Chibi-Usa-
Chibi-Usa wasn't at all happy with Pegasus. He hadn't lied to her, but he had kept a great many secrets from her. "Let me get it straight," Chibi-Usa said as she sat on her bed and looked into the sphere that let her communicate with Pegasus. "You are not the master of the place you come from, it's the master of you. Right? You come from Elysian where you're the priest and all your power in this world is funneled through the golden crystal you wear on your forehead like a horn. Right? You aren't the only person like yourself. There are two other people and one of them was the man I saw with Usagi and her friends, that ugly guy with the weird hair. Am I getting this all right, so far?"
"Yes."
Chibi-Usa frowned at the image of Pegasus and felt angrier than she had in a very long time. "So, when you were planning to tell me?" She'd kept Pegasus' secret from her own friends and family. She hadn't breathed a word about him to anyone and this was how he repaid her trust? "Sometime before the Dead Moon Circus came to steal my dreams, I hope. What about these other people like you, aren't they going to help you? Are they going to turn up anytime or are they enemies, too? Do I have to worry about them sneaking into my bedroom at night to get you?"
"No, they wouldn't do that, at least not under these circumstances. I did not think you needed to know any of the rest. Hiding me was a big enough burden on you, I didn't wish to add to it."
"Thanks for the concern, Pegasus, but have you got any other big secrets I should know? I am kinda in the middle of all this war. If any other people or monsters are going to be showing up, I'd like to know about it before I fall out of a tree and land on them." She was more than disappointed or hurt, she was angry. They were friends and Chibi-Usa had apparently put more value into that than Pegasus had. "I have to warn Usagi about all this, you know."
"My name isn't Pegasus. "
"What?"
"I am Priest Helios."
'So I didn't even know his name. He didn't trust me enough to tell me.' Chibi-Usa sank down, deflated. Right then, she wanted to be anywhere but talking to Pegasus…Helios…whatever he wanted to be called. 'What else don't I know about him? He's floating around in my mind and I don't think I like it anymore. What if he has more secrets he doesn't think I need to know?' Chibi-Usa licked her lips and tried to figure out what she should do. He was inside her brain and, therefore, probably knew what she was thinking.. She couldn't keep her secrets away from him. "I have to talk to Usagi."
"She likely already knows all of this. One of the creatures like me, the man you landed on earlier, Jareth, he will have spoken with them. Please, my friend…"
"Don't!" Chibi-Usa turned away from the sphere sharply and jumped off her bed. She was only too aware of the danger that not only she was in, but that she put her family and friends in. Pegasus was inside her and the people from the Dead Moon Circus would kill her to get at him. They would kill Usagi and the girls. They would kill mama and papa and Shingo. If they had even the slightest idea where Pegasus was, they wouldn't hesitate, Chibi-Usa was sure of that. They'd shown in the past how ruthless they were about getting what they wanted. "Just…don't talk to me right now. I don't want to talk. You should have told me everything.. If you wanted me to protect you, you should have helped me protect the people I love." Her little hands balled into fists. "I won't help you if keep things secret!"
The image faded from the sphere, but Chibi-Usa didn't know because she was already halfway down the stairs and racing out of the house. She needed Usagi. 'Those girls always feel first and think later.' Chibi-Usa thought grimly. From what Pegasus had admitted to her only moments ago, Jareth was an incredibly dangerous person and they'd probably just jumped right into a fight. They might not wait for explanations or reasons, they were teenagers and everyone knew teenagers didn't think straight. 'I'll tell Usagi everything and then I'll think of a way to stop this. If I have to leave to get the Dead Moon Circus away from home, I will.'
By the time Chibi-Usa arrived at the Hino Shrine, something big had happened. For one things, looking at the large yard from the stairs that led to the shrine from the street, Chibi-Usa could see two of the Amazon Trio speaking with a dark haired girl and most of the senshi clustered together near the door of Rei's home. Well, it must be something good if the senshi and the Amazons were together but they weren't trying to kill each other. So, Chibi-Usa very quietly made her way passed the Hawk's Eye and Fish Eye, hoping to get to her friends without being noticed. Her heart almost stopped when Hawk's Eye turned his face away from the dark haired girl and looked right at Chibi-Usa. He didn't do anything, though, just turned back to the dark haired girl and listening to Fish Eye speak.
Chibi-Usa swallowed her apprehension and dashed the rest of the distance to the senshi. "Venus! What's going on?" She stopped just in front of the blonde senshi who stood between the Amazons and the rest of the senshi. She never really understood why they used their planet's names when they were in uniform. It wasn't as if their secret identities were really all that secret. If their enemies had half a brain, they'd be found out in no time. After all, their appearance didn't change at all when they transformed. Still, they used the code names without hesitation and without thinking.
"Mars collapsed." Minako answered, not taking her eyes off the Amazons. "It's been busy here and we had a…visitation by something and I'm still not sure what's going on. The Amazon Trio don't seem to be exactly enemies anymore and there was a little boy that got kidnapped," She gestured towards the two members of the Trio and the dark haired girl. "They're going to go find him, I think."
