(Laurie)*clears throat* Now introducing

(Laurie)*clears throat* Now introducing...*drum roll* Emmy-chan!!

(Emmy) Hiyo readers! Emmy-chan and Laurie here! This is our first collaborated story, and we hope you enjoy it! A small beginning note, we're supposed to be from alternate universes, so things might get a little strange, considering us two weirdos. And for all of you who have read my (Emmy-chan) stories, this is set when J.J. and Krysta are married, but before she's pregnant. Now that that's over, hope you like our story, and remember to review!

(Laurie) Yes, and ... well, do everything she says!

Disclaimer: The Labyrinth isn't ours. Any original characters either belong to one of us, or are based on people we know. (Laurie) Or we'd like to know. Or… well, you get the picture. They're ours, all ours!! Except those, of course, who aren't.

~*~*~*~

Laurie sat at her computer, frustrated. Nothing was going her way. She blew a piece of hair out of her blue-green eyes, and tapped the keys restlessly, cursing the netgoblins who pestered her and her writing. Her muse wasn't helping much, either.

Speaking of the devil, she felt his eyes on the back of her neck. She spun around to face him, but, as usual, no one was visible. Blast him! she thought furiously. He had cruelly been withholding both ideas and himself from her, and she was determined to talk to him.

Turning back to her computer, she stared at the blank page. Blastblastblast! She felt his eyes on her again, and spun around just in time to see a figure disappear through...nothing. Setting her jaw, she stood up and walked to the rippling space where her muse had just disappeared. "You're not getting away that easily," she murmured, before taking a deep breath and stepping into the void.

~*~*~*~

In an alternate universe, a fairy named Emerald sat in her 'comfy chair' as she called it. She was called Emmy, by most. She had bright red wavy hair, which went down to her upper back, and bright emerald green eyes, hence her name, Emerald. She was sitting with her pet, and muse, Apollo, a male talking white tiger.

"Well Ap," she said, her voice having a slight English accent. "What shall we do today?"

"I don't know, what would you like to do Emmy?" asked Apollo, stretching.

"I don't know...Oh, no, I'm not getting stuck in that again!" said Emmy. "Let's just read." So Emmy picked up her copy of "Beauty and the Beast" and began reading to Apollo. That was, until a vortex appeared in her living room, a few feet from where she sat.

~*~*~*~

Laurie straightened, grateful to feel solid ground under her feet. She blew yet another wisp of dirty blonde hair out of her face, and took in her surroundings. She was about to call out to whoever lived there, when she noticed a long, white tail, casually flipping not three feet away. She followed the tail up until she reached the tiger, and jumped back in surprise. She finally noticed the- well, someone sitting in a chair to her left. She cleared her throat nervously. "It ... it doesn't bite, does it?"

"I most certainly do not!" said the Tiger. "And I am not an 'it'!"

Laurie's eyes widened, and she took another step back. Then, curiosity getting the best of her, she approached the tiger, a smile bright on her face. "Wow...you wouldn't happen to know Aslan, would you?" She shook her head, as if to rid it of cobwebs, and straightened up, addressing both the person and the tiger. "My name is Laurie. I have no idea how I got here, but when I find my muse, he's going to get hurt." The bright smile on her face was at odds with her rather… violent words.

"Hello Laurie, it's a pleasure making your acquaintance," said the someone, who smiled, showing slightly pointed teeth.

"Yes, a pleasure I'm sure." said the tiger, grumbling slightly. "And I don't know any Aslans, except from a book series Emmy has read.

"No need to be rude Apollo." said the someone. "I am Emerald, by the way, but most call me Emmy. This is my pet and muse, Apollo."

Emmy got up from her chair, going over to Laurie. "May I ask why you are in my house?"

"Well...I don't really know myself. My muse got me into this." She cast a glance at the tiger. "You wouldn't have happened to see a man come this way, a inch or so short of 6 feet, dark hair?"

"Yes, I did." said Apollo. "A Dream-weaver, wasn't he?"

Laurie's face brightened. "That's the one! Now, do you know where he went, so I can kick his...uhh, nevermind."

"A Dream-weaver for you muse?" said Emmy. "Impressive."

"Thanks...I think. He's a real pain sometimes...like now." She studied Emmy, and then said, "I don't mean to be rude, and forgive me if I am, but...just what are you?"

