Guten tag! Oh God! I was watching Whose Line, and they were playing the Hats game, with "the world's worst dating service video." Colin Mochrey had a MALEFICENT hat! I was like, "Oh my god, it's Maleficent! Mein Gott!" Aackk…. And then he makes it worse by saying, "You should see my pants." X.X;; And now for the new batch of reviewers!
Thatz of the Dragon Knights: Erm, you know… 4-6-4-9 isn't just a Hellsing thing. I think it's an actual pun thingy. I mean, consider that line in "Excel Saga:" "Damn, you even picked up on all these stupid Japanese word-play jokes!" At least, I guess it is… ack! Confusion! (Hides in the corner) If you wanna see what else this Hellsing obsessed otaku is getting herself up to, check me bio! XD
Lady Sonora the Black-Rose: Glad you liked it! XD
ooo
When we awoke, we were in a dungeon. Ansem was still unconscious when I woke up. We both had burns on our arms and faces. I got painfully to my feet, and looked around. The walls of the dungeon were white, almost like the city. But something told me we were far from Eien no Yoru.
I stood at the door, trying to pick the lock with a claw. I heard a groan behind me, and whipped around. Ansem was slowly awakening. My claw slid back into my fingertip, and I raced over to him.
"Where… are we?" he mumbled.
"I don't know," I said. Ansem stood, and headed over to the cell door, peering out.
"I think we're in Castle Oblivion," he said. I stood, and went to stand next to him. "I wonder if there's a way to get out of here?"
"Not a chance."
I looked around. The man was leaning against the wall, watching us.
Ansem turned, and saw him. He moved forward, and grabbed the man's collar.
"Who the hell are you?" Ansem snarled. "Tell us now."
The man didn't seem perturbed. "I told you before, no one too important," he said.
"Tell us," I snapped, sick of the mystery. Ansem moved one hand from the man's collar to around his neck.
"Fine," he said. "I'm Jareth, the goblin king."
Ansem slammed him into the wall. "Oh, very funny. Seriously, who are you?"
Jareth rubbed the back of his head. "Honestly. I am the goblin king. Or was, until recently. Some little brat tried to rescue her baby stepbrother, and things went downhill from there. She succeeded, sending my world, the Labyrinth, into darkness. I escaped to Eien no Yoru, but I was the only one. My goblins met their end when the darkness took over the city."
Ansem and I looked at each other.
"How do we know we can trust you?" Ansem said.
Jareth shrugged. "You don't. But what's it matter? We're stuck here anyway."
I turned as I heard the sounds of footsteps. A Shadow Heartless was approaching. It was carrying a set of keys. It stuck one in the keyhole of the cell, and dragged Jareth away. He turned back to us and shrugged.
A perfectly round crystal bounced down the hallway, and through the bars of the door. I picked it up, and stared at it. In it, I could see everything that was happening to Jareth. The Heartless was leading him to a room with a heavy steel door. The Heartless rapped its claws on the door, and it opened.
Vexen, Axel, and Larxene stood in the room. The room was empty except for a chair. The Heartless shoved Jareth into the chair, and tied his arms behind his back.
"So… you are the goblin king?" Vexen said.
"What's it matter to you?" Jareth replied.
"We have been searching for you. Ever since your world was destroyed, we have been wishing to get our hands on you," Vexen said smoothly.
"Why?"
"None of your concern," Vexen snapped.
"What's that?" Axel said suddenly, pointing to the ground next to Jareth's foot. One of the crystals rested there.
"It's a crystal. Nothing more," Jareth said.
"Destroy it, Larxene," Vexen ordered. A lighting bolt struck the crystal, and the one I was holding when black.
"Damn," I muttered. "Well, that's no good."
"What?" Ansem said. He hadn't noticed the crystal.
I threw it at the wall, and it shattered. "One of Jareth's crystals. He had another one, linked to that one, showing what they were doing to him, but Larxene destroyed it."
Ansem slumped against the wall. "So. Now what?"
I sat next to him, leaning against his shoulders. He put his arm around me, and held me close. "I don't know. Sometimes I feel like some divine being is laughing at me."
He rested his head on mine, and sighed. I was exhausted, and fell asleep within a matter of moments.
"Lokii, wake up. Hurry."
Blearily, I opened my eyes. I came fully awake in about three seconds.
There was a Shadow at the door, holding it wide open. Ansem was nowhere to be seen. I had no idea who had spoken, but I got my answer soon enough.
Axel stood behind the Shadow. He was idly twirling a ring of keys around his fingers.
"Vexen says it's your turn," he said nonchalantly. He beckoned to me with his other hand.
"For what?" I asked cautiously. Axel grinned.
"Mum's the word, Lokii," he said. Feeling like I had no other choice, I stood and followed him. He led me on the same path that Jareth had taken.
"Where's Ansem?" I demanded.
Axel laughed softly. "Your loverboy has already spoken with Vexen. We certainly had to go all out on him."
"What do you mean!"
"Exactly as I say. It was rather amusing."
You sick bastard. You twisted, evil, foul…He shoved me through a door, and tied me to the chair.
I strained against the bonds. "Let me go!" I shouted.
"Be quiet," Vexen snapped. "It has been very trying today. Jareth died before we could finish, and Ansem refused to comply to our wishes."
"I bet he did, you bastards! Let me go, or else!" I snapped.
"I think not. Now answer our questions, or things could get very ugly," Vexen replied. "First: What is the extent of your powers?"
I spat on the floor near his feet. He frowned.
