I would be lying if I said I wasn't anxious as we entered Pixie Inc. There was a lot riding on this job. After losing the first piece, we had to make sure we secured the second one. It didn't help that I saw the possible near death of my best friend Tootie only hours before we got there. During our trip, Jorgen and I went over our plan.
The plan was simple, like the last one. Jorgen and I would enter Pixie Inc, claiming to be a surprise visit for Head Pixie. Once there, we would enter his office and start negotiations for the second treasure piece. If he accepted the deal, Jorgen and I would get the second piece while Head Pixie got a treasure of similar value on a later date. If he said no, we would have to improvise. Jorgen wasn't sure about plan B, but I was an expert in thinking on my feet. We considered having Poof do what he did with the first piece. But honestly, I didn't want to put his life in danger so soon after what happened to Tootie.
Before we arrived at Pixie Inc, I put on my best suit and tie. When I reentered the bridge, I saw that Jorgen had done the same. I also noticed that Jimmy was there too, and he had earpieces. He gave one to Jorgen and me before we tested them. Once we knew the earpieces were working, Jorgen and I went to the ship's door. The ship landed moments later, followed by the door opening. We walked off the ship.
I stared up at the giant building and said "Here goes nothing." We then walked into the main Pixie Inc. building, where we saw a front desk with a receptionist.
We walked up to the desk, and Jorgen said "Hello, we're here to see Head Pixie."
The receptionist looked up at us and he said "He's busy at the moment."
"With what? We're pretty sure it's his golfing hour." I said. Head Pixie loved golf, and cheating.
"Lucky guess. But as you probably know, he takes his golf game very seriously." he said.
"I'm sure he could make room for a couple old friends." I said. I could tell Jorgen and I weren't going to get anywhere by talking, so I decided to walk over to the elevator.
Jorgen followed closely behind, saying "What are you doing?"
"A little improv. Just go along." I said. We got on the elevator and rode it all the way to the top floor. The doors opened, and Head Pixie swung his club and missed his golf ball. Right in front of his fireplace was a display case with the piece.
He said "Sanderson, I've told you to never come into my office during my golf hour." He then turned around and saw that we were not Sanderson. "Turner and von Strangle. What brings you two here?"
"We've come to talk." I said.
"Odd, your voice sounds deeper." he said.
"Puberty does that." I said. Head Pixie floated over to his desk and sat on his chair.
"What are you here to talk about?" he said.
"We need to talk about the piece of the World's Treasure. We need to destroy it. In return, we will let you replace it with another treasure." Jorgen said.
"Tempting offer, but I have to say no. I have another offer." Head Pixie said.
"From who?" I said.
"Father Darkness. He made me a better offer. In exchange for the piece, he's going to give me something better. Control over Fairy World." he said. I couldn't believe it. Father Darkness was somehow able to make a deal for the piece before us.
"You made a deal with Father Darkness?" Jorgen said.
"He made us a great offer." Head Pixie said.
"What makes you think he'll keep his word?" I said.
"Because Father Darkness never backs out on his word." he said. Jorgen and I could tell that we were getting nowhere, so we looked at each other and nodded. It was time for plan B. Before Jorgen or I could stand up again, Head Pixie said "By the way, how's Tootie?" I wondered how he knew about Tootie. That's when I saw Head Pixie's eyes were slightly red, which meant that he was under the direct control of Father Darkness. Suddenly, the phone rang. Head Pixie answered and said "Head Pixie speaking." Seconds later, he said "Good. Come up as soon as you can." He then put his phone on the receiver and said to us "Gentlemen, I have some clients to talk to. So, if you could please leave. Take the second elevator down. Obviously, the first one is being used."
Jorgen leaned in close to me and whispered "He's possessed, isn't he?"
"He is. Let me handle this." I said.
Jorgen sat upright as the mind-controlled Head Pixie said "Didn't you hear me. I said leave."
"Only when you tell me why you had Eustace shoot Tootie." I said.
"All I did was suggest the kidnapping, Eustace did the rest. I guess you figured out the ruse. Good for you and your tiny brain." the possessed Head Pixie said. I walked up to Head Pixie's face, even climbing on his desk and pulling him closer with his tie.
"Listen to me very closely Father Darkness. When we finally meet in person…" I said.
"Let me guess, you're going to kill me to avenge your little girlfriend?" he said.
"Worse, I'll hurt you so badly, you'll beg for death. I'll make sure to break every bone in your body. Especially the small ones." I said. What can I say, I was in a dark place.
"Ha, I want to see you try." he said. I looked at the case holding the piece, then back at Head Pixie. I then looked at Head Pixie's hat and came up with an idea.
I said "Can you feel pain?"
