A/N: (Emmy) Hiyo all, and welcome
to a new chapter of 'Realm Hopping'. We're very glad you enjoyed the first
chapter! And remember, for now this is in -my- realm, so you might want to read
my Labyfics to understand better. And as always, please remember to review!
Disclaimer: The Labyrinth isn't
ours. (Both) Such a pity! (Laurie) Well, I'm sure they're grateful it's not...wouldn't be *quite*
the same place. *mischievous grin* (Emmy)
Yes...I can imagine. And I am scared of what it would be like. Now, on with our
story! (Laurie)
Right-o!
~*~*~*~
Laurie entered the "Blue Rose" room, and looked
around carefully. "So this is where I'll be staying for the next few
weeks," she thought. She grinned to herself, "I do *not* mind at
all!" The room was decorated in shades of blue, from the palest blue of a wilted
flower to the deep blue of the night sky. The bed was in the center of the
room, with a dark blue bedset. The canopy was of a shimmery fabric Laurie
couldn't place. There was a desk in the corner, almost unnoticeable. She
approached it and noticed writing paper, pens and pencils, and a note from
Emmy.
"Laurie,"
it read, "Knowing how you like to write, here's some paper, on the off chance
you find time. Emmy."
She smiled, then lay down on the bed and sighed happily.
She certainly was going to enjoy herself here.
She heard Emmy yelling to her from downstairs. "Laurie? What's your favorite pizza topping?"
"Mushrooms!"
came the reply. She thought curiously, "They have pizza delivery in
the Underground?"
"All right then!" yelled
Emmy. "There are some clothes in the closet for you to change into."
Laurie hopped off the bed and ran to the closet. She slid
open the door, and her jaw dropped. The closet was full! She called down to
Emmy, "When did you do all this? And what should I wear?" She
blinked nervously at the clothes in the closet. What all were they going to do?
And whom would they meet?
Emmy
walked into the room, obviously tired of yelling. "They belong to Gemini,
a friend of my sister's and mine. She's about your size. And she loves blue, it
being her hair color and all, so that's why this room is blue. And pick
whatever you like."
Laurie laughed nervously. "Are we going anywhere
today, or will we be hanging around here?"
Emmy
smiled. "Just pick something you like. We'll have something to eat first,
then we're going out. I'm not telling you where though, it's a surprise!"
With that, Emmy left, closing the door behind her.
Laurie bit her lip, contemplating the contents of the
closet. She wanted to dress nice, but what if Emmy had planned a foot trip?
Getting fed up with her own indecisiveness, she pulled out a royal blue dress,
with silver cobwebbing delicately sewn into the velvet. She quickly changed,
finding all the accessories she needed in a little chest. She stood straight
and brushed out the dress, pleased. She slid her feet into the silver slippers
she had found at the bottom of the closet, and made her way down the stairs,
feeling like a princess.
Emmy
smiled when she saw Laurie. "You look lovely, Laurie. But remind me to
change into something nicer before we leave, I don't look nearly as nicely
dressed as you!"
Laurie
smelt a familiar odor, and saw Emmy taking several things out of an
old-fashioned oven. They were. "Mini pizzas!" Laurie laughed at what she had
thought earlier. "I guess there is no delivery then, eh?"
"Yes, thought you'd enjoy one,"
said Emmy, putting one with mushrooms on a plate, setting it at a small table
in the kitchen.
"Thank
you so much," Laurie replied, realizing just how hungry she was.
Apollo walked
in, and Emmy set an anchovy pizza on a plate on the floor next to him.
"Thank you Emmy, it looks delicious."
Emmy just
smiled, sitting down, and eating her own black olive pizza.
Laurie leaned over her plate, careful not to spill anything
on her dress. Her eyes widened at the first bite. "Mmm...Emmy, dish ish
dewicioush!"
"Thank you." said Emmy.
"I learned how to make pizzas several decades ago when I went to
Italy."
Laurie swallowed slowly, savoring each bite. "I hope
to go one day. I've heard so much about Italy. Is it as lovely as it
sounds?"
"Yes," said Apollo.
"Just tell Emmy your favorite foods, and she's probably learned how to
cook it."
Laurie's eyes brightened mischievously. "Know how to
make a gumbo?"
"Quite, I especially loved
the Leaning Tower of Pisa," said Emmy. "Yes, I learned several kinds
of Gumbo, I like shrimp Gumbo personally."
