OK! I know it's been a long time since I last posted! Sorry ... college can get a bit overwhelming at times.
X-treme Circumstances part 12
Wolverine and Gambit entered the room where the Professor was.
"Hey Professor," Wolverine said, "Do you know what Jareth did?"
"Yes I do. He told me about his plans before he left.," Xavier answered.
"And you just allowed him to take Sarah against her will to his homeland?", Gambit asked.
"Yes Gambit.," Xavier answered, "Jareth had some very good reasons for doing what he did although I don't agree with his tactics for bringing Sarah there I do support his decision."
"I just don't get it...," Wolverine mused, "Why didn't he just ask us for help rather than do something like that?"
"He did," Xavier answered, "And I agreed to help him."
"Any particular plans he has in mind?"
Xavier wheeled himself over towards a door, "Why don't you ask him? He should be over as soon as he gets Sarah settled in her new surroundings."
"Very well...," Wolverine mumbled as Xavier left the room, "I think I will."
******************************************
Sarah angrily stormed down the hallway. "The nerve of that arrogant....," she thought grumpily, "What makes him think that he can just keep me here?"
She looked at a wooden door and smiled. Of course... the mirror....
Sarah walked up to the door to the library and tried the doors. They were locked.
"Damn!," Sarah cursed in frustration, "It's not fair!"
"You're right...It's not fair." a soft voice whispered in her ear.
Sarah jumped when she heard the voice and turned around to see the cause of her frustration.
"Jareth! Isn't it bad enough that you won't let me live my life without you having to mock me?"
"Sarah, I understand that you are angry at me for bringing you here without your permission. Believe me, I did it because I care for you."
Sarah stared at him, "I understand that much Jareth... You just don't seem to understand me though... I can take care of myself thank you very much."
"Like you did at the dorm room?.... Or in the park?," Jareth asked.
"What about my solving the Labyrinth?"
"You had help there too.... remember Hoggle, Ludo, and Sir Dydimus?"
Sarah frowned and looked away from Jareth only to have it gently being turned back towards him. Jareth smiled, "Trust me......everyone needs help once in awhile."
Sarah felt her anger melt away as she looked into his mismatched eyes. His eyes just added to the caring look he gave her.
"Jareth," she began, "Do you really think some of those people will be after me?"
"I don't know Sarah. But I'm not going to take chances with your life.....or James's."
"James?," Sarah asked in a worried tone, "He's in danger? "
"I don't know. I don't know how much these people know about him or of his abilities. If they know of them, they might go after him. If they don't, they might use him to get to me."
Sarah took in all she could of the situation, "Jareth, if you brought me here to protect me, why didn't you do the same for James?"
He smiled, "James will be taken care of when it comes to a safe place. He'll be around some friends so he won't feel so bad about the situation. When I can, I am going to try and help James learn to control his powers a bit more so he can defend himself if the need arises."
Jareth looked at one of his clocks, "By the way, I have to go help get James's situation set up now. So I guess I'll talk to you later."
He looked at Sarah's face, "Promise not to try and break into my library?"
"yeah..."
"Good.... well I better get going....."
Jareth walked past Sarah and opened the door to the library, closing it behind him. Sarah knew without trying the door again that the door was still locked.
Oh well...... she might as well explore the rest of the castle if she was going to spend some time there.
******************************************
Jareth made his way to a small meeting room in the X-men compound. Seeing Xacier over at a table, he pulled up a chair and sat next to him at the table.
"So Xavier, how do thinkgs look with that Mystique character?"
Xavier frowned, "Mystique hasn't been seen for a little while. I think her coleagues are up to something. I don't know what though. my powers of reading thought can only go so far without Cerebro."
"Cerebro?"
"A machine that enhances my powers a little. Sadly, the thing seems to no be functioning properly."
Jareth nodded and looked to the doorway as he heard it slide open. Into the room stepped Wolverine and Gambit.
"Ok Magic Boy," Wolverine snarled at Jareth, "There better be a very good reason for you to kidnap Sarah for it."
Jareth looked at Xavier, "I thought you explained this to them." They asked before I could find a way to word it properly."
Jareth groaned. He hated having to explain himself and his actions!
"I have reason to believe that Sarah and James would be targeted by the people who were following us."
Gambit looked at Jareth, "Why? Other than the wtwo we caught, the interest has been on you."
"He means that they might be used to get to him," Wolverine said, "Mystique's seen them hanging around Jareth a lot so she would assume that he cared for them."
A scowl came across Wolverine's face, "Wait a minute.. Jubilee's been hanging around the group as well. What makes you so sure that she won't be targeted?"
"Because she's an X-man. with the bond between you guys it would be stupid to take her because it may cause the X-men to get involved."
