Fic: Beyond the Thirteenth Hour
Title: Beyond the Thirteenth Hour
Chapter: 8/16 (Secret of the Bog)
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1,942
Summary: Two years have passed since Sarah's adventure in the Underground, and she's now coming to terms with her family's recent move. Not long afterwards, she receives a sudden plea for help from the Underground. Returning to the Labyrinth once again, she sets out with old friends, and a few new ones, to defeat Jareth again.
Note: This story has no beta, so please overlook the occasional mistake. Thanks in advance.
Stacey and Hoggle trudged through the Forbidden Forest, with Daedalus flying a little ways ahead of them, and Theseus nestled happily in Stacey’s arms.
“Tell me again,” Stacey requested. “Why exactly aren’t we looking for the others, again? It just seems like the sensible thing to do. Safety in numbers, after all.”
“Normally, that would be a wise idea,” Hoggle replied. “But it’s quite easy to get lost in the Forbidden Forest. Our best option is to continue makin’ our way to the castle. Since we were headin’ there to begin with, it’s a good chance that we’ll meet up with Sarah and the others along the way. Besides, I don’t recommend wanderin’ around in this part of the Forbidden Forest, anyway. There’s too great a risk of runnin’ into the Fireys.”
“And exactly who, or what, are they?” Stacey asked, looking down at Hoggle.
“Not the type of creatures you’d want to come across if you’re lost. Absolutely can’t be trusted to take anythin’ seriously. Overall, you’d be hard pressed to find bigger pains than the Fireys.”
“Oh, trust me, Hoggle,” Stacey rolled her eyes. “There are no bigger pains than Phoebe and her harpies.” At the mention of Phoebe, Hoggle cast a wary glance over at Stacey, remembering what Daedalus had told everyone about what Phoebe and her friends had did to Stacey. Knowing how Stacey had been hurt and betrayed by the three girls she once believed to be her friends, he found it rather surprising to hear her mention them in such an unaffected tone. Before Hoggle could get the chance to even consider bringing it up, Theseus leapt down from Stