8th July 2013 Monday
Day 189
These last few have been very long in comparison to my other work; just warning you now that when we return to the main story, the chapters will shrink dramatically in size. Personally, I don't picture Zap as the huge bug either, I just picture him as Zap, but if you want, you can picture him as what he looks like before he transforms in to the huge insect; purple wings, green skin, still human body, but his eyes are blue!
Disclaimer: …189 days down…176 more to go. Oh and I don't own the show…
The hallway outside of Jenny's room is dark and gloomy. The prisoner emerges from her door, taking tip-toe steps down the hall. She is completely oblivious to the ruffling behind the curtains nearby.
"Oh, no!" Jane's voice argues against Dex's from behind the curtains.
"Oh, yes!" Dex replies, emerging from their hiding place.
Jane twirls around him, trying to escape his grasp. "Oh, no!"
"Oh, yes, yes, yes!" he says quickly, taking her in his candle arms and dipping her.
"I've been burnt by you before!" she answers, but he has stopped paying attention. Upon noticing that Jenny has left her room, Dex drops Jane the feather duster in shock, causing the latter to grunt as she falls.
"Holy mackerel! She's left!"
Audrey is placed next to the china cabinet; her son at her base. "Come on, Henry. Into the cupboard with the other cups," she uses her spout to hoist him up on to an empty space.
"But I'm not sleepy," the child says with a loud yawn.
His mother giggles slightly. "Yes you are."
No, I'm...not," he attempts to argue back, but his heavy eyelids have shielded his view from the outside world. He falls asleep, causing his mother to close the cabinet door. She is startled however, by the clanging of pots and pans.
"I work and I slave all day, and for what? A culinary masterpiece gone to waste!" the stove growls, looking at the empty pots in his grasp with disdain.
"Oh, stop your grousing," the teapot retorts. "It's been a long night for all of us."
"Well, if you ask me," he begins in a matter-of-fact tone. "She was just being stubborn. After all, the master did say 'please.'"
"But if the master doesn't learn to control that temper, he'll never break the-" Audrey began, but the attention of both moves to the door as Tung and Dex enter, with Jenny walking behind them.
"Great to see you out and about, dudette," he admires, just as the candelabra comes hopping over beside him. "I'm Tung, head of the household when Zap isn't here, and this is Dex."
"G'day, sheila," he greets in his thick accent, taking her hand and giving it a strong shake.
"If there's anything...stop that...that we can do...please," Tung tries to talk around the candlestick, but Dex still holds her hand in a shake, never letting it go. With his round waist, Tung manages to knock Dex out of the way, freeing Jenny's hand. "...to make your stay more comfortable."
Dex walks back, holding his flame to Tung's hand. "Ow!" the clock screeches.
"I am a little hungry," Jenny says in a sweet voice.
"You are? Hear that? She's hungry," Audrey cheers with excitement before barking out orders. "Stoke the fire, break out the silver, wake the china."
The fire on the stove roars to life, and drawers open to reveal silverware standing at attention.
"Remember what Zap said?" Tung questions in a whisper, afraid that they will get caught.
"Oh, pish tosh. I'm not going to let the poor child go hungry."
"Oh, all right," Tung says, before listing off the food he thinks she'll be allowed to have, more or less to save the sweet stuff for himself. "Glass of water, crust of bread, and then-"
"Tung, I am shocked at you. She's not our prisoner. She's our guest. We must make her feel welcome here," he stands up and faces the girl. "Right this way, sheila."
"Well keep it down," Tung uses his petite handle hands in a gesture downward. "If Zap finds out about this, it will be our necks!"
"Of course, of course," Dex replies, but turns around with a sly smile. "But what is dinner without a show?"
"MUSIC!?" Tung shouts in surprise, surfacing from a bowl of pancake butter that Dex had knocked him into not moments ago.
Jenny awaits at the end of a long dining hall table. Dex is on the table and a spotlight begins to shine on him.
Lovely, lady. It is with deepest pride and greatest pleasure that I welcome you tonight. And now, we invite you to relax. Let us pull up a chair as the dining room proudly presents...your dinner.
