The huge apple tree spread its branches wide. The fruit was red and ripe, and Lina thought she could even smell them. Leaping, she grabbed two apples and stuffed them in her mouth. Apple juice ran down her chin. Jumping again, she grabbed more.
Then she stopped. She felt faint. The light seemed to waver. Blinking, as if to clear her eyes, she fell to her knees. The trees swayed and danced. �What�s going on?� she muttered, slumping against the trunk of the apple tree. Woozy, she turned as something broke through the trees to her right. She caught sight of a blur of beige. With a sigh, she whispered, �Zel,� and passed out.
Prince Zelgadis looked at the girl leaning against the apple tree. This was the thief, the powerful girl that blasted the Firegang and wanted to steal from his father. She was so small. Shrugging, Zelgadis held up the crystal his father had given him. It seemed to pull away, and then it did indeed fly out of his fingers, floating through the air. It gave off a light, sparkling at first, then brightening until Zelgadis had to shade his eyes.
When he opened them, he was in a ballroom. An opulent ballroom, full of dancers and decorations. He noticed that all the dancers had on grotesque masks.
�A goblin ball,� said a voice, and Zelgadis turned to find his father behind him, dressed in a fine doublet of velvet and silk, all in dark blue. Looking down at himself, he found his clothes had changed from the beige tunic and trews he had on in the woods, to an outfit similar to his father�s, all creams and beige and white.
�Father?� he asked, wanting an explanation.
Jareth smiled. �Why, Prince Zelgadis! Don�t you recall the finery of the Goblin Court?�
Blushing, Zelgadis admitted, �I�m afraid not, father. I � I don�t remember anything like this. Why are we here? Where is the thief?�
�She is here. But I think, perhaps, she would make a fine addition to the Goblin Court. After all,� and Jareth laid a hand on Zelgadis�s shoulder, strengthening the glamourie on him. �she is lovely, is she not? And soon, my son, you will need a wife.�
Blinking, Zelgadis found himself recalling similar conversations.
�And you have often complained of the lack of young ladies in the court. So, find her. Win her to us. Perhaps she will give up her thieving ways and join us.� Jareth smiled to himself as he saw Zelgadis becoming convinced. The music of the ball swirled and swelled about them. Laying on a bit more glamourie, Jareth continued, �You are interested in her, aren�t you?�
To his surprise, something flickered behind Zelgadis�s eyes. �I know her,� Zelgadis whispered. �From before, don�t I?� He seemed confused, but Jareth resolved to use it.
�Yes,� Jareth whispered in Zelgadis�s ear. �Woo her. Win her. Make her want to stay.�
Nodding, Zelgadis wandered into the crowds of dancers.
Jareth smiled as he reclined in his throne, watching the fantasy in his crystal. There was something almost too easy about convincing Zelgadis. He wondered if the demon-boy knew.
* * * * *
Lina stepped aside as a pair of courtiers danced by. She felt awkward, a country girl come to court. Her gown of emerald swirled about her feet as she moved. She looked about, desperate for a familiar face. She didn�t think she should be here alone, but she couldn�t be certain.
Suddenly, a glimpse of blue eyes topped by violet hair startled her. Looking again, she saw a man in white, his mask formed like a stone monster. She tried to see his eyes, but dancers got in the way, and when they�d moved, he was gone.
Prince Zelgadis stepped back, out of her line of sight. She was beautiful. Her flame-colored hair and eyes were highlighted by her green gown. He found himself wanting to succeed, wanting it desperately. Again, he stepped forward, but she�d moved, peering at everyone as if she were searching for someone. Finally, Zelgadis placed himself in front of her.
She stared up at the man before her. It was the same stone-faced creature as before, but now she saw the blue eyes that so attracted her. He reached up and removed the mask, letting it fall from his fingers. His eyes locked with hers, and before she knew it, he had taken her hand and led her into the dance. She leaned her head against his shoulder as they moved.
She�s warm in my arms, Prince Zelgadis thought. He found himself resisting the urge to crush her against his chest and hold her forever. Win her, he reminded himself. Father wants her in the court. Father wants her to be one of us. Us? Suddenly, he thought, what if Father wants her himself?