When she reached where the rest of the senshi were with Rei, Chibi-Usa went right to Usagi's side, squeezing in between Ami and Makoto. "Is she alright?" Rei certainly didn't look alright. She was much paler than normal and her hands, resting on her stomach were shaking terribly. Chibi-Usa knew that while Rei was in her senshi uniform she was protected from most anything. There were no signs of any kind of attack and Rei wasn't bleeding. It looked more like Rei was sick than anything else.
Rei blinked up at Chibi-Usa and managed a watery smile. "I'm fine. Just…I'm fine. Tired, that's all."
"Don't lie." Usagi scolded, firmly. "And don't try to get up. Let Mecury finish." She held Rei's hand, but otherwise seemed pretty helpless.
"Physically, she's right, she's quite fine." Ami, kneeling at Rei's side, opposite from Usagi, spoke up. She was still looking at Rei from behind her translucent Mercury visor. "I can't see anything wrong, Mars, but I KNOW you are definitely not alright. Something is very wrong. Tell me exactly what you feel."
Rei struggled to speak. "I feel like my insides have been scrambled. My eyes feel hot. Like my brain's turned to jell-o and it's sloshing around every time I move." Rei started coughing forcefully. Usagi was trying to help her to sit up when Rei gagged and vomited, turning aside just in time to avoid splattering herself and Usagi. A general cry went up when her friends saw that, but it didn't help Rei who started shaking fiercely even before she opened her eyes. Fortunately, Ami was there to take charge and began giving orders. Makoto was sent for a blanket and for a glass of water so Rei could rinse her mouth. Usagi was told to sit behind Rei and hold her hair incase Rei threw up again.
"Look at me. Open your eyes." Ami took Rei's face in her hands and forced Rei to look right at her, to the point that she used her thumbs to gently pry open Rei's eyes when she failed to obey. "What hurts? Can you tell me what happened?" When Rei could keep her eyes open by herself, Ami slid one hand up to rest on Rei's forehead and the other down to press her fingers against Rei's throat. She must have judged Rei's temperature and pulse to be fine because she didn't make an issue of it.
"It doesn't hurt, it's just…off. Nothing feels right. It's okay. It's starting to settle back to normal." Rei convulsed and got sick again, this time she wasn't so lucky and got it all over her uniform. "That thing?" Rei managed to choke out. "The power…I can't even describe it. I'm alright, Sailor Moon. It just shocked me. Gods, it was terrible!" She slumped a little, letting her head rest against Usagi's shoulder. She didn't protest when Usagi brushed her hair away from her face or rubbed her arm, comfortingly. "Like the whole world came crashing down on me all at once. I've never experienced anything like that."
Chibi-Usa knew that Rei was different, even among the senshi. She not only had the powers of Sailor Mars, but she had psychic gifts. Chibi-Usa easily admitted that she didn't understand a thing about Rei's psychic talent, but she knew Rei could feel things or see things when she meditated, especially with the sacred fire of the shrine. Seemed there was more to it than Chibi-Usa had guessed. Getting down on her knees, Chibi-Usa took Rei's hand and tried her best to ignore the smell of vomit. "Mars, are you sure you're all right?"
"Of course." She smiled wanly. "It just…took a lot out of me." She seemed to be having trouble speaking. "Usa," She turned and looked up at Usagi, using Usagi's nickname. It surprised Chibi-Usa to hear Rei use Usagi's name like that while they were in uniform. She couldn't remember them ever using their real names while in uniform. "The Labyrinth is big. It's powerful. We can't stand up against it." Rei was afraid and Chibi-Usa had never seen her really afraid of anything and that frightened her. "It wasn't anything even remotely human. It had feelings and emotions, but I couldn't describe them. It's mind was immense."
"Shhh." Usagi tried to soothe Rei. "Don't worry. We'll figure it out."
Though it all, Chibi-Usa felt an awful feeling of growing guilt. It was all her fault. If she'd told them about Pegasus…no. If she'd told them about Helios sooner then this might have been avoided, somehow. That was what came of keeping secrets! Chibi-Usa didn't even realize she was crying until Usagi raised a hand and brushed the tears away.
"Chibi-Usa? What's wrong? Mars will be alright."
"It's not that." She took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Mars. I'm so sorry."
"What for?" Makoto asked, puzzled. "You didn't have anything to do with this."
"But I did." Wasn't telling the truth supposed to be easier than this? "I knew all along where Pegasus was and I never said anything." They all stared at her, shocked. "He's inside me. All that time the people from the Dead Moon Circus were attacking and hurting people, Pegasus was in me. I talk to him almost every day and every night. He's hiding from them."
"You're sure?" Usagi asked, quietly.
"Of course I'm sure! I didn't want anyone to get hurt. He was my friend and I didn't want to give him up, either."
"It's alright." Rei smiled up at Chibi-Usa. "You don't have to cry. Right now we just have to get this taken care of."
Haruka's voice was sharper. "Call Pegasus out, Chibi-Usa. He's the source of all our problems and I think we deserve a few answers." She raked her fingers through her hair, a sign of her anger. "He's got no right to be lurking inside you. What kind of cowardly creature uses an innocent person to shield themselves from danger?"
Chibi-Usa looked away from Haruka. "He was my friend."
