Chapter Fifty-One: Sticks and Stones

Petunia was made for nursing. Ever since the days of playing with the boys and Tammy back in school she'd always been the one to bandage them back up again after they'd inevitably managed to injure themselves.

"Karate practise again?" One of the older nurses at the hospital where she worked asked kindly as Petunia folded clean linen.

"Pretty much." Petunia chuckled, looking at a few of her new bruises. Technically, karate HAD been involved, only it'd been more directed at Mobster Marion the day before - a dry-cleaning accident had sparked another outrageous overreaction by Pleasantvilles local prima donna.

--

"Marion, I understand you're upset, but calling in a helicopter strike over a ruined dress?" Lady Courage tried to reason with the irate Mobster Marion who was bright red with fury. Today, she was trying to destroy a dry-cleaning establishment for ruining a dress. Heretics.

"THIS DRESS WAS MY FAVOURITE! IT COST ME A FORTUNE!" Mobster Marion screeched back.

"In man-power to steal it maybe." Giggles had quipped dryly.

"I loved that dress!" Mobster Marion started sobbing as Lady Luck rubbed her back.

"It'll be okay." She soothed the irate villian.

"Really?" Mobster Marion hiccoughed.

"You look like a complete cow in everything you wear so what's the loss of one dress going to hurt?"

--

"You really need to be more careful." One of the other nurses said, waking Petunia from her brief daydream. "Someone your size won't heal quickly."

The words were meant kindly, but Petunia had to resist the urge to flinch. Her weight was still a very sore point with her - she wasn't drastically overweight, but her large frame and extra baggage was noticeable, no matter how healthy and fit she tried to be.

"To be fair, at least you're only practising. Have you SEEN that Knight, Lady Luck?" Another younger nurse piped up.

"Oh. My. God. I never thought the world would ever see a chubby superhero, but there she is!" Another nurse joined in the gossip.

"Not that she actually does much, I daresay that extra weight holds her back!"

"Not someone I'd want protecting me, that's for certain."

"I need to go and make my rounds, I'll be back." Petunia quickly made her way out of the storeroom and headed out to check on her patients. There was nothing wrong with her, and there certainly was nothing wrong with Lady Luck! She knew her limitations, that's why she stuck to healing her fellow Knights if they fell, that's what they loved her for. So what if she didn't go out and fight directly, she still did her fair share and copped a fair amount of abuse for it, her various bruises and scrapes were testament to that!

Still, they didn't know. They were as ignorant as everyone else in the city, Petunia supposed. She wheeled her trolley of supplies to the first door, ready to check on some young men who were in there after a foolish joy-ride in one of their cars.

She pulled out some bandages, and couldn't help overhearing what they said.

"It's the fat one again."

"Blow! Oh well, best be nice to her, probably doesn't get much male attention."

"Her own fault for not losing weight."

Petunia had to count to ten and take a breath. She had a boyfriend! A boyfriend who was a police officer too - TJ had followed in his fathers footsteps and was currently a junior officer for the Pleasantville Police Force.

She sighed. She supposed she should be used to it, stuff like this happened all the time, but it always somehow managed to get under her guard and wound her ever-so-slightly - and all those wounds added up over the journey.

Picking up the bandages, she went in to change dressings and clean up any mishaps. It was her job after all, even if she wasn't appreciated.

--

"Okay, the dry-cleaning I can understand. I can cop the ruined shoes. The botched jewellery I even sympathised with. But because they overcooked your steak slightly?!" Lady Courage looked dumbfounded at Mobster Marion and her band of Emerald Mobsters, who were trying to destroy a high-class resturant that overlooked Lake Pleasant.

"I LIKE MY STEAK RARE!" Mobster Marion snarled. "Today is my BIRTHDAY and these morons RUINED it!"

"Happy Birthday!" Giggles beamed.

"Thank you!" Mobster Marion smiled back.

"How many centuries old are you now?" Giggles followed up.

"Did you REALLY need to poke the bear?" Chuckles facepalmed.

"It was just so tempting!" Giggles argued.

"DESTROY THEM ALL!" Mobster Marion roared in anguished fury.

"Well, bear's been poked. Now what?" Sir Dark sighed as he prepared to see off an Emerald attack.

"At least if she's taking out her angst on us then she's not blowing things up." Lady Luck pointed out.

"Works for me!" Chuckles pulled out his beloved Lions Claw Blade and rushed at Mobster Marion, who had her short-sword out ready for him. The swords clashed and the battle was on!

"I don't understand why you bother with Ruby or Emerald power against me, you know it doesn't work!" Giggles floated above the scene, antagonising the Emerald Mobsters.

"Easy Giggles, don't absorb too much or you'll be ill!" Lady Luck hissed.

"I'll be careful, promise." Giggles saluted her friend.

"Why don't you get in and fight instead of leaving it all to Giggles then? Too fat for your own good?" Mobster Marion overheard the conversation and snapped at Lady Luck.

Something snapped inside Petunias head. After hearing jibes about her weight all day, this last insult from Mobster Marion was too much. She glared at the Mobster, before throwing down her first aid kit and rushing angrily at the woman who insulted her.

"LADY LUCK!" Sir Dark screamed. Lady Luck was no match for Mobster Marion, who quickly knocked her out cold with one hit.

--

"Wha...Where?" Petunia opened her eyes. She went to sit up, but several pairs of hands stopped her.

"You need to lie back and rest young lady. No more karate for you!" She heard the voice of her senior nurse, stern but gentle.

