Times Change, and we with Time
Okay…I am now officially frightened of you people. Some of those reviews are starting to traumatize me. Anyhow, yes, finally another chapter. Had to clear with my Twin-chan, Konitsu The Lady Fate, if it was okay to use some ideas and characters of hers. In this chapter is a small crossover with her original anime/magna fic, Shuurajou. Go read and review it, it's really good! Anyhow, hope you enjoy this chapter, and remember to review!
Disclaimer: The Labyrinth and anything pertaining to it is not mine. Emma Whistler is co-owned and created by Konitsu and I. The Crimson Rose and most everything in it belongs to Konitsu, and I pinched some of the dialogue from her. The LaCroix and all they stand for belong to me; if you want to use this idea in a story, please ask first.
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Chapter 8: Information, crossovers, and a Sarah and Jareth fight
Kalani followed Mika through the dark streets of Tokyo, dark leather jacket pulled tightly around her. She didn't care for Aboveground, never had. And going through dark streets in the middle of the night in a city she had no idea about wasn't her idea of fun. But it was best someone went with Mika, and she was the only one for the job. After all, Sarah wouldn't have been a good choice, and Jareth needed to stay at the castle in case of an attack by the LaCroix, as he so put it. Never mind it was broad daylight; both knew he just wanted some time alone to talk with Sarah.
After Mika had successfully put on the spell to ward against Vampires, she had been struck with an idea. She knew of a woman Aboveground who could give them more information on the LaCroix than anybody. She belonged to the clan of the Crimson Rose, whose people were called Whistlers. Not to be confused with Mika's Vampiric title, this meant an entirely different thing in the language of the Whistlers.
"We're here." Said Mika, for the first time since they had arrived Aboveground. Kalani looked up at the sign, with the name "The Crimson Rose" emblazoned there.
"Great, let's get this over with." Kalani growled.
The two walked in, immediately assaulted by the din of noise commonly found in such places. Kalani sneered, but remained quiet.
Mika walked towards the bar, bumping into a blonde boy as he dragged another boy, a coppery red head, out of the place. The fact the two were quite under-aged to be there was not lost on the former Vampire.
The "Crimson Rose" was a bar infamous in the night-world for being unprejudiced against any potential costumers, as long as they didn't brutally murder any other patrons in the duration of their visit. The bartender, manager and single owner was one Emma Whistler, and Irish girl with flaming red hair, jade green eyes and a mouth that always had a sarcastic reply ready quicker than an Irish man could get drunk. She usually kept the bar open from 2 pm to whenever she managed to kick the last customer out (about 4 in the morning usually), but the most interesting customers always came at night. Not as if they could come any other time anyway.
She looked surprisingly similar to Mika, except for her eyes. She also had a certain gleam in her eyes that were never found in Mika.
Mika smiled, holding up her right hand, touching her index finger first on one cheekbone, then the other, then brushing the fingertip across her lips.
"Welcome, Sister." Said Emma, speaking English with a heavy Irish accent. Being as they were in Japan, it was unlikely most would be able to understand them.
"Thank you, Sister." Said Mika.
"Sister?" said Kalani.
"It is simply a term, for one of the Whistlers." explained Mika "My Mother had been one, before she died, so I am considered one. All Whistlers refer to each other as 'Brother' and 'Sister'."
"Oh." Said Kalani. "What in the blazes is a Whistler, anyway?"
"Masters of mind-altering potions." Said Emma. "And we took it upon ourselves to research and keep track of every creature of the night, and keep the whereabouts of the more dangerous one under record in case they ever became violent enough to be eradicated. This has been going on for generations."
"Mind-altering potions…a bar…I get it." Said Kalani.
Mika nodded, inclining her head towards the door. "You're serving them younger than usual, Emma. What's with those two kids who just left?"
Emma shook her head. "Nice boys, but in denial and a bit psychotic, I think. They have some notion their Vampire hunters, and came to me for information on one. How they knew to find me, who knows? But it's strange times we're livin' in these days. Words of Vampire regaining their humanity."
"No…" said Mika, awed.
"Is that even possible?" asked Kalani. "I mean, Vampires don't have souls."
"There's more than one kind of Vampire." Emma explained. "They all descend from I believe three different original Vampires, and the strains of each become different from each other over the years. Such as the LaCroix, they're all the kind Mika-chan…er, sorry, been livin' here too long, I mean Mika, was."
