DAMN these short chapters! Sorry, but this one had to be cut off here.
Ah well, let's see everyone rush off to Beej's rescue.
Lydia grimaced up at the massive stone monument to bureaucracy.
"Nervous?"
"Nauseatingly so. Do you honestly think I may be able to help?"
"No. We're runnin' on blind hope now kiddo."
"Better than nothing I suppose. Let's do this."
Juno wrapped a hand around Lydia's uninjured elbow, supporting her up the stairs. Much like her first visit to the Neitherworld, the colorful creatures stared at her unashamedly. She ignored it better this time, focused solely on the task ahead.
Lydia felt oddly detached from herself as Juno led her inside, down the halls and into a huge courtroom. "What do I have to do?"
Juno paused, one hand gripping the doorknob, the other reaching out to grasp Lydia's good shoulder. "Hopefully nothing. If it comes to actually having you say something… I know you'll know what to do. Whatever you think will sway them in our favor, do it. Ready?"
"No. Let's go."
Juno pushed open the door, steering Lydia through as other citizens and jury members poured in from the other two doors space around the room. The walls were covered in shadows, and the ceiling was impossibly high. The judge's stand was forty feet in the air, towering over the jury and court reporter, and was being manned by a gaunt, long-faced zombie wielding a bone as a gavel. "Juno." The creature drawled. "You're late."
"Apologies, your honor." The caseworker replied, a sickly false smile on her lips. "I had a… related case to see to before I arrived." Juno led Lydia to the row of seats behind the defendant's table before walking back around to take her place.
Judge Mental watched this with some interest, but quickly lost it and turned his attentions instead to executioner/bailiff as he called the court to order. "Orduh in the court! The Neitherworld vuhses Betelgeuse, the hounaruhble Judge Mental pruhsidin'."
Judge Mental pounded the gavel against the skullblock, glaring down at Juno. "If it's Betelgeuse then he's guilty. Next case."
Juno cleared her throat and stood, smoothing down the front of her suit. "Pardon, your honorableness: but we aren't here to discuss the conman's misdeeds." She leaned forward and braced her palms against the tabletop. "We're here to discuss the release of the restrictions on his power, in order to give him a better chance at recovery."
The entire courtroom began to roar with wild, disbelieving laughter. Juno turned, fixing Lydia with a hopeless grimace as the laughter died down. Judge Mental banged his gavel, calling the court to order. "You can't be serious, Madam Juno. Release the restrictions on that monster's powers? Have you gone mad?"
"No your Judgeness, my mind is quite sound. He needs the restrictions lifted in order to heal himself though. He can't even hold shape after what happened!"
The judge sighed and snapped his fingers. A huge binder appeared in a puff of smoke and crashed to the podium, flipping open to the end section. "Ah yes, the incident with these unknown hostiles. Heard he was exorcised."
"No. He's still undead, and in a considerable amount of pain."
"You aren't helping your case. Why should I allow this monster more power, just so he'll heal? Who would even want that vermin healed?" The judge sneered.
Lydia cleared her throat, standing from her seat and fixing the judge with the most determined expression she could muster. "I would, your honor." A collective gasp fanned across the room as every creature turned to stare at the pale breather in shock. Lydia grimaced, letting her eyes wander for a moment before pulling them back to the judge. "I want Betelgeuse healed."
The judge stared at her with gape-mouthed shock. "And why would you want that slimy bastard healed?" The judge paused, frowning as he looked Lydia up and down. "Who the hell are you anyway, breather?"
Lydia felt a surge of rage fill her at the man's words. She shook back her hair and planted her good hand on her hip, glaring up at him. "I'm Mrs. Slimy Bastard, that's why."
This time, only the aura of shock bounced around the room. The citizens of the Ghost Realm could not do much more then stare open-mouthed at the strange breather, and try to re-process her words. Finally, Judge Mental shook himself out of the trance enough to reply. "You married the fiend?! But… you're just a breather! And a child at that!"
Lydia's lips peeled back in a snarl. "I am not a child, your honor. I'm legally an adult. And I may be just a breather, but I'm the breather that got Betelgeuse out of your hair for five years and helped to uncover a plot to destroy your world."
The judge's eyes narrowed dangerously down at the Goth. "Noted. But… wait-" his expression suddenly morphed to confusion, and he dropped his eyes to the binder before him, flipping back three or four sections to run his finger down the page. His eyes sockets suddenly went as wide as he looked back at Lydia. "You're Lydia Deetz."
"Thanks for that confirmation."
"He forced you into marriage when you were just fourteen."
"Again, you tell me things I already know. What's your point?"
