Hello everyone! Is it just me, or do textbook publishers put way too much plastic wrap on their books? Seriously! my book was plastic wrapped, my code for the online stuff was plastic wrapped, and then they were plastic wrapped together! And the code that was plastic wrapped was obviously done to make me look like an idiot trying to open it! But enough of my rambling. I think you all would rather find out what Jareth is about to tell Vikki, dont you.
-Ember2010
Disclaimer: Labyrinth is owned by Jim Henson. Return to Labyrinth is owned by Jake T. Forbes and Tokyopop. I do not own any of the original characters.
Ch. 9 The Birth of Zenith
Jareth was in the dungeon holding a glowing crystal that pulsed like a heartbeat. On the table before him was a young man, or at least that's what it looked like. It resembled a younger Jareth but it wasn't breathing. It was currently just a shell made of clay, shaped and painted by the best sculptor in the realm to look just like the Goblin King did many years ago. With some magic, the clay was turned into flesh and bone. Now all it needed was the spark of life, captured in a crystal so that it would last for as long as he needed it to. Smirking he placed the crystal onto the chest of the shell and it sank into it as it was absorbed. The sculpture glowed, turned into a fae, and took its first breaths of life. Slowly it blinked its eyes.
"Hello, Zenith." Jareth said, telling his newest creation its name.
"Hello, Jareth." Zenith returned the greeting.
"How are you feeling?" Jareth asked.
"Weak."
"That is normal." Jareth explained. "You should feel stronger after you rest."
"Ok. I'll go rest." Zenith said, getting up and wobbling a bit. Jareth helped Zenith to a bedroom and into bed so Zenith could sleep, then went to the throne room to continue his duties as Goblin King. When Zenith awoke, he was alone, but he knew where to find his creator. Zenith walked into the throne room of the Goblin King's castle.
"Ah, Zenith." Jareth said, standing and going over to the young man, "Feeling better?"
"A little." Zenith admitted, "I think I need food."
"Of course." Jareth said. He turned to a goblin. "Bring him some food."
The goblin ran off and returned with a large platter of food. Jareth conjured a table and chair for Zenith and the goblin placed the platter on the table. Zenith sat and ate, quickly devouring all the food until only bones and stems remained.
"Now then." Jareth said, sitting in his throne, "Zenith."
Zenith swallowed the last bit of food and turned to face the Goblin King. "Yes Jareth?" He asked.
"I plan to teach you how to use magic." Jareth said, taking a drink from a tarnished, golden goblet, "would you like that?"
Zenith thought for a moment. Truth be told, he wasn't sure what he wanted. He knew he wanted something; he just wasn't sure what it was he wanted. "ok." He said, finally deciding that maybe magic was what he was missing.
Over the course of the next month, Jareth spent every moment he could spare teaching Zenith the art of wielding magic. Zenith was an enthusiastic student and learned the art much faster than Jareth expected. Finally, Jareth was satisfied with Zenith's skills and decided it was time to test Zenith's ability to rule.
"Zenith." Jareth said, summoning the young man before him.
"What is it Jareth?" Zenith asked.
"I am going to the world of humans for a while." Jareth said, getting up from his throne.
"Why?" Zenith asked, wondering what could possibly be in the world of humans that Jareth would want.
"My Kingdom needs a queen." Jareth said. He walked over to the young man. "I won't be gone long. You are to rule in my place until I get back."
"I see." Zenith thought about it for a bit. "Ok. I think I can do that."
"I am going to give you some of my power. Use it only if you have to." Jareth said, placing his thumbs on Zenith's forehead. The skin glowed and Zenith felt power flow into him. It was a good feeling, but it did nothing to fix the emptiness that he felt in his chest, but it did help.
Zenith watched as Jareth changed into an Owl and flew out of the castle. Then he went to the throne and sat down. "This is my place." He said, looking out over the Goblin City through his crystal. He wondered why Jareth, with all his power, settled on ruling only this small kingdom when he could conquer an entire empire.
"Jareth has become weak in his old age." Zenith muttered to himself, "it is time he was retired and a new king took his place."
... yeah, I wrote this like months ago, so I cant really say any end comments for this. still trying to get my school crap worked out. So leave a comment in the box below!
-Ember 2010