--- Who foolishly believed they'd get through this story without at least
one mention of Sam and Fred? I laugh at your ignorance. Be prepared for
them to pop up randomly again. A little not of warning to readers, this
next chapter may be a little confusing. Also, my chapter titles - if
anyone has ever read "The Hunting of the Snark" by Lewis Caroll, in which
every section is entitled 'Fit the -' this is the allusion to that. Or
maybe I just like the wording, you decide. Okay, I'll stop my little
interruption. ---
=== Disclaimer: I do not own any of the original Labyrinth characters. Sam
and Fred are mine (as they have ever since appearing on my shoulders three
years ago) as well as Chremslied (no, I'm not going to share him with
anyone, he's all mine). And any other knew person that appears belongs to
me, too. Lyrics to 'White Wedding' belong to Billy Idol, lyrics to
'Always' belong to Saliva, and 'One Headlight' belongs to the Wallflowers
(I think). I use these songs only to advance the plot (and because I like
them, so there). Witness the continuation of the legacy that Jim Henson
began over a decade ago. ===
Chapter the Third
"Hey little sister / nice day to start again."
Chremslied cracked open his eyes. Billy Idol's 'White Wedding' came from the radio he was sleeping on, vibrating his whole body. Through his lashes he saw Anne dancing in the middle of the floor. He sat up and stretched, Wonder why she's in such a good mood today?
Anne reached over and picked up her favorite stuffed animal. "Gone, gone! For three whole days! The house is mine for three whole days! Isn't it great!"
Dancing with her toy she made the perfect image of a carefree child. Effortlessly she shifted her steps to accompany, "One Headlight." To think that she's turning 17 tomorrow, Chremslied mused, then his eyes widened in shock. Jimminy Cricket! She's turning 17 tomorrow! I don't have her birthday present!
Regardless of the fact that Anne didn't even know Chremslied existed, he believed in giving her a birthday present. Ever since the first year he had given her something special. Last year he'd managed to lay his hands on a fist edition of Lady Chatterly's Lover which he'd been able to sneak into the book section of a garage sale.
Anne had nearly choked on her gum when she'd found the book. The owner had been surprised when Anne had insisted on pay $75 (all her allowance) for it. Luckily, the owner hadn't bothered checking out the book and would only accept the $1 the book was labeled for.
This year Chremslied would have to give Anne something doubly special. But what, and how? Anne was a hard person to buy for. She never really wanted anything and her guardians wouldn't allow her to even own certain things. Add that to the fact that Chremslied didn't exactly "exist" Aboveground made giving the present just as hard as getting it.
I'll just have to enlist some help this year. Now, if only I could get in touch with someone still in the Underground, he left Anne still singing along with the radio.
***** *****
"This place is old, it feels just like a beat-up truck / I turn the engine but the engine doesn't turn / It smells of cheap wine, cigarettes this place is always such a mess / sometimes I think I'd like to watch it burn," Jareth found himself singing as he surveyed his domain from the window ledge of the throne room.
Those words fit pretty well, he thought. Then he realized where they came from and clapped his hands over his ears. "Aargh! When will these people leave me alone!"
"Beg your pardon?"
Jareth whirled. In front of him was a water elemental with thick wavy hair. "My brother said you wanted me, your Highness," the elemental bowed.
"That was nearly two weeks ago Sam," Jareth scowled.
"I know. He only found me last week. I came as soon as I was able, your Highness," he stood upright, piercing Jareth with his sea green eyes.
"What if I had need of you then?"
"You would have come yourself or sent a crystal for me," Sam smiled and shrugged his shoulders. "Either way, your Highness, it obviously wasn't a need of an instant. I'm also willing to bet you're sorry I showed up in time at all."
Jareth narrowed his eyes, "In time for what?"
"For me to tell your cousin your wish to meet him at Sarah's grave tomorrow night, of course, your Highness," he threw out his hands as he fwoppled to the ground.
"And what," Jareth raised his eyebrows as he approached Sam, "makes you sure about that?"