Be our guest, be our guest
Put our service to the test,
tie your napkin 'round your neck, sheila
and we provide the rest!
Soup du jour, hot hors d'oeuvres
Why we only live to serve
Try the grey stuff, it's delicious
Don't believe me? Ask the dishes!
They can sing, they can dance now
After all, miss, I taught them how!
And a dinner here is never second best!
Go on unfold your menu, take a glance and then you'll
Be our guest, be our guest, be our guest!
Beef ragout, cheese souffle,
Pie and pudding en flambe!
We'll prepare and serve with flair
A culinary cabaret!
You're alone and you're scared,
But the banquet's all prepared!
No one's gloomy or complaining,
While the flatware's entertaining!
We tell jokes, I do tricks
With my fellow candlesticks
And it's all in perfect taste
That you can bet!
Come on and lift your glass,
You've won your own free pass
To be our guest, be our guest, be our guest!
If you're stressed, it's fine dining we suggest!
Be our guest, be our guest, be our guest!
Life is so unnerving,
For a servant who's not serving!
He's not whole without a soul to wait upon
"Get off!" Tung shouts to Dex as he continues his routine in the spotlight.
Ah, those good old days when we were useful
Suddenly, those good old days are gone.
Five years we've been rusting
Needing so much more than dusting
Needing exercise, a chance to use our skills!
Most days just lay around the castle,
Flabby fat and lazy
You walked in, and oops-a-daisie!
It's a guest, it's a guest!
Sakes alive, well I'll be blessed!
Wine's been poured and thank the Lord
I've had the napkins freshly pressed!
With dessert, she'll want tea,
And my dear, that's fine with me!
While the cups do their soft shoeing,
I'll be bubbling, I'll be brewing!
I'll get warm, piping hot
Heaven's sake, is that a spot?
Clean it up, we want the company impressed!
We've got a lot to do-
Is it one lump or two?
For you our guest!
She's our guest!
She's our guest!
She's our guest!
Be our guest! Be our guest!
Our command is your request!
It's five years since we had anybody here
And we're obsessed!
With your meal, with your ease,
Yes indeed, we aim to please
While the candlelight's still glowing
Let us help you, we'll keep going -
Course, by course
One by one
'Til you shout "Enough, I'm done!"
Then we'll sing you off to sleep as you digest
Tonight you'll prop your feet up,
But for now let's eat up
Be our guest! Be our guest! Be our guest! Please be our guest!
"Bravo!" Jenny applauds at the end of the song. "That was wonderful!"
"Thank you, thank you, dudette," Tung says in an almost bashful manner, even though he was against it to begin with. "Yes, good show, wasn't it everyone," he looks down at his own face to check the time. "Oh, my goodness, will you look at the time. Now, it's off to bed, off to bed!"
"Oh, I couldn't possibly go to bed now," Jenny says, her voice full of excitement. "It's my first time in an enchanted castle."
"Enchanted? Who said anything about the castle being enchanted?" the clock tries to argue, just as a fork runs past. Tung turns to Dex, an angry look on his face. "It was you, wasn't it!"
"I kinda figured it out for myself," the girl says in an obvious tone. While she was speaking, Tung and Dex were in a quarrel. They both look at her and stop, before Tung dusts himself off and Dex fixes his wax nose. "I'd like to look around, if that's all right."
"Oh! Would you like a tour?" Dex questions with excitement.
Wait a minute, wait a minute. I'm not sure that's such a good idea," Tung whispers to Dex. "We can't let her go poking around in certain places, if you know what I mean."
"Perhaps you could take me," Jenny asks sweetly, poking the clock in the 'stomach'. "I'm sure you know everything there is to know about the castle."
The little clock blushes at her words, stammering with a giggle. "Well, actually, ah yeah, I do!"
The three of them, plus the footstool dog, walk slowly down a dimly lit corridor, lined with suits of armour. Tung walks a bit ahead of the rest, trying to subtly read from a giant cue card and stuttering out the long and difficult words.