"You copped quite a nasty knock to the head. You'll need to rest for a while." Another nurse said.

Petunia blinked. She was in the hospital, in bed.

How embarrassing.

"Where's Teddy?" Petunia mumbled.

"I'm right here you silly girl." She could hear the exasperation in TJs voice and see the worry in his face as he leaned over to kiss her. "What were you THINKING?"

"I really don't know. I just got so angry..." Petunia sighed. Her head was throbbing and her arm felt heavy. Probably broken.

"We'll leave you two alone." One the two nurses smiled, and the pair left. Petunia looked towards the window, where morning light was streaming in.

"You didn't stand a chance against Marion. She dealt with you in thirty seconds flat." TJ sighed. "Thankfully Chuckles stepped in and stopped her from finishing you off. However he did manage to ruin her new dress, so she'll be after blood next time."

"She's such a cow. A stuck-up, pretentious, spoilt cow." Petunia replied. "She's great entertainment value though."

"You should have seen her face when Lady Courage told her to learn to sew." TJ chuckled. He stroked her face tenderly.  "Is there anything you want to talk about?" He asked quietly.

Petunia put her hand over his, but couldn't meet his eyes. "I'll be okay." She whispered.

TJ looked at her, concerned. Wisely, he decided to say nothing. This was something that Petunia had to work out for herself in her own time, her own way.

Suddenly a small stampede burst into the room, or so it seemed.

"Are you okay Tuney?" Sunny cried.

"You were so awesome going after Marion like that!" Sam grinned.

"It was a foolish thing to do!" Tammy disagreed with her twin.

"I'm just glad you seem to be on the mend." Daniel patted Petunias shoulder.

"Is it REALLY necessary for all us Knights to hang out and do EVERYTHING together?" Webster raised an eyebrow, having been dragged along by his fellow Knights.

"YES." Was the resounding reply.

Some things you just don't screw with.

Chapter Fifty: Chuckles and Giggles, Victims of Love!

"How the time has flown." Belle sat back in the tree, looking up at the sky.

"It certainly has." Charlie replied, half-asleep.

"Remember the time Masked Revolver took over the school?"

"How could I forget. Remember the first time we pantsied Master Revolver as Chuckles and Giggles?"

"Will never forget that. Let's not forget when we met the Knights of the Last Order, or Sunny for that matter. Didn't she turn out to be a great friend after all?"

"She sure did, in more ways than one."

"I really don't need to know the fine details!"

"Still, it wasn't long after that...I still wish he'd just stayed put instead of getting himself killed."

"It wasn't your fault your grand-father got killed Charlie. Just like it wasn't my fault that Johannas got my Aunt Jessie."

"That flood was something, wasn't it? You'd think after something like that the people of this city would learn."

"They almost did, until Tate got involved over her stupid infatuation with Webster. That University was the best thing that happened to Pleasantville in a long time and now it's gone with no plans to build another one."

"Yeah, well, I wasn't too fond of that University at the time. It took my best friend away."

"You were too busy with Sunny at the time!"

"It didn't end well either way. We had a huge fight after you left for Brisvegas and I went to Awesomica not long afterward."

"That was fun, living in Brisvegas. I ended up in Awesomica for a bit though when I went with Dad on a world trip."

"You never told me that!"

"It never came up. I was glad to get back to Pleasantville though, even if it wasn't so pleasant at the time."

"We put Daryl back in his place. It's just a shame that Mr. Jones got into power."

"I tried to stop him and his ilk, but the people of this city wouldn't back me up."

"I still have nightmares about that mattress."

"At least Izzy and Lizzy weren't Knights then. I don't think you could have coped knowing your baby sisters were being hunted as well."

"Did you know that Lizzy is going out with Sam now?"

"I know! Isn't it great? Better than that Hugo creep that Izzy hangs out with. How OLD is he?"

"Early twenties I think."

"He's still gross."

"HEY! BEAUTY! CHARLIE!" They heard Peter calling for them.

"Yeah Dad?" Belle poked her head out of the tree.

"Dinner's ready! Then afterward we're going to Ozzys school play!" Peter replied.

"I love having a little brother and a little sister. I wasn't sure about Mum at first, but I'm glad my Dad married her." Belle slipped effortlessly out of the tree.

"Especially considering your past." Charlie landed with a thud next to her.

"Yeah. You know, now that Dad's married, I don't mind being an unwanted bastard anywhere near as much as I used to." Belle headed inside.

"You're definitely not unwanted Beauty." Peter caught his oldest daughter up in a strong hug. The bond between father and daughter had never wavered, and was stronger than ever. For the start that Belle had, Peter was bloody proud of her.

–

20 year old Peter Masters ran as fast as he could home. Not because he had to be there any earlier, but because running helped him forget.

His mother was dead. She'd died two weeks prior from cancer. It had been a huge blow to hear her diagnosis a year ago, especially when his girlfriend of three years had dumped him the day before.

He wanted to forget that he'd lost his mother. He wanted to forget the woman who'd left him. He wanted to forget that his best friend wasn't talking to him, and hadn't spoken to him in years. He wanted to forget that his father was disappointed in him for breezing through his Law degree instead of putting in an effort. He wanted to forget that his sister hadn't been heard from since Mother died.

His long hair was coming loose from its ponytail. He pulled it loose and shook it out as he made his way up the stairs to his apartment. It was a cold, wet day and the stairs were slippery. But that isn't why he slid over.

