Elliot and the Last Underworld War (4 page)

Cami’s eyes got wider and wider while Elliot told her all about the existence of Pixies, Goblins, and other mythical creatures, and about how he had come to be the king of the Brownies.

“This explains a lot,” Cami said. “Like why you’ve been such an odd kid for so many years.”

Elliot arched his head. “I’ve only been the Brownie king since last fall.”

“Oh,” Cami said. “Well, this explains why you’ve been odder than usual since last fall.”

She crouched down to Mr. Willimaker and shook his hand. “So Elliot’s your king, huh?”

“He’s been a great king,” Mr. Willimaker said.

“The best,” Fudd agreed.

Cami leaned over to get closer to Patches. “How old are you, little girl?”

Patches made a face. “Little? Are you saying I’m short?”

“Oh! Um, no! I’m sure you’ll grow up to be a very big girl one day. Well…as big as Brownies ever get, which I guess is still little.”

Elliot tried hard not to laugh. Cami probably didn’t realize that Brownies live a lot longer than humans. Maybe Patches was the smallest in the room, but she wasn’t the youngest—at least not in human years.

“So why are you here?” Elliot asked Cami.

“Well, you left the woods so fast that I was worried about you. And then my mom called, and she can’t get home from work because of all the sinkholes.” She shrugged. “I guess I was scared being there alone.”

“Okay, but why would you come
here
?” Elliot repeated.

“Because we’re friends. And friends help each other.”

Oh,
that
. “My parents can’t get home either, but I guess you can stay with us until your mom gets back,” Elliot said. “In exchange, I need your help too.”

“Sure.”

He took a deep breath. “I’m going to the Underworld, at least to make sure the Brownies are okay, and then I’ll decide what to do about Kovol.”

“Thank you, King Elliot,” Mr. Willimaker said softly.

Elliot continued, “I’m not sure how long I’ll be gone, but until I get back you’ve got to cover for me with my family.”

Cami clapped her hands together. “Oh, the Underworld? Fun! Can I come?”

And this was why Elliot didn’t trust having girls for friends. First he had let her stay over because she was scared. Now she wanted to visit the Underworld with him. Next she’d decide they were best friends or something even worse. He wasn’t falling into that trap! No way. He knew her tricks.

And besides, even if he wanted to bring her to the Underworld (which he definitely didn’t), he needed her help up here.

“Who’ll cover for me if you come with us?” he asked. “If my sister or brothers wonder where I am, I need you here to make an excuse for me so that they won’t worry.”

“Oh. Okay.”

Cami looked so disappointed that he finally added, “You wouldn’t want to come anyway. I might end up having to battle this evil Demon who wants to destroy Earth.”

“Yeah, that old excuse,” she said, waving her hand. “Fine, go battle your evil Demon. I’ll just stay here and be bored.”

“That’s really why I’m going there,” Elliot protested.

“Whatever. You didn’t have time to make paper-mache animals, but you do have time to save the world.”

Patches folded her arms and said, “He always has time for us.”

Elliot looked at Mr. Willimaker as if to ask him why Patches was acting jealous. But Mr. Willimaker only shrugged and suggested they should leave. Quickly.

Looking at Elliot’s bedpost again, Fudd said, “Your Highness, are you really coming to the Underworld with us?”

“It’ll be dangerous,” Mr. Willimaker warned.

“I know,” Elliot said. “But I’m the one who woke Kovol up. If I can help anyone stop him, I will.”

“Hold my hand,” Fudd said to the bedpost. “That will be the safest way to poof.”

Since the bedpost had no hands, and in fact had not answered Fudd even once, Elliot took Fudd’s hand in his, then closed his eyes in dread of the next moment. He didn’t like being poofed.

Then he cracked one eye open as Cami said, “Be safe, Elliot. If anyone can stop that Demon, you can.”

Elliot started to thank her, but it was too late. The poofing magic grabbed on to his gut and yanked him away from his room. He was headed to the Underworld.

The last time Elliot had been in Burrowsville, he had loved the quiet, peaceful feel there. It had been so nice he could hardly wait to come back for a visit.

But things had changed. The small town was still quiet—too quiet, in fact. Not because it was peaceful, but because the fear was so thick in the air that nothing dared move. Even the usually gurgling stream through Burrowsville ran silently today.

Fudd, Patches, and Mr. Willimaker all stood beside Elliot at the top of a hill overlooking the town. In the distance of the Underworld, Elliot saw smoke and haze. The light down here was provided by the combined magic of all the Underworld creatures. But now it was dim and flickered on and off, as if the creatures were using their magic for hiding from Kovol rather than for lighting the Underworld.

“We’re glad you came,” Mr. Willimaker said as they began walking toward the center of Burrowsville.

“I wish I didn’t have to come because of Kovol,” Elliot said. “But I’m glad I’m here.”