"As you can see, the pseudo façade was stripped away to reveal a minimalist rococo design. Note the unusual inverted vaulted ceilings. This is yet another example of the neo-classic baroque period, and as I always say, if it's not baroque, don't fix it!" he laughs where the cue card instructs, his brow furrowing as he does not understand the joke. "Now then, where was I? Now, if I may draw your attention to the flying buttresses above the – lady?"
Tung turns back to the group and notices that it is one girl short. He sees her beginning to climb the grand staircase, edging closer to the West Wing. Tung and Dex run up to her and jump in front of her, blocking her progress upstairs.
"What's up there?" the prisoner questions with curiosity.
"Where? Up there?" the clock speaks very quickly in a high, rapid voice. "Nothing. Absolutely nothing of interest at all in the West Wing. Dusty, dull, very boring."
Dex had been shaking his head, but Tung nudges him in the side and the candlestick rapidly nods his head in agreement.
"Oh, so that's the West Wing," Jenny brings her finger up to her chin in thought, a smile gracing her lips.
"Nice one, mate," Dex jabs his friend back in reply.
"I wonder what he's hiding up there," she ponders aloud, gingerly trying to step forward.
Tung shouts his response. "Hiding? The master is hiding nothing!"
"Then it wouldn't be forbidden," Jenny takes a step forward, and so does Dex and Tung, attempting to block her path.
"Perhaps the lady would like to see something else," he pulls out another cue card, reading it with what he hopes is interest. "We have exquisite tapestries dating all the way back to..."
"Maybe later," she ignores him, taking another step. The objects take another step back on to the higher shelf, trying to block her.
"The gardens," Dex tries to persuade. "Or the laboratory perhaps?"
"You have a laboratory?" Jenny questions with great interest, bending down to their level.
"Oh yeah! Totally!" Tung says in a thrilled voice, excited that he has actually found something that interests her.
"With tools!" Dex continues to sell their argument.
"Gads of tools!" Tung aids, throwing his hands up in the air to gesture the size.
"Mountains of tools!"
"Forests of tools!"
"Cascades..."
"...of tools!"
"Swamps of tools!"
"More tools than you'll ever be able to use in a lifetime! Tools for every object ever created, for building everything anyone can think or possibly dream of..." the two become distracted in their listings as they walk off down the hall, thinking that the workshop lover is behind them. Jenny however, sees that she is unguarded and curiosity overtakes her, turning her attention back to the West Wing. Her excitement begins to dwindle, though, when she enters the hallway leading to Zap's lair.
As she walks down the hall, she stops to look in a mirror that has been shattered into several pieces, each one reflecting her concerned look. She reaches the end of the hall and finds a closed door with gargoyle handles. She takes a deep breath, then reaches out and carefully opens the door.
She walks forward, unaware that she has just entered her captor's lair. Jenny begins to explore, truly shocked by everything she sees. She wanders around, looking, and knocks over a table, but she catches it before it crashes to the floor. Jenny then turns her head and sees a shredded picture on the wall, only part of the portrait visible. Jenny reaches out and lifts the shreds of the picture to reveal a portrait of a boy, but before she can study it further, she turns her head towards the source of a glowing pink light and sees the rose under the bell jar. Carefully walking over to it, she reaches out and lifts off the jar, leaving the rose unprotected. Her hand brushes back a piece of her blue hair, before stretching out to touch the rose. As she nears it, a shadow falls over her.
In the archway of the balcony, Zap appears more ferocious than ever when his eyes rest on her. He jumps back into the room, slamming the jar back on the rose. He then turns his attention to Jenny.
"Why did you come here?" he roars, becoming more angrier by the second. Jenny backs away slowly, trying to avoid hitting anything.
"I'm sorry," she apologises quickly, but her eyes grow wider in fear as he approaches her.
"I warned you never to come here!"
"I didn't mean any harm," she tries to debate, seeing his ice blue eyes turn red with rage.
"Do you realize what you could have done?" he gestures to the rose, but turns and thrashes at a nearby piece of furniture.
"Please, stop! No!" Jenny pleads, trying to hide her fear.
"Get out!" he screams, roaring near her face. "GET OUT!"
