopped himself when he just understood what he was about to say. The more he thought, the bigger he grinned. "Okay, Molly. I'm in."

"Sweet!" Molly said. "I'm gonna go sign you up." Then quick as a flash, Molly ran to talk to the coach.

Scratch floated over to Loki. "So, Lo. What's up with your mad softball skills? Do you really have talent?"

"Of course not. Like I said, this childish game is beneath Asgardians." Loki said. "I used magic."

"I see." Scratch said. "So why did you agree to play for the Lemmings?"

"Because I have an idea for a pretty shifty trick." Loki replied. "Play along with me?"

Scratch smiled. "Do you have to ask?"

After changing into his female form, Loki changed into the orange baseball uniform and sat on the bench with the rest of the team. Nobody else seemed to have any confidence in winning. The only other person there, Andrea Davenport, was sticking her eyes to her phone. Still, there was one moment where Andrea averted her attention to the female Loki.

"So, Lucy was it?" Andrea asked. "You're Lukas' sister, right?"

"Oh, yeah." Loki answered. "You could say that we're… inseparable."

"So… does your bother ever, like, talk about me…"

"Next inning!" the announcer declared. "For the Lemmings, coming up to pitch, Lucy!"

"That's my cue." Loki said as she got up and headed to the pitcher plate. As she went to the center of the field, she looked to see Molly cheering from the bleachers.

"For the Skylarks, batting first, Tammy Myers!"

The other team sent their best batter up to the home plate. Tammy Myers took her bat and took her stance with complete self-assurance.

"Let's see what you've got, kid." Tammy said.

"You're calling me a kid?" Loki asked. "You're not exactly a senior citizen."

"Just get to pitching!" Tammy insisted.

Loki readied herself and reeled her hand back. She grinned as her ball emitted a green glow before she threw it. It dashed right through the air and Tammy was certain she would hit it. But right when she swung her bat, the ball curved itself to dodge her bat and hit the catcher's mitt.

"Strike 1!"

Tammy was in disbelief. She shook off her shock and readied her next swing. "Lucky shot."

Loki smirked right when Scratch flew over and phased himself into the baseball. The two of them winked at each other before Loki made her throw. This time, Scratch made the ball intangible just long enough to phase through Tammy's back. He made it solid again right when it got caught.

"Strike 2!"

"What?" Tammy asked in surprise. "That can't be right! I know I hit it!"

"Quit complaining and get to bat." The umpire said.

Tammy growled before turning to Loki again. She gripped her bat handle and planted her feet firmly. Loki smirked before making one last throw. It flew over to Tammy, but with a flick of her finger, Loki made the ball get around her swing again.

"Strike 3! You're outta here!"

After that, the Lemmings team and the other citizens of Brighton were silent for a minute. They then cheered at Loki, who stood on the mound proud of her accomplishment. Scratch appeared next to her sharing in the praise.

"Wow. This is a lot more fun than I imagined." Scratch said.

"WOO-HOO!" Molly cheered from the stands. "Let's hear it for the power of positive thinking!"

Throughout the next hour, Loki continued to help the Lemmings win. With her magic and Scratch's ghost powers, the game was just about one-sided. It was all over when the announcer declared the winner.

"That's the game! The Lemmings win!"

The Lemmings celebrated as they crowded Loki and lifted her up in the air. The trickster took in the praise loving every single minute of it.

"LUCY! LUCY! LUCY! LUCY!"

Molly was just so close to screaming when Loki approached her on the stands. "That was so awesome! See? Positive thinking can really carry you anywhere!"

"Sure. Positive thinking." Loki said sharing a snicker with Scratch.

"Positive thinking." Scratch repeated.

Molly noticed the held-back laughter. "Wait. What's going on? Why are you laughing like that? Why…" She gasped as she suddenly realized the truth. "Wait a second! You used your powers! You cheated!"