"Come off it, your Highness. I am not one of your lackeys or subjects. Neither was your cousin. I reckon the three of us know you better than your mother did. What else would you want me for at this time of year?" Sam cocked his head at Jareth and rested his arms on his crossed legs.
To the intense surprise of Sam (no mean feat) Jareth laughed. "Indeed. Yes, I would appreciate it if you would contact my cousin. I forget what you and your brother are. If he decides not to come, tell him I understand."
"Aye, your Highness. Keep up the singing, it'll help when the next girl comes along," Sam bubbled as he sank though the stones.
The only thing worse than incompetent goblins is competent water elementals, Jareth mused at the floor.
"Hoggle!" He sent the command out as he headed towards his chambers.
***** *****
"I love you I hate you / I can't get around you / I breath you, I taste you / I just can't live without you," Anne sang as she pulled the blue-green angel food cake from the oven. "So that's what it looks like with that mixture of food coloring. Very tasty either way," her mouth watered, "all you need now is for me to inject that raspberry filling."
She gently placed the cake o the cooling tray. Still dancing she pulled the sweet tea from the fridge and poured herself a tall glass, belated remembering she wanted ice. Shrugging her shoulders she put the tea back and snagged a Granny-Smith apple from the nearby basket. Scooping up her glass she booggedy to the living room and plopped down on the cushy, black leather, E-Z Boy nearly sloshing tea everywhere.
Gently placing the tea on the coffee table, she expertly tossed the apple up, picked up the remote, and snatched the apple from the air with the opposite hand. "Times like these, there's nothing better than to be alive," she sighed as she crunched into the apple, clicking the television on.
"Alright! A marathon of Buffy starting in ten minutes! I live for moments like this. Shoot, the only thing better than this would be to spend a thirteen hour vacation in the Labyrinth," she chuckled to herself and clicked to the proper channel continuing to sing to herself, "Does it make you feel more like a man / was it all a part of your plan / I can feel the pistol shaking in my hand."
***** *****
Chremslied stood at a river about fifty miles from the city. He had been starring at it for about thirty minutes. How in the world does one make contact with a willful water elemental? Suddenly water rose in a column in front of him.
Stepping back he laughed, "Some entrance, though not as dramatic as I'd expected. Which one are you?"
"Seventeen years and you've already forgotten? I expected more from you. It's Sam, and will you please go visible? There aren't any humans about, I'd like to see you," Sam leaned back on the wave and crossed his arms.
Chremslied shook his head. "No, you don't."
"I shan't help you with anything 'til I can see you."
Scowling, Chremslied concentrated on becoming visible. The air appeared to expand and contract as he came into sight. About two feet high, a mass of stringy hair, a beak, thin long fingers, and a tail; he couldn't have look less like himself.
Sam laughed, "Jareth really out did himself on you. I would never have guessed."
"Ha, ha, thank-you," Chremslied shook his head. "Okay, you see me, now will you help me? I need to get my hand on a peach."
"Why don't you go pick one? Aren't they in season?" Sam looked at him with large, innocent eyes.
"Stop acting naïve. I don't need a peach, I need a Peach."
"Why?"
"It's for a birthday present."
"Oooh, Chremslied's got a girlfriend. Chremslied's got a girlfriend."
"Will you shut-up? She's not my girlfriend, I've just been living with her for the past six years."
"Like that sounds any better," Sam smirked as Chremslied covered his face in embarrassment, "she's turning seventeen this year, right?"
"How'd you know?" Chremslied asked, sharply, dropping his hands.
"It's my job. How many girls do you think are there who look almost exactly like Sarah? Fred and I've known about her since the day she was born. So, why do you want to give her a peach?"
"I told you, for her birthday present. Figure I could give her a Peach Dream, she loves Labyrinth more than anything, I'd swear."
"Okay, I'll do it for you. For a price."
Chremslied asked, eyes narrowed, "What's the price?" in a voice reminiscent of a police giving the third degree.
"Nothing much, Jareth just wants to meet you at Sarah's grave tomorrow night."
Chremslied's eyes bugged, "He does?"
"Yowp."
"But that means.that means.oh my, gothsh!"