"But they are involved," Gambit pointed out, "You've been hanging out over ehre for a while and so has Sarah and James."
"But they don't know you are involved. To them, we are only people who accidentaly ended up at the compound. I was unconcious when I came here, James was tresspassing, and Sarah came to help me. Now, any more questions?"
Gambit and Wolverine were silent.
"Good," Jareth turned to look at Xavier, "So how are things going with the arrangements?"
xavier smiled,'Good. jean has set up James's room and Cyclops has gone to the campus to explain the situation to James. james should be here tonight."
"Good. They'll both be safe while I take care of some business."
Gambit looked at the two, "What kind of business?"
"We stop the threat to James and Sarah," Xavier answered.
"But how?"
"Simple," Jareth said, giving a smile, "Since they are going through a hard time tying to have a talk with me..... I'll go talk to them."
******************************************
Sarah sat down on a nice, plush chair she had found in the hallway. She was tired from exploring the castle and was starting to get hungry.
"I wonder where the kitchen is..." Sarah wondered, "I am so hungry!"
As she thought that, she heard a clattering sound nearby, Looking to the source of the sound, she saw a tiny Goblin opening a door that had previously been locked.
Curious, she walked to the doorway and peered in. Inside was a long table with platters of food all over the table.
Sarah sat down at one of the chairs and looked at all the food. How'd they know she was hungry?
A goblin walked up to her carrying a pitcher. "For you miss," the creature said as it poured the red liquid into an empty goblet, "Compliments of his majesty."
Sarah thanked the goblin and looked curiously at the drink. It wasn't wine, and it wasn't a fruit drink,... what was it?
Shrugging, Sarah sipped the drink. As the drink touched her lips, Sarah was surprised at how delicious the liquid was. She didn't know what it tasted like, all she knew was that the drink was sweet but not too sweet and it seemed to be chilled to perfection.
She looked at the Goblin, "What is this stuff?"
The goblin laughed, "Nice isn't it? Some of his Majesty's finest. It is usually served at royal weddings and other important ceremonies. This is the first time he has ever allowed Bliss to be served to someone when there was no special occasion. He must really like you."
The Goblin smiled as Sarah finished her drink, "More Bliss miss? Jareth said that you can have as much as you want."
"Yes please," Sarah answered, holding out her goblet. She could get used to that drink.
After the goblin left, Sarah went at work on the meal that lay before her. As she took her first bite, she heard footsteps scurrying across the floor. Turning around, she saw a flash of white go around a corner.
Dismissing it as a figment of her imagination, she heard a familiar voice echo the room, "Ambrosia! Get back here!"
Sarah smiled as she looked at the speaker, "Sir Dydimus!"
Sir Dydimus looked over at Sarah, "Mi lady?.... Mi lady, What hath brought you here?"
"Jareth. He's the one who brought me here."
"Jareth hath gone to far! I shall avenge thee for thy loss of freedom!"
"No Dydimus, Jareth isn't holding me prisoner! He's protecting me."
"Dare I ask from what?"
"Really bad People."
"Very well, I shall fight them for thy honor. Show me where thy brutes may be."
"Sir Dydimus! I don't know where they are."
Sir Dydimus was quiet for awhile but then interrupted the silence with yet another statement, "So.. haven't seen you in awhile."
"Let me pour you a glass of Bliss and you can tell me what has happened since the last time we met," Sarah suggested.
"Very well."
**********************************************************
Jubilee looked out the window that overlooked the moon lit campus. Normally she would have liked the peaceful landscape but the situation her friends were in was bothering her.
Sarah was somewhere in Jareth's castle and James was taking up temporary residence in the compound.
She wasn't told much beyond that. All she knew was that James would be working on his courses from up at the compound. How Sarah was going to keep up with studies, she wasn't sure of. One things for sure though. If she doesn't bet a tutor or something, she might as well drop out of college.
Jubilee frowned.
"I shouldn't have come here," she thought.
*****************************************************
Xavier frowned as he hung up the phone. He looked at Jean and Scott who were also in the room with him.
"Jubilee wants to continue her college work from here," Xavier said.
"Homesickness or Concern?," Scott asked.
"She says it's a little of both," Xavier answered, "But I only believe the concern one. I think she has other reasons for wanting to return.
****************************************************************************
"So what do we do?," Mystique asked, 'We can't directly go after Sarah and Jareth right now."
Magneto was starting to get a headache, "Silence Mystique! I need some quiet."
Insulted, Mystique got up from her chair and walked out of the room for awhile.
Magneto used this new found silence to contemplate the matter. He couldn't target Sarah or Jareth because they were on their guard now.
He frowned, It had also been a full day since Jareth supposedly woke up which meant that he may have spent more than a full day with Xavier nearby. Chances are that Jareth has already talked to him and considering the way the Jubille girl hung around Sarah afterwards, chances are that Jareth agreeded with Xavier's philosophy.