"That's why we're here, actually, Em." Said Mika. "We need information on the LaCroix. What are they up to? One nearly attacked a human friend of mine, when we were staying in the Underground…long story."
Emma sighed. "From what I've gathered, they're wanting to take over the Underground. So much Magic there, if they could change Fae or Fairies or whatever, they'd be practically be invincible."
"Fae Magic and Vampire powers?" said Mika. "Frightening thought. But why the Goblin Kingdom? The only Fae there are Kalani here, and Jareth."
"I think it's not a question of the Goblin Kingdom." Said Emma.
"It isn't?" said Kalani.
"No." said Emma, shaking her head.
"Then what is?" asked Mika fearfully, though she already had an inkling.
"It's about getting to you, Mika." Said Emma. "You have power, even without being a completely Vampire. And they could try to change you again, to make you one of them once more."
Mika put some money on the table, and got up to leave. Emma grabbed her arm, stopping her.
"One final thing, Sister." She said. "But you're not going to like it."
"As if things could be any worse?" Mika said, with a hollow laugh.
"Rosethorn in the one leading them." Said Emma.
"All right, I stand corrected. It's worse." Said Mika. "Thank you for you help, my sister. May Mother Earth and Sister Moon bless your days."
Mika strode out quickly, not waiting for Kalani.
"Kalani, is it?" said Emma, as Kalani was turning to leave.
"Yes." Said Kalani.
"Promise me you'll protect her." Said Emma, looking out the window where Mika was standing. "She puts up a brave front, but she is not as strong as she makes herself out to be."
Kalani nodded. "I promise…"
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Meanwhile, back in the Underground, Sarah was currently trying to avoid running into Jareth. Since 'the incident', as was the only way she would refer to it, when the two were in the same room, the mood was decidedly strained. Sarah always made sure Mika, Kalani, Toby, or even Koko was in the room, to make sure they were not alone. Unfortunately, Mika and Kalani were both gone, Toby liked Jareth too much (though Sarah couldn't imagine why) and Koko was sleeping. Hence why Sarah was wandering around the castle aimlessly, hoping not to find Jareth. Which, unfortunately for her, she didn't succeed.
"Is it my imagination, or are you avoiding me?" intoned that by now far familiar cultured accent. Jareth was leaning casually against the wall, looking for all the world, completely innocent. Sarah knew better.
"You think far too highly of yourself." She said haughtily.
"Do I?" he replied, coming to stand right in front of her. "We need to talk, Sarah. No more avoiding me, no more hiding behind anybody."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Said Sarah, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Damn it, Sarah, can't we get through one conversation without resorting to such childish tricks!" Jareth growled, his patience wearing thin.
"Childish tricks?!?" Sarah growled back. "You're one to talk! I'm not the one who breaks the rules every time I feel like it!"
"Can't we move past the Labyrinth?" he asked. "It's over, your brother is fine, and I never would have turned him into a goblin in the first place!"
"Like Hell you wouldn't!" yelled Sarah.
"Damn it, Sarah, can't you see me as anything but the Villain I was forced to play?" Jareth yelled back. "You're being childish and stubborn!"
"Then why don't you leave me alone, so you won't have to put up with my childishness anymore!" Sarah practically screamed. "You rude, conceited jerk!"
The two stomped off in opposite directions, each no doubt muttering very un- nice things about one another under their breath. Neither noticed the satiny black female shorthaired cat watching them, her violet eyes filled with amusement.
"They don't even realize how much passion they have between them." Faithful purred, as that was her name. She was in fact Kalani's shifter that she had spoken about. Faithful could change to the shape of a black panther. "What fools the humanlike creatures are, not seeing what's right in front of them, staring them right in the face."
She shook her regal head, chuckling as she sauntered away, thinking about the follies of the humanlike species.
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Hmm, not sure whether that's a cliffhanger or not. Frankly I just couldn't figure out how to end the chapter, so I added Faithful's part. And yes, Faithful is named after the cat in Tamora Pierce's Alanna series, only my Faithful is female. Oh, and by the way, I have the first chapter of a new Labyrinth humor fic up, "Jareth, King of the Goblins and the Holy Tights" Go read it if you like that sort of thing. And remember to read my Twin- chan's story too, and review it! Anyhow, hope you enjoyed this chapter, and remember…
"Please leave a contribution in the little review box"
Emerald, The Lady Destiny a.k.a. Emmy-chan
Okay…I am now officially frightened of you people. Some of those reviews are starting to traumatize me. Anyhow, yes, finally another chapter. Had to clear with my Twin-chan, Konitsu The Lady Fate, if it was okay to use some ideas and characters of hers. In this chapter is a small crossover with her original anime/magna fic, Shuurajou. Go read and review it, it's really good! Anyhow, hope you enjoy this chapter, and remember to review!