"If they'd found him inside you, they might have killed you. A friend wouldn't do that."
"But Jareth said they were the same type of creature." Sarah and the two Amazons were upon them and had apparently heard every word. "I don't think they really think the same way humans do. Jareth wouldn't think twice about doing something selfish or dangerous if it suited his purpose. I suppose they're alike that way. Rei…er…Mars? Whatever I'm supposed to call you now." It was the first time that Chibi-Usa really looked at Sarah. She was very ordinary looking, really. "I'm really sorry about all this. I'm still not entirely sure what's going on, but I never wanted anyone else to get hurt on my account. You were very kind to me and I do appreciate it. I'm leaving now, so you shouldn't have to deal with Labyrinth again. It only came because Jareth and Toby came to find me."
"Going where?" Rei didn't have the strength to sit up, but Chibi-Usa thought she must have really wanted to. When Sarah said she was going Rei had clenched Chibi-Usa's hand very tightly. "Give me a moment, it's all becoming clearer, now."
"I have to get Toby." Sarah's eyes narrowed and her thick eyebrows lowered. Just at that moment, she looked very dangerous. "I fought too hard to get him the last time he was taken. I faced things I'd only ever seen in my dreams or nightmares. I've fought to protect him from the people who should love him the most. I'll be damned if I let him get hurt now!"
"They took him to the Dead Moon Circus, you can't go there without us!" Rei protested. "It's dangerous, you'll be killed. Sarah, you have to understand…."
"But I do understand." Sarah smiled, but it was a cool smile. "They took Toby and I have to get him back. It's just that simple."
"But how?"
"Anyway I have to." Sarah staggered backwards a step and it looked as if she might fall if Fish Eye hadn't been standing right behind her and grabbed her shoulders, steadying her.
"Are you alright?"
Labyrinth-
Jareth-
When Jareth regained his senses he was in the center of Labyrinth, again. He wasn't used to the disorientation of suddenly being somewhere else. Just an instant ago he'd been on Earth with Sarah and then he was here. Jareth was obedient. He rarely gave Labyrinth reason to punish him or take away his free will.
"Except now." Labyrinth was sitting cross-legged in minair, looking as if it were the most natural thing in the world to sit on nothing. It was, really. It belonged anywhere it pleased, including sitting on air. In a way, not only was Labyrinth the mind of this world, but it was all physical things, too. "Now, of all times, you think to exert some force over me. I would have thought you'd have learned better by now. Didn't you learn that lesson as soon as Han'nin died?"
"You didn't even let me mourn properly."
"You didn't have that kind of luxury. There were things to do."
"Things that could have waited a day or so."
"A day? What is that?"
"Never mind." Jareth tried to leave, but found himself unable to go anywhere. "Why are you keeping me here?" Jareth didn't turn to face Labyrinth when he spoke to it. He was angry and frightened. Labyrinth knew how he felt and if it wanted Jareth to look at it, then it would be able to make him.
"You act as if you are my prisoner, pet." Labyrinth spoke languidly and when Jareth chanced a look over his shoulder he saw that Labyrinth was lounging back in a plush chair with his legs crossed. "I just want you around. You're so angry that you're hurting me. You'll hurt my little ones if I let you loose in this state."
It was probably right. Jareth did feel in just the mood to hurt someone. "Please, you've stolen Toby from Sarah. He's yours forever and she accepted it more gracefully than I would have. To let him be killed just because…"
"Because I am protecting my people? I think it's a good cause. I can't loose you both. That would be a calamity for every living creature that depends on us here."
"There must be something I can do." He hated feeling so helpless. "Sarah went though so much pain to win him back from you. She's protected him nearly his entire life. She won't give him up and she'll die trying to save him, he'll die regardless. It's a waste."
"Such a cool term. A waste. Surely you feel more strongly about it than that." Labyrinth's narrow arms wound around Jareth's waist and held him closely. "You risk my wrath for that girl and her brother. It's more than a waste to you."
"You already know. Why ask? Let me help them."
"I won't risk you."
"Something. Anything we can do would be better than nothing at all." Helpless. That was how he felt. All the power right at his fingertips and he was helpless. Jareth was honestly enough with himself to admit that much of his agitation was from his little confessions to Sarah earlier. He was a slave and if he weren't, he would be able to help her and Toby. No matter what he'd said to her to ease Sarah's mind about Toby's doom, being a slave was no one's idea of a good life. He certainly didn't want for Toby what had happened to him, but now that it was done, Jareth wanted to protect him. Jareth turned around and the arms around him vanished. Labyrinth was again sitting in midair again with its legs crossed. "He's yours. " Jareth went to Labyrinth and knelt, putting his head on its lap. "Sarah is part of this world, somehow. You know it. She's connected to us, to you, even before she came here she was connected."
"Yes. Her soul is linked to our lovely moon. Have you figured that one out, yet? How did Sarah become connected to us? That moon has hung in my sky for much longer than she has been alive. The gateway was opened purely for your sake, pet."
"And for hers." It was comfortable to have his head in Labyrinth's lap. A kind of intimacy Jareth hadn't had in a long time. "I've been lonely without her."