A phone nearby rang which Magneto answered on the second ring.
"Hello,' Magneto said into his phone," I've been considereing... It's been a while since Jareth came into the compound. He's probably already talked to Xavier and will consider the X-men his friends... Perhaps we should just stop trying to recruit him."
Magneto listened to the angry response on the phone. When the other person finished, magneto frowned and simply replied into the receiver, "Yes. I hear you."
Magneto hung up and started to massage the sides of his head. He didn't know which was causing him the bigger headache, the Jareth incident , or his stubborn partner who refused to let this guy go.
He looked up and was surprised to find Mystique standing there. She had come back into the room as he was on the phone.
Mystique looked at Magneto questionably, "What did he say?" magneto shook his head, "The stubborn bastard insists we go along with the Jareth deal. He also said that he'll be over shortly."
Mystique wasn't annoyed. In fact, she was quite pleased. Jareth had caught her fancy and she wouldn't mind seeing him with out that Sarah brat hanging on him.
******************************************************
The white owl flew high in the sky and studied the landscape below. It wasn't looking at the beauty though. It was looking for the source of the energy it had felt. The creature had felt this exact energy patter before.
The owl landed in an alley way and came into human form.
Jareht looked around the allyway and smiled when he saw a semi-hidden doorway. She was in there. He felt it!
Opening the door, he went inside.
****************************************************
James looked around the room he gad been in just last night. He hadn't been expecting to be back here so soon.
Sighing, he began to unpack. This wouldn't be so bad if Jubilee were here.
Hearing a slight rap on the door, he looked over to the doorway and grinned at the sight before him.
"Jubilee!," he said happily, "I was just thinking about you!"
Jubilee returned the grin, "Better have been good thoughts."
James laughed, You know it was." He ran up to hug her and then looked into her eyes, "What are you doing here? Don't you have classes?"
"I was worried about you."
James looked to the doorway and frowned. Taking his hands away from Jubilee, he looked at Jean Grey and Professor Xavier.
Jean looked at Jubilee, "Could I have a word with you?"
Jubilee nodded and walked out of the doorway with Jean. Leaving Xavier with James.
Xavier looked at James and smiled, "Welcome James. I hope your stay here will be pleasant."
"Thank you for letting me stay here. Mr. Xavier," James answered.
"Nonsense. We have plenaty of room for you here. Jareth and I agreed it would be best for you and Sarah to be taken somewhere safe."
James looked at the professor with curiosity, "Where DID Jareth take Sarah andyways?"
"She's at his castle with her friends for company."
"Oh."
Xavier looked at the box he had carried in with him, "Oh yes.. before I forget.."
He handed James the box, "It's from Jareth."
James opened the box and pulled out an amulet. "What's this for?," he asked.
"From what I know, it was your father's before he gave up his magic. I'm not sure but I think it serves as a means of focusing your power."
"Cool."
********************************************************
Jubilee looked at Jean, "So what did you want to see me for?"
"Nothing really, I just wanted to allow the professor to talk to James uninterrupted."
"Oh."
"But Jubilee, one question does come in mind," Jean continued, 'I sense a feeling of guilt in you. Why?"
Jubilee sighed. Why did Jean have to read her feelings?, "Because if I hadn't have come to that college none of this would have happened. If I hadn't had led Sarah to the Senator Kelly thing, she'd never be in the path of gunfire and Mystique wouldn't have found out about Jareth."
Jean looked at the sad girl.
"That's a lot to feel guilty about, that's for sure. But aren't you being a bit hard on yourself? You had no idea that those things were going to happen. Don't trouble yourself with that."
**************************************************************************
".. And Jareth just merely let us go! For a minute I thought his Majesty was sick or something but..," Sir Dydimus stopped his account of his last meeting with the Goblin King and looked at his friend, "Milady?.. What's the matter?"
Sarah looked at Sir Dydimus and Sighed, "Forgive me Dydimus, but I'm kind of worried about how Jareth is doing. There are people looking for him too."
"Don't worry Milady! If he were in trouble, the Labyrinth would tell us."
"How? Is Jareth linked to everything in the Underground?"
"Oh no milady! It is not like that." Dydimus corrected, "He's only connected to the Labyrinth and the castle. The rest of the Underground is divided amongst the other kingdoms."
"But I thought Jareth was the only king here," Sarah stated.
"You still take things for granted," a gruff voice observed from the doorway, "I thought your first adventure here taught you that."
Sarah looked to the doorway and smiled, "Hoggle!.. Ludo!" she ran up to hug the two.
Hoggle kept talking, "Of COURSE there are other kings. Wouldn't it be rather lonely if he was the only Faye here?"