Disclaimer: The Labyrinth and anything pertaining to it is not mine. Emma Whistler is co-owned and created by Konitsu and I. The Crimson Rose and most everything in it belongs to Konitsu, and I pinched some of the dialogue from her. The LaCroix and all they stand for belong to me; if you want to use this idea in a story, please ask first.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 8: Information, crossovers, and a Sarah and Jareth fight
Kalani followed Mika through the dark streets of Tokyo, dark leather jacket pulled tightly around her. She didn't care for Aboveground, never had. And going through dark streets in the middle of the night in a city she had no idea about wasn't her idea of fun. But it was best someone went with Mika, and she was the only one for the job. After all, Sarah wouldn't have been a good choice, and Jareth needed to stay at the castle in case of an attack by the LaCroix, as he so put it. Never mind it was broad daylight; both knew he just wanted some time alone to talk with Sarah.
After Mika had successfully put on the spell to ward against Vampires, she had been struck with an idea. She knew of a woman Aboveground who could give them more information on the LaCroix than anybody. She belonged to the clan of the Crimson Rose, whose people were called Whistlers. Not to be confused with Mika's Vampiric title, this meant an entirely different thing in the language of the Whistlers.
"We're here." Said Mika, for the first time since they had arrived Aboveground. Kalani looked up at the sign, with the name "The Crimson Rose" emblazoned there.
"Great, let's get this over with." Kalani growled.
The two walked in, immediately assaulted by the din of noise commonly found in such places. Kalani sneered, but remained quiet.
Mika walked towards the bar, bumping into a blonde boy as he dragged another boy, a coppery red head, out of the place. The fact the two were quite under-aged to be there was not lost on the former Vampire.
The "Crimson Rose" was a bar infamous in the night-world for being unprejudiced against any potential costumers, as long as they didn't brutally murder any other patrons in the duration of their visit. The bartender, manager and single owner was one Emma Whistler, and Irish girl with flaming red hair, jade green eyes and a mouth that always had a sarcastic reply ready quicker than an Irish man could get drunk. She usually kept the bar open from 2 pm to whenever she managed to kick the last customer out (about 4 in the morning usually), but the most interesting customers always came at night. Not as if they could come any other time anyway.
She looked surprisingly similar to Mika, except for her eyes. She also had a certain gleam in her eyes that were never found in Mika.
Mika smiled, holding up her right hand, touching her index finger first on one cheekbone, then the other, then brushing the fingertip across her lips.
"Welcome, Sister." Said Emma, speaking English with a heavy Irish accent. Being as they were in Japan, it was unlikely most would be able to understand them.
"Thank you, Sister." Said Mika.
"Sister?" said Kalani.
"It is simply a term, for one of the Whistlers." explained Mika "My Mother had been one, before she died, so I am considered one. All Whistlers refer to each other as 'Brother' and 'Sister'."
"Oh." Said Kalani. "What in the blazes is a Whistler, anyway?"
"Masters of mind-altering potions." Said Emma. "And we took it upon ourselves to research and keep track of every creature of the night, and keep the whereabouts of the more dangerous one under record in case they ever became violent enough to be eradicated. This has been going on for generations."
"Mind-altering potions…a bar…I get it." Said Kalani.
Mika nodded, inclining her head towards the door. "You're serving them younger than usual, Emma. What's with those two kids who just left?"
Emma shook her head. "Nice boys, but in denial and a bit psychotic, I think. They have some notion their Vampire hunters, and came to me for information on one. How they knew to find me, who knows? But it's strange times we're livin' in these days. Words of Vampire regaining their humanity."
"No…" said Mika, awed.
"Is that even possible?" asked Kalani. "I mean, Vampires don't have souls."
"There's more than one kind of Vampire." Emma explained. "They all descend from I believe three different original Vampires, and the strains of each become different from each other over the years. Such as the LaCroix, they're all the kind Mika-chan…er, sorry, been livin' here too long, I mean Mika, was."