He laughed, then said "Wouldn't you like to know?"
"Only one way to find out." I said. I then tossed Head Pixie headfirst into the case, which caused it to shatter. That's when I realized that I basically gave Father Darkness the second piece. He got up and picked up the piece.
He said "Thanks for the help. My friends will be ever so grateful for your service." as he floated to the elevator. But when the elevator doors opened, Sheen and Chester entered carrying lasers.
They aimed them at Head Pixie, and Sheen said "Where do you think you're going little guy?"
"But if you're here, where are Crocker and Remy?" he said.
"Stunned in the lobby. They'll be okay. Now, put down the treasure piece, and there won't be any trouble." Chester said. That's usually the part where Head Pixie would put the piece down and we would take it.
But instead, Head Pixie said "Good thing I always plan ahead." He then snapped his fingers, and Sanderson entered the room with a copy machine trailing behind him. I quickly realized that it was no ordinary copy machine, and Sanderson was going to use it to clone himself. This was confirmed when Head Pixie said "Sanderson, get in." and Sanderson hopped inside the machine. Clones started popping out as Head Pixie floated to the main elevator. While I wanted to fight the clones, getting the piece was more important.
So, I turned to Sheen and said "Can you guys handle the clones?"
"We'll try, get the piece." Sheen said. I ran to the elevator as fast as I could, but the doors had already shut by the time I got there. But before I could panic, Jorgen came over and pulled the doors open.
He said "I'll hold your jacket." I gave him my suit jacket and he gave me an emergency wand. I wished for welding gloves, before putting the wand in my back pocket. The gloves were so I could slide down the wires of the elevator. I quickly slid down the wires, catching up with the elevator. When I landed on the elevator, I tried to open the emergency exit, but the gloves made it hard. So, I took them off and opened the door. While I got the door open, the gloves fell to the floor many stories below. I entered the elevator, standing right in front of Head Pixie.
"How are you here?" he said.
"Wire transfer." I said. Before I could pull out my emergency wand, he pulled the emergency brake.
He then pulled out his little magic cell phone and said "Open the elevator doors." The doors then opened, and he started flying away. That's when I noticed he was right under a perfectly placed rope. I knew I could make the jump, but the rope burn would kill my hands. To make matters worse, I lost my gloves. So, with no other options, I took my shirt off and stepped back from the doors.
Before I did anything else, I tapped on my earpiece and said "Jimmy, are you there?
"Yeah. What do you need?" Jimmy said.
"Start the ship and prepare a bed in the sick bay, just in case. I'm about to do something stupid." I said. I looked at the rope and said "Here goes nothing." I ran as fast as possible then jumped as far as I could. I was just able to make the rope. With my shirt wrapped around the rope, I slid down it fast. I slid closer and closer to Head Pixie, until I was able to grab him. The rope led directly to the ground floor, where I landed holding Head Pixie. I dropped him and took the treasure piece as I slung my shirt around my shoulder. I then started walking towards the front door.
But before I could leave, I heard a voice yell "Freeze Turner." I turned around and saw Crocker and Remy. Because walking out with the treasure was too easy. But lucky for me, I still had my emergency wand. I pulled out of my pocket and saw I had one wish left. I had to make that last wish worth it.
So, I quickly said "I wish I had my laser." The wand disappeared, and my laser appeared in its place. I quickly stunned Crocker and Remy before they could respond. I then noticed that I didn't have the treasure piece. I looked at the front door and saw Head Pixie floating towards it. I figured it was unlikely I would hit that moving target, so I just decided to run after him. As he went through the door, I just made it to the door. Just when I thought he was going to get away, the copy machine came from up above and smashed into the ground in front of him. I opened the door and walked outside. As I walked closer, he turned around. I said "There's nowhere to go. Just give me the piece, or else."
"Or else what?" he said as I stopped to stand right in front of him. With no hesitation, I punched him in the face, causing him to drop the piece. As he landed on the ground, I grabbed the piece. As I stood up with the piece, he looked at me and said "Why'd you do that?"
"You looked thirsty, Father Darkness." I said. To be extra safe, I stunned him too. The ship door opened, and Jimmy and Cindy came out.
Cindy looked at me and said "Is there a reason you aren't wearing a shirt?"
"I had to slide down a rope, and I didn't want the burns." I said. I handed Jimmy the piece.
He said "You know, just because your middle name's Tiberius, it doesn't mean you have to lose your shirt."
"Good thing I didn't." I said as I threw my shirt on. Jorgen then walked up to me and handed me my jacket. I threw that on as Sheen and Chester walked by. The rest of us got back on the ship, and the door closed.
That's when Jorgen said "Good job Captain. We made a great team."
"You think so?" I said.
"I do. Axel and I used to go on missions like this all the time." he said.
"Really?" I said.
"They were usually quieter, but yes." he said.
"Okay then, I'll see you later big guy." I said. I then decided to go to the kitchen so I could grab a drink for myself.
But before I could do that, AJ came up to me and said "Timmy, I've got some good news."
"What is it?" I said.
"Tootie's alive." he said. I could feel my spirit lift immediately. Not that kind of lift, weirdo.
"Oh my god, dude, that's amazing!" I said.
"She's not awake. But you can see her." he said.
"Thank you." I said, as I went to the sick bay. When I entered the sick bay, I saw her lying on the bed. She was breathing peacefully. I noticed that there was a chair next to her bed. I sat down next to her and held her hand. I said "Hey Tootie, I know you can't hear me, but I'm so happy that you're alive. I was devastated when I thought you died. It wasn't just because I was losing a friend, I was losing someone closer." I started to get choked up a bit, but I knew I had to say this. "The truth is, I love you, Tootie. I know it's hard to believe, knowing me. But I've loved you for a long time, even if I didn't know it. I think actually getting to know you made me realize how much I want to be with you. You're the best person I've ever met, and I hope I have the courage to tell you later." Suddenly, I could feel her squeeze my hand.
I looked at her and she said "No need. I heard you."
Overjoyed, I hugged her and said "I love you." Finally had the courage to say it to her.
When we parted, she said "Why didn't you tell me that years ago?"
"Because I was a fool who let fear make his decisions." I said.
"Well, I'm happy I got to hear you say it." she said.
"Hey, I know this is a bit sudden, but do you wanna go out after this whole World's Treasure business is finished." I said.
"That would be great." she said. There was this moment where our eyes just met. I wanted to kiss her, and she wanted to kiss me.
Just as Tootie and I were about to kiss, Jimmy came in and said "Captain…" He paused, then said, "…you know what, I can wait. Call me when you're done lovebirds." Jimmy walked back out of the room, and Tootie and I finally kissed. I had kissed other girls before, including Trixie, but kissing Tootie felt different. Every kiss before it paled in comparison. It just felt right.
After our kiss, Tootie said "Okay Jimmy, come back."
He came back in and said "Thank you. Captain, you're needed on the bridge."
"I'll be there in a minute." I said.
"Alright, I'll tell Jorgen." he said before walking away. I looked back at her.
"So, we got the second piece." I said.
"Is that why your shirt's open?" she said. I guess I forgot to button it.
"Yes, and it's a long story. Can I tell you later?" I said.
"Yes." she said.
"Okay, I'll be back." I said.
"See ya Timmy." she said. I then walked into the bridge, where I saw Jorgen standing with the piece. In front of him was a strange looking safe that had a bunch of safes inside it.
"Turner, it's time to put the piece away." he said.
"Are you sure that thing is secure, whatever it is?" I said.
"It's a Fairy Nesting Safe. It's like a Russian Nesting Doll, but made of safes. The security is top of the line." he said. Jorgen then put the piece into the safe, where all its doors closed. When the final door closed, he put the safe down and poof, it was gone. "One down, three to go."
I then sat in my chair and said "Any idea where the next piece is?"
"That's where things get complicated." he said.
"How so?" I said.
"The next two pieces are in Anti-Fairy World, but their exact locations are unknown." he said.
"So, basically, in order to find the final two pieces, we need to go on a wild goose chase?" I said.
"Correct Turner. I'll set our course for Anti-Fairy World. You go hang out with Tootie." he said.
"I guess you heard the good news then?" I said.
"Yes, after four years of being unsure, you finally told her how you felt." he said.
"Oh yeah, that too. Yeah, I'm gonna go hang out with her." I said.
"I'll see you later for the briefing." he said.
"See you then." I said. I then walked out of the bridge and back to the sick bay to hang out with Tootie. I had so much to tell her, and I couldn't wait to do it. When I got to the sick bay, I sat down next to Tootie and told her how we got the second piece. I then told her where the last two pieces possibly were and how we had to search to find them. It was great being able to talk to her again. Now we were on our way to getting the final two pieces. We just had to get to Anti-Fairy World first.
After I pushed Eustace off the roof of the Fairy World Space Needle, I returned to Darkness HQ to see Vicky in the living room, sitting on Crocker's rocking chair and looking depressed. She seemed to be the only one in the house. So, I approached her and said "Where is everybody."
"Not sure about Calamitous or Dark Laser, but Crocker and Remy went to somewhere called Pixie Inc. Like it matters." she said. I looked closer at her face and saw that she had been crying. If one thing was clear, Kim's death hit her hard. I wasn't sure how to bring it up.
The best I could think to say was "I'm sorry about your sister. She didn't deserve to die."
"You're right. What happened to her wasn't fair." she said. Before I could respond, an angry Crocker and Remy entered the room.
I looked at them and said "What happened to you?"
"Turner got the second piece. All that planning, having Father Darkness invade the heads of Jorgen von Strangle and the Head Pixie. All of it now amounting to nothing, because of Timmy Tiberius Turner." Crocker said.
"Somehow, that jerk ruined our plans yet again. And now that Father Darkness can't access the minds of anyone on that ship, we have no idea what to do." Remy said.
"At this point, we might as well call it quits." I said.
"What?" Remy said.
"I mean, what's the point? Tim's got the second piece, and he'll probably get the other two pieces effortlessly, then swing by to pick up the last piece and destroy them all. There's no point in fighting. He's won." I said.
"What about the fate of the anti-fairies?" Crocker said.
"They'll be fine. Tim wouldn't kill Eustace after he shot Kim, what makes you think he'll commit mass murder?" I said.
"Because I've seen him do it." Father Darkness said. I looked to the front door and saw him standing there.
"Okay, when?" I said.
"Two years ago, he killed many pixies during the war." he said. Hearing him say that finally made me realize that Father Darkness was lying. Tim wasn't trying to kill anyone, and I knew he never killed any pixies. I may have never been there, but I saw him fight in the war. Not a single murder in sight.
"That's funny, I don't remember that." Remy said. Of course you wouldn't remember that, you were on the pixie's side during the war.
"There was a coverup." Father Darkness said. A coverup for what, something that didn't happen?
"But I was there. I fought with the pixies, and none of them died." Remy said.
"That you saw." Father Darkness said.
"I gotta be honest, I don't believe it either." Vicky said.
"Then he's a better actor then any of us realized. He's been hiding his dark side well. It didn't even slip on the Space Needle. He wanted to kill Eustace, but he did nothing. I should have known it was a mistake to send Eustace." he said. I took a second to process what he had just said. But Vicky reacted differently.
She said "Excuse me, you did what?"
"I suggested that Eustace kidnap Tootie, what happened after that was up to him." he said. Vicky walked over to him, all while giving him a look so angry it could've killed him.
"You told Eustace to kidnap my sister?" she said.
"It was merely a suggestion." he said. Did he honestly think it would make things any better?
"Her blood is on your hands." she said.
"Actually, it's on Turner's hands." he said. How was it on Tim's hands? He didn't shoot her, Eustace did. And who gave Eustace the idea to kidnap Kim, leading to her death? That's right, Father Darkness.
So, I said "No, she's right. You didn't have to have her kidnapped. This is about Tim, there was no need to involve Kim."
Father Darkness dug a deeper hole for himself when he said "It had to be done."
"No, it didn't you heartless creep!" I said.
"Crocker, what do you think?" he said. I looked to Crocker, hoping he would tell Father Darkness off.
But instead, Crocker said "I don't know." Spineless coward.
Remy, despite no one asking, said "I may hate Timmy Turner with all my heart. But you went too far Father Darkness." He may have talked like an idiot most of the time, but even he could say something right once in a while.
Dark Laser came in with Professor Calamitous and said "What's going on?"
"I'm leaving." Vicky said. She walked to the start of the hall, before stopping to look at me. I could tell she wanted me to do the same.
Father Darkness responded with "But what about your money?"
"You can shove it where the sun don't shine. There's not enough money in the world to keep me here." she said. That settled it, if Vicky was leaving, I was too.
I joined her and said "I'm leaving too."
"I can't believe this. You're leaving the team because some girl died?" he said.
"Who's dead?" Calamitous said.
"She wasn't 'some girl.' She was my sister, and now she's dead because of you!" she said.
"Wait, Tootie was killed?" Dark Laser said.
"You care about her Vicky? Your treatment of her a few years ago told me otherwise." he said.
"Those are horrible mistakes I can never take back. But don't ever think I never cared about her." she said.
"If that's the case," he said before he snapped his fingers and suitcases appeared in our hands, "you're off the team. Good luck getting home." I honestly thought it was only going to be me and Vicky leaving. But to my surprise, the rest of the team joined us.
"I'm sorry Father Darkness, but getting my fairies back is not worth killing someone." Crocker said. Father Darkness snapped his fingers again, and we all had suitcases.
He then said "Get out! I'm realizing that I never needed any of you." We walked out to the garage and put our luggage into the back. We then got in the van and drove away from Darkness HQ. Our van was an older model that didn't have a teleport feature, but it was modified to have jets.
As we drove away, I said "What do we do now?"
"We find a place to eat, then we go home." Crocker said. We continued driving, not knowing what the future was going to hold.