Ludo smiled at Hoggle's comment, "Twue."
Sarah just looked at them happily but was then distracted by a noice. Looking to the table, she saw extra places being set.
When the place settings were finished, Sarah gestured over to the table, "Care to dine with me?"
Sarah, Hoggle, and Sir Dydimus sat down in the chairs while Ludo sat on a cushion on the floor so that he could sit at eye level with them (or relatively closer to them) They began to reminice about things past.
****************************************
Mystique looked at Magneto, "So how are we going to recruit Jareth?"
Magneto shrugged, "First of all we need to get him where he's free of Xavier's idiotic philosophy. Then we can talk to him."
"Well how are we gonna do that?," Mystique asked, "We can't just expect him to just waltz in here and..."
Mystique stopped talking when she noticed a surprised look on his face.
Turning around to see what he was looking at, Mystique was also surprised.
"I heard you were looking for me," Jareth said.
******************************************
Pyro walked alongside his boss and curiously looked at him.
"I don't see how you can read and walk at the same time, "Pyro commented as he saw his employer reading a book.
The man lowered his book and glanced at Pyro, "Practice... that's how. Now shut up. I'm doing research."
"What on?"
"Our friend that Magneto is trying so nicely to recruit."
Pyro was curious, 'I thought you knew most of the info on mutants."
"I do. But this guy's no mutant."
"How do you know?"
Without a word, Pyro was handed a small red book that his boss was also carrying.
" 'Labyrinth'?," Pyro asked.
"Yes. One of my workers found it in that girl's apartment after her friends left for the compound."
Pyro looked at the other book his employer carried: 'Fayes and other magical creatures' .
"How helpful is that book?"
"Very."
******************************************
When Xavier left Jame's room, Jubilee walked in again. She looked at James with a questioning look on her face.
James smiled, "Xavier just came to give me something of mine."
"What is it?"
James held up the pendant and then put it around his neck. "He gave me this."
"What for?"
"Dunno. Supposed to represent my powers or help focus t. I guess all people with Faye blood need one."
"Cool."
********************************************
Jareth tried not to laugh at the the surprised looks of the two mutants. Instead he put a frown on his face.
"Well?," Jareth asked expectantly.
Looking at the two, his eyes rested on Mystique, "You've been keeping an eye on me for quite a while and frankly I'm a bit curious as to why."
Magneto came out of his surprised state and gestured to a seat, "Please sit down."
Jareth didn't move from the doorway, "I prefer it here thank you."
Magneto shrugged and sat down, "Very well..."
He looked at Jareth, "I understand your curiosity. If I were in your situation I'd be wondering why it was happening too.... I trust you've already spoken to Xavier?"
Jareth nodded and decided to go into his little act, "That old coot... Yeah I listened to him. He seemed intelligent until he started talking."
Magneto smiled at the comment, "What do you mean?"
Jareth avoided smiling. Magneto was actually buying the dumb story.
"I mean his ideas are all screwed up!," Jareth continued, 'What kind of idiot believes that the human world will grow to accept those with special powers? It's impossible!"
Magneto laughed at the last statement, "Yes it is stupid to believe such things... But I have a question for you, why do you hang around them if you don't agree with them?"
Jareth was ready for such a question, 'It's simple really. They saved my life and I figured that I could at least feign interest."
Magneto nodded, 'Rest assured Jareth, my group doesn't believe Xavier's screwed up philosophy. We believe in a more direct approach to achieve acceptance. None of that passive crap."
Jareth pretended to be surprised, "You want me to join you?"
Magneto nodded, "Think what you can do for your people. Help them finally achieve a sense of belonging."
Jareth shook his head, "No. I don't think I would do well working with you or those X-men."
"But think of the changes you can make..."
"I know of the changes I can make! I make a decision and it can make. I make a decision and it can affect thousands. I don't believe I need your group to help me with what I am already doing," Jareth answered, 'Now that I told you my decision, I'm going to leave now."
Jareth looked over at Mystique, "By the way. Would you please stop following me? I have things to do without your energy pattern distracting me."
After saying that, a sensation came over him. It was the energy of two mutants behind him. One had the same amount of energy as Mystique but the other one's prescence was what caught his attention. The energy was slightly stronger than any of the other mutants in the room and it surprised Jareth.
Magneto looked at Jareth with a serious look, "So you won't consider helping us?"
Jareth shook his head.
Magneto looked disappointed by Jareth's answer and sighed, "Very well."
Jareth felt one mutant grab him from behind. As he tried to free himself from the guy's grasp, another hand took Jareth's amulet off of his neck.
"My amulet!," Jareth cried out.
The man who had taken the amulet gave an evil grin, "Try focusing your powers on us now!"
Jareth glared at the man. How did he know the purpose of the amulet?