"Be careful, that impediment could betray your excitement," Sam lifted an eyebrow.
Chremslied just smiled.
***** *****
The library was located deep underground. Hardly anyone visited anymore. As a matter of fact, it had been nineteen years since the last visitor. And eleven years between that and the one before. A slow drip could be heard echoing, and puddles reflected the lights of spells.
"Geez, where's the Crypt Keeper?"
"Very funny."
"Glad you thought so. Well?"
"Yep, I think she'll do it."
"That's good. Enough time has passed."
"How will you get anywhere near it?"
"I've hidden it. If things go as they should, he'll trigger it."
"As long as she says the right words."
"Are you sure this Mobius spell will work?"
"It's the most powerful spell here. If Time doesn't fix it, nothing will."
"Poor Chit. I hope it works."
"You and me both."
"Will you-know-who remember?"
"It should just be you and me, and him from setting it off."
"Do you think anything will happen to her? I mean, the nature of what happened and everything."
"Maybe, I'm not sure. I'm surprised it happened at all?"
"That she lived through it, or that it'd been done?"
"Both."
***** a day passes *****
"It's my birthday, it's my birthday! And the Jerks aren't home!" Anne sang to nobody at all.
Chremslied smiled as he followed her drunken meandering through the house. She'd stayed up all night watching the 'Buffy' marathon, and had only stopped (just now) at the commercial break to use the bathroom and snag another slice of angel food cake. Once he was sure that she was in the bathroom he hurried back into the kitchen.
He hopped on the counter top and laid the peach in the fruit basket. "Happy Birthday, Anne!" he said lovingly. Now it's time for me to make my rendezvous with Jareth.
After a few moments Anne came out of the bathroom. She went into the living room to see if her show had come back on (it hadn't), and then went to the kitchen. As she was slicing a piece of cake she notice the peach. She picked it up and then sat at the table, taking a meditative bite from the cake.
"Now where," she mused, "did this come from? I'm pretty sure it wasn't here earlier. Still."
***** *****
Jareth gently lay the blooming water lilies at the base of Sarah's gravestone. As he rose, the wind tousled his white hair and made his black cape float out behind him. He could still hear the murmur of believers in his mind. His ears picked up a soft crunching noise, like that of a mouse moving in the grass.
"You used to move in such a way that silence was loud," he spoke softly, not turning.
"Mayhaps I wanted to heard. It's been a long time, Cousin."
"Yes, too long. Let me see you, Chremslied," Jareth whispered his name as he turned.
The air shimmered, appeared to expand and contract. In front of him stood a tall, young man with tangled mahogany hair, pale skin, long fingers, and a lightly curved nose. Pale golden-brown eyes gazed at him through a sheen of tears. Slowly the hands reached up to touch the face.
"You look good, Cousin."
"Heavens, I'm back!" Chremslied started weeping. Startling Jareth he reached over and gave him a fierce hug. "I've missed you so much, Jareth."
Still a little shaken Jareth hugged him back. "Apparently you didn't miss me that much, you said my name correctly."
Jareth pushed Chremslied back and looked at him. His lopsided smile was just as he remembered, hair a little longer than it had been eighteen years ago.
"You know what the worst thing was, these past years?" he asked, gently shaking Chremslied.
"Not having me to contemplate your plans at?"
"Well, that too. But everyday without ceasing I hear these mortals calling me out."
"Really?" Chremslied blinked, surprised.
"Yes, even now. Do you want to hear?" Jareth had already started removing his gloves.
"Sure, just like old time," Chremslied laughed and touched Jareth's face at the same time Jareth touched his.
"Now what should I do with this peach?"
Chremslied recognized the voice in his head.
***** *****
Anne licked the crumbs off her finger as she regarded the peach. She lightly rolled the fruit on the tabletop, spinning it with her fingers. She picked it up and tossed it. The light coating of fuzz shone and slightly dazzled her eye.
"Well," she caught it effortlessly, "what the heck? I mean, it's probably been here the entire time. What's the worse that could happen? Me make a wish and it coming true? In that case I'd just wish to be me." She chuckled as she bit into it.