Laurie's eyes narrowed, trying to think of different foods
that were particular to Louisiana. "What about boudin? And
jambalaya?"
Emmy
stood up, washing out her empty plate. "You go ahead and eat, I need to
change out of these clothes, they've got flour and pizza sauce on them. Hmm, I
know jambalaya, but not boudin, sorry."
Laurie laughed. "Don't worry about it. Trying to think
of some way to convince to visit me some day. I have to have *something* to offer,
and boudin sounds good enough!" She finished eating, then brought her
plate to the sink. She called out to Emmy, "Thanks for the pizza!"
Emmy
walked up the stairs, laughing. She came down a few minutes later, dressed in a
green silk Poet's shirt, with a black velvet vest, black pants, and comfortable
looking black boots. Her hair was up, tied back with a large silver clip, in
the shape of a butterfly, which had many of, what looked like, emeralds.
"You're quite welcome."
Laurie looked at Emmy's clothing, then down at her own
dress. "Should I wear pants, also?"
Emmy
shrugged. "Whatever you like, a dress is fine, but we are going to have to
do some walking, so if you aren't used to walking in long dresses..."
Laurie headed for the stairs. "Be right back!"
Apollo
just laughed. "Women!"
"Don't even go there
Apollo!" said Emmy.
~*~*~*~
When she returned, she wore an outfit like Emmy's, only her
shirt was, predictably, blue. She had pulled her hair into a low bun, at the
nape of her neck. Long hair really wasn't good for walking. "Ready."
"Good then!" said Emmy.
The three walked out, Emmy closing the door behind them. "We're going to
the Goblin Castle. I thought you'd enjoy meeting Jareth Junior and his wife
Krysta."
Laurie froze, eyes wide. Once again, she was made
speechless. She turned quickly to run back in the house, but she
tripped over Apollo.
"Oof!" said Apollo,
somehow not falling. Laurie,
on the other hand, hit the ground with a grunt.
"Forget something
Laurie?" said Emmy, helping her new friend up. Laurie, eyes still as big as
saucers, could not reply.
"Is she ok?" asked
Apollo.
Slowly Laurie came back to herself, and shook herself, both
mentally and physically. "Sorry. Just a brief bout of...shock."
Emmy
raised an eyebrow. "Oh, right then..."
"You certainly are in shock a
lot," said Apollo.
"What
do expect, around you guys?" Laurie replied. Emmy and Apollo both laughed. "So," Laurie continued, "I'm actually going
to meet...the Goblin King?"
"Yes, Jareth Junior."
said Emmy.
"Wait,
what happened to Jareth, Jareth-Jareth? As in Sarah-and-Jareth?"
"They got married," said
Emmy, smiling as she had figured what Laurie's reaction would be.
"Yes, Jareth Junior is their
son," said Apollo.
"But...but,
but-" Laurie couldn't think of what to say.
"But what?" asked Emmy.
"But--
I don't know. How?"
"With the help of a fairy who
likes to play Matchmaker." said Emmy. "Yours truly."
Laurie smiled at the fairy. "Sometime, you'll have to
tell me the whole story. But for now, who's Krysta?"
"An Elemental sister."
said Emmy. "And you have read the whole story, I believe. Does the screen name
Emmy-chan mean anything to you?"
For about the millionth time that day, Laurie's jaw
dropped. She really couldn't think of anything more creative to do, with all
the surprises that had been offered her that day. "You mean...oh! I'm so
stupid!"
Emmy
laughed again. "Yes, amazing, isn't it? And you're not stupid, you'd never
think of it, us being from different realms and all. But it's true, the internet
connects the realms. The reason you meet some...ah...interesting beings on
it."
Laurie thought a moment. "Very good point."
"Quite interesting."
muttered Apollo, looking around at the scenery.
Laurie looked accusingly at the tiger, and cleared her
throat.
"Apparently you liked my stories
then?" said Emmy, changing the subject. "It's lots of fun, seeing all
the stories humans have written about Jareth and Sarah. I enjoyed yours
immensely."
Laurie smiled brightly. "Thank you! And I *do* love
your stories. So I do know how it all happened..." She looked at the
fairy. "Just before we go, how will I be expected to treat them? Curtsey,
bow, what? How do I address them?"