"I know. I am sorry."
"I beg you, let me help."
Labyrinth was silent and Jareth was worried. Labyrinth knew every thought that ran though Jareth's mind, why was it even bothering to talk to him like this? It could have simply left him in his chambers and refused to talk about the subject. It could have forced Jareth to return home instead of creating a material form and actually visiting Earth, a difficult and taxing effort. Why was it doing all this? Labyrinth's silence meant that it was thinking, not something Jareth had ever seen it do much of. After all, it wasn't human and its mind didn't work like a human's would. It acted more on instinct than on logic.
"I can't feel Toby anymore." Labyrinth said, at last. "He was frightened for a long time, and angry, but now he's vanished. I believe he's gone into Circus' domain. That's really the only possibility." Labyrinth's fingers twisted in Jareth's hair. "I…I've never felt such fear before." It seemed honestly confused by that and Jareth thought back on his own long life. He hadn't been frightened since he'd come to belong to Labyrinth, there was nothing to be afraid of. Which meant, in all likelihood, that Han'nin hadn't been afraid of anything, either.
Jareth looked up at Labyrinth. "You've never felt afraid?"
"None of my pets has ever been in such danger. I don't like this."
"Neither do I. Let me bring him home."
"If you die, then I will fall into a deep sleep and my world will become darkness. The children you've taken such good care of will despair and begin to perish." It touched his face with a cool hand. "You are so important. Why risk your life?"
"Because I owe it to them. You've made me king of this world and given me great power, you have my life. Let me have this. I can't let Sarah walk into that danger with so little protection. I can't let Toby die."
Labyrinth leaned forward until its white hair fell down around Jareth's shoulders. "Do you believe Sarah is your lost love, Ringmaster?"
"Is it true?" He didn't dare hope. It couldn't be true.
"Truth is irreverent. Belief is all. She has access to me, even if she doesn't yet know it, but no one knows how. She has convinced Ringmaster's three beloved, cherished children. She is closer to you than any other living being. You know the priest Helios is living within the pink haired child you brought here earlier. He hides inside her. You tried that with Sarah, didn't you? When she was dreaming."
Ah, the peach dream. Jareth had seen Sarah's dream when she'd fallen into the dream beside the Bog of Eternal Stench. Hoggle hadn't left her side until Jareth had come and ordered him away. Her lavish dream of a ball with her dressed up like a fairy princess and Jareth appearing like some dark imp. Yes, he had tried to steal inside her. Sarah had danced with her dream's vision of Jareth and in that time when she wasn't paying attention to anything else, Jareth had tried to ease into her soul through her dream. Something had stopped him and pushed him out, but it wasn't anything magical or anything to do with Ringmaster. "She was too strong, too determined. Sarah doesn't realize how strong she is. Her mind was set and the peach dream didn't distract her enough to let me in. Priest Helios distracted that little girl with a dream and slipped in, but Sarah wasn't distracted enough to let her guard down. Even if I had gotten in for a moment, I believe she would have noticed me very quickly and pushed me out."
"But if you could live within her, you'd be able to escape me, wouldn't you?"
"I wouldn't have!" Jareth said very quickly, fearing that Labyrinth somehow thought he was trying to abandon it.
"Pet, I don't fear you leaving me, but I do wonder that you'd missed this. If you wish to help, then you must do so in a way that would keep you from harm. Follow the example set by Helios. Your body will safely remain here, with me. Your spirit and mind may exist within Sarah's, if she will allow it. That way, you will have your power and be able to advise her. The beloved children of Ringmaster can guide her to and through Circus, but there are things only you know. Things only you can do." Labyrinth too Jareth's face in it's hands. "Leave your body here and go to her, but know that if her life is in danger, I will pull you back here quickly and there will be nothing you can do to save her. Your life is more important."
"I'm a fool." Why hadn't he thought of it before? The solution was so simple and now that she wasn't even thinking about him, maybe it would be possible for him to get in. She was certainly distracted. She might even allow it. "Why are you doing this?"
"Because I think I dislike fear. Toby's fear disturbs me and now I am feeling your fear of losing both Toby and Sarah." It blinked at Jareth, inquisitively. "Do you love her?"
"No." Jareth didn't hesitate in his answer. "She's only human." Which meant that Sarah would grow old and die in the blink of an eye. He couldn't love her, even if he were willing to betray Ring's memory. He'd had to live through the death of one loved one, he couldn't stand to do it again. The pain would be unbearable.
"So were you, once."
"What?"
Labyrinth pulled Jareth's face in closer and kissed him, then touched the amulet hanging around his neck. "Rest, pet. Your body will be safe with me. Go and do what you have to do. Circus once allowed you to exist within it's boundaries, as I allowed Ringmaster to exist here. If Circus is endangered, as the priest of Elysian claims, then it will allow you to destroy its attackers, I believe. I can only grant you some small measure of your usual strength while you are with Circus, but it will be something. Defeat this arrogant thing that has nearly conquered Elysian and now seeks to dominate Circus, for it may hunt me, next. This creature called Nehelenia must be destroyed." Labyrinth's eyes were fierce like Jareth had never seen them before. "Go, do your duty and defend your subjects, king of the goblins. Rescue the prince and fight along side Sarah who mystifies you." At once, Jareth felt a weightlessness and his mind drift away from himself. He saw Labyrinth holding his limp body like a child would hold a doll and Labyrinth looked up at him. "Be safe, pet. Return to me."