Lina looked up at the man she danced with. Her eyes met his, and she again thought she knew him. He seemed perfect to her, handsome and strong. But there was something more. As they spun, she saw his eyes harden into something different, something fierce. Daring greatly, she whispered, �What is it?�
Zelgadis paused at her question. �I want to protect you,� he replied.
Reflexively, she said, �I don�t need to be protected.�
Shrugging, he answered, �I want to anyway.� And she smiled.
He blushed and ducked his head. As he did, his hair fell forward and covered his right eye. Lina gasped. Something clicked in her head. �Zelgadis,� she whispered.
His head snapped up. They stopped, letting the dance go on without them.
�Yes, I am.� He said.
Lina closed her eyes. Am I dreaming, she wondered. But then, she felt him tip her face up, and he kissed her. Her eyes snapped open, and her fingers clutched at his arms. He�s alive! This had to be real!
Suddenly, screams surrounded them. A great wind seemed to tear them apart, and Lina felt herself falling. Reaching up, she saw a clock, a clock that read from one to thirteen, and it was ringing twelve. �No!� she yelled, unable to see Zelgadis as she fell, afraid she was losing him again.
* * * * *
Zelgadis woke up on a pile of rubbish. He rubbed his face, hearing the grind of stone on stone. Opening his eyes, he looked at his hands. Confused, he wondered why they were blue. Then, everything rushed back to him.
�Damn,� he snarled. Then he leaped to his feet. �Lina!�
He scambled down off the trash heap, drawing his sword. �Lina!� he called, climbing over smaller piles.
Not far away, Lina opened her eyes and stared at the reddening sky. I had lost something, found it again, and lost it again, she thought. What was it? Then she heard her name being called. She sat up and looked around at the giant trash yard she found herself in.
�LINA!�
�Zelgadis!� Lina yelled, sliding down the pile to the ground. He came around another pile and froze, staring at her. Lina stared back, seeing the usual chimera form with her eyes, and remembering the handsome prince from her dream. �Zel!� Ignoring her usual reputation for just a moment, she ran to him and hugged him, too glad to see him alive to care.
�L-Lina?� he stammered, one arm going around her involuntarily.
She pulled back and smiled at him. Then she leaped up and punched him in the head. �DON�T EVER PULL A STUPID STUNT LIKE THAT AGAIN!� she screamed, continuing to pound on him, ignoring her breaking fingers. �Setting off a Vlave Howl underground! I thought you were dead, you stone jerk!�
�Ow! Knock it off!� Zelgadis ducked away and rubbed his head. He never could figure out how she still managed to hurt him doing that. But at least she didn�t seem to remember the ballroom fantasy. �Who�s the stupid one?� he asked, taking her hand to cast a healing spell on it. �When are you going to remember that punching me only breaks your hand?�
�When you forget how to heal it,� she replied tartly.
Shocked, he gave her a wide-eyed look, and she blushed. That comment was a bit more like flirting than Lina usually talked.
Finished, he dropped her hand. �There�s not much time left.�
Grateful to focus on something else, Lina nodded. �Right. Let�s go.�
* * * * *
With a frustrated growl, Jareth crushed the crystal in his hands. Her will was great. Standing, he paced his throne room. Soon, it would come to brute strength. �Knock!�
Shaking, the summoned goblin stood before Jareth.
�Knock, summon the regiments! Bring the prize to the Hall of Stairs! Send the regiments in to the city to set an ambush. THIS TIME make sure they KNOW what they�re DOING!� Jareth punctuated the orders with a few lashes of his crop. The terrified goblin fled to carry out the orders.
* * * * *
Zelgadis wiped his blade on the ragged clothes of the goblin guard before sheathing the sword. At Lina�s quizzical look, he shrugged. �No alarm given.� He explained tersely.
Lina looked down at the corpse of the goblin who�d been standing, or rather, sleeping guard on the City�s gate. �That whole �heartless, mystical swordsman� reputation has gotta be hard to live up to,� she remarked sarcastically. �Jareth�s just going to be delighted.�
�Do you care?�
�Can you do that to Jareth too?� Lina asked with an evil grin.
Returning her grin with his own smirk, Zelgadis replied, �Gladly.�
They pushed open the gate to find themselves facing another archway, framing a view of the City streets. But as they advanced, doors appeared to swing closed before them.