“You need to know about a power Kovol has,” Fudd said. “A dangerous one. If he spreads his hands out wide”—Fudd demonstrated by holding his own hands apart—“like this, he’s gathering his magic into that little space. It can hit you with the force of lightning.”

“And that would be bad,” Patches said.

“Don’t get hit with a ball of lightning,” Elliot said. “Good advice.” He did a quick glance over the town. “It looks like Kovol’s left Burrowsville alone.”

“So far,” Mr. Willimaker said.

The tiny mounds of homes with the paths between them were all in place, and their yards were as neat and orderly as always. But there were no Brownies working in their gardens or walking the winding paths of Burrowsville to visit with friends as they passed by. Now the town looked completely deserted.

Dear Reader, a deserted town is one where everyone has gone away and left it empty. Sometimes these are called ghost towns. A name like that can mean only one thing: ghosts must have chased everyone away.

If you have a ghost living in your town, there’s no need for you to run away. There are ways for you and the ghost to become friends. You should start by doing things the ghost enjoys, such as floating around in attics. And moaning. Lots and lots of moaning.

Later you can invite the ghost to do fun things with you. Remember that some things will be tough for him, such as catching a baseball or swimming. And if you run a race, he’ll probably win unless you can also fly to the finish line. But it’d be nice to let him win. After all, he’s dead and you’re not.

Finally, you should introduce the ghost to your friends. If you really want to have fun, suggest playing the game Ghosts in the Graveyard. When you bring the ghost out to play, everyone who doesn’t faint with shock will enjoy a good laugh.

Elliot enjoyed playing games, but he definitely didn’t feel like laughing right now. Besides, it didn’t look like anyone was around to play with. He turned to Mr. Willimaker. “Where is everyone?”

“Hiding in their homes. We think it’s only a matter of time before Kovol comes here to collapse Burrowsville.”

“And if he does, then the Brownies will be trapped inside!” Elliot said. “Get them out to help me. We have to stop Kovol before he does anything to Burrowsville.”

Mr. Willimaker and Patches bowed to Elliot and then poofed away to start gathering the other Brownies.

“He’ll send the Shadow Men first,” Fudd said. “Nobody knows how to fight them.”

“I know how,” Elliot said. “And you do too. We’ve already fought them once.”

“I learned one thing,” Fudd said. “Don’t let a Shadow Man spit in your eyes and make you go blind.”

“Definitely not,” Elliot agreed. Actually, he didn’t want anyone to spit in his eyes, no matter who they were.

Then Fudd snapped his fat fingers. “Light!”

“Exactly.” Shadow Men couldn’t touch direct light or they’d disappear in it. Elliot pressed his mouth tight and then opened it and said, “The Pixies promised to help us when Kovol escaped. It’s time for their help. Fudd, I need you to bring the Pixie princess, Fidget Spitfly, here.”

Fudd bowed to him and poofed away. At the same time, Elliot saw several Brownies already leaving their homes. They came out timidly at first, checking the sky to make sure it wasn’t about to fall in on them (which is good advice for everyone, even if you’re not being attacked by evil Demons, don’t you think?). Then as more and more Brownies came out from their homes, they moved together in a big clump into the center of Burrowsville.

Elliot ran to the top of the hill near his toadstool throne. He could see hundreds of Brownies gathering, from tiny newborn Brownies all the way up to Brownies who were several hundred years old. All were dressed in simple, earth-colored clothes. Their wild gray hair was sticking up so much, it made them look even more frightened than they probably already were. Elliot still didn’t know most of their names, but he thought of each one as his friend.

He waved his hands to get everyone’s attention and said, “I know you’re scared. You might be thinking that we have no chance. When I first became king, I wasn’t sure we could stop the Goblins either. The Brownies had been losing that war for so long, we forgot that we are strong and clever and that we never give up! We won the Goblin war, and now we will fight Kovol and his Shadow Men. Whatever else happens, Kovol will
not
collapse Burrowsville while I’m king!”

Then he looked up as small bits of dirt landed on his head.

“What—” He jumped back as a large chunk of dirt fell on the ground, barely missing him.

“It’s starting!” yelled a Brownie in front of the crowd.

“Burrowsville is collapsing!” another cried.

“Wait!” Elliot called. “I know about a kind of magic that all Brownies can do. You can make a cold fire in your hand. Get anything you have to hold that fire. Sticks or papers or anything made of wood! Surround Burrowsville with it, and then light the wood with the fire. The Shadow Men won’t be able to cross it!”

“They can still collapse the town,” a third Brownie cried.

“I’m taking care of that. Now move!” Elliot ordered.

Still in a panic, Brownies scurried in all directions. Elliot turned his back on them and called, “Fudd! What’s taking so long?”

“Like, I had to do my hair!” a voice behind him said. “Totally chill out.”

Elliot turned again. Fluttering in the air in front of him was the Pixie princess, Fidget Spitfly.