Hino Shrine-
Sarah-
She felt bad for them, especially Rei. Rei had only been kind since Sarah had met her and now all this trouble. 'Wonder how long it'll take dad and Karen to call the police? Maybe they'll think I've kidnapped Toby. Maybe I should have. Not that it matter now. I'll bet he's better off with Jareth.' She would have laughed if the situation hadn't been so serious. 'Police? What am I worrying about police for? I'll probably be dead before the sun sets.'
"Sarah?"
"Sorry, Hawk's Eye. What did you say?"
"I said we should go, if that's what you really want." It was pretty clear he didn't approve. "I still say it's too dangerous. Fish and I can do this if you stay here. You admitted yourself that you have no power and you don't remember a thing of the layout of Circus. We're both quick as lightening and we'll find your brother. Tiger's Eye likely has him already and is hiding him. Tiger's Eye is very strong and faster than either of us."
"Don't you mean, if he hasn't been killed already? Oh, don't cry, Fish Eye. I didn't mean it like that. None of your are invulnerable, though. You didn't know what was going on when we were all blinded anymore than I did. That Zirconia guy knows you've betrayed him and now he's probably out for blood. Would he send your own people out against you?"
Fish Eye shook his head. "They aren't all our people anymore. It's been many, many years since you…sorry. Since Ringmaster died. All those years we've lived under Zirconia's rule. It changes people. A lot of them now support Zirconia, they'll follow him."
"Why? If he's as horrible as you say, why would they do that? Why did you even let him into the Circus in the first place?"
"We aren't leaders. None of us were meant to lead. After Ringmaster's death, Circus went to sleep, there was no one to take her place. We were left drifting in open space with nothing to do. Have you any idea how boring that is? Boredom can be torturous given enough time. When Zirconia appeared and took charge, a lot of us were grateful." Fish Eye looked more than a little guilty when he said that. "I know I was. He gave us direction, even if it was a wrong direction. We had purpose in life, even if it wasn't a very nice purpose."
"You know you were doing evil things?" That surprised Sarah. She'd always believed that even truly evil people didn't know they were evil. She believed that everyone worked for what they believed was something good, no matter how it was interpreted by society.
Fish Eye gave Sarah a blank look. "What's evil?" He pointed at the sailor senshi. "They've called us evil, but I don't think so. We just are. We do what we have to do to survive."
That made sense to Sarah. Now she knew that Fish Eye and Hawk's Eye were essentially the same as Hoggle and Ludo, she could understand what Fish Eye meant. If Jareth were actually evil, instead of just willful and mischievous, Sarah was sure that Hoggle would have been a far less pleasant traveling companion and that Ludo would have really been the monster he looked like. They had been human once, though. From what Sarah had seen of Hawk's Eye's memories, these two had never been human. There wasn't much of a difference. They'd been animals transformed by the power of a creature that ruled them and none of them had any say in the matter. Animals weren't good or evil, they just did as their instincts told them. It was probably the same for Fish Eye, Hawk's Eye, and Tiger's Eye, wherever he was.
Sarah looked again over at Rei. She still hadn't gotten up and her friends, now including the little pink haired girl Jareth had taken just a short time ago, were clustered around her. The only exception was a girl with very long blonde hair who watch Sarah and her new companions with a stern, serious face. She didn't look hostile, but Sarah had the distinct impression that this one was a leader and she would attack without question if she saw any threats. "They shouldn't get involved." Sarah said.
Hawk's Eye answered her without looking at the senshi. "They will want to. I think it's in their nature. They have been trying to defeat Zirconia for a very long time and now that they have an excuse to invade, I suppose they will want to."
"Do you know what's wrong with Rei?"
"Who?"
"The girl that fell. She has hair like mine."
"Oh, she's psychic." Fish Eye said as if it were the most normal thing in the world. "She's really not very powerful, just gets feelings and things."
"How do you know?" Hawk's Eye asked suddenly, giving Fish Eye a look that clearly said it was a surprise to him.
"I asked her predecessor, once. It was the presence of Labyrinth that undid her. The previous Mars told me that she felt nervous and frightened when she went into Circus, but she didn't know why. I didn't tell her it was because Circus was a living being, that wasn't' something she needed to know. I expect that there are more similar things shared between these girls and the first ones than just their looks. Labyrinth, Circus, and all the others like them aren't mortal people like we are. They're bigger in every sense of the word and it appearing right in front of her overloaded your friend's mind a little. She'll recover in a few minutes. I'm surprise it came here, though. They don't normally do things like that. King Jareth must have done something to make it angry."
"It didn't look angry." Sarah thought back to Labyrinth's physical form. She hadn't imagined that anything would look like that. It looked, somewhat, like Jareth. Long and narrow, all sharp edges and a not-quite-real quality. "There's no time for this. I have to find Toby. You're going to be in trouble if you go back."