"That's why we're here, actually, Em." Said Mika. "We need information on the LaCroix. What are they up to? One nearly attacked a human friend of mine, when we were staying in the Underground…long story."
Emma sighed. "From what I've gathered, they're wanting to take over the Underground. So much Magic there, if they could change Fae or Fairies or whatever, they'd be practically be invincible."
"Fae Magic and Vampire powers?" said Mika. "Frightening thought. But why the Goblin Kingdom? The only Fae there are Kalani here, and Jareth."
"I think it's not a question of the Goblin Kingdom." Said Emma.
"It isn't?" said Kalani.
"No." said Emma, shaking her head.
"Then what is?" asked Mika fearfully, though she already had an inkling.
"It's about getting to you, Mika." Said Emma. "You have power, even without being a completely Vampire. And they could try to change you again, to make you one of them once more."
Mika put some money on the table, and got up to leave. Emma grabbed her arm, stopping her.
"One final thing, Sister." She said. "But you're not going to like it."
"As if things could be any worse?" Mika said, with a hollow laugh.
"Rosethorn in the one leading them." Said Emma.
"All right, I stand corrected. It's worse." Said Mika. "Thank you for you help, my sister. May Mother Earth and Sister Moon bless your days."
Mika strode out quickly, not waiting for Kalani.
"Kalani, is it?" said Emma, as Kalani was turning to leave.
"Yes." Said Kalani.
"Promise me you'll protect her." Said Emma, looking out the window where Mika was standing. "She puts up a brave front, but she is not as strong as she makes herself out to be."
Kalani nodded. "I promise…"
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Meanwhile, back in the Underground, Sarah was currently trying to avoid running into Jareth. Since 'the incident', as was the only way she would refer to it, when the two were in the same room, the mood was decidedly strained. Sarah always made sure Mika, Kalani, Toby, or even Koko was in the room, to make sure they were not alone. Unfortunately, Mika and Kalani were both gone, Toby liked Jareth too much (though Sarah couldn't imagine why) and Koko was sleeping. Hence why Sarah was wandering around the castle aimlessly, hoping not to find Jareth. Which, unfortunately for her, she didn't succeed.
"Is it my imagination, or are you avoiding me?" intoned that by now far familiar cultured accent. Jareth was leaning casually against the wall, looking for all the world, completely innocent. Sarah knew better.
"You think far too highly of yourself." She said haughtily.
"Do I?" he replied, coming to stand right in front of her. "We need to talk, Sarah. No more avoiding me, no more hiding behind anybody."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Said Sarah, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Damn it, Sarah, can't we get through one conversation without resorting to such childish tricks!" Jareth growled, his patience wearing thin.
"Childish tricks?!?" Sarah growled back. "You're one to talk! I'm not the one who breaks the rules every time I feel like it!"
"Can't we move past the Labyrinth?" he asked. "It's over, your brother is fine, and I never would have turned him into a goblin in the first place!"
"Like Hell you wouldn't!" yelled Sarah.
"Damn it, Sarah, can't you see me as anything but the Villain I was forced to play?" Jareth yelled back. "You're being childish and stubborn!"
"Then why don't you leave me alone, so you won't have to put up with my childishness anymore!" Sarah practically screamed. "You rude, conceited jerk!"
The two stomped off in opposite directions, each no doubt muttering very un- nice things about one another under their breath. Neither noticed the satiny black female shorthaired cat watching them, her violet eyes filled with amusement.
"They don't even realize how much passion they have between them." Faithful purred, as that was her name. She was in fact Kalani's shifter that she had spoken about. Faithful could change to the shape of a black panther. "What fools the humanlike creatures are, not seeing what's right in front of them, staring them right in the face."
She shook her regal head, chuckling as she sauntered away, thinking about the follies of the humanlike species.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Hmm, not sure whether that's a cliffhanger or not. Frankly I just couldn't figure out how to end the chapter, so I added Faithful's part. And yes, Faithful is named after the cat in Tamora Pierce's Alanna series, only my Faithful is female. Oh, and by the way, I have the first chapter of a new Labyrinth humor fic up, "Jareth, King of the Goblins and the Holy Tights" Go read it if you like that sort of thing. And remember to read my Twin- chan's story too, and review it! Anyhow, hope you enjoyed this chapter, and remember…
"Please leave a contribution in the little review box"
Emerald, The Lady Destiny a.k.a. Emmy-chan