Author's Note: Ah-ha! This is the story I've wanted to do for so long! I just hope that you actually like it! It's based, loosely, on the movie Labyrinth (by Jim Henson) but it definitely has it's own Slayer's twist! I know there have been many Laby/Slayers crossovers, but I hope that this one will strike out on it's own! Don't forget to check out my NOTES section of my Profile in order to see what's up with my other fics!
Disclaimer: I do not own Slayers. One day I will own my very own Xellos Slayers doll!
The Mazoku Prince and The Catacombs
Chapter One: The Story And The Wish
"And so the Mazoku Prince would take the child away to his palace that lay in the crux of his treacherous maze. Never would they be heard from again, though it is thought that he would turn them into terrific copies of himself."
Dark blue eyes looked down upon the young faces of his students, each enraptured by the legend he had recounted for their weekly lesson in mythology.
Professor Taliesin smiled softly, "That story was ancient long before your great-grandparents were born."
A small hand raised near the back of the room, "Ah, yes. A question, Filia?"
Thirty heads turned to regard the young woman as she lowered her arm, "Well… If they were asked to be taken away then… wouldn't that sort of, I don't know, make him someone who was doing a favor?"
Whispers began immediately at her last word before Taliesin raised his hands to quiet the talking, "That is an… interesting question, Filia. I would have to say no though. The Mazoku Prince, given his characteristics, would have been a horrifying person intent completely on his own gain rather than either the good of all or to help others."
"Oh," the blonde girl responded, not seeming very convinced.
At that a light chime could be heard and all the students began to stand, collect their belongings, and head to the door.
"I would like all of you to prepare your interpretations on the myth of the Mazoku Prince and have three and a half tablets worth to turn in upon the beginning of next week's class," he called over the bustle of activity.
Filia followed the throng of classmates all heading to get their lunch and chat with friends during the break. With so many students she had a difficult time keeping herself from being jostled about. Finally she managed to obtain herself a sandwich and a drink before hurrying out of the dining hall, past the doors to the various classrooms, and outside to the sparse forest where she knew no one would bother her.
Sitting down upon a soft patch of clover she ate her meager meal and relaxed under the shade of an old oak. Her classes, as always, held no interest to the young protégé and the only thing she would look forward to were the magical revels that Professor Taliesin would spin for her once a week.
Often, Filia would think that Taliesin was the closest she'd ever have to an actual friend. She was an orphan under the care of the school, her family having deposited her on their doorstep a long time ago. When she had become old enough she'd learned to earn her keep, doing tasks and running errands. It was for that reason that she now attended classes, though she still paid for them through menial work. Work that never left her any time for herself, let alone to get to know other students.
This was only one of the two reasons she didn't have any friends. The other was that Filia was too outspoken. When a lesson didn't sit well with her, such as earlier with Taliesin, she'd counter it with a question. Regardless if the question was actually well founded, the Professors didn't look kindly upon being criticized by someone 'impertinent', 'immature', and 'ill-natured'.
Needless to say, young Filia found herself quite un-liked by the general population of the school. Even those that would befriend her found themselves shying away from the unfortunate girl in order to keep from presenting yet another target.
It was a miracle in itself that she would find even any time for herself between classes, tasks, homework, and the little sleep she was allowed. Ever grateful for the time she did receive, Filia would spend the time pondering various thoughts and letting her imagination free itself from the confines of her everyday life.
The young girl's thoughts lingered on her last class and the myth of the Mazoku Prince. Professor Taliesin had said that he was ruthless, that he only cared for his own gain.
Filia stood and brandished her sandwich like a mace, "Someone should have saved the children! What kind of respectable myth doesn't have a hero of some kind?"
The sounds of leaves breaking turned the girl's attention away from the building and towards a large dog several yards away.
'Not a dog,' she amended as the beast sat down on its hunches looking curiously at her, 'Wolf.'
Many animals, she knew, lived in these woods. All of them friendly, or at least having no ill intent, to come this near to the enchanted school. Often she would play with them, their interests in her imaginative scenarios intriguing them enough for them to sit still as they ran their course.
Swinging the sandwich in the direction of the wolf, she continued, "Mazoku Prince! I have come for the children you have taken!"
Seemingly unconcerned, the animal in question tilted it's head slightly as if apprising the girl.
"I have traveled long and far, through peril and adversity, to face you here in your palace at the crux of your maze! I am your nemesis, your equal, to save those who were lost and to keep others from also becoming yours!"
Filia slowly walked towards the sitting wolf as she spoke, her imagination wrapped around her like a suit of legendary armor.