That was the last thought Jareth had before slipping into unconciousness
To be continued...
X-treme Circumstances part 12
Wolverine and Gambit entered the room where the Professor was.
"Hey Professor," Wolverine said, "Do you know what Jareth did?"
"Yes I do. He told me about his plans before he left.," Xavier answered.
"And you just allowed him to take Sarah against her will to his homeland?", Gambit asked.
"Yes Gambit.," Xavier answered, "Jareth had some very good reasons for doing what he did although I don't agree with his tactics for bringing Sarah there I do support his decision."
"I just don't get it...," Wolverine mused, "Why didn't he just ask us for help rather than do something like that?"
"He did," Xavier answered, "And I agreed to help him."
"Any particular plans he has in mind?"
Xavier wheeled himself over towards a door, "Why don't you ask him? He should be over as soon as he gets Sarah settled in her new surroundings."
"Very well...," Wolverine mumbled as Xavier left the room, "I think I will."
******************************************
Sarah angrily stormed down the hallway. "The nerve of that arrogant....," she thought grumpily, "What makes him think that he can just keep me here?"
She looked at a wooden door and smiled. Of course... the mirror....
Sarah walked up to the door to the library and tried the doors. They were locked.
"Damn!," Sarah cursed in frustration, "It's not fair!"
"You're right...It's not fair." a soft voice whispered in her ear.
Sarah jumped when she heard the voice and turned around to see the cause of her frustration.
"Jareth! Isn't it bad enough that you won't let me live my life without you having to mock me?"
"Sarah, I understand that you are angry at me for bringing you here without your permission. Believe me, I did it because I care for you."
Sarah stared at him, "I understand that much Jareth... You just don't seem to understand me though... I can take care of myself thank you very much."
"Like you did at the dorm room?.... Or in the park?," Jareth asked.
"What about my solving the Labyrinth?"
"You had help there too.... remember Hoggle, Ludo, and Sir Dydimus?"
Sarah frowned and looked away from Jareth only to have it gently being turned back towards him. Jareth smiled, "Trust me......everyone needs help once in awhile."
Sarah felt her anger melt away as she looked into his mismatched eyes. His eyes just added to the caring look he gave her.
"Jareth," she began, "Do you really think some of those people will be after me?"
"I don't know Sarah. But I'm not going to take chances with your life.....or James's."
"James?," Sarah asked in a worried tone, "He's in danger? "
"I don't know. I don't know how much these people know about him or of his abilities. If they know of them, they might go after him. If they don't, they might use him to get to me."
Sarah took in all she could of the situation, "Jareth, if you brought me here to protect me, why didn't you do the same for James?"
He smiled, "James will be taken care of when it comes to a safe place. He'll be around some friends so he won't feel so bad about the situation. When I can, I am going to try and help James learn to control his powers a bit more so he can defend himself if the need arises."
Jareth looked at one of his clocks, "By the way, I have to go help get James's situation set up now. So I guess I'll talk to you later."
He looked at Sarah's face, "Promise not to try and break into my library?"
"yeah..."
"Good.... well I better get going....."
Jareth walked past Sarah and opened the door to the library, closing it behind him. Sarah knew without trying the door again that the door was still locked.
Oh well...... she might as well explore the rest of the castle if she was going to spend some time there.
******************************************
Jareth made his way to a small meeting room in the X-men compound. Seeing Xacier over at a table, he pulled up a chair and sat next to him at the table.
"So Xavier, how do thinkgs look with that Mystique character?"
Xavier frowned, "Mystique hasn't been seen for a little while. I think her coleagues are up to something. I don't know what though. my powers of reading thought can only go so far without Cerebro."
"Cerebro?"
"A machine that enhances my powers a little. Sadly, the thing seems to no be functioning properly."
Jareth nodded and looked to the doorway as he heard it slide open. Into the room stepped Wolverine and Gambit.
"Ok Magic Boy," Wolverine snarled at Jareth, "There better be a very good reason for you to kidnap Sarah for it."
Jareth looked at Xavier, "I thought you explained this to them." They asked before I could find a way to word it properly."
Jareth groaned. He hated having to explain himself and his actions!
"I have reason to believe that Sarah and James would be targeted by the people who were following us."
Gambit looked at Jareth, "Why? Other than the wtwo we caught, the interest has been on you."
"He means that they might be used to get to him," Wolverine said, "Mystique's seen them hanging around Jareth a lot so she would assume that he cared for them."
A scowl came across Wolverine's face, "Wait a minute.. Jubilee's been hanging around the group as well. What makes you so sure that she won't be targeted?"
"Because she's an X-man. with the bond between you guys it would be stupid to take her because it may cause the X-men to get involved."
"But they are involved," Gambit pointed out, "You've been hanging out over ehre for a while and so has Sarah and James."
"But they don't know you are involved. To them, we are only people who accidentaly ended up at the compound. I was unconcious when I came here, James was tresspassing, and Sarah came to help me. Now, any more questions?"
Gambit and Wolverine were silent.
"Good," Jareth turned to look at Xavier, "So how are things going with the arrangements?"
xavier smiled,'Good. jean has set up James's room and Cyclops has gone to the campus to explain the situation to James. james should be here tonight."
"Good. They'll both be safe while I take care of some business."
Gambit looked at the two, "What kind of business?"
"We stop the threat to James and Sarah," Xavier answered.
"But how?"
"Simple," Jareth said, giving a smile, "Since they are going through a hard time tying to have a talk with me..... I'll go talk to them."
******************************************
Sarah sat down on a nice, plush chair she had found in the hallway. She was tired from exploring the castle and was starting to get hungry.
"I wonder where the kitchen is..." Sarah wondered, "I am so hungry!"
As she thought that, she heard a clattering sound nearby, Looking to the source of the sound, she saw a tiny Goblin opening a door that had previously been locked.
Curious, she walked to the doorway and peered in. Inside was a long table with platters of food all over the table.
Sarah sat down at one of the chairs and looked at all the food. How'd they know she was hungry?
A goblin walked up to her carrying a pitcher. "For you miss," the creature said as it poured the red liquid into an empty goblet, "Compliments of his majesty."
Sarah thanked the goblin and looked curiously at the drink. It wasn't wine, and it wasn't a fruit drink,... what was it?
Shrugging, Sarah sipped the drink. As the drink touched her lips, Sarah was surprised at how delicious the liquid was. She didn't know what it tasted like, all she knew was that the drink was sweet but not too sweet and it seemed to be chilled to perfection.
She looked at the Goblin, "What is this stuff?"
The goblin laughed, "Nice isn't it? Some of his Majesty's finest. It is usually served at royal weddings and other important ceremonies. This is the first time he has ever allowed Bliss to be served to someone when there was no special occasion. He must really like you."
The Goblin smiled as Sarah finished her drink, "More Bliss miss? Jareth said that you can have as much as you want."
"Yes please," Sarah answered, holding out her goblet. She could get used to that drink.
After the goblin left, Sarah went at work on the meal that lay before her. As she took her first bite, she heard footsteps scurrying across the floor. Turning around, she saw a flash of white go around a corner.
Dismissing it as a figment of her imagination, she heard a familiar voice echo the room, "Ambrosia! Get back here!"
Sarah smiled as she looked at the speaker, "Sir Dydimus!"
Sir Dydimus looked over at Sarah, "Mi lady?.... Mi lady, What hath brought you here?"
"Jareth. He's the one who brought me here."
"Jareth hath gone to far! I shall avenge thee for thy loss of freedom!"
"No Dydimus, Jareth isn't holding me prisoner! He's protecting me."
"Dare I ask from what?"
"Really bad People."
"Very well, I shall fight them for thy honor. Show me where thy brutes may be."
"Sir Dydimus! I don't know where they are."
Sir Dydimus was quiet for awhile but then interrupted the silence with yet another statement, "So.. haven't seen you in awhile."
"Let me pour you a glass of Bliss and you can tell me what has happened since the last time we met," Sarah suggested.
"Very well."
**********************************************************
Jubilee looked out the window that overlooked the moon lit campus. Normally she would have liked the peaceful landscape but the situation her friends were in was bothering her.
Sarah was somewhere in Jareth's castle and James was taking up temporary residence in the compound.
She wasn't told much beyond that. All she knew was that James would be working on his courses from up at the compound. How Sarah was going to keep up with studies, she wasn't sure of. One things for sure though. If she doesn't bet a tutor or something, she might as well drop out of college.
Jubilee frowned.
"I shouldn't have come here," she thought.
*****************************************************
Xavier frowned as he hung up the phone. He looked at Jean and Scott who were also in the room with him.
"Jubilee wants to continue her college work from here," Xavier said.
"Homesickness or Concern?," Scott asked.
"She says it's a little of both," Xavier answered, "But I only believe the concern one. I think she has other reasons for wanting to return.
****************************************************************************
"So what do we do?," Mystique asked, 'We can't directly go after Sarah and Jareth right now."
Magneto was starting to get a headache, "Silence Mystique! I need some quiet."
Insulted, Mystique got up from her chair and walked out of the room for awhile.
Magneto used this new found silence to contemplate the matter. He couldn't target Sarah or Jareth because they were on their guard now.
He frowned, It had also been a full day since Jareth supposedly woke up which meant that he may have spent more than a full day with Xavier nearby. Chances are that Jareth has already talked to him and considering the way the Jubille girl hung around Sarah afterwards, chances are that Jareth agreeded with Xavier's philosophy.