Emmy laughed. "It's all right, it's a reasonable question, child. I'm a fairy." she tucked her hair back behind pointed ears, and two copper colored eagle wings grew from her back.

Apollo got up, and bowed to Laurie. "And I am Apollo, her 'faithful' pet, and muse."

Laurie's heart nearly stopped. Amazing. She blushed again, and ducked her head. "I feel as if I should bow down or something. Yikes, a true fairy..." Her head raised again. "And even better, a talking tiger!" She put her hand out to the tiger. "You know what, although my muse can make me really mad, he sure knows how to make up for it! First a witch, and now a fairy with a, well, talking tiger." She laughed, and continued, "You know how inferior this makes me feel? My muse acts as if I'm the one whose ego needs to be knocked down." She grinned again.

Apollo lifted one paw, and shook Laurie's hand, much to her surprise. "What, you expected me to lick your hand? Not likely."

She grinned at the tiger. "Of course not, especially from someone as dignified as yourself."

"Why, thank you!" said Apollo.

Emmy laughed. "Really child, no need to bow or any such nonsense. I'm just a common fairy. We're quite common in the Underground."

Laurie's jaw dropped. "You don't mean-- THE Underground? As in, Jareth-King-of-the-Goblins Underground?"

"Well, yes, of course." said Emmy.

"So...it really does exist?" She began to do a little victory dance. "I knew it! I knew it! My family said I was crazy, but I knew it was real!!!"

She stopped suddenly, and looked bashfully at her audience. "Sorry."

"It's all right child, " said Emmy.

"Goodness, this is such a...where is that muse of mine? I'm going to give him a huge hug! He knows how to get back on my good side!!!"

Emmy raised one eyebrow. "I really don't see what you're so excited about."

Unable to contain her exuberance, Laurie grabbed the fairy and did an impromptu dance.

"You have no idea what it feels like to be proven right! I am in LOVE with the whole story, and it's amazing to know that I'm not completely insane."

Apollo just looked at the two and shook his head. "Laurie certainly reminds me of Konitsu, don't you think Em?"

She let go of the fairy and looked at the tiger, then to Emmy. "Konitsu?"

"My twin sister." said Emmy. "She's on a trip with our friend, Dr. Gemini, an elfin doctor."

Laurie let out a long breath. "Wow."

"Yes, and we're left here in 'Sunny' California, where it's raining." said Apollo.

"Hush, Ap." said Emmy. "I swear, rainy weather always makes you more cranky than usual!

Laurie chastised herself mentally. Okay, calm down! You don't want to make a bad impression on these people, and acting like a psychotic fan will get you nowhere. She took a deep breath, and willed herself to think rationally.

"Are you quite all right child?" asked Emmy. "You seem a bit, well, out of sorts."

"Somehow I don't think she likes being called 'child' Emmy," said Apollo.

"What?" said Emmy, "Oh, sorry, it's a habit. And I do think I'm a bit older than you Laurie, so it just kind of comes out."

She looked curiously at the fairy. "Pardon me if I'm rude, but just how old are you?"

"Well, if you must know." said Emmy. "And apparently you must, I'm 225."

Laurie willed her jaw not to drop a second time, and succeeded. "How old do fairies live to be?"

"Oh, about a 1000." said Emmy casually. "I'm really only in my 'early twenties' to use one of your Aboveground phrases."

Laurie sighed in relief. "Good, now I don't feel as young." She thought a moment. "Never mind, I do feel young anyway." She smiled at the kindly fairy. "And I'm fine, just had to calm myself down a bit." She took another deep breath, and exhaled. She suddenly seemed older...not as old as the fairy, of course, but a few mortal years, nonetheless.

"Feeling better?" asked Emmy.

"Much, thanks."

Emmy laughed. "Anyway, we're getting off the subject. Didn't you say your muse was missing?"

Laurie sighed. "Yes, but that's nothing new..." She changed the subject to something that now interested her more than her ever-absent muse. "What brings you to the 'Aboveground'? If the stories about the Underground are true, I'd much prefer to live there myself."

"Oh, just for a change." said Emmy. "Konitsu and I have lived there so long, we decided to live Aboveground, for a while. And the Underground is a pleasant place, most of the time."

Laurie smiled wryly. "As opposed to Aboveground, which is an unpleasant place most of the time. How do you put up with it after the Underground?"

Emmy shrugged. "We just do. Say, would you care to go visit the Underground? Konitsu shall be gone a few weeks, so I'd just be alone anyhow. We can stay in my house down there. Nice little cabin in the woods, in the Goblin Kingdom."

