Disclaimer: The LW characters do not belong to me, I've just picked 'em up,
chucked through a portal and left them to fend for themselves for a while.
No infringement intended ;)
A/N: Thanks HEAPS for the reviews everyone! Here's the next chapter!!
Chap 9:
"Roxton!"
Roxton looked in the direction of the voice calling to him and saw Veronica. She was a some distance away from the cave and had what appeared to be a basket of fruit in her hands. He ran towards her and assessed that she was fine.
"Did you find Marguerite? Are the others with you?" he asked hurriedly.
"I'm fine thanks for asking," Veronica said with a small smile. "Ned and Challenger are in the cave with.." She trailed off. "Umn yeah, we don't know where Marguerite is. We're waiting for somebody who might be able to help us." Veronica explained. At Roxton's puzzled, questioning glance Veronica shook her head, "Come back to the cave and I'll explain everything on the way. But you've got to see it to believe it."
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Ned Malone looked around the cave feeling quite unnerved by its occupants. "I'm gonna go and see if I can find Veronica." Ned started to tell Challenger and Persephone.
"No need, "Veronica interrupted. "I'm back, and I've brought a friend." She grinned and gestured to Roxton as he entered the cave. Ned jumped up when he saw Roxton and gave a broad grin of relief. Persephone waved at him from her little enclosure of Nymphs. Roxton just stared at her and the many spirits astonished, bearing a peculiar resemblance to a goldfish with his mouth open wide.
"Didn't I tell ya?" Veronica remarked. Ned and Challenger both gave a little laugh at the look on Roxton's face (conveniently forgetting that they had been exactly the same just hours before!) and went to greet him warmly.
"I'm relieved to have found you all, "Roxton said finally. "But you can't seriously expect that I'm going to wait until sundown to go after Marguerite. We can't just sit and wait for Persephone's mother - even if she IS a Goddess - before searching for Marguerite. God knows what could happen in that time!"
The others were saved from answering when the plants in the room began to blossom at an alarming rate. The explorers looked around the room fearfully but Persephone simply gave a puzzled look and called out, "Mamma? You're back early!!"
"Yes my darling," Ceres sighed as she materializes at the mouth of the cave.
"Guess we won't be waiting after all." Veronica muttered to herself.
Persephone ran to Ceres and the Nymphs assembled around the Goddess and pelted her with questions of, 'what has happened?' and 'Why have you returned prematurely from your duties.' Of course the exchange between the Nymphs and Ceres was made in a foreign language to the explorers so they stood at the back of the cave wishing Marguerite was with them if only to translate. Ceres was about to answer Persephone's and the Nymphs' demands when she spotted the explorers.
"They came through the doorway mamma, they are mortals from the other side." Persephone explained at her mothers suspicious glance.
"Perhaps you know of the Raven haired one who opened the portal and came through before you?"
"Yes! She is our friend"
"Have you seen her?"
"Is she with you?"
Three voices exclaimed at once. "Oh my poor dears," Ceres said fretfully. "I am afraid that your friend has been taken."
"Taken by what, where?" Roxton said, his anxiety evident in his voice.
"She has been taken by the God Pluto, to the Underworld."
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"Let me go." Marguerite pleaded once more. She had gone from screaming to demanding to begging at Pluto to release her, but he remained adamant. Seeing that her pleas weren't working Marguerite decided to change tactics. "You must have loved her very much." She said in a sincere tone.
The God looked at her sharply, "You do not know me, nor her, so do not pass judgment."
"It's true that I don't know you," Marguerite admitted. "But I do know OF you. The story of you and Persephone is so to speak a famous one."
"The plights of the Gods have always been famed among mortals." Pluto said nonchalantly.
Marguerite decided to choose her words cautiously, being careful to avoid any outright lies. "Well, were I'm from the story says that you love her very much. But I guess you can't love her that much if you're giving her up without a fight and settling for a mere, humble mortal like myself." She said, gesturing to herself.
Pluto made an unreadable face and then said, "You have not yet eaten. I am sure this spectacular feast does not displease you." He said indicating to the wonderful spread before them.
Marguerite merely snorted and remarked lightly, "I'm not stupid. I know that eating something here will bind me to the Underworld." In truth Marguerite was getting decidedly hungry but she didn't dare eat a single piece of the food before her. It was a spectacular feast though, but even so Marguerite couldn't help notice the colours of the room - of thw whole place - or the lack thereof. Everything was dull: the room she and the God were in had large grey, stone walls and a two colossal grey thrones. Other that that there were various colorless pillars and tall black candles that barely lit up the room. Looking up at Pluto, Marguerite once again struck up a conversation, trying to subtly convince him to forget about her and begin trying to get Persephone back once more.
