Heroes | Sportacus

Slowly But Surely

Three weeks later, autumn began to sweep over LazyTown. Red, orange, and yellow leaves fell to the ground, creating a collage of beauty. This happened to be Emilia's favorite thing about the season. She was watching nature remake itself before her own eyes.

Trixie took notice of this very quickly. Emilia would go running twice a day instead of once. Sometimes she would stop, look up at the trees, and smile happily before continuing her journey. Trixie pointed this out to Sportacus and her other friends.

"There she is again! I told you she's been exercising more! I told you! I told you! I told you!" Trixie exclaimed, pointing at Emilia, who happened to be running by LazyTown Park at time. "I'll bet you anything she'll look at the next tree she passes!"

Emilia did exactly as Trixie predicted. She paused under the next tree she came to, placed her hands on her head, and smiled up at the tree.

"I guess you're right, Trixie," Stephanie shrugged. "Emilia has been running more lately."

"Well, duh! What I want to know is why has she been doing that!" Trixie replied, her voice rising in volume.

"Sportacus should go ask her!" Stephanie shouted. A mischievous smirk grew on her face when she noticed Sportacus' startled reaction. It was incredibly hilarious, in her opinion.

"Yeah, go ask her, Sportacus!" Ziggy exclaimed. He then tried to move the superhero forward, but to no avail. Sportacus didn't move a single inch.

"Why me?" Sportacus asked, rubbing his hands together nervously.

"Well... because... you're the adult! And when kids ask questions, adults are supposed to have answers so kids can understand stuff!" Stephanie shouted, coming up with what she considered to be a horrible excuse. Nevertheless, her friends nodded in agreement.

"Okay, if you really think so," Sportacus shrugged. He didn't know how to respond to the kids at all.

Sportacus approached Emilia, who was still standing under the same tree. She had her hands on her hips, taking deep breaths. She had obviously been running for quite a long time. Emilia noticed Sportacus right away, probably due to his bright blue outfit, and gave him a smile.

"The kids and I have been wondering why you've been more than usual. Well, truly, it's just them—not that I don't care because I do—! Not to say that—!"

Emilia interrupted him with a laugh, "Sportacus, calm down! I mean, it's just me. You shouldn't be afraid to talk to me."

"It's not that I'm afraid. But you do make me nervous," Sportacus corrected. "You make me a good kind of nervous, though."

Emilia smiled at him again. No one had ever told her that she made them nervous, let alone in a way that made them feel good. She didn't think there was a good kind of nervousness. Nevertheless, she answered his—or the kids'—question, "I always run more during autumn. It's my favorite season."

Sportacus laughed quietly at her excitement, and replied, "I guess it is kind of an incredible season."

"It's more than incredible," Emilia said.

"Why do you love it so much?"

"Because we can watch the world change, slowly but surely."

Sportacus stared at her, a happy smile growing on his face. He looked up at the tree that he and Emilia were standing beneath. The bright colors—an array of red, yellow, and orange—above them made him agree with Emilia. He jumped, easily pulling a single leaf from one of the branches with his tall stature. Emilia laughed loudly, eyes shining brightly, as he landed on his feet.

"Here," said Sportacus. Despite being confused when Sportacus handed her a bright orange leaf, she continued to smile at him, taking the leaf from his hand. "To keep a little bit of autumn with you for a while."