Laurie just stared.

"You-- you're serious?"

"Of course." said Emmy. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"All right, a trip home!" cried Apollo.

Laurie gave Emmy another impromptu hug, completely breaking her oath to stay calm. "I'd love to! This is just so, so...well, not unbelievable, or I doubt I'd be here in the first place. But so, amazing! I'm going to the Underground!"

"Yes, if you want to." said Emmy. "And I can sew you some clothes, I am a seamstress by profession, besides a writer. I'd offer you mine, but I'm afraid you're a bit shorter than me." (Emmy's note: Laurie is 5' 3", and I am 5'6'')

"Yes, Emmy is a wonderful seamstress," said Apollo, who looked anxious to get going. "She designed many outfits for King Jareth."

"You write? Fabulous! And ...what exactly do they where in the Underground?"

"Oh, mostly it's Renaissance or medieval type clothing," said Emmy. "Except for warriors, like myself, who sometimes where battle outfits."

Laurie smiled brightly. "Fabulous! The Renaissance is my favorite period in history...well, when it comes to clothing." She thought about what Emmy had said before. She began to snicker. "P-please don't tell me- you-" Laurie pictured the outfits from The Labyrinth, and laughed again. "The movie wasn't all correct, was it?"

"As a matter of fact, it was." said Emmy. "Many of the men wear that type of clothing, like Jareth."

Laurie bit her lip to keep from smiling. "Maybe I'll be more used to it when I see it." She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to keep the laughs from spilling out. "Even the tights?"

"Even the tights." said Emmy. "Though they mostly wear leather or cotton pants, some do wear tights occasionally."

"There wouldn't have been a movie," said Apollo. "If Konitsu hadn't blabbed all about the Underground at a party Jim Henson and George Lucas had in the early 80's."

"Well, in that case, remind me to thank her if I meet her. Where would I be, had there been no movie? Certainly not here! And certainly not on my way to THE Underground!" She looked around the room, as if expecting someone to be watching. "So, does the King really look like David Bowie? And wear eye makeup?"

"Yes, Mr. Bowie looks very much like Jareth," said Emmy. "But he doesn't wear make-up that often anymore."

Laurie just grinned.

"Are we going, or what?" asked Apollo impatiently.

"Are you ready, Laurie?" asked Emmy.

She straightened up and smiled. "Absolutely. I feel as if I've been waiting all my life."

Emmy smiled, and a crystal ball formed in her hand. She threw it above the three of them. There was a moment when Laurie couldn't see, and suddenly they were in a cozy looking cabin.

"Well there, that wasn't so bad, was it?" said Emmy. Her Aboveground-type clothes gone, she now wore a white blouse, a brown leather vest, and brown leather pants.

Laurie walked around a bit, touching the furniture. "This is where you live?"

"Yes, like it?"

"Love it. It feels more like a home than anywhere else I've been." She sighed happily and sat down in a chair. "Thanks for bringing me."

Apollo just settled in on a large sapphire blue rug, which matched his eyes, looking at peace with the world.

"No problem." said Emmy. "Not often I meet someone from a alternate universe."

Laurie laughed. "Living in California, I'd think you'd meet some pretty...strange people."

"Not in a little beach town no one's ever heard of," said Emmy.

Laurie leaned back. "Alternate Universe, eh? So that explains the whole wavery-air-void thingy..."

"Yes, an alternate universe. There are some clothes for you upstairs, in the bedroom with the blue rose on it. You can sleep there while you're staying here. And by the way, your parents think you're staying with relatives. You called once a week, and said you were having a marvelous time."

Laurie just shook her head, astounded. "You can arrange time? Amazing."

"Only a little." said Emmy. "Jareth taught me."

"Great little thing, Magic is, eh Laurie?" said Apollo, chuckling.

She smiled at the tiger. "I love it." She turned back to the fairy. "Will you never cease to amaze me? Wait, stupid question. I know you won't." She climbed the stairs, then looked down at Emmy. "And how'd you know I liked the color blue?"

"Magic," said Emmy, winking. Laurie just shook her head in amazement, and made her way up the stairs. She was going to love it there, she just knew it!

"Or maybe," yelled Emmy. "Because you're wearing a blue shirt and blue jeans!"

Laurie thanked every god she could think of that Emmy couldn't see her blushing face.