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"I will NOT sacrifice my only daughter to get your friend back." Ceres roared again. The Goddess was mad and she was a fearsome sight of glory and rage. The explorers had been trying to go through all the options of getting Marguerite back and the only way they could come up with was if Ceres would stop keeping Persephone from Pluto. But the Goddess refused to listening to the reasoning that if she didn't give Persephone up then eventually Pluto would claim her and if he succeeded he would not give Persephone up again.
"I am truly sorry for your friend, and we will find a way to save her. But I do not consider surrendering a solution." Ceres said, somewhat calmer, but still looking quite frightening.
Veronica looked at Persephone's torn face and suggested gently, "Ceres, you have expressed your feelings on the matter but you have not listened to what your daughter has to say."
"Well, she does not wish to return to that dismal, depressing place." Ceres said looking expectantly at her daughter.
"Mamma," Persephone said softly. "This world is my home and I love you very much. But my place is also with Pluto in the Underworld, and I love him and that place too for all its somberness and simplicity. You must let me go to my husband. You know I will always return to you in six months time." She resolved with a pleasing look on her face. "Marguerite does not belong there, I am Pluto's Queen, she has just been unlucky enough to have been caught up in all this unpleasantness. Let me go and make things right again, as they should be."
Ceres looked as if she would give in and let her daughter go, but then she shook her head and said, "I'm sorry my darling, but I could not endure the possibility that he would not let you return not me." Then the Goddess walked out of the cave with the Nymphs following and was lost from sight amongst the field of flowers. Ned, Veronica, Roxton and Challenger watched Persephone leave the cave also, presuming that she would follow her mother.
"She's heading in the other direction!" Challenger noticed. The four exchanged a look and went to follow her. They caught up to Persephone and she stopped and turn to face them.
"I am going back to stick by my commitment. I do not think you will try to stop me." She said boldly.
"No," Roxton assured her. "But we would like to come with you to get Marguerite. I." Roxton coughed. "We are anxious to have her back safe and well."
Persephone smiled and cocked her head, "You love her," she declared peering at the hunter as if seeing him for the first time. When Roxton averted his eyes and the other explorers lifted their hands to their faces to hide smiles, Persephone changed the subject.
"We shall waste no time then. Come, before my mother follows." With that the young girl stalked away with a cautious but still smiling Veronica, a bemused Ned, a determined Roxton and a rather apprehensive Challenger.
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Phew! That chapter's done. Please review and tell me what you think, all reviews are appreciated even those darn not flames. ;)
A/N: Thanks HEAPS for the reviews everyone! Here's the next chapter!!
Chap 9:
"Roxton!"
Roxton looked in the direction of the voice calling to him and saw Veronica. She was a some distance away from the cave and had what appeared to be a basket of fruit in her hands. He ran towards her and assessed that she was fine.
"Did you find Marguerite? Are the others with you?" he asked hurriedly.
"I'm fine thanks for asking," Veronica said with a small smile. "Ned and Challenger are in the cave with.." She trailed off. "Umn yeah, we don't know where Marguerite is. We're waiting for somebody who might be able to help us." Veronica explained. At Roxton's puzzled, questioning glance Veronica shook her head, "Come back to the cave and I'll explain everything on the way. But you've got to see it to believe it."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*~*
Ned Malone looked around the cave feeling quite unnerved by its occupants. "I'm gonna go and see if I can find Veronica." Ned started to tell Challenger and Persephone.
"No need, "Veronica interrupted. "I'm back, and I've brought a friend." She grinned and gestured to Roxton as he entered the cave. Ned jumped up when he saw Roxton and gave a broad grin of relief. Persephone waved at him from her little enclosure of Nymphs. Roxton just stared at her and the many spirits astonished, bearing a peculiar resemblance to a goldfish with his mouth open wide.
"Didn't I tell ya?" Veronica remarked. Ned and Challenger both gave a little laugh at the look on Roxton's face (conveniently forgetting that they had been exactly the same just hours before!) and went to greet him warmly.
"I'm relieved to have found you all, "Roxton said finally. "But you can't seriously expect that I'm going to wait until sundown to go after Marguerite. We can't just sit and wait for Persephone's mother - even if she IS a Goddess - before searching for Marguerite. God knows what could happen in that time!"
The others were saved from answering when the plants in the room began to blossom at an alarming rate. The explorers looked around the room fearfully but Persephone simply gave a puzzled look and called out, "Mamma? You're back early!!"
"Yes my darling," Ceres sighed as she materializes at the mouth of the cave.
"Guess we won't be waiting after all." Veronica muttered to herself.
Persephone ran to Ceres and the Nymphs assembled around the Goddess and pelted her with questions of, 'what has happened?' and 'Why have you returned prematurely from your duties.' Of course the exchange between the Nymphs and Ceres was made in a foreign language to the explorers so they stood at the back of the cave wishing Marguerite was with them if only to translate. Ceres was about to answer Persephone's and the Nymphs' demands when she spotted the explorers.
"They came through the doorway mamma, they are mortals from the other side." Persephone explained at her mothers suspicious glance.
"Perhaps you know of the Raven haired one who opened the portal and came through before you?"
"Yes! She is our friend"
"Have you seen her?"
"Is she with you?"
Three voices exclaimed at once. "Oh my poor dears," Ceres said fretfully. "I am afraid that your friend has been taken."
"Taken by what, where?" Roxton said, his anxiety evident in his voice.
"She has been taken by the God Pluto, to the Underworld."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Let me go." Marguerite pleaded once more. She had gone from screaming to demanding to begging at Pluto to release her, but he remained adamant. Seeing that her pleas weren't working Marguerite decided to change tactics. "You must have loved her very much." She said in a sincere tone.
The God looked at her sharply, "You do not know me, nor her, so do not pass judgment."
"It's true that I don't know you," Marguerite admitted. "But I do know OF you. The story of you and Persephone is so to speak a famous one."
"The plights of the Gods have always been famed among mortals." Pluto said nonchalantly.
Marguerite decided to choose her words cautiously, being careful to avoid any outright lies. "Well, were I'm from the story says that you love her very much. But I guess you can't love her that much if you're giving her up without a fight and settling for a mere, humble mortal like myself." She said, gesturing to herself.
Pluto made an unreadable face and then said, "You have not yet eaten. I am sure this spectacular feast does not displease you." He said indicating to the wonderful spread before them.
Marguerite merely snorted and remarked lightly, "I'm not stupid. I know that eating something here will bind me to the Underworld." In truth Marguerite was getting decidedly hungry but she didn't dare eat a single piece of the food before her. It was a spectacular feast though, but even so Marguerite couldn't help notice the colours of the room - of thw whole place - or the lack thereof. Everything was dull: the room she and the God were in had large grey, stone walls and a two colossal grey thrones. Other that that there were various colorless pillars and tall black candles that barely lit up the room. Looking up at Pluto, Marguerite once again struck up a conversation, trying to subtly convince him to forget about her and begin trying to get Persephone back once more.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I will NOT sacrifice my only daughter to get your friend back." Ceres roared again. The Goddess was mad and she was a fearsome sight of glory and rage. The explorers had been trying to go through all the options of getting Marguerite back and the only way they could come up with was if Ceres would stop keeping Persephone from Pluto. But the Goddess refused to listening to the reasoning that if she didn't give Persephone up then eventually Pluto would claim her and if he succeeded he would not give Persephone up again.
"I am truly sorry for your friend, and we will find a way to save her. But I do not consider surrendering a solution." Ceres said, somewhat calmer, but still looking quite frightening.
Veronica looked at Persephone's torn face and suggested gently, "Ceres, you have expressed your feelings on the matter but you have not listened to what your daughter has to say."
"Well, she does not wish to return to that dismal, depressing place." Ceres said looking expectantly at her daughter.
"Mamma," Persephone said softly. "This world is my home and I love you very much. But my place is also with Pluto in the Underworld, and I love him and that place too for all its somberness and simplicity. You must let me go to my husband. You know I will always return to you in six months time." She resolved with a pleasing look on her face. "Marguerite does not belong there, I am Pluto's Queen, she has just been unlucky enough to have been caught up in all this unpleasantness. Let me go and make things right again, as they should be."
Ceres looked as if she would give in and let her daughter go, but then she shook her head and said, "I'm sorry my darling, but I could not endure the possibility that he would not let you return not me." Then the Goddess walked out of the cave with the Nymphs following and was lost from sight amongst the field of flowers. Ned, Veronica, Roxton and Challenger watched Persephone leave the cave also, presuming that she would follow her mother.
"She's heading in the other direction!" Challenger noticed. The four exchanged a look and went to follow her. They caught up to Persephone and she stopped and turn to face them.
"I am going back to stick by my commitment. I do not think you will try to stop me." She said boldly.
"No," Roxton assured her. "But we would like to come with you to get Marguerite. I." Roxton coughed. "We are anxious to have her back safe and well."
Persephone smiled and cocked her head, "You love her," she declared peering at the hunter as if seeing him for the first time. When Roxton averted his eyes and the other explorers lifted their hands to their faces to hide smiles, Persephone changed the subject.
"We shall waste no time then. Come, before my mother follows." With that the young girl stalked away with a cautious but still smiling Veronica, a bemused Ned, a determined Roxton and a rather apprehensive Challenger.
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Phew! That chapter's done. Please review and tell me what you think, all reviews are appreciated even those darn not flames. ;)