"How dare you? Softball is a time-honored tradition and I take great pride in…" Loki could no longer hold back her laughter. "Sorry. I just can't say it with a straight face."

"But why?" Molly asked.

"Would you believe that it was the only way to win?" Loki asked.

"Loki, I told you, all they needed was the power of positive thinking and the ability to believe in themselves."

"Molly, do you know how many supervillains start their day believing in themselves? That all gets crushed when superheroes show up and crush their spirits."

"He's got a point, Moll." Scratch said. "Look at it this way. Everyone deserves the chance to succeed. You said it yourself. Well, today, the Lemmings tasted victory. For the first time in their miserable lives, they believed in themselves."

"And think about the parents." Loki continued. "They're proud of their children. It's a very big step on your plan to 'enhappify' Brighton. If you want me to stop cheating, I'll do that, but first, I want you to consider, isn't the wrong thing the right thing in this scenario?"

Molly looked at the happy citizens of the town she lived in and kept turning her head

everywhere. She lowered her head and sighed in surrender.

"Okay. But only until the Lemmings believe in themselves. Not a second more. Deal?"

"Deal." Loki said with a smile on her face.

Game after game, Loki dominated the other teams the Lemmings played against. They kept advancing through the tournament on an unbelievable winning streak. Eventually, they made it to the final game against their returning rivals, the Skylarks.

Just minutes before the game was about to begin, Loki decided to stop for some nachos. He took a tray before taking a bite.

"Mmm. Never had nachos before. Now, I see how so many Midgard men end up so fat. They get addicted."

"Loki!"

"Oh, Odin's beard." Loki sighed before disappearing. She reappeared to the area behind the bleachers where Molly was. "What do you want, Molly?"

"It's the Lemmings! They still don't believe in themselves!"

"You summoned me for this?" Loki asked. "Look, Molly, just give them time and…"

"You don't understand. They think they don't have to believe in themselves as long as they have a star player like you. They still think they stink and they're calling you their team deodorant."

"Team deodorant?" Loki asked. "Not exactly what I'd choose as a nickname, but as long as they're praising me…"

"Loki, you're not listening." Molly said. "You're cheating for nothing. They'd much rather rely on you than try to apply themselves."

"And the problem with that is…" Loki asked.

Molly's eyes widened suddenly realizing what was going on. "Wait a minute. Did you know this would happen?"

Loki shrugged. "I almost told you, Molly. A 'skilled' player like myself wouldn't help the Lemmings believe in themselves. It would just make me look good. But then, I suddenly realized, I was okay with all that."

"But… the power of belief… Enhappifying Brighton."

Loki groaned. "Enhappify isn't a word! Grow up, Molly! Look, your positive thinking idea was never going to work. They can believe in themselves all they want, but they're still going to lose. They don't need the power of belief to win. They just need someone to carry them all the way to the finals, someone they can praise and revere. And it might as well be me since this will be the first time I was worshiped in forever."

Molly dropped her jaw. "So you're only thinking of yourself."

"You catch on real fast, kid." Loki said.

Molly lowered her head in disappointment. "Well, I still want you to have this." He reached behind her back and pulled out a red box with a green bow on it.

Loki accepted it with confusion. "What is this?"

"It's a present." Molly said glumly. "I made it to congratulate you on helping Libby and the others believe in themselves. I know you don't believe that now, but I wouldn't want all that hard work go to waste. See ya at the final game." She turned and walked away sullenly.

Scratch floated up right next to Loki. "Wow. That was harsh, even for you."

"This is the real world. That kid's gotta need a reality check sooner or later." Loki said before turning her eyes to the box. "Well, let's see what that little monkey thought would be a gift I want. Probably a mix-tape CD full of friendship songs, or a recipe for cookies with love as the secret ingredient, or…" She stopped when she opened the box and saw what was inside.

Loki put her hand in the box and pulled out a small, metal accessory worn on the head. She was

at a loss for words when she saw the horns on it. It wasn't in the best shape, but there was clearly a lot of work done.

