Disclaimer: The TV series "LazyTown" was created Magnús Scheving and is owned by Turner Broadcasting System. This work of fanfiction is solely for entertainment purposes. I do not own the characters depicted in this story, nor do I gain any profit from using them.

All of the kids were out on the sports field in full force. They laughed and yelled and ran around freely. There was not a care in the world to be had as their fun loving hero, Sportacus, was out there playing with them, just like the good old days.

Then came Robbie Rotten. The villain was careful not to show himself openly. He skulked into the area and peeked over the gate at all the festivities going on. They were in the middle of an intense soccer match by the looks of things. Stephanie was acting as goalie on one side and Pixel on the other with Stingy and Sportacus serving as their defense lines. Ziggy and Trixie meanwhile were struggling to gain possession of the ball from each other.

At last Ziggy managed to get the ball away from Trixie. He dribbled away from her and gave a mighty kick that sent the soccer ball sailing clear past the goal. It soared through the air on a direct course for Robbie's hiding spot. The kids watched as it hurtled over the gate and heard a strange sound like a gasp. But there was no rubber bounce of the ball hitting the ground on the other side.

Slowly Robbie rose up from behind the gate with the soccer ball squeezed in both hands. Everything ground to a halt and all eyes fixed on the unexpected spectator.

"Robbie Rotten!" the kids shouted in chorus.

Robbie flinched and his face twitched between a nervous grin and a glare. He promptly dropped the ball over the gate back into the sports field and turned quickly away to scuttle off.

"Hey, Robbie, wait!" Sportacus called after the retreating villain. Robbie tripped to a halt and peered narrowly back over his shoulder. "Why don't you join us?"

The invitation set off some dubious murmurs among the kids. They looked between the sports elf and the villain uncertainly. The expressions on their faces weren't so outright welcoming and Robbie muttered something unintelligible to decline.

"You can be on my team, Robbie!" Ziggy suddenly piped up in offer.

"Yeah, that's fair," Trixie said. "Your team needs all the help it can get."

"No, he should be on my team," Stingy countered.

"Would you like to take over as goalie?" Stephanie asked. "You won't have to run all over the field that way."

"He can take my spot," Pixel said, pulling off his own goalie gloves. "I don't mind keeping score for the rest of the game as referee."

They started to chatter excitedly again, their faces turning bright and open. Robbie didn't move, didn't say a word. He just stood where he was completely dumbfounded.

"Come on, Robbie, let's play," Sportacus encouraged him and waved him over. Hesitantly Robbie picked up one foot, then the other, and slowly approached. As the gate creaked open a small grin gradually spread across his lips at the same time.

A/N: Thank you for reading. I hope you had fun.