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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
today?” Betty broke the silence.
Cue the rush of everyone to answer the
question and fill the void.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?"
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.
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.
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.
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.
Improbability Clause.
“That's right, you don't believe in
the Code or the Clause do you?” Sam asked.
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.
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.
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?”
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?”
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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..
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?”
parents that you're an Outer Knight yet?”
Smile gone.
“How in the-?!” Lizzy squeaked. Sam
laughed.
laughed.
“Well, I saw the throwing star for a
start.” He pointed out.
start.” He pointed out.
“Oh.” Lizzy held the star in her
hand.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
as they both continued to needle her about her crush on Sam.
Family.