"A new helmet?" Loki asked. "And Molly said she made this?"

Loki looked back in the box and saw a folded piece of pink paper inside. She pulled it out and read the message written inside.

"Dear Loki, sorry for losing your old helmet. Consider this my apology and my thanks for helping the Lemmings believe in themselves. Your friend, Molly."

Loki lowered both his hands and everything in them staring into the distance in disbelief. "Wow. Oh, I feel like a... I feel like a... I feel like a... big jerk."

"Yeah. It's time like these that make you think back to how big of a jerk you've been." Scratch said.

"No, I mean I feel wrong!" Loki groaned holding onto her stomach. "I think those nachos are acting up! I gotta go!"

"But the game begins in a minute!" Scratch yelled out.

Loki didn't listen. She just ran to the nearest rest stop.

It was probably the worst rest stop she's ever had, but Loki managed to pull through after several minutes. She groaned as she headed over to the baseball field back to her team.

"First order of business when I rule this world," Loki muttered, "Vaporize all nachos. Sorry I'm late, girls. How…" Loki stopped when she noticed the scoreboard. The Lemmings had 18 points and the Skylarks had 17. "Ooh. That bad, huh? Wait, how did you get the lead?"

"Well, we were waiting for you," Libby said, "But when you didn't show up, we realized we had to step up our game until you arrived. Right now, the Skylarks have at one player on each base and their star's stepping up to bat, so we were afraid we'd lose our chances. But you came back just in time, Lucy. Get out there and win this for us!"

Libby gave Loki the baseball and lead her to the pitcher's mound. The trickster looked over to see the super-confident look on Tammy's face. She then turned her attention to Molly, who was sulking on the bleachers. That's when Loki started to empathize and Scratch appeared.

"Looks like we made it just in time." Scratch said. "So you want to make this last pitch or would you like me too?"

Loki paused to answer before finally saying, "Actually… I think we should play fairly."

"What?" Scratch asked in surprise. "Why? It's our best chance to win."

"I know," Loki said, "But you heard Libby. The Lemmings really held their own trying to buy time for me. If they can do that, then maybe Molly wasn't too off the mark about the 'power of belief' nonsense."

"But look at the field. There's one Skylark at each base. One move goes wrong, and we'll be defeated."

"I know. But I still think it's worth a shot."

"Hey!" Tammy called out. Stop talking to yourself and pitch!"

Loki took a deep breath and prepared her throw. She gave it a good toss without any magic of Scratch behind it. Somehow, Molly knew. She looked at the pitch from the bleachers really surprised. When the ball made it to Tammy, the Skylark star swung her bat and it connected sending the ball across the field.

"Oh, boy!" Scratch yelled. "Don't worry, Loki! I got this!" He was about to fly up, but Loki grabbed him to stop him.

"Hold it!" Loki shouted. "Look!"

The ball went over to where the Lemmings were. They tripped over each other trying to catch the ball, but it never hit the ground. Instead, it was knocked around until it headed toward Libby's direction. She held out her glove and braced for impact.

"Believe in yourself. Believe in yourself. Believe in you…"

BAM!

The crowd winced their teeth seeing the ball hit Libby in the face. Thankfully for her, it was caught in her teeth. When she pulled it out, she smiled and cheered.

The game was declared. The Lemmings won thanks to Libby Stein-Torres. Loki watched with a proud smile seeing the Lemmings lift her and throw her in the air. Unfortunately, they failed to catch her and she hit the ground hard. But even though she was going to spend the day in a wheelchair, she held the softball trophy with pride.

After changing back into his male form, Loki stepped out into an open field trying on his new helmet. Much to his chagrin, Molly ran up to him for a hug. This time, it wasn't a projection. She really tackled him and wrapped her arms around him. Scratch hovered above the two of them.

"What are you doing, McGee?" Loki asked.