"Fine. Larxene, if you will?" he said, smirking. A bolt of lighting came out of nowhere and struck me. I almost cried out, but gritted my teeth, and said nothing. When the lightning receded, I stuck my tongue out at Vexen. He narrowed his eyes, and motioned Axel forward. Axel shot a fireball at me. He missed by a fraction.
"Next time, I won't miss," he said calmly.
"There won't be a next time, jackass!" I snarled.
They had made a critical error: they hadn't bargained in my wings. I strained at the ropes with my arms and wings. Vexen frowned, and for a moment he didn't look so smug. I could feel the ropes beginning to go, rubbed by the scales on my wings and pulled too far by my exertions. The ropes snapped.
Vexen looked alarmed, and Axel tried to hit me with fireballs. I wrapped my wings around me, and the fireballs glanced off, one catching Larxene. Her outfit caught on fire, and she screamed. Vexen cast an ice spell on her, and she stood against the wall, shivering too much to react. I launched myself at Axel, calling out my claws. He blocked my initial assault. I swung my leg at him in a roundhouse kick. I caught him on the arm. By the sound, I snapped it.
Axel's right arm hung uselessly at his side. He snarled at me.
"So you can fight. Fine then!" he yelled. He tried to kick me in the head. I ducked, and surged forward, catching him in the stomach. He doubled over, gasping for breath. I slammed my fist at the back of his head, knocking him out. I turned to Vexen.
He was grinning madly. "Perfect," he crowed. "Just as I thought." Then he disappeared.
"Get back here, you coward!" I yelled uselessly. When he didn't reappear, I turned to Larxene, cracking my knuckles. "Where's Ansem?" I snarled at her. Still shivering, she pointed further down the hall. I ran out the door, and towards another cell. I peered in. A figure was huddled against the wall. "Who are you?" I said. In the dark cell, I saw a pair of orange eyes flash.
"Lokii!" the figure cried.
"Ansem!" I said. He stood, and fell back down.
"I can't stand… they beat the shit out of me," he said, his teeth gritted. He looked a mess. Dried blood covered one side of his face, and there was a deep gash above his eyebrow.
"Well, I got revenge for you. I beat up Axel," I said. "Stand back." I tried to find the dark power again, and unleashed a massive fireball at the cell doors, blowing them apart. I raced into the cell. Shakily, Ansem stood. I hurriedly ducked under his arm, supporting him as he limped out of the cell.
"Can you hang on to me if I start flying?" I asked urgently.
"I think so," Ansem replied. I grabbed him again, and he winced. I suspected broken ribs. I flapped my wings, and took off down the hall.
"We need to get back to Hollow Bastion," Ansem said.
"I know, but how?" I said. "Do you know what happened to Sam and the others?"
"No, admittedly." He grimaced, and I landed. I tried to remember how I had used the healing spell, and felt the by now familiar throb from my scar. Ansem stood, completely healed. "That makes things easier." The two of us took off down the hallway.
"Is Jareth really dead?" I asked as we ran.
"Probably," Ansem said indifferently. "Who cares? We should really worry about ourselves at the moment."
"I just wanted to know why he helped us," I replied. I didn't have much time to say more, for at that moment Marluxia stepped out of a door, an enormous scythe in his hands.
"Just where are you going?" he said. "I do hope you're not trying to escape again. It was such a bother trying to capture you two the first time. I'd really prefer not to have to endure a repeat performance."
"Go boil your head," I snapped, my claws sliding out of my fingertips. I dropped down, my foot flying out to hook around Marluxia's leg. I pulled him down, the scythe flying out of his hands. Ansem caught it.
Marluxia was on his feet in an instant. His face twisted in anger, and his fist flew at my head. I threw my arms up, and blocked his blow. That hurt. I tried to hit him with another roundhouse kick, and he ducked, but I clipped him on the top of the head. I punched down at him, and he dropped flat and rolled away.
He jumped up, and teleported behind me, punching me in the temple. Lights danced in my eyes, and I spun around, hoping to catch him off guard. My foot struck his arm. Abruptly, I kicked him in the chest, hoping to break a few ribs. He doubled over, trying to get his wind back. I saw a flash of silver, and backed against the wall. Marluxia stood, and Ansem's foot connected solidly with his windpipe.
Marluxia made a curious hacking noise, and managed to kick Ansem's arm. A sharp retort echoed through the hall. Ansem winced horribly, and Marluxia fell, a purpling bruise forming on his neck.
"Come on!" Ansem yelled, grabbing my hand. We ran blindly down the corridor. We came to a door, and pushed it open. It appeared to be a hangar, mostly full of giant airships. But there was one normal ship, tucked away in a corner. We ran over to it, and managed to stumble inside.
I slid into the pilot's seat, and Ansem slumped against the wall, clutching his arm.
"Do you even know how to fly this thing?" he said, attempting to heal his arm.
"No fucking clue."
A/N: XD Lokii can't fly a gummi ship to save her ass. They're screwed. Ha ha.
Yeah, Jareth was here. He died. Time to brave the fangirls. I was listening to the Labyrinth soundtrack when I was writing. Never do that again. Honestly, Jareth wasn't supposed to be there. Oh well. I blame my easily influenced Board of Crackhead Muses. They're all morons. (Laughs)
Ja, I used "As the World Falls Down" in the previous chapter. That's one of my favourite songs from the movie, and for some reason that was my one of favourite scenes, dunno why. Somehow, I don't think Jareth wouldn't have been half as cool if they hadn't used David Bowie. Anyone agree? Or am I being too weird for words again? Did you know that Bowie's eyes are different because he got stabbed in the eye with a stick? My mom told me.