The baby crying on his doorstep was the reason he slid over and landed on his backside. A crying baby with a hacking cough.

He didn't stop to think. He grabbed the bundle and hurried inside to try and help the poor creature. Not that he had any idea about babies.

"Are you okay little fella?" He asked as he lifted the baby from it's basket. It looked up at him, and started screaming again.

"Yeah, I'd scream if I saw me too." Peter sympathized. He found a small collection of bottles in the bag attached to the basket - several had milk in them. He threw one into the microwave while trying to soothe the disquieted child.

"It's okay, I'll look after you until we find your Mummy and Daddy." He cooed. The baby settled, and looked up at him with such trusting eyes that he almost teared up. Those eyes were his eyes. His deep, brown eyes. There was no doubt that this child was his.

"So I guess I'm your Daddy. Hi!" Peter said softly as the baby reached up to touch his face. The microwave signaled that it was finished, and Peter tested the bottle before giving it to the tiny child. Another sign that it was his child - Peter Masters had always been short - even shorter than his best friend Thomas Begly.

As he fed the baby, his eyes fell upon a piece of paper that had fallen from the basket. Guessing that it would lead to the identity of the childs mother, he picked it up and read it. What he read angered him, and destroyed what little love he had left for his ex-girlfriend. The baby was a little girl, with no name, and apparently was too much of a burden to be kept by her mother, who had dumped her onto Peter.

"Well, we'll get along all right little one." Peter told the baby, who coughed in response. "We'll need to get you to the doctor first though, that cough doesn't sound good at all.

He finished feeding his daughter, before grabbing the phone and calling his father.

"Hey Dad, my lovely ex has dumped my daughter on my doorstep and I think she needs a doctor, do you know any child-friendly doctors in the area?" Peter said the moment his father picked up.

"WHAT?" Joe Masters yelped. "Say that again?"

Peter then explained the situation a bit clearer. His father exhaled sharply.

"I'm coming over in the car to pick you up. The kid sounds very ill and needs to get to the doctor quickly." Joe decided.

"Thanks Dad." Peter replied, hanging up. The baby looked up at him quizzically. "That was your Pa. He's going to come and take us to the doctors. Then we'll get your cough sorted out."

He looked into those brown eyes again. He traced her features with his eyes, marveling in how much she looked just like him.

"You're beautiful. So very, very beautiful. My darling little Belle." He whispered, kissing her on the forehead.

–

Meanwhile, back in Pleasantville, 20 year old Thomas Begly was having trouble of his own.

"You're FIRING me?" Thomas cried.

"We simply have too many staff, and seeing as you're one of our newbies, you're first cab off the rank. We're really very sorry." 25 year old Arnold Jones didn't sound sorry in the slightest. "Unfortunately these cost-cutting measures are necessary."

"Really." Thomas narrowed his eyes at his now former employer. "You do realize I have a child to try and support?"

"I have two." Mr. Jones replied.

Thomas glowered at Mr. Jones, who smirked back. He got up and walked away from his former boss, seething. Thomas had been a metalworker for as long as he'd been able to, and this was how he was repaid?

The worst of it was, Arnold Jones owned a fair few of the businesses around the city. Getting another job was going to be impossible. At least he had the house that his father had let him have after he'd moved to the retirement village. Tim Begly was good for that kind of thing.

He didn't want to move out of Pleasantville, but it looked like he'd have no choice. He got into his car (a brand new Elantra, that'd have to go) and headed back home to break the news to Betty, who thankfully still had a job.

"You got fired too?!" Betty cried when Thomas told her the news.

"This is insane. I can't believe he's fired both of us. What's he playing at?" Thomas sank down into the couch, defeated.

"Maybe he wants the house. His simpering little wife was over here earlier asking about it." Betty sat down, holding onto the sleeping Charlie.

"Well he can't have it. The Beglys have lived here since the dawn of Pleasantville, and they'll be here when she burns, which will be sooner rather than later at this rate." Thomas said bitterly.

Just then, the phone rang. Thomas got up gingerly and answered it.

"Begly residence." He said wearily into the phone, not looking forward to any further bad news.

"Hey Tom? It's Billy. How have you been?" The voice of Bill Masters greeted him.

"Billy? Billy Masters? Mate, it's been too long!" Thomas cheered up, smiling at Betty. "We're having a few issues up here at the moment, how are things down there in Brisvegas?"

"I really don't know if they're good or bad. You know Mum died a few weeks ago." Bill started.

"I was sorry to hear that mate, she was like a second mother to me." Thomas felt a pang of loss.

"But that's not all, Pete has a daughter." Bill continued.

On one hand, Thomas was thrilled for his former best friend. On the other, he was still very bitter about the falling out that had occurred.

"A daughter you say?" Thomas ventured cautiously.

"Jill dropped her on his doorstep and skipped town. He's fallen in love with the poor thing already, calls her Beauty and named her Belle." Bill said.

"And he's sure she's his?" Thomas worried slightly.

"We did a DNA test. Even if we didn't, she looks like his little clone anyway. Definitely his progeny." Bill chuckled. "But she's dying."

"Dying?!" Thomas cried. "How old is she?!"

"Six months old. She already had pneumonia when she was dumped. It's gotten worse." Bill said sadly. "Tom, I know you and Pete had a huge fight, but he really, really needs you."

"Of course he does! I'll be there as soon as I can!" Thomas slammed down the phone and turned to Betty. "Pete's got a daughter, she was dropped on his front doorstep with pneumonia and it looks like she might not live to see her first birthday!"