�WHO GOES THERE?� boomed a sepulchre voice.
As the doors slammed shut in front of them, a monstrous golem of steel stepped forwards, created from the doors themselves. With one massive hand, it lifted a giant axe and swung for their heads.
�WHO GOES THERE?�
�Shit!� swore Lina, ducking. Zelgadis drew his sword, but even he would not be able to deflect the blows of this giant. They backed away, only to find spears had sprung up behind them.
�WHO GOES THERE?�
�Come here!� Zelgadis yelled, sheathing his sword. As soon as she was close enough, he grabbed Lina around the waist.
�Hey!�
�Rey Wing!� Zelgadis flew them up over the giant. As it swung futilely at them, he cast, �BRAM BLAZER!� The enclosed area between the two City gates erupted in explosions.
Maintaining the Rey Wing, Zelgadis flew them over the City, ignoring Lina�s complaints that she could fly herself, and several annoyed comments about his grabbing her like that. Halfway to the Castle, the City below erupted into shouts, as goblin soldiers, dismayed at their inability to trap flying targets, cursed them.
Suddenly, there was a booming noise as the goblins brought their cannons into play.
�Guns!� Lina shrieked. She felt more than heard Zelgadis gasp as a cannonball struck him in the back. He dropped her.
�GAHHH!! LEVITATION!� As Lina got herself under control, she saw Zelgadis hit the ground. The cannonball actually housed a tiny goblin clinging to Zelgadis�s cloak. It produced a small axe and began hacking at him.
Landing quickly, Lina kicked the goblin a good thirty yards. �Get off him!� Whirling, she tossed of several Fireballs at approaching goblin soldiers. �Zel! Get up!�
Zelgadis clambered to his feet, slicing with his sword at several more goblins. Those that Lina burned shrieked and danced, and occasionally set their neighbors on fire.
�Clear a path!� Zelgadis gasped. Lina spared a glance to see blood on his collar, but at her exclamation of shock, he waved her away. �No time for healing.�
�Right!� She spotted a roadway leading in the correct general direction and cast as series of Fireballs to clear their way.
As they ran, Zelgadis ordered her, �No more spells!�
�What? Why?�
�Save strength.�
Humph, he�s getting really short on words, Lina thought, but his order made sense. However, the very next thing Zelgadis did was turn and cast, �VLAVE HOWL!� behind them. As the goblins caught in the lava screamed, Lina said, �I thought you just��
�You! Not me. YOU still have to face Jareth. BRAM BLAZER!� He cut off a side road filled with troops. �Run for the Castle!� Zelgadis shoved her away, sending more spells at the goblin army.
Lina sprinted for the Castle doors. Any goblins that got in her way were either jumped over or booted into the distance. Pausing on the top of the steps, she saw that Zelgadis had reached the bottom of the stairs, and was proceeding to destroy as much of the area around as he could with Vlave Howls, and his particularly good Stone Spiker spell.
Still, goblins were reaching him. �ASTRAL VINE!� With his blade enchanted, he cut through as many as he could.
�Zel! Come on!� Lina called.
* * * * *
From his vantage in a high window, Jareth watched the demon-boy decimate his army. �Very impressive. But, such a blow to my numbers.�
* * * * *
With his next thrust, the Astral Vine enchantment faded, and Zelgadis suddenly felt himself falter. �Shit!� He ran up the steps to join Lina. �I�m out,� he said, as they pushed the doors shut behind them.
�That�s OK. I�ve got plenty to burn!� Lina gave him a cocky grin, and they started to make their way through the halls of the Castle.
Soon they found themselves in the Great Hall. Jareth�s throne on a dais was empty. Rags and trash and rotting food lay everywhere.
�Ugh. Some king.� Lina grimaced. �How gross.�
�No time for cleaning,� Zelgadis observed, pointing at a clock with read only five minutes to thirteen.
Only one other door from the one they entered led out of the hall. It framed a stairwell leading up.
�Let�s go!� Lina cried, sprinting up the stairs, Zelgadis a step behind her.
* * * * *
Back to Fics by Chibi-Kaz
Back to Semper Slayers Main Page