Immediately, she doubled over in pain as her world and body started getting shredded at the seams.
***** *****
"Jareth, I can explain," Chremslied started saying.
But Jareth wasn't listening; his eyes glazed as he doubled over, clutching his stomach. Chremslied reached down for his cousin, stopped, and watched in horror as the scenery around him began dissolving and as Jareth's form became indistinct. He cried out in terror as he watched his own flesh start shifting.
***** *****
"ACK! I'm dissolving!"
"That's good."
"It's working then?"
"Ye-ah."
"Maybe there is some hope after all."
Chapter the Third
"Hey little sister / nice day to start again."
Chremslied cracked open his eyes. Billy Idol's 'White Wedding' came from the radio he was sleeping on, vibrating his whole body. Through his lashes he saw Anne dancing in the middle of the floor. He sat up and stretched, Wonder why she's in such a good mood today?
Anne reached over and picked up her favorite stuffed animal. "Gone, gone! For three whole days! The house is mine for three whole days! Isn't it great!"
Dancing with her toy she made the perfect image of a carefree child. Effortlessly she shifted her steps to accompany, "One Headlight." To think that she's turning 17 tomorrow, Chremslied mused, then his eyes widened in shock. Jimminy Cricket! She's turning 17 tomorrow! I don't have her birthday present!
Regardless of the fact that Anne didn't even know Chremslied existed, he believed in giving her a birthday present. Ever since the first year he had given her something special. Last year he'd managed to lay his hands on a fist edition of Lady Chatterly's Lover which he'd been able to sneak into the book section of a garage sale.
Anne had nearly choked on her gum when she'd found the book. The owner had been surprised when Anne had insisted on pay $75 (all her allowance) for it. Luckily, the owner hadn't bothered checking out the book and would only accept the $1 the book was labeled for.
This year Chremslied would have to give Anne something doubly special. But what, and how? Anne was a hard person to buy for. She never really wanted anything and her guardians wouldn't allow her to even own certain things. Add that to the fact that Chremslied didn't exactly "exist" Aboveground made giving the present just as hard as getting it.
I'll just have to enlist some help this year. Now, if only I could get in touch with someone still in the Underground, he left Anne still singing along with the radio.
***** *****
"This place is old, it feels just like a beat-up truck / I turn the engine but the engine doesn't turn / It smells of cheap wine, cigarettes this place is always such a mess / sometimes I think I'd like to watch it burn," Jareth found himself singing as he surveyed his domain from the window ledge of the throne room.
Those words fit pretty well, he thought. Then he realized where they came from and clapped his hands over his ears. "Aargh! When will these people leave me alone!"
"Beg your pardon?"
Jareth whirled. In front of him was a water elemental with thick wavy hair. "My brother said you wanted me, your Highness," the elemental bowed.
"That was nearly two weeks ago Sam," Jareth scowled.
"I know. He only found me last week. I came as soon as I was able, your Highness," he stood upright, piercing Jareth with his sea green eyes.
"What if I had need of you then?"
"You would have come yourself or sent a crystal for me," Sam smiled and shrugged his shoulders. "Either way, your Highness, it obviously wasn't a need of an instant. I'm also willing to bet you're sorry I showed up in time at all."
Jareth narrowed his eyes, "In time for what?"
"For me to tell your cousin your wish to meet him at Sarah's grave tomorrow night, of course, your Highness," he threw out his hands as he fwoppled to the ground.
"And what," Jareth raised his eyebrows as he approached Sam, "makes you sure about that?"
"Come off it, your Highness. I am not one of your lackeys or subjects. Neither was your cousin. I reckon the three of us know you better than your mother did. What else would you want me for at this time of year?" Sam cocked his head at Jareth and rested his arms on his crossed legs.
To the intense surprise of Sam (no mean feat) Jareth laughed. "Indeed. Yes, I would appreciate it if you would contact my cousin. I forget what you and your brother are. If he decides not to come, tell him I understand."
"Aye, your Highness. Keep up the singing, it'll help when the next girl comes along," Sam bubbled as he sank though the stones.
The only thing worse than incompetent goblins is competent water elementals, Jareth mused at the floor.