"NO!" Betty shot up, waking Charlie who began to bellow. "You have to go to him Thomas, I don't care what happened in school."

"There was no question of it." Thomas kissed his wife, before heading upstairs to pack his bags. Pretty soon, he was on the road south to Brisvegas, praying with all his might that little Belle Masters would be okay.

–

Peter Masters sat next to the humid-crib that currently housed his infant daughter. He'd only known her for a few weeks yet he loved her with all of his heart. He hadn't needed the DNA test to know that they were family. He didn't want to lose her, not so soon after meeting her, and not so soon after losing his beloved mother.

"You okay Pete?" Bill came over and sat next to him. In any other situation, the pair would have looked comical, both of them nearly identical with their long blonde hair, one large like their father and the other small like their mother. It was hard to believe that Peter was four years older.

"She has to live. She has to. I know she has to because if she does she's going to have a brilliant future ahead of her. Look at her Billy, she's going to change the world one day." Peter replied, looking sadly at Belle, who was still shuddering with every difficult breath.

"I hope you're right." Bill sighed. "Look at how tiny she is. She looks so much like you."

"Hopefully she'll be a bit taller though." Peter chuckled bitterly, still a bit sensitive about his height.

"She looks just like you did when you were that age son, right down to the coughing and spluttering." Joe said from near a window. "You were as sick as a dog for your first few years too."

"Stunted your growth perhaps?" Bill teased lightly. He felt bad when his older brother didn't retaliate in typical Masters fashion.

"Mr. Masters? There's someone here to see you." A nurse popped her head into the room, startling all present.

"Thanks, you two keep an eye on her for me." Peter warned his father and brother. He headed out of the room and down the hall, where an old friend was waiting for him.

"Tom?" Peter did a double-take when he saw his former best friend standing before him.

"Hey Pete. Bill told me what happened." Thomas looked sheepish. "I had to come and see you."

Peter couldn't believe it. He grabbed Thomas into a fierce hug, and then and there the friendship was restored permanently.

"You don't look so well old friend, are things okay at home?" Peter noticed the worry lines around Thomas's eyes.

"Not really, but I think your worry is a bit more pressing." Thomas tried to shrug it off.

"I need a break from my worry anyway mate, sit down, we'll talk." Peter motioned towards some nearby seats.

So Thomas proceeded to tell Peter what had happened with Mr. Jones.

"I know he has one son, Daryl, who's a bit older than my Charlie, but I didn't know he had another child too." Thomas finished his story. "I don't know why he'd be after my place though."

"Dad was saying how he'd been inquiring about our place too, the greedy mongrel." Peter grimaced. "We might not be living there anymore, but that's Masters land and it always will be."

"I think he's sick of the renters to be honest." Thomas replied.

"Well, we'll figure out a way to get him back, you'll see." Peter stretched his tired muscles.

"We could always ruin his business." Thomas chuckled.

"Yeah, but he's the only metalworker in town and has a monopoly on the place. Even if he was slandered pillar to post, people will still go to him." Peter quickly tried to put a damper on that plan.

Thomas began to smirk.

"No. NO. You don't get to do that when we've just become friends again and my daughter is dying!" Peter yelped.

"Actually Petey, the doctor just came past. It looks like Belle will be okay!" Bill came rushing out to tell the pair the news. He saw the look on Peters face and blinked. "Did you just get Claused again?"

Peters eye twitched.

–

"So you're going to go into business AGAINST Jones?" Peter cried a few days later. Belle was back at home, and Thomas was ready to head back to Pleasantville.

"Yup. I've found a creditor here in Brisvegas, so there's no way he can sabotage me." Thomas grinned.

Peter chuckled. "So you're heading back home tonight to get started huh?"

"Yeah, I've just got to fix up a few more things this morning and then I'll head back after dinner." Thomas finished packing his bag. "Betty and Charlie will be missing me."

"Maybe one day we'll come back to Pleasantville, and Belle can meet Charlie." Peter mused.

"And continue on the family traditions." Thomas smiled. He looked out of the window. "I wonder what would have happened if Jack was still around. He and Bill reminded me a lot of you and I."

"They probably would have had a huge fight too. We're Masters and Beglys, we need to have one good fight in our lifetimes otherwise it'd get too soft and sappy." Peter joked.

"Anyway, I'm going to the bank, I'll be back for dinner!" Thomas high-fived Peter and headed out of the apartment. Peter watched the door close behind him and thought.

"Hey Beauty, do you wanna go and help your Uncle Thomas?" He said slowly.

Baby Belle gurgled.

"That's what I thought. Good girl!"

And when Thomas returned to the apartment to get his bags and be off, he found a large dual-cab ute waiting for him. Not wanting to leave his friend without a mode of transport, he decided to leave the Elantra behind.

–

Which was the same Elantra that Charlie, Lizzy, Sam and Belle piled into to go and see Ozzys school play.

"Even though this place is a horrid crime-haven, I'm glad my father brought me back here." Belle drove the car towards the school.

"I'm glad too." Charlie grinned at his best friend.

"Me three." Lizzy piped up. She'd been getting along famously with Belle since she'd tossed in the Lady Starlight mantle.

"I think we're all glad that things turned out the way they did." Sam took Lizzys hand, and the pair smiled at each other. Charlie gave Belle a knowing glance and she giggled as they reached the school, Peters car not far behind.

"I remember when the old private school was around, where you guys used to go to." Peter ruffled Belles hair as they sat down towards the front of the stage.