A phone nearby rang which Magneto answered on the second ring.
"Hello,' Magneto said into his phone," I've been considereing... It's been a while since Jareth came into the compound. He's probably already talked to Xavier and will consider the X-men his friends... Perhaps we should just stop trying to recruit him."
Magneto listened to the angry response on the phone. When the other person finished, magneto frowned and simply replied into the receiver, "Yes. I hear you."
Magneto hung up and started to massage the sides of his head. He didn't know which was causing him the bigger headache, the Jareth incident , or his stubborn partner who refused to let this guy go.
He looked up and was surprised to find Mystique standing there. She had come back into the room as he was on the phone.
Mystique looked at Magneto questionably, "What did he say?" magneto shook his head, "The stubborn bastard insists we go along with the Jareth deal. He also said that he'll be over shortly."
Mystique wasn't annoyed. In fact, she was quite pleased. Jareth had caught her fancy and she wouldn't mind seeing him with out that Sarah brat hanging on him.
******************************************************
The white owl flew high in the sky and studied the landscape below. It wasn't looking at the beauty though. It was looking for the source of the energy it had felt. The creature had felt this exact energy patter before.
The owl landed in an alley way and came into human form.
Jareht looked around the allyway and smiled when he saw a semi-hidden doorway. She was in there. He felt it!
Opening the door, he went inside.
****************************************************
James looked around the room he gad been in just last night. He hadn't been expecting to be back here so soon.
Sighing, he began to unpack. This wouldn't be so bad if Jubilee were here.
Hearing a slight rap on the door, he looked over to the doorway and grinned at the sight before him.
"Jubilee!," he said happily, "I was just thinking about you!"
Jubilee returned the grin, "Better have been good thoughts."
James laughed, You know it was." He ran up to hug her and then looked into her eyes, "What are you doing here? Don't you have classes?"
"I was worried about you."
James looked to the doorway and frowned. Taking his hands away from Jubilee, he looked at Jean Grey and Professor Xavier.
Jean looked at Jubilee, "Could I have a word with you?"
Jubilee nodded and walked out of the doorway with Jean. Leaving Xavier with James.
Xavier looked at James and smiled, "Welcome James. I hope your stay here will be pleasant."
"Thank you for letting me stay here. Mr. Xavier," James answered.
"Nonsense. We have plenaty of room for you here. Jareth and I agreed it would be best for you and Sarah to be taken somewhere safe."
James looked at the professor with curiosity, "Where DID Jareth take Sarah andyways?"
"She's at his castle with her friends for company."
"Oh."
Xavier looked at the box he had carried in with him, "Oh yes.. before I forget.."
He handed James the box, "It's from Jareth."
James opened the box and pulled out an amulet. "What's this for?," he asked.
"From what I know, it was your father's before he gave up his magic. I'm not sure but I think it serves as a means of focusing your power."
"Cool."
********************************************************
Jubilee looked at Jean, "So what did you want to see me for?"
"Nothing really, I just wanted to allow the professor to talk to James uninterrupted."
"Oh."
"But Jubilee, one question does come in mind," Jean continued, 'I sense a feeling of guilt in you. Why?"
Jubilee sighed. Why did Jean have to read her feelings?, "Because if I hadn't have come to that college none of this would have happened. If I hadn't had led Sarah to the Senator Kelly thing, she'd never be in the path of gunfire and Mystique wouldn't have found out about Jareth."
Jean looked at the sad girl.
"That's a lot to feel guilty about, that's for sure. But aren't you being a bit hard on yourself? You had no idea that those things were going to happen. Don't trouble yourself with that."
**************************************************************************
".. And Jareth just merely let us go! For a minute I thought his Majesty was sick or something but..," Sir Dydimus stopped his account of his last meeting with the Goblin King and looked at his friend, "Milady?.. What's the matter?"
Sarah looked at Sir Dydimus and Sighed, "Forgive me Dydimus, but I'm kind of worried about how Jareth is doing. There are people looking for him too."
"Don't worry Milady! If he were in trouble, the Labyrinth would tell us."
"How? Is Jareth linked to everything in the Underground?"
"Oh no milady! It is not like that." Dydimus corrected, "He's only connected to the Labyrinth and the castle. The rest of the Underground is divided amongst the other kingdoms."
"But I thought Jareth was the only king here," Sarah stated.
"You still take things for granted," a gruff voice observed from the doorway, "I thought your first adventure here taught you that."
Sarah looked to the doorway and smiled, "Hoggle!.. Ludo!" she ran up to hug the two.
Hoggle kept talking, "Of COURSE there are other kings. Wouldn't it be rather lonely if he was the only Faye here?"
Ludo smiled at Hoggle's comment, "Twue."