"Hoggle!" He sent the command out as he headed towards his chambers.
***** *****
"I love you I hate you / I can't get around you / I breath you, I taste you / I just can't live without you," Anne sang as she pulled the blue-green angel food cake from the oven. "So that's what it looks like with that mixture of food coloring. Very tasty either way," her mouth watered, "all you need now is for me to inject that raspberry filling."
She gently placed the cake o the cooling tray. Still dancing she pulled the sweet tea from the fridge and poured herself a tall glass, belated remembering she wanted ice. Shrugging her shoulders she put the tea back and snagged a Granny-Smith apple from the nearby basket. Scooping up her glass she booggedy to the living room and plopped down on the cushy, black leather, E-Z Boy nearly sloshing tea everywhere.
Gently placing the tea on the coffee table, she expertly tossed the apple up, picked up the remote, and snatched the apple from the air with the opposite hand. "Times like these, there's nothing better than to be alive," she sighed as she crunched into the apple, clicking the television on.
"Alright! A marathon of Buffy starting in ten minutes! I live for moments like this. Shoot, the only thing better than this would be to spend a thirteen hour vacation in the Labyrinth," she chuckled to herself and clicked to the proper channel continuing to sing to herself, "Does it make you feel more like a man / was it all a part of your plan / I can feel the pistol shaking in my hand."
***** *****
Chremslied stood at a river about fifty miles from the city. He had been starring at it for about thirty minutes. How in the world does one make contact with a willful water elemental? Suddenly water rose in a column in front of him.
Stepping back he laughed, "Some entrance, though not as dramatic as I'd expected. Which one are you?"
"Seventeen years and you've already forgotten? I expected more from you. It's Sam, and will you please go visible? There aren't any humans about, I'd like to see you," Sam leaned back on the wave and crossed his arms.
Chremslied shook his head. "No, you don't."
"I shan't help you with anything 'til I can see you."
Scowling, Chremslied concentrated on becoming visible. The air appeared to expand and contract as he came into sight. About two feet high, a mass of stringy hair, a beak, thin long fingers, and a tail; he couldn't have look less like himself.
Sam laughed, "Jareth really out did himself on you. I would never have guessed."
"Ha, ha, thank-you," Chremslied shook his head. "Okay, you see me, now will you help me? I need to get my hand on a peach."
"Why don't you go pick one? Aren't they in season?" Sam looked at him with large, innocent eyes.
"Stop acting naïve. I don't need a peach, I need a Peach."
"Why?"
"It's for a birthday present."
"Oooh, Chremslied's got a girlfriend. Chremslied's got a girlfriend."
"Will you shut-up? She's not my girlfriend, I've just been living with her for the past six years."
"Like that sounds any better," Sam smirked as Chremslied covered his face in embarrassment, "she's turning seventeen this year, right?"
"How'd you know?" Chremslied asked, sharply, dropping his hands.
"It's my job. How many girls do you think are there who look almost exactly like Sarah? Fred and I've known about her since the day she was born. So, why do you want to give her a peach?"
"I told you, for her birthday present. Figure I could give her a Peach Dream, she loves Labyrinth more than anything, I'd swear."
"Okay, I'll do it for you. For a price."
Chremslied asked, eyes narrowed, "What's the price?" in a voice reminiscent of a police giving the third degree.
"Nothing much, Jareth just wants to meet you at Sarah's grave tomorrow night."
Chremslied's eyes bugged, "He does?"
"Yowp."
"But that means.that means.oh my, gothsh!"
"Be careful, that impediment could betray your excitement," Sam lifted an eyebrow.
Chremslied just smiled.
***** *****
The library was located deep underground. Hardly anyone visited anymore. As a matter of fact, it had been nineteen years since the last visitor. And eleven years between that and the one before. A slow drip could be heard echoing, and puddles reflected the lights of spells.
"Geez, where's the Crypt Keeper?"
"Very funny."
"Glad you thought so. Well?"
"Yep, I think she'll do it."
"That's good. Enough time has passed."
"How will you get anywhere near it?"