Hawk's Eye raised a gloved hand and waggled a finger at Sarah. "You aren't thinking of suggesting that we stay behind, are you? This isn't a rescue mission just for your brother. We have to go find Tiger, too."
"Then let's go tell them." Sarah started off towards the senshi, hoping that she didn't look threatening to Minako. She was glad Hawk's Eye had said that. She would go find Toby, but she really didn't want to go alone.
'You don't have to go alone.'
Sarah didn't stop walking, but frowned. 'Jareth?'
'Forgive me. I have a suggestion that may help, but I don't think you'll like it.' His voice was strange, subdued. In fact, he sounded almost…humble. It was so out of character that it made Sarah pause, uncertainly. 'You don't trust me and I understand. I haven't given you any reason to. You do believe that I must retrieve Toby, though. I know you do. You can't do it alone and I don't believe you can do it even with the help of the three Amazons who've allied themselves with you. They were always fiercely loyal to Ringmaster. As they believe you to be her, then you should know that they would willingly die for you.'
'That's not exactly comforting. I don't want anyone to die.'
'What you want is besides the point at this time. You are only interested in getting Toby back and we share the same objective. Labyrinth won't allow me to physically be with you, but it will allow me to enter your mind.'
'I'm flattered you asked instead of just doing it.' Sarah didn't like the sound of it. Jareth caused enough trouble, what kind of damage could he do if he was in her mind? That couldn't possibly be a good idea.
'I wouldn't have asked, but I don't think I could do this without your help. Remember? I can't live within you. Your will is very strong. I can't explain it. You are connected to Labyrinth and I believe that has something to do with it. That's how I found you and Toby, this time. I could hear you crying. One of those Amazons looked into your soul and I saw him through the crystal moon that hangs over Labyrinth. I can't help you without your permission.' He didn't sound as if he liked it at all.
'What kind of help?' She didn't doubt that Jareth could help. After all, Jareth was pretty close to being omnipotent in his own world and he had the backing of his god.
'I know a great deal about Circus and the way it works. I know more than even your new friends who were created by Ringmaster using Circus' power. There's also something you must look for if you are to defeat Nehelenia. If the Amazon Trio is convinced that you are Ringmaster, then there is a chance that the other Circus people will believe them. She won't like that at all, if she realizes.'
'Right. What do I have to look for?'
'There will be a crystal somewhere within Circus. It was Ringmaster's crystal and is a type of key. Like my amulet lets me use Labyrinth's power while I'm on Earth, that crystal did the same for Ringmaster, though she rarely ever left the safety of Circus. The one time she did, she died. I don't know why she didn't use the crystal to protect herself, but it must still exist. It can't be destroyed anymore than Circus itself. If you find it, there's a chance that Circus will allow you to use its power.'
'Just a chance?'
'If it decides you're unworthy, it will either do nothing or, possibly, kill you the moment you touch it.'
'Well, that's reassuring.'
'Will you let me help you?'
She didn't want to. The last thing on Earth she wanted was to have Jareth lurking around inside her head. What if, once she let him in, he just stayed there? What if she had to live the rest of her life with Jareth roaming around her thoughts? But, for Toby… 'All right.'
The girls were talking about the whatever it was that Jareth had told them about, priest Helios. It was supposed to be some kind of a Pegasus, but not really. Whatever it was, it was like Jareth and like Ringmaster, whom Sarah still believed Fish Eye and Hawk's Eye were mistaking her for. It must be a mistake. The girl who'd threatened Sarah just an hour or so earlier was demanding to know what kind of creature would be so cowardly as to use another person to hide to avoid a battle and let other people get hurt. She had a good point, but maybe it was only logical from a human perspective. After all, Jareth wasn't human so it wasn't likely that Helios would be human. Mortality wasn't a universal constant, after all.
"But Jareth said they were the same type of creature. I don't think they really think the same way humans do. Jareth wouldn't think twice about doing something selfish or dangerous if it suited his purpose. I suppose they're alike that way. Rei…er…Mars? Whatever I'm supposed to call you now." Sarah spoke when she stood just at Minako's side. Minako hadn't said or done anything when Sarah, Fish Eye, and Hawk's Eye got closer, but she was watching them warily. Best not to get any close to her friends the way she was glaring. "I'm really sorry about all this. I'm still not entirely sure what's going on, but I never wanted anyone else to get hurt on my account. You were very kind to me and I do appreciate it. I'm leaving now, so you shouldn't have to deal with Labyrinth again. It only came because Jareth and Toby came to find me." That was the truth. Of course, it wasn't her fault. Sarah knew that well enough. It was dad and Karen's fault. Other than that, Rei and her friends had chosen to help Sarah, she hadn't forced them. Labyrinth had taken Toby and Jareth only tried to make things right by bringing Toby at least for a visit. This was all, definitely dad and Karen's fault.
'I'm glad you realize that.' Jareth sounded very close when he spoke. In fact, it seemed that he was whispering in her ear. Sarah was pretty sure she wasn't imagining it. 'Sarah, you will have to relax your mind. You have walls built around yourself.'
Rei, tried sitting up. "Going where? Give me a moment, it's all becoming clearer, now." She blinked owlishly at Sarah and squinted. "Sarah? Are you alone?"