"The one where we got taken hostage?" Charlie sat down next to Belle.

"That was one of the scariest days of my life." Thomas shuddered. "I thought you and Belle were goners."

"I was so scared that the DVG were going to come after Daryl and I, because of who our Dad is." Sunny sat on the other side of Charlie next to Patrick, who was holding Melody.

Belle looked up at Charlie, who smiled down at her. That had been the day that changed everything for them. It had been the day that Belle had first gotten a hold of the Lucky Seven Gun, and that Charlie had decided to become the unnamed hero who would eventually become Chuckles.

The play started. It was the story of the founding of Pleasantville, how Simon Masters and Louis Begly dammed up Pleasant Lake, creating a big enough hole in the ground to fit a safe, little city. Unfortunately it had all gone wrong when the Mobster Kings and the Red Valley Gang (the precursors of the more modern Death Valley Gang and the Mobsters of Misneach, who had now fused) moved in and turned what was supposed to be a haven into a hell-hole.

At intermission, Belle stepped outside into the cool air. So much had changed, yet so much was still the same.

"Thinking again?" Charlie came out and joined her. She leaned on him and he put an arm around her.

"I've been alive 22 years. So much as happened." Belle looked up at the stars. "I just wonder about the next 22 years."

"So much can happen. You might even be a mother by that stage." Charlie pointed out. "I could even be a father."

"We'll just have to see what happens, won't we?" Belle hugged her best friend tightly, and he squeezed her just as hard. For a few minutes, they were both silent, simply enjoying each others company. Finally, they both pulled away and looked at each other.

"IT'S THE DVM! RUN FOR IT!" They heard someone screaming inside.

"The stuff is in the car." Belle rolled her eyes.

"Best get to it then." Charlie sighed.

They both grinned. No matter what happened in the next 22 years, 50 years, 100 years, there was no doubt that it would find Belle Louise Masters and Charlie Thurlow Begly as best friends, and Chuckles and Giggles as the heroes of the city of Pleasantville.

Chapter Forty-Nine: Acceptance

Bill Masters wiped down the restaurant bench, watching his niece play with Lizzy Begly. Technically Lizzy SHOULD have been washing dishes, but who was Bill to deny the baby Madeliene her favourite babysitter?

The pair were happily reading a book together, while Bill prepared for a huge event being held at his restaurant – some 90^th birthday party for one of Pleasantvilles big families. He was hoping it would go off without a hitch, business had been waning since the appearance of the Emerald Mobsters, who made life a bit more difficult for the citizens of the besieged city. Going out was more a mission than anything, and most people played it safe in their homes.

The television droned on quietly in the background as Lizzy read aloud to Madeliene, who was fully focused on the story before her. Bill was about to start getting the cutlery out and onto the tables, when a news alert came on.

“The Death Valley Mobsters are attacking Pleasantville Central Apartments, from what we know they're after one of the residents about a owed debt!” The reporter yelped. “HERE'S CHUCKLES AND GIGGLES!”

“Oh Belle!” Bill groaned. “Don't you go getting yourself OR Charlie hurt!”

Lizzy watched the television as Chuckles got thrown by one of the Emerald Mobsters into Sir Dark and Sir Lionheart, knocking the latter two down while winding the former. She desperately wanted to help, but her mind was still scattered. Thankfully her sister and Hugo were away that week, making her feel a little less pressured.

“I wish I could help.” Lizzy sighed.

“Best not to.” Bill advised, tweaking something within the young Begly. “You wouldn't be much help when they're already outnumbered by Emerald Mobsters, especially with Marion and Revolver keeping tabs on things. Those two will make life so much more difficult...Liz?” Bill looked around. Lizzy had disappeared. “She's gone. Huh. ARGH MY EYE!” He suddenly grabbed at his eye, which was now violently and uncontrollably twitching.

–

"We're completely outnumbered and there's only so much Emerald power I can absorb before I get sick!" Giggles groaned to Lady Luck.

"We have to do something, those residents can't save themselves!" Lady Luck looked out of the window at the Emerald Mobsters who were trying to break in.

"Where are those Outer Knights of the Last Order, they'd have this sorted out quick-smart!" One of the older residents poked his head out of his apartment.

"Thanks." Giggles replied dryly.

"Hey guys, we managed to secure all of the doors." Sir Dark came running up the stairs with Sir Hedgehog close behind him.

"That Lady Silent sure is good with technology." Sir Hedgehog said appreciatively. "She managed to get into the security system and locked the place down tight."

"She's good like that. Where's everyone else?" Lady Luck asked.

"Sir Lionheart is downstairs with Chuckles at the front door and Sir Hyper is with Lady Courage at the loading bay." Sir Dark replied. "Although we probably have a little bit of time until they break through."

"If they don't think of cutting the power first." Giggles looked out of the window, narrowly avoiding a bullet from Master Revolver.

"Wouldn't work, the building is designed to become a fortress when the power is gone. Funnily enough, it was designed by the firm that Mr. Jones owns." Sir Hedgehog grinned.

"Poetic." Lady Luck replied.

Suddenly out went the power.

"I thought you said that cutting the power to this place would turn this place into a fortress!" Giggles yelped.

"Well...a very airtight fortress..." Sir Hedgehog replied sheepishly. "They might not be able to get in, but we can't get out either. We're trapped."

"Are you telling me," Lady Luck glared at him. "That they could now blow up this building and we'd have no way to escape?!"