Jenny turns and flees the room. Zap calms down, then falls into despair, realising that he may have destroyed his chances with Jenny. She reaches the stairway and grabs her cloak, wrapping it around her neck. She pushes past Dex and Tung, who were waiting on the staircase for her arrival.
Dex looks at her with a puzzled expression. "Wh- Where are you going?"
"Promise or no promise, I can't stay here another minute!"
"Oh no, wait, please wait!" Tung begs, the both of them following her towards the door. It is no use, as Jenny races outside in to the bitter snowstorm, quickly saddling up on to Habi and racing out of the gates. She aims for the forest, but Habi comes to a stop. Confused, Jenny looks up, and spies the multiple glowing eyes of wolves surrounding her. She gasps, then pulls the reins and begins to flee. She runs from side to side in an attempt to ward off the animals. Through the snow, Habi accidentally runs out on a frozen pond, but his and Jenny's combined weight collapse the ice. The wolves chase her into the water, unfortunately drowning a few of the attackers. One wolf snaps near Habi's neck, but the horse manages to fight it off and climb out of its icy bath.
He runs into a clearing, and is found in an ambush. Trying to defend off the creatures, he bucks, throwing Jenny off and wrapping the reins around a tree branch. The wolves begin their attack on Habi, snapping at his legs and neck. Jenny, fiercely holding a huge tree branch, stands between Habi and the wolves, determined to protect her pet. One wolf grabs the stick in its mouth and breaks half of it off, leaving Jenny defenceless against the creatures. Another wolf leaps at her, grabbing the corner of her cloak and dragging her to the ground. She looks up just in time to see a wolf advancing on her, and the fear grows inside. Using only her hand to shield herself, she sees the animal pounce towards her, and she braces herself for what is to come.
Nothing happens.
Carefully prying open her eyes, she sees the wolf hanging in the jaw of the huge bug. He throws it aside and stands between them and Jenny in a protective stance. They lunge at each other; one tearing Zap's claw and the others focus their attack on that spot. Finally, Zap manages to grasp one wolf in his claw, throwing it towards a tree where it is knocked unconscious. The others turn and run in fear. Zap turns back to Jenny, his eyes catching her feelings of disbelief before he collapses in the snow. Jenny turns back to Habi and begins to get on, but her conscience takes over.
What are you doing? He just saved your life and you're going to walk away?
She walks over to him, and with the help of Habi, manages to haul Zap on to the horse's back and walk him back to the castle.
In the den, Jenny is seated on the floor, rinsing out a rag in a bowl of hot water. The other objects are surrounding her, looking on in worry. With cautious steps, the girl stands up and walks over to Zap, who is licking his wounds.
"Here now. Oh, don't do that," she comforts, grabbing his arm and trying to press the cloth against his exposed wound. He bares his teeth at her, growling in pain as she continues to help him. "Just...hold still."
She touches the rag to the wound and Zap roars in pain. Everyone else on the carpet, who have been watching, jump back into hiding from the outburst.
"That hurts!" he roars, pulling his arm away from her.
"If you hold still, it wouldn't hurt as much," she debates, angrily placing her hands on her hips.
"Well if you hadn't have run away, this wouldn't have happened!"
"Well if you hadn't have frightened me, I wouldn't have run away!"
Zap opens his mouth to retaliate, but pauses as he tries to think of a good comeback. "Well you shouldn't have been in the West Wing!"
"Well you should learn to control your temper!" she shouts in retaliation. It is only when Zap raises his uninjured claw in debate, but finds that he has none, that Jenny realises she has won. The other objects emerge from their hiding places, shocked that their guest has conquered the ferocious temper of Zap.
"Now, hold still. This may sting a little," with a very steady hand, Jenny places the rag back on to his arm, the bug gritting his teeth to stop himself from roaring again. Jenny's eyes gaze down with guilt, as she prepares herself for what she is about to say.
"By the way, thank you, for saving my life," he opens his eyes and pulls his head away from his chin, looking at her with a very surprised expression.
He watches her for a moment, admiring how she is delicately dabbing at his injury.
He replies in a tender voice. "You're welcome."
Dramatic finish, plus I thought this chapter was good because their bickering is just like Zap and Jenny's would be. God I love this fairytale. R&R!