"Yeah. Don't worry." Sarah shouldn't have been surprised that Rei would be able to feel that Jareth was around somewhere.. Fish Eye said that Rei was a psychic. At least Rei wasn't entirely aware of what Jareth was proposing. Sarah didn't feel entirely comfortable with it herself, she certainly didn't want everyone in the world to know she was about to let someone into her head. 'Labyrinth didn't seem thrilled to have you out here. I don't think it wants you near me. Are you sure its alright with this?' Out loud, she said to Rei, "I'm going to Circus to find Toby. I thought it was pretty obvious at this point. I fought too hard to get him the last time he was taken. I faced things I'd only ever seen in my dreams or nightmares. I've fought to protect him from the people who should love him the most. I'll be damned if I let Toby get hurt now!"
'No,' Jareth answered. 'It's not you. It's…don't dwell on it. Don't think at all. You have to relax. You're still too guarded and I still can't get in, I feel like I'm bashing my head against a stone wall.'
She tried to relax, but trying to relax is nearly impossible. She thought of anything she could that was peaceful and gentle. She thought about rocking Toby to sleep and walks in the park. She thought about nice rainy days and hot baths.
"They took him to the Dead Moon Circus, you can't go there without us!" Rei protested. "It's dangerous, you'll be killed. Sarah, you have to understand…."
"I do understand." Sarah smiled, coolly. "They took Toby and I have to get him back. It's just that simple." It was the understanding that had hit Sarah towards the end of her journey through Labyrinth. Life isn't fair, but that's the way it is. Trying to get Toby back would probably kill her and wouldn't change anything for Toby, but she had to do it. She had nothing to live for but Toby, so it seemed fitting that she die for him. It wasn't as if anyone would miss her.
"But how?"
Sarah's mind flashed to her dream of the ballroom when she swung in Jareth's arms. Now she knew that it hadn't been real. She'd thought, for a long time, that Jareth had planted the dream in her mind, that he'd had something to do with it. It had all been her own imagination. Sad, but still…Sarah smiled at the memory. It had made her very happy for a short time. "Anyway I have to." Sarah gasped when a cool wind rushed through her mind and swirled around inside her head. Jareth's voice, no longer just a whispered thought, only barely heard,
"Yes!"
Strong hands gripped Sarah from behind and she heard someone speaking. "Are you alright?"
It took a moment before Sarah could get her mouth to work properly again. There was something cool and heavy hanging around her neck and Sarah knew, without looking, that it was Jareth's amulet. "Yeah…I think so." She shook her head and prayed that Jareth knew what he was doing and, for once, had no tricks up his sleeve. Then again, if it were to rescue Toby, Jareth could use all the tricks he wanted to. "Let's go."
Zirconia-
"What have you done?" Zirconia glowered down at the girls. Junjun, their unofficial leader, stood her ground while Vesves fumed at Zirconia's tone and the other two stayed quietly in the background. It was Junjun who answered for the group.
"We were just having fun. We didn't do anything wrong or anything Nehelenia wouldn't like. He was just a human child!" She was defensive, probably afraid that Zirconia would tell Nehelenia that they'd misbehaved. Despite their adult bodies, they really were just children. They were afraid of being reprimanded and didn't even imagine that they were just tools for the glorious Queen Nehelenia, disposable tools. "We only wanted to play a bit."
He wanted to kill them right where they stood. Those willful brats! "When I declared that they were traitors and to be killed on sight, didn't you think that applied to you, also? You say you saw both Hawk's Eye and Fish Eye, you caught them unawares and you didn't even try to attack them? Don't you think I had a good reason for wanting them dead?"
Vesves answered, flippantly. "Not really. You've got an awful temper so we just assumed one of them opened his big mouth and said something he shouldn't have." She turned halfway away from Zirconia, showing off her usual disregard for his authority. "If what they did was so bad, why didn't you kill them yourself?"
He couldn't tell them that the Amazon Trio's desertion had taken him by surprise, that would show a weakness he couldn't afford so he changed the subject. "Why would Tiger's Eye be so interest in that boy that he would attack you to rescue him? Why's he hiding?"
Vesves shrugged and spoke loudly. "How should we know? Tiger's Eye's dense as a brick. You've got no reason to question us like this!"
"Don't I?" Zirconia kept his voice steady as possible. He had the Quartet believing that he was the more powerful, but the truth was that they all owed their power to one source. Queen Nehelenia had given them all part of her power and if all four of the Quartet were to challenge Zirconia together, they would defeat him without question. Fortunately, they were children and didn't know how to work together very well. The idea hadn't even occurred to them that they could attack him as one force. "You've brought an outsider into our midst without permission and now lost him somewhere that neither you or I can go."
"The Remless' we sent will find him and bring him back."
"Tiger's Eye is more powerful than the Remless'!"
"But he won't fight them!" Pallapalla spoke for the first time since Zirconia had called them into his presence. "He and the other of the Trio would never fight against the Remless'."
"You know less about these people than I do." Zirconia was getting angry with their arrogance. "What we know of them we see here, in this room. They live beneath, though. What do we know about their way of life? Nothing. I don't trust the simple Remless' anymore than I trust the Trio."