"Looks like it. I think we fell right into a trap." Sir Dark tried to calm his girlfriend down.

Meanwhile, outside, celebrations were starting.

"We did it!" Master Revolver grinned at Mobster Marion. "We finally trapped the Knights of the Last Order and those bothersome pests Chuckles and Giggles!"

"FINALLY!" Mobster Marion smirked up at the building. "And once they're dead we can finally have the Lions Claw Blade and the Lucky Seven Gun back!"

"Can't we just blow the building up already?" Ruby Daryl groaned from behind them. "This waiting is BORING!"

"These things take time you little brat, do you want to blow us up too?" Mobster Marion chided. "Besides, we blew up the transformer between this grid and the main power plant, there's no way those brats can escape and there's nothing anyone can do to save them!"

A few metres away, hidden behind another building, Lady Starlight heard every word of the plan. Her heart sank. She was going to lose her brother and the woman who was like a sister to her, before she'd had the chance to make things right with them. She was going to lose her beloved Sir Hyper, who inspired her and looked out for her.

She felt something vibrating in her pocket. It was her phone, and more specifically, a phone call from Bill.

"ARE YOU INSANE?" He hissed over the line. "Get your scrawny little behind back to the restaurant NOW!"

"My brother is going to die. I have to save him!" Lady Starlight replied quietly. "If I could just restore the power to the place then everything would be fine!"

"Impossible, the transformers have been completely destroyed." Bill told her sternly. "Although, there IS the secret passageway to the dam but that's been abandoned for-,"

CLICK. Lady Starlight knew what she had to do. It was time to activate the Improbability Clause and get her brother out of that building!

She poked her head out. The first order of business was to get past the Death Valley Mob and that moron Ruby Daryl. Then she had to communicate that fact to her brother.

Communication was easy, she could just send a text message. She quickly relayed her plan via a couple of hurried text messages. Now to deal with the DVM, and hopefully give her friends time to get out of the building.

"Be careful with those explosives you fools, they're volatile and could kill us all if you drop them!" Ruby Daryl snapped at a nearby Emerald Mobster, who glared at him.

"We're Emerald Warriors, our suits protect us!" The

Emerald Mobster replied sneeringly.

Lady Starlight smirked, and threw one of her Throwing Stars at the Emerald Mobsters arm. She scored a direct hit, and the Emerald Mobster quickly dropped his load, causing a huge explosion in the middle of the empty road.

"WHAT DID I JUST SAY?!" Ruby Daryl roared angrily, his Ruby Shield protecting him.

"What the hell happened here?!" Master Revolver ran over.

"Something hit my arm and I dropped the explosives." The Emerald Warrior pulled the Throwing Star out of his arm, dripping blood.

"DON'T pull it out you idiot, you're just going to damage yourself more!" Ruby Daryl groaned.

"That's a Throwing Star! The Outer Knights of the Last Order have arrived!" Master Revolver yelled. "Lady Starlight threw that no doubt about it!"

"Well where is she then?!" Ruby Daryl quickly got his guard up. "She's the most dangerous of the three."

"Damn straight I am." Lady Starlight muttered to herself, throwing another star at another Emerald Mobster who was carrying explosives.

"IF YOU DON'T MIND!" Mobster Marion yelled after the following explosion. "WHAT are you idiots doing?!"

"Lady Starlight is around somewhere trying to blow us up!" One of the Emerald Mobsters complained bitterly.

"She has to be close by. I'll go look for her while you lot clean up - and TRY not to waste any more of those explosives, we need them for getting rid of Chuckles and Giggles!" Mobster Marion snapped, getting out her small katana. She began to make her way to where the two Throwing Stars had come from. Lady Starlight saw her and quickly made a dash for it over a nearby fence and around the back of another building, where she could still keep an eye on proceedings and make sure her brother didn't die that day.

Seeing another Emerald Mobster head towards the building with more explosives, Lady Starlight launched another Throwing Star, causing yet another explosion.

"This game is getting tiresome Knight! I WILL find you and when I do, you're going to PAY." Mobster Marion fumed, running back to the site of the explosion.

'This is easy! I can keep this up all day until they run out of explosives!' Lady Starlight grinned to herself as she set up explosion after explosion.

"I bet you're feeling pretty proud of yourself right now aren't you?"

Never mind - she'd just been discovered by Ruby Daryl!

"I've beaten you before Ruby, and I'll happily beat you again!" Lady Starlight cried, pulling out some more Throwing Stars.

"True, you HAVE beaten me, but can you beat me AND the Emerald Warriors without your little friends?" Ruby Daryl clicked his fingers, summoning the ten Emerald Mobsters to deal with the Outer Knight of the Last Order!

"I'm sure I can make your life hell until Chuckles and Giggles get here with the rest of the Knights!" Lady Starlight smirked, trying to appear braver than she felt.

"Chuckles and Giggles aren't going anywhere brat, and now, neither are you!" Ruby Daryl readied a Ruby Shard to incapacitate Lady Starlight with, with the Emerald Mobsters following suit with various Emerald weapons.

"Not good!" Lady Starlight backed off slightly. Ruby Daryl grinned and threw the Ruby Shard, which never made it to its intended target.

"HOW?!" He roared in fury. Lady Starlight almost cried with happiness.

"GIGGLES! You're safe!" She yelled.

"Thanks to you Lady Starlight, you've done great!" Chuckles also appeared, holding the Lions Claw Blade ready for action.

"What the hell?" Master Revolver saw what had happened.