The judge blinked, thrown by the comment. "Yet you still want him healed."
"You are correct sir."
Mental shook his head. "He must have brainwashed you. Wouldn't you want out of this forced arrangement? Wouldn't you want to be free of him?"
Lydia's face suddenly fell, her head and the fist on her hip following. She stared sadly at her feet as everyone watched with bated breath. "A month ago… if you had asked me that, I would have answered 'yes' without hesitation." Juno grimaced from her seat, clenching her fists on top of the table. When Lydia lifted her head though, her expression was once more a look of fierce determination. "Now… Now I must tell you 'no'. No, I do not wish to be free of him. He disgusting, he's crude, sometimes it seems he can be pure evil and it's his afterlife's ambition to drive me to insanity." Her expression softened. "He's also my best friend. He's saved my life twice. He saved my godparents from an exorcism. He helped me to expose the murders of the ghouls haunting my sorority, and to expose these so-called 'gods'." Lydia shrugged. "And he knows how to make me laugh. Make me smile again when the world just seems darker than the pits of hell."
The courtroom was silent, watching the Goth stare calmly up at the judge. He rapped his bony fingers against the edge of the podium, resting his chin on the upturned palm of his other hand. "Touching words dear. Why should I let the vermin have his powers back though?"
Lydia grimaced. "Because, your honor: he needs them. And I need him. And it's the right thing to do." Her expression turned pleading, and she leaned forward with her good hand fisted over her chest. "Please sir, don't let him die."
Mental shifted in his seat, tearing his eyes away from the pleading woman.
Why would anyone beg for that vile bastard's life? The girl had to be brainwashed… there was no other way to explain this. No other way to explain this weird… devotion. But…
No! He couldn't really be thinking of helping Betelgeuse! Bah, the little brat was clearly brainwashed… there was no other explaination for it.
And Mental really wanted to be the one to finally send Betel to the Lost Souls Room…
Someone cleared their throat, and the court turned to watch a tall, gaunt man stand and brush off his robes. "If I may, your honor?"
The judge's eyes widened. "Of course, Prince Vince."
Lydia bit her lip, watching the prince as he made the short trip up the aisle. To hers and Juno's great surprise, he halted by Lydia, and laid a hand on her shoulder. "Your honor, I despise the poltergeist as much as the next Neitherworldian." Lydia cringed. "But this isn't about liking or hating the man: this is about these so-called 'gods' that are threatening my kingdom." Vince inhaled slowly, flexing his hand on Lydia's shoulder. "We need power on our side, and loathe as I am to say it aloud… Geuse is the most powerful amongst us. And…" Vince turned his attention to Lydia, smiling lightly down at her. "It's possible I owe young Lydia here my Afterlife." He stared back up at the judge. "As prince, and therefore an overriding vote in the council: I am in favor of- temporarily, of course- releasing a small portion of Geuse's powers."
The judge stared down for a long moment at the prince.
Great. Now the mopey royal brat was backing the brainwashed brat.
…
…
…
…
Dammit.
"Fine then. What do you propose in regards to the limit released, Madam Juno?" He snapped.
Repressing a sigh of relief as she shot Lydia a tired smile, Juno stood once more. "A twenty percent release."
The judge howled in disbelief as the crowd began to shout in their outrage at the old woman. "Perhaps I should rethink my answer. How could you suggest such an outrageous number?"
Juno's eyes narrowed. "That's a fifth of his power, your Judgeness. As we speak, the man is slowly, painfully crumbling to dust as the exorcism tries to finish its work. Twenty percent itself may not even be enough, but we have to try. If that much power was shielded from the exorcism because of the restrictions, then he may be able to re-absorb what was lost and re-build his soul."
The judge glared at her for a long moment, before he finally shook his head in disgust. "I truly must be mental… Fine then. We will temporarily release part of the limits placed on Betelgeuse, until he has healed." The gavel made contact with the skull one last time as the judge banished the binder. "Next case!"
Lydia felt her knees grow weak as the gavel came down.
They had done it. They had gotten back part of his power!
Lydia gasped, holding onto the railing in front of her for support. She felt a pair of hands grab her and guide her down onto the bench. "Miss Lydia? Are you alright?"
Lydia nodded. "Just need a second… I think I was holding my breath the whole time…" Lydia felt the prince sit next to her on the bench. She took a deep breath and straightened up in the seat. "I'm good." Lydia exhaled as she turned to the prince. "Thank you, your highness."
The prince smiled and offered his hand to her. "My pleasure, Miss Lydia."
"Please, your highness. Call me Lydia." She smiled as she accepted his hand.
"And you must call me Vince. I have a few things to see to in regards to these… scumbags. I…" His eyes dropped and he grimaced down at her slinged arm. "I hope… you know. That your arm heals. And things work out."
Lydia stared blankly at him for a moment, before a smile spread across her face. "Thank you… Vince."
"We heard him a few hours ago, but he didn't say anything, or open the lid. He was just movin' around a bit."
"Will zey release ze restrictions?"
Juno nodded, folding her arms across her chest as she grimaced down at the coffin. "Temporarily. If the plan doesn't work, they're going to sap all his powers and send him to the Lost Souls room. Some twisted logic about being 'kinder'. But the bastards just want him gone. If he manages to heal himself though, they'll let him, and only take back what they released when he's fixed."
Lydia sniffed, lifting her hand to rub it against the aged grain. "It'll work. It has to." She murmured.
She felt a hand on her shoulder, and lifted her head to see Juno staring down at her. "Let's get you home."
Lydia shook her head. "Not ready."
The other three gave her odd looks, but nodded and exited the bedroom, talking in hushed whispers.
The Goth dropped her gaze back to the coffin, rubbing her hand across the dark wood. "You'll heal… it takes more than a few weasels to stop the Ghost with the Most… right? The madman with all the power… Come on Beej!" Lydia slapped her palm against the lid, glaring. "Wake up! Please…"
She sniffed, closing her eyes to hold in the waves of despair that threatened to pour from her.
The striped, beetle-crunching asshat was her protector, didn't he know that? He was her savior… And maybe that was the problem: she'd let herself grow close to him, become attached and comfortable in his presence.
And now she was dependent on the ghost. She needed him to feel safe, comfortable.
She felt selfish.
Lydia wiped away the tears welling in the corners of her eyes, and straightened up. Well… then she would fix that. She would be the one who saved him this time!
…
…
How the hell am I going to do that? She thought helplessly. Lydia sighed, spreading her palm back over the dark surface.
Babes…
Lydia jumped, snatching her hand back from the lid. The words that had invaded her mind… She was positive it was his voice. Lydia frowned as she pressed her palm to the wood again, spreading her fingers as far apart as possible. "Beej?"
S'you… Where're ya Lyds?
Lydia grinned, lifting her other hand and laying it out on the coffin as well. "Right beside you."
Can't see ya…
"Don't worry about it. How…" She hesitated for a moment. "How are things going?"
Hurts… a lot…
"Juno may have found a way to fix that. We've convinced Judge Mental and the court to release some of your power." There was no reply, which made her grimace. Lydia sighed, staring blankly at her hands as she traced circles around the RIP set in brass on the lid. "I wish… Wish I could do something to help." There was still no reply from the poltergeist.
Lydia felt a fresh wave of hopelessness roll over her. She shifted her position in the chair so she could lay her torso over the coffin lid with her arms folded beneath her head. The Goth closed her eyes, fully ready to fall asleep right here, screw what Juno would say.
It was then that she felt a low thrum of energy through the wood. Lydia's brows knit together as she concentrated on the sound.
It wasn't her heartbeat… no, it was one long, continuous vibration. And as she sat there, it increased by less than an octave, so little that she barely caught it.
Lydia smiled, sitting back up as she rubbed her hand over the coffin. "Maybe Juno was right then… You better heal soon, beetle-jerk: We need your mad genius to figure this out."
Mad genius indeed..... WHOOT! More mysterious connection crap between our favorite couple!
ANYWAY! Nick comes back in the next chapter, for those of you that are fans of the skeevey little punk. Say what you want, but the dude is still important. =D
LoliPear: Glad I could make shout. He does seem to always be there to put a more-than-expected damper on Beej's fun, doesn't he? No, seeing Beej turn to dust isn't fun, but hopefully we may be able to fix that with Lydia's help soon enough. You should go see it: totally disgusting, totally ridiculous, and totally amazing.
RaversAnthem: I suppose that's a way of looking at it, I think I was just a little less then pleased because it took me four tries to write and still feels rushed. *shrug*
Prats 'R' Us: He is the exuberant little bugger, isn't he? I haven't decided what's going to happen to her arm though. =| We'll just have to see. Sorry there's no rocking out in the courtroom, =D, but that would be hilarious.
Z_lorea: *cowers*Of course, because if not, Beej would for sure crumble away to nothing. Then where would the story go?
SeductressofDarkness: Glad you're enjoying. =D Juno's definitely one of my favorites to write, next to… probably Tobias and Nathoniel right now. And worry not- for I shall continue to write until this story can be taken no further. =D