"Or us?" Cerecere spoke quietly.
Zirconia focused on her. She spoke less than Pallapalla, but she was just as dangerous. "You and I serve the same mistress. We should trust each other."
"Yes," Cerecere agreed. "We should. Then you'll trust us to take care of the situation?"
She had something in mind and she wasn't going to share it. Zirconia wanted to strike her down, but it wouldn't do to have them turn against him so quickly. Zirconia was sure that they would turn on him in an instant if they learned he didn't exactly have their best interests at heart. "Of course, I'll trust you. Be sure to report when you've found the boy."
Junjun spoke again. "The Remless' report that they've found Tiger's Eye, but he's locked in some room down deep. They said it's as far deep as they can go, but they don't dare force their way in. They won't say why, though. You know how they are. It's all one of their special secrets. Don't worry, we'll think of something." The four girls bowed with minimal respect and jumped, leaping into the high rafters, out of sight.
It wasn't that Zirconia hated them, he just didn't trust them. At least he could control the Trio with fear. These girls just weren't afraid enough of him.
Zirconia turned and went back into his rooms, going straight to the large mirror that hung at the back. "My queen." He waited in front of the dark mirror and waited until the image of his queen appeared, tall and glorious as ever.
She down on him with cold, magnificent eyes. "Why have you called to me, Zirconia?" Zirconia would admit it to no one, but she was the great love of his life, if it could be called love. He would die for her and kill for her. To have her look upon him, he would do anything. When she did look at him, he felt like he should fall on his face and grovel at her feet. He was unworthy to even meet her gaze. She was truly a goddess.
"My queen, there is a complication."
"Explain."
"It seems that a few of these circus fools are attempting to rebel. I don't know if they've realized your purpose or not, but they endanger your objective. They seem to have some agenda. Three of them ran away a short time ago and now one has returned only to take a child that the Quartet had stolen. Tiger's Eye has found a place within the circus to hide from even the other Remless', down in the depths where I can not go."
She wasn't very impressed. "How is this a problem for my plans? In the end, the whole circus will be destroyed. Now or later, this troublesome creature will die. Do not bother me with trivialities."
"There is another problem. The sailor senshi who've plagued our operations are approaching with the other two of the Amazon Trio."
"Then destroy them." She spoke in almost a hiss, sounding more irritated than angry. "Experience must tell you that the Remless' have plenty of power. Use them in mass. Throw everyone here at them at once. There is great power in this place, if only you can find it. Use everything you have to destroy the sailor senshi. Without them in the way Pegasus will be found with ease. Then…then…I will have the power to shape this existence to my own desire. With the power of Pegasus' golden crystal, I will make this a flawless universe." Her eyes glimmered with madness that only increased her beauty in Zirconia's eyes and her lips curled back to show her perfect white teeth. "This will be a place of dreams. An eternal, glorious time of unchanging darkness!"
"Yes, my queen." Such a beautiful dream.
Junjun-
Something odd was going on. "Well, Cerecere? What was that about?" Cerecere had never before spoke so challengingly to Zirconia. In fact, usually, Vesves was the only one rash enough to say things like that..
Cerecere was normally more interested in her flowers than anything else, but now she had a sort of breakable look to her. "I don't like this. He never trusted the Trio, but he pretended to when they were around. We know that. What if he's only pretending to trust us, too?"
"Duh." Vesves drawled. "Since when did we ever like doing what that old prune told us to do and what has trust got to do with anything? I know I don't trust him."
"If he doesn't trust us, he'll treat us the way he treated the Trio. It's more than that." Cerecere hesitated, trying to explain. She shifted uneasily on the rafter she was sitting on and looked down at the open ring below. "I don't want to kill the little boy. He hasn't done anything bad. I don't even want to kill Tiger's Eye. He's a fool and weak, but…he's not bad. Is he?"
Pallapalla was the first to answer, though her face was troubled, too. "She's right, Junjun. Tiger's Eye never really hurt anyone. He never killed anyone. He didn't do things just to be nasty, like some of the Remless' will. He's not even all that powerful, he's just got that whip of his. It's the same for the others. Hawk's Eye blows fire, that's no great power. Fish Eye's more concerned with how his make-up looks than fighting. So what if they ran away? If Zirconia doesn't like them, shouldn't he be glad they're gone?"
Junjun didn't know how to answer. They made sense, but to go against Zirconia meant going against Nehelenia and they owed her so much. She's saved them from certain death. If this was what Nehelenia wanted, then they had to do it. "We won't hurt them." Junjun decided. "We'll just find them and give them to Zirconia. What he does with them is his business."
"No." Vesves argued. "That's just as bad. We know he'll kill them and we know Tiger's Eye can't defend himself. That's just as good as killing him ourselves." She scowled darkly. "What's this all about, anyway? Has this got something to do with Pegasus or is it something different? Hey, look." Vesves pointed down at the ring below and saw the Remless' gathering on either side of the entrance. "I think we have visitors."
Junjun squared her shoulders and stood. "Let's join in, then. We'll look for Tiger's Eye and the boy later."
To be continued…