"I'm so proud of you." Molly said breaking the hug. "You pulled an honest throw and believed in the Lemmings. And that in turn helped them believe in themselves."

Loki groaned. "For your information, that is not why I didn't pull a trick. I only did it to prove to you that without my magic, the Lemmings would have no chance of winning. If Libby hadn't made that lucky catch, I'd be saying 'I told you so'."

"Yeah, sure." Scratch said unconvinced giving a little tap on the new helmet. "That must be why you're sporting Molly's gift to you."

"Who's side are you on?" Loki asked.

"I already know what side you're on, Loki." Molly said. "You like to portray yourself as a villain, but as it turns out, you've got a heart of gold underneath that hard exterior."

"Don't be ridiculous." Loki denied. "I'm a villain through and through. No friendship. No strings attached."

"Whatever you say, tough guy." Molly said. "But hey, I guess we can say we knocked this friendship… right out of the park! HA! Get it? 'Knocked it out of the park'?"

"I'd like to knock YOU out of the park." Loki said.

Molly continued with a happy song that Loki wasn't amused by.

Molly:

Look who's starting to enhappify

Doing the right thing and swallowing your pride

You try to act like a big bad guy

But turns out you're good inside

Doesn't it feel good to do the right thing

I bet you're really feeling glad

Hey, buddy

See what good feelings doing good will bring

So, I guess you're really not all bad

Now, you go

Loki didn't respond. So Molly decided to use a different method.

"Hey, Loki, what do you call that mucky underwater garbage?"

"What?"

"What do you call that mucky underwater garbage?"

"Chum."

"I LOVE IT WHEN YOU CALL ME CHUM!"

Loki groaned realizing what she did.

Molly:

Look who's starting to enhappify

Loki:

You are the bane of my existence

Molly:

Doing the right thing and swallowing your pride

Loki:

You're like an annoying, smiling thorn

Molly:

You try to act like a big bad guy

Loki:

I really detest your persistence

Molly:

But turns out you're good inside

Loki:

I curse the day you were born

Molly:

Doesn't it feel good to do the right thing

Loki:

You want a friend, go find a pipe

Molly:

I bet you're really feeling glad

Loki:

OR BETTER YET, A BILGESNIPE

Molly:

Hey, buddy

See what good feelings doing good will bring

Loki:

Don't call me buddy

Nuh, uh! Not me

Molly:

So, I guess you're really not all bad

Now, you go

Loki still didn't respond. So Molly decided to use a different method.

"Hey, Loki, I got you a chair for your room. Where should I bring it?"

"What?"

"I got you a chair for your room. Where should I bring it?"

"Bring it in."

"Bring it in? ALL RIGHT!" Molly hugged Loki making him yell out in frustration.

Loki:

I'm evil now and always will be

Molly:

You know I'm your friend. Just admit it

Loki:

My story ends when I prevail

Molly:

All right. I'm gonna hold my breath

Loki:

Save your friendship, Molly McGee

Molly:

Do it. Admit it

Loki:

This is real life, not a fairy tale

Molly:

You know, I'm gonna catch my death

Loki:

You actually think you're so clever

Molly:

It's getting dark

Loki:

But you're actually just making me mad

"Goodbye… Loki." Molly wheezed out before falling to the ground.

"Oh, cut it out!" Loki groaned out.

"Uh, is Molly all right?" Scratch asked.

Loki looked down and began to worry. "Hey. You're all blue! Breathe, you lunatic! Molly!"

"Say iiiiiiit." Molly struggled to breath. Loki sighed finally giving in.

Loki:

All right then

Maybe… you're not… the worst thing… ever

Molly:

You mean you're my friend

Loki:

Just maybe

Molly:

You mean it

Loki:

Don't push it

Molly and Loki:

So, I guess you're really not all bad

I GUESS YOU'RE REALLY NOT AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALL…

BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD

Molly ended the song by giving Loki another hug. He groaned in response to it.

"Instant regret."