"No point blowing that place up now, there's no one in it!" Giggles laughed at the look of fury on her hated enemies faces.

Mobster Marion grimaced. She glared at Master Revolver and Ruby Daryl, as if this was somehow their fault.

"We're leaving. You win this time, Chuckles and Giggles!" She ordered her forces back.

"I'm glad you see it our way!" Chuckles waved pleasantly as the Death Valley Mobsters left. "And now we're going to head home too."

"Yeah, home sounds good around about now. Although I don't think your Uncle is going to be very happy with me." Lady Starlight made her way to the tip with her two companions.

"Why?" Asked Giggles.

"Hey Bill...why is your eye twitching?" Peter Masters walked into the restaurant to pick up his daughter. "And where's Lizzy?"

"The stupid freaking CLAUSE!" Bill roared.

–

"So that's why I've decided that I'm going to focus more on my studies and leave the superhero stuff to Belle and Charlie." Lizzy explained to her sister and Hugo that night.

"You've always been on my side when it comes to that stupid Code and that ridiculous Clause, when did you start talking nonsense?!" Izzy cried in hurt and anger.

"When I found out it wasn't so much nonsense as it was common sense and team work." Lizzy shrugged.

"Whatever. Looks like we'll have to give up the hero caper too if you're not going to join us." Izzy sighed in resignation.

"It's a shame, we were having such fun." Hugo agreed with Izzy.

"Yes, well, it's not about fun, it's about doing the right thing and making sure that Pleasantville has a future." Lizzy told them.

They were sitting in the living room a few days after the dramatic rescue, and Lizzy had finally worked up the courage to tell her sister the truth. It had been hard, and Izzy wasn't thrilled about it, but what was done was done, and it couldn't be changed.

"I don't know why you had to go and change your tune though. I guess that baby has had more influence on you than I thought." Izzy slumped back into the lounge.

"Amongst other things." Lizzy shrugged. Just then, there was a knock at the door.

"I'll get it!" Thomas walked from the kitchen to the front door. "Hi Sam, how can I help you?" Thomas opened the door to Sam, who was looking particularly handsome that day.

"Good afternoon Mr. Begly, I was wondering if the lovely Miss Lizzy would like to come out for a walk to the dam?" Sam poked his head in the door, looking for Lizzy, who had gone bright pink.

"I reckon 'Miss Lizzy' would love to go for a walk." Charlie poked his head out of the kitchen to needle his sister, who poked her tongue out at him.

"I'd love to go for a walk." She got up and smiled at Sam, who grinned back.

"Have fun on your walk Miss Lizzy." Izzy teased.

"Don't be home too late Miss Lizzy." Betty called from the kitchen.

"Don't forget your hat Miss Lizzy." Thomas grinned, handing his daughter her hat.

Lizzy couldn't help but chuckle, and yes, she did enjoy her walk with Sam very much indeed!

Chapter Forty-Eight: Changes

Lizzy Begly just wanted to go to bed and pretend that none of this had ever happened. Ever since she was nine she'd believed that the Improbability Clause was nothing more than some make-believe magic that Charlie was a fool to believe in.

She'd been wrong. The Improbability Clause was about friendship and working together, creating a little bit of that mystical energy called luck. It was far from a myth or a coincidence.

She felt confused and isolated. There was no way she could talk to her twin about this – Izzy was determined to believe that the Code and the Clause were nothing more than myth. She wasn't ready to talk to her brother or father either.

She followed her sister and Hugo into the house that night after her second use of the Improbability Clause, hoping she'd be able to escape quickly after dinner and spend the night in her room alone. She needed a chance to think things through and decide what she was going to do next, and she couldn't really do that with the usual hustle and bustle of the family around her.

Not a chance. The Masters had been invited over for dinner again. Belle was a very, VERY intelligent young lady, and the use of the Improbability Clause had instantly alerted her to the fact that the Outer Knights of the Last Order were none other than the Begly twins and Hugo. She figured she should have picked it sooner, what with the twins long ginger hair being a dead giveaway.

Of course, Lizzy gave herself away by hanging back and holding her head low – Belle wasn't surprised, given the bond that Lizzy had with Madeliene, of course she was going to discover the Improbability Clause, sooner rather than later. She frowned at the younger Begly twin, her eye twitching ever-so-slightly from annoyance.

Lizzy groaned silently. The look Belle was giving her said everything she needed to know – busted.

“So, what are you three doing this fine Knight?” Belle asked a little too casually as they sat down to the amazing dinner that Berry had prepared.

'That K isn't as silent as you think it is.' Lizzy thought bitterly, sitting next to her father, who immediately piped up.

“Wrong “night” Belle. Strange coming from you, the Queen of Spelling and Grammar.” Thomas pointed out.

“Oops, my bad. I have NO idea how I made such a silly mistake.” Belle intensified her stare at Lizzy, who was feeling VERY uncomfortable.

Charlie, who was sat next to Belle at the dinner table, looked at her quizzically. She gave him a small nod. His eyes widened in shock and he glared at his two sisters. Izzy looked confused and shot a look at Lizzy, who suddenly became engrossed in her soup. Thomas shared a look with Peter, who raised an eyebrow at Belle, who quickly directed her glance at Charlie, who tried to look innocent. Betty sighed and shared a knowing glance with Lara, who rolled her eyes and gave Peter a look of exasperation. Peter looked insulted, causing Izzy to shoot a look of amusement at Hugo, who shrugged and shot a look a look of sympathy at Lizzy, who pretended not to see it. She was too busy trying to avoid the stare from Belle.

“So, what did you guys get up to today?” Betty broke the silence.

Cue the rush of everyone to answer the question and fill the void.

–

Her phone had finally stopped going off, leaving Lizzy to her thoughts. A few days had passed since the second use of the Improbability Clause, and it was a bright, beautiful Saturday afternoon by the creek.

Not that most of Pleasantville was able to enjoy it, Master Revolver and Mobster Marion were trying to get a small shipment of kidnapped children out of the city, and our favourite (and not-so-favourite) heroes were off to save the day.

Lizzy had declined to join her fellow Outer Knights, her mind a complete mess. Izzy was furious and had been badgering her twin via text messages to get out and help. As much as she knew she was needed to help the city, Lizzy couldn't bring herself to even read the text messages. She was laying on a blanket near the creek, holding one of Lady Starlights throwing stars against the glowing light of the setting sun. The old arguments were raging a war in her head, her beloved grand-fathers, both on opposite sides of the fight. Her older brother, her hero. The girl next door who had been like an older sister. The baby who she had such a strong bond with. Her parents, also on either side of the argument, both loyal to their respective fathers.

Izzy. Her twin sister. Together from their very conception. Once one, divided into two in the womb. Now they would be divided again, this time by an ancient tradition that one was ready to accept, and the other would continue to scorn.

"Hey Lizzy."

Lizzy nearly jumped a mile. Sam had found her, waking her from her reverie.

"Hi Sam." She recovered., quickly hiding the throwing star before he could see it. "What was up with the DVM?"

"Human trafficking of all things. I seriously don't know where they get off doing that to children." Sam looked livid. Lizzy felt a mix of anger and guilt. She should have sucked it up and gone to help.

"How could they? Did you save the kids?" Lizzy asked.

"Yup, Belle told Charlie that there was no way he could stop the truck and next minute he's used the Improbability Clause and the trailer's fallen off the truck. TJ got his cop buddies to take the children home and all is good!" Sam grinned.

Lizzy flinched at his mention of the Improbability Clause.

“That's right, you don't believe in the Code or the Clause do you?” Sam asked.

Lizzy looked away. “No, I don't.” She said, trying to sound convincing. Sam looked at her, and she couldn't help but watch him out of the corner of her eye. He had grown into a very handsome man, not even the scars left by years of fighting crime could tarnish him in Lizzys eyes.

“You sure?” Sam prodded, with a little cheekiness in his voice. Lizzy couldn't help but smile.

“I don't know.” She sighed. She looked at him, taking in all of his features. It then occurred to her that he was a twin too. “Have you ever had a real fight with Tammy before?”

“Did you and Izzy have a disagreement?”

“No, but I think we're about to.”

Sam sighed. “When she wanted to learn how to talk again. I'd been her voice for so long that I got angry when she said she was going to try. I'm Sir Hyper, she's Lady Silent. I didn't want that to change.”

Lizzy sat up and looked at him. “What happened?” She asked.

“We realised that we're two completely different people and that we shouldn't base our identities on simply being twins.” Sam replied. “I'm not just a voice, and she's not just there to look pretty.

“I guess I was scared of things changing. But just because some things changed, doesn't mean the important things did too. Tammy is my sister, my twin, and we'll always need and love each other. That's all that matters.” Sam finished his speech after a small wistful pause. He smiled at Lizzy, hoping he'd helped her.

For the first time in a few days, Lizzy found herself smiling back. “Thanks Sam.” She said, genuine warmth seeping into her words..

“By the way, have you told your parents that you're an Outer Knight yet?”

Smile gone.

“How in the-?!” Lizzy squeaked. Sam laughed.

“Well, I saw the throwing star for a start.” He pointed out.

“Oh.” Lizzy held the star in her hand.

"Plus anyone who's been around Belle and Charlie long enough can pick the Improbability Clause a mile away." Sam continued. "Belle's LIVID that someone else pulled it on her."

"It was just dumb luck." Lizzy desperately tried to hold on to her belief.

"Dumb luck? No, I'll tell you what happened. You, being a Begly, were about to rush into battle with a half-baked plan. Belle, being a Masters, decided that letting you go through with aforementioned half-baked plan would be disastrous, and so told you everything that was wrong with the plan in an attempt to make you stop and think. Being a Begly, you DID stop and think, and you with that intelligence of yours you were quickly able to see that Belle was right and recalculate your plan to suit the conditions. THAT is what created the dumb luck, and that's how the Clause works." Sam told her.

"How do you know all of this?" Lizzy asked.

"I was talking to Charlie one day and he explained it. He was a bit like you, only he thought it was some sort of magic." Sam chuckled.

Lizzy looked at the creek. It wasn't dumb luck or magic, it was friendship that powered the Improbability Clause. Five hundred years of strong friendship that no amount of petty squabbling or even fights could ever shake.

Maybe it was magic after all.

“Anyway, I need to get home. You should get home too, it's still not safe for you to be alone.” Sam got up and offered her his hand. She accepted it, and together they headed back home.

Despite her inner turmoil, Lizzy couldn't help but grin as she walked alongside the Noble Knight of the Last Order, Sir Hyper.

Trust me, no one missed it either.

“So, how's Sam?” Charlie asked a little too innocently as Lizzy walked into the house. Izzy tried not to giggle at how red her twin suddenly was.

Lizzy wanted to strangle both of them as they both continued to needle her about her crush on Sam.

Family.