"Well, Jareth Junior is more-
more, ah, laid-back then his Father." said Emmy. "He's pretty
informal. He'll most likely shake your hand, smile, and ask how you enjoy the
kingdom."
"And Krysta will smile."
said Apollo. "And treat you like an equal. They're very nice beings."
"If
I were royalty, that's how I'd act." Laurie quickly pushed the daydream
away, though, to make room for reality, which was better than any dream. "Well,"
Laurie said, grinning impishly at the two. "Come on, feet!"
The two
Undergroundians groaned at Laurie's comment. They continued walking for an hour
or so. Emmy led then up a hill, where some bushes blocked their way. Emmy
parted them, letting the three past. What Laurie saw took her breath away.
Stretched out before them was The Labyrinth.
"It's-
it's beautiful," Laurie said, when she was able to speak again.
"Isn't it?" said Emmy,
sighing happily. "I love to just sit up here, on that large rock over
there, and just sit and think."
Laurie shivered. "I feel as if the Goblin King will
appear over my shoulder, and whisper his whole spiel about the thirteen
hours..." Emmy laughed.
Apollo
just rolled his eyes at the two females, and kept walking, towards the entrance
to The Labyrinth. The girls quickly caught up to him.
~*~*~*~
Finally they
reached the entrance. "Hoggle! Hoggle, where are you?"
The dwarf
came from around a corner, wiping his mouth, apparently just having finished
lunch. "Whot now? Oh, It's yous Emmy, nice ta see ya again. And I swear, I
haven't been spraying no biting fairies, honest!"
Emmy
hugged the dwarf. "Sure you haven't Hoggle, that's what you always
say."
Laurie laughed, and clapped her hands with delight, drawing
the dwarf's attention to her.
Hoggle
turned to Laurie. "And who's this? Friend o' yours, Emmy?"
"Yes, a friend of ours from a
different realm." said Apollo.
Laurie curtseyed to the dwarf. "Pleased to make your
acquaintence."
Hoggle
stared for a moment, and shook Laurie's hand. "Please ta meet ya Missy."
Emmy
smiled. "Now, would you mind opening the door for us? I'm taking Laurie to
meet Jareth and Krysta. And remember, next week, poker with Sir Didymus, Wise
Man, and the fireys!"
Hoggle
opened the doors to the Labyrinth for them, and watched them go in, waving
until the doors closed.
Laurie turned to Emmy. "Poker?"
Emmy
grinned sheepishly. "Um, yes. We've had poker night every second Tuesday
for as long as I can remember. It started when I won Sarah's ring back from the
Wiseman."
Laurie laughed. "So that's how you got it!"
"Yes." said Apollo.
"And it took her and Konitsu quite a while to win it back! The Birdhat is
very good at it, better than the Wiseman."
"I
was curious as to that. Wiseman didn't strike me as particularly wise..."
"The Wiseman just holds the
cards," said Emmy. They had been walking along the seemingly endless
passage, and had finally come to where the wall was an optical illusion. Emmy
stepped through it, Laurie and Apollo following.
"What
happened to the blue-haired worm?" Laurie enquired.
" 'Allo." said a voice,
just after Laurie has said so. The blue worm was on a small ledge.
" 'Allo Mr. Worm." said Emmy. "How are you today,
and how's the missus?"
"Quite well, thank ye kindly
Miss Emmy." said the worm.
Laurie looked at her favorite character in the labyrinth.
"Hello," she said brightly.
" 'Allo Miss." said the
worm. "Would you and your friend care for some tea, Miss Emmy?"
Laurie looked at Emmy hopefully, wondering if they had the
time.
"Sorry Mr. Worm, we're on our
way to the castle." said Emmy. "But perhaps we could take some of
your splended tea along?"
"Certainly." said the
Worm. He used his limited bit of magic, and a silver canteen appeared beside
him. Emmy picked it up, and handed it to Laurie.
"What
kind of tea is this?" Laurie asked, raising the canteen in question.
The worm
had gone back to his home, so Emmy answered. "A special kind, lovely
stuff, the only tea I'll drink. The recipe is Mr. Worm's secret, but far as I
know, it's berries, with some honey mixed in."
"That's all he'd tell us, at
least." said Apollo.
Laurie's mouth nearly watered. "Berry tea? You know,
I'm not a tea drinker, but that sounds tempting."
Emmy
stood in front of the passage, looking right and left. She turned to Laurie.