Sarah just looked at them happily but was then distracted by a noice. Looking to the table, she saw extra places being set.
When the place settings were finished, Sarah gestured over to the table, "Care to dine with me?"
Sarah, Hoggle, and Sir Dydimus sat down in the chairs while Ludo sat on a cushion on the floor so that he could sit at eye level with them (or relatively closer to them) They began to reminice about things past.
****************************************
Mystique looked at Magneto, "So how are we going to recruit Jareth?"
Magneto shrugged, "First of all we need to get him where he's free of Xavier's idiotic philosophy. Then we can talk to him."
"Well how are we gonna do that?," Mystique asked, "We can't just expect him to just waltz in here and..."
Mystique stopped talking when she noticed a surprised look on his face.
Turning around to see what he was looking at, Mystique was also surprised.
"I heard you were looking for me," Jareth said.
******************************************
Pyro walked alongside his boss and curiously looked at him.
"I don't see how you can read and walk at the same time, "Pyro commented as he saw his employer reading a book.
The man lowered his book and glanced at Pyro, "Practice... that's how. Now shut up. I'm doing research."
"What on?"
"Our friend that Magneto is trying so nicely to recruit."
Pyro was curious, 'I thought you knew most of the info on mutants."
"I do. But this guy's no mutant."
"How do you know?"
Without a word, Pyro was handed a small red book that his boss was also carrying.
" 'Labyrinth'?," Pyro asked.
"Yes. One of my workers found it in that girl's apartment after her friends left for the compound."
Pyro looked at the other book his employer carried: 'Fayes and other magical creatures' .
"How helpful is that book?"
"Very."
******************************************
When Xavier left Jame's room, Jubilee walked in again. She looked at James with a questioning look on her face.
James smiled, "Xavier just came to give me something of mine."
"What is it?"
James held up the pendant and then put it around his neck. "He gave me this."
"What for?"
"Dunno. Supposed to represent my powers or help focus t. I guess all people with Faye blood need one."
"Cool."
********************************************
Jareth tried not to laugh at the the surprised looks of the two mutants. Instead he put a frown on his face.
"Well?," Jareth asked expectantly.
Looking at the two, his eyes rested on Mystique, "You've been keeping an eye on me for quite a while and frankly I'm a bit curious as to why."
Magneto came out of his surprised state and gestured to a seat, "Please sit down."
Jareth didn't move from the doorway, "I prefer it here thank you."
Magneto shrugged and sat down, "Very well..."
He looked at Jareth, "I understand your curiosity. If I were in your situation I'd be wondering why it was happening too.... I trust you've already spoken to Xavier?"
Jareth nodded and decided to go into his little act, "That old coot... Yeah I listened to him. He seemed intelligent until he started talking."
Magneto smiled at the comment, "What do you mean?"
Jareth avoided smiling. Magneto was actually buying the dumb story.
"I mean his ideas are all screwed up!," Jareth continued, 'What kind of idiot believes that the human world will grow to accept those with special powers? It's impossible!"
Magneto laughed at the last statement, "Yes it is stupid to believe such things... But I have a question for you, why do you hang around them if you don't agree with them?"
Jareth was ready for such a question, 'It's simple really. They saved my life and I figured that I could at least feign interest."
Magneto nodded, 'Rest assured Jareth, my group doesn't believe Xavier's screwed up philosophy. We believe in a more direct approach to achieve acceptance. None of that passive crap."
Jareth pretended to be surprised, "You want me to join you?"
Magneto nodded, "Think what you can do for your people. Help them finally achieve a sense of belonging."
Jareth shook his head, "No. I don't think I would do well working with you or those X-men."
"But think of the changes you can make..."
"I know of the changes I can make! I make a decision and it can make. I make a decision and it can affect thousands. I don't believe I need your group to help me with what I am already doing," Jareth answered, 'Now that I told you my decision, I'm going to leave now."
Jareth looked over at Mystique, "By the way. Would you please stop following me? I have things to do without your energy pattern distracting me."
After saying that, a sensation came over him. It was the energy of two mutants behind him. One had the same amount of energy as Mystique but the other one's prescence was what caught his attention. The energy was slightly stronger than any of the other mutants in the room and it surprised Jareth.
Magneto looked at Jareth with a serious look, "So you won't consider helping us?"
Jareth shook his head.
Magneto looked disappointed by Jareth's answer and sighed, "Very well."
Jareth felt one mutant grab him from behind. As he tried to free himself from the guy's grasp, another hand took Jareth's amulet off of his neck.
"My amulet!," Jareth cried out.
The man who had taken the amulet gave an evil grin, "Try focusing your powers on us now!"
Jareth glared at the man. How did he know the purpose of the amulet?
That was the last thought Jareth had before slipping into unconciousness
To be continued...