"I've hidden it. If things go as they should, he'll trigger it."
"As long as she says the right words."
"Are you sure this Mobius spell will work?"
"It's the most powerful spell here. If Time doesn't fix it, nothing will."
"Poor Chit. I hope it works."
"You and me both."
"Will you-know-who remember?"
"It should just be you and me, and him from setting it off."
"Do you think anything will happen to her? I mean, the nature of what happened and everything."
"Maybe, I'm not sure. I'm surprised it happened at all?"
"That she lived through it, or that it'd been done?"
"Both."
***** a day passes *****
"It's my birthday, it's my birthday! And the Jerks aren't home!" Anne sang to nobody at all.
Chremslied smiled as he followed her drunken meandering through the house. She'd stayed up all night watching the 'Buffy' marathon, and had only stopped (just now) at the commercial break to use the bathroom and snag another slice of angel food cake. Once he was sure that she was in the bathroom he hurried back into the kitchen.
He hopped on the counter top and laid the peach in the fruit basket. "Happy Birthday, Anne!" he said lovingly. Now it's time for me to make my rendezvous with Jareth.
After a few moments Anne came out of the bathroom. She went into the living room to see if her show had come back on (it hadn't), and then went to the kitchen. As she was slicing a piece of cake she notice the peach. She picked it up and then sat at the table, taking a meditative bite from the cake.
"Now where," she mused, "did this come from? I'm pretty sure it wasn't here earlier. Still."
***** *****
Jareth gently lay the blooming water lilies at the base of Sarah's gravestone. As he rose, the wind tousled his white hair and made his black cape float out behind him. He could still hear the murmur of believers in his mind. His ears picked up a soft crunching noise, like that of a mouse moving in the grass.
"You used to move in such a way that silence was loud," he spoke softly, not turning.
"Mayhaps I wanted to heard. It's been a long time, Cousin."
"Yes, too long. Let me see you, Chremslied," Jareth whispered his name as he turned.
The air shimmered, appeared to expand and contract. In front of him stood a tall, young man with tangled mahogany hair, pale skin, long fingers, and a lightly curved nose. Pale golden-brown eyes gazed at him through a sheen of tears. Slowly the hands reached up to touch the face.
"You look good, Cousin."
"Heavens, I'm back!" Chremslied started weeping. Startling Jareth he reached over and gave him a fierce hug. "I've missed you so much, Jareth."
Still a little shaken Jareth hugged him back. "Apparently you didn't miss me that much, you said my name correctly."
Jareth pushed Chremslied back and looked at him. His lopsided smile was just as he remembered, hair a little longer than it had been eighteen years ago.
"You know what the worst thing was, these past years?" he asked, gently shaking Chremslied.
"Not having me to contemplate your plans at?"
"Well, that too. But everyday without ceasing I hear these mortals calling me out."
"Really?" Chremslied blinked, surprised.
"Yes, even now. Do you want to hear?" Jareth had already started removing his gloves.
"Sure, just like old time," Chremslied laughed and touched Jareth's face at the same time Jareth touched his.
"Now what should I do with this peach?"
Chremslied recognized the voice in his head.
***** *****
Anne licked the crumbs off her finger as she regarded the peach. She lightly rolled the fruit on the tabletop, spinning it with her fingers. She picked it up and tossed it. The light coating of fuzz shone and slightly dazzled her eye.
"Well," she caught it effortlessly, "what the heck? I mean, it's probably been here the entire time. What's the worse that could happen? Me make a wish and it coming true? In that case I'd just wish to be me." She chuckled as she bit into it.
Immediately, she doubled over in pain as her world and body started getting shredded at the seams.
***** *****
"Jareth, I can explain," Chremslied started saying.
But Jareth wasn't listening; his eyes glazed as he doubled over, clutching his stomach. Chremslied reached down for his cousin, stopped, and watched in horror as the scenery around him began dissolving and as Jareth's form became indistinct. He cried out in terror as he watched his own flesh start shifting.
***** *****
"ACK! I'm dissolving!"
"That's good."
"It's working then?"
"Ye-ah."
"Maybe there is some hope after all."