"Now, would you go left, or right?"
"Is
straight an option?"
Emmy
laughed. "Sorry, no. And don't worry, I know the way, I've been through it
so often." She turned left, the opposite way Sarah had chosen all those
years ago. Laurie and Apollo followed her.
"Oh,
of course! This way leads straight to the castle, like the worm said!"
"Exactly." said Emmy.
They reached a gate quite soon, and Emmy opened it, and they stepped into a
courtyard. Apparently it was the castle courtyard.
There
were three figures, a ways off, sitting under a tree. The smallest figure
jumped up, running towards them. Laurie saw the figure to be a young girl, five
or six years of age, with long chocolate brown hair, and blue eyes. She
launched herself into Emmy's arms, giving her a big hug.
"Emmy!" the young girl
cried. "I'm so glad you're here!"
"Me too, Lia." said
Emmy, hugging the girl back. Lia jumped down, looking up at Laurie.
"Hi, I'm Lia!" said Lia,
smiling at the newest face.
Laurie returned the smile. "Hello. My name is
Laurie."
"Hi Laurie!" said Lia.
"Are you from Aboveground? 'Cause you don't look like a fairy, fae, elf,
or anythin' like that."
The older girl sighed. "That's because I'm not. And you
were right, I am from Aboveground."
The two
other figures had by now reached them. Laurie saw a tall, beautiful woman with
long black hair, and bright green eyes, a few shades lighter than Emmy's. But
it was the other who made Laurie stare. Except for looking a bit younger, and
his mis-matched eyes being green and brown, instead of blue and brown, he was
the exact image of Jareth.
And she
continued to stare, until Emmy spoke.
"Laurie," said Emmy.
"I'd like you to meet Queen Krysta, Princess Lia, and his Majesty, King
Jareth Junior."
"Nice to meet you
Laurie." Said Jareth Junior, shaking Laurie's hand, and smiling. "How
are you enjoying my kingdom?"
Laurie
laughed. "That's exactly what Emmy told me you'd say!"
"A pleasure to meet you, my
dear." said Krysta, smiling. "And yes, my husband is a bit
predictable when it comes to visitors."
Laurie
smiled at the beautiful woman. "The pleasure's mine, believe me."
"Jareth," said Apollo.
"Where is your pendant?"
Jareth,
who had been smiling until now, frowned. "It was stolen, which is why I'm
glad you're here Emmy. Apparently, when Laurie stepped through the void, and
yes I do know about that, a Goblin from that realm came through and took it.
It's back in that realm by now."
"Oh dear," said Emmy.
She turned to Laurie. "A lot of Jareth's power is in that pendant. Which
is why it's so important."
"And which is why it's
dangerous if the Goblin King of that realm has it, it means twice as much
power." said Apollo.
Laurie stared into space. "Blasted goblins!" She refocused
on the King. "I'm sorry for the inconvenience, Your Majesty. They've been
pestering me for ages, and I guess they wanted bigger prey."
Jareth
shook his head. "It's not your fault, Laurie, and I'm not blaming you. But
the point it, it's stolen, and it has to be returned."
Laurie looked at Apollo. "Wait...the Goblin King in
*my* realm? The Jareth in my stories?"
By now
they were all seated, under the same tree Jareth, Krysta, and Lia had been under
in the first place. Emmy shook her head.
"No," she said.
"Your realm, which is the Realm for most Labyrinth fiction authors, is the
Jareth that most Listians and authors are plagued by, who is sarcastic,
manipulative, etc…"
"And annoying, by the visitation
fics we've read." said Apollo.
"Yikes,"
Laurie replied. "This does *not* sound good.... I guess it wouldn't be
possible for your Jareth to talk to mine?"
Jareth
shook his head. "Father and Mother are traveling. And It wouldn't be good
for me to go either."
"Yes, it would be like 'Back
to the Future'." said Emmy, explaining to Laurie.
"Exactly." said Krysta,
who had seen the movie.
Laurie was not happy. "Blast him, anyway!" She
sighed. "Will you be coming too?" she asked the fairy.
Emmy
smiled. "Of course, it's me they planned on sending anyway, right
Jareth?"
"Well, who better could you
recommend," said Jareth, "than a trained Amazon Warrior, hmm?"
Laurie looked at the Royal Family, then back to Emmy.
"Then I guess you'll have a chance to visit my realm sooner than I had
thought."