"You cannot control me," she whispered, thoroughly lost amidst her whimsy.
Beast and girl stared into each other's eyes for what seemed like an eternity before a set of chimes coming from the school startled her and broke their contact.
"Oh-no! I'm late! Kamila's going to kill me!"
Running to the school at full speed, Filia did not even notice that the wolf had not moved and was, instead, watching her mad dash back into the building. Several minutes later the lupine rose and walked away, tongue lolled out in wolfish laughter.
"Stupid idiot... stupid idiot," she repeated under her breath as she approached the end of a long hallway. She could see Kamila standing there, arms crossed and foot tapping, waiting for the late student.
Filia stopped in front of the annoyed looking woman and lowered her head apologetically, "I'm sorry."
"Again," responded Kamila, looking down her nose at the remorseful girl, "You're late again! I should report you to the Elders and have them kick you off of school grounds!"
"Oh," Filia looked up suddenly, "No, please don't do that!"
"Humph! Well, don't just stand there in the hallway looking like an idiot!"
Kamila turned sharply on her heel and entered the room behind her, "You know your responsibilities and one of them is to be here on time."
"Yes, Miss Kamila."
Being five years older than Filia, Kamila rather enjoyed bossing her around. And seeing that the younger girl had no birthright she took it upon herself to make sure that Filia knew she was inferior in every possible way. Such as it was, Kamila being the most popular girl in the school, it was all the rage to put Filia in her 'place'.
The blonde girl nearly crashed into the tall red-head when she stopped suddenly, "There's little Val. He hasn't been fed his lunch yet and he needs his diaper changed. I'm going to be late because of you, so I'm leaving."
At that Kamila left the room, slamming the door behind her causing Val to begin crying.
Val, like Filia, was also an orphan. Someone had simply deposited the poor child on the steps of the school. In all of the school, only Filia could understand how difficult it must be for him. Baby or not, and how difficult it would be when he was old enough to take care of himself.
"There there… Don't worry, Val, I'll take care of everything."
That afternoon had been terrible. Little Val cried nearly continuously the entire time, stopping only when she either held him or fed him, which also involved him being in her arms. It wasn't until she'd finished feeding him dinner that he began to seem sleepy. Gratefully, Filia set him down in his crib and got to work on the assignment given by Professor Taliesin.
When the sun finally set Filia lit the candles and continued working. The quiet flicker of the light soon caused her eyes to droop and her head to fall softly into the folds of her arms. Thoughts of the Mazoku Prince swarmed in her dream-filled state.
At a quarter to midnight Val was suddenly awake. Suddenly, that is, to the incoherent Filia as she jolted up so fast that she knocked a candle off of it's holder. Still in her dream-state she made a foolish grab for the falling, flaming, piece of hot wax. The shock of snatching the object and the pain from the burn she received for her efforts quite efficiently cleared the sleepy mist that had temporarily resided in her head.
"Ouch! Stupid idiot!" she winced as she held her reddened hand to herself.
Val cried louder, desperate for the attention.
The young girl walked over to the crib, "What's wrong Val?"
After several minutes of checking through things Filia could still find no reason for the child's cries. As a last resort she lifted him out of the bedding and began to sing a soft melody, trying to sooth his outburst.
Nothing worked, 'Oh, this is getting ridiculous!'
"Val, could you please stop?" she begged the small form.
The baby's cries only became more insistent, "What? What is it you want, Val?"
A low, mournful note floated at the edge of Filia's hearing and she remembered the wolf she'd seen earlier.
"Is that what you want?" she asked the crying baby, "You want to see the Mazoku Prince?"
Val's response didn't change.
"You know I shouldn't," the young girl spoke continuing her game from earlier.
Holding the baby in front of her she pressed on, "The Mazoku Prince would take you far away and you would never be heard from again! For ever and ever!"
Again she heard the strange howl, this one too seemed to only be an echo of a memory.
The cries began to wear on her nerves both in pitch and consistency, "I'll call him to take you away! Don't make me call him!"
The threat did little to curb Val's outburst or her frustration.
"I can't take this anymore, Val!" Filia called out, "I wish the Mazoku Prince would come and take you away! Right now!"
A gust of wind blew through the room, extinguishing all the candles with its icy breath, and a piercing howl sounded throughout. In that moment Filia could only think of two things. One, the room had no window or any way out save for the door she'd entered through on the opposite side of the room. And two, whatever had made that sound was between her, Val, and the door.
AN: Well? What did you think? Am I getting better or worse? REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! Don't forget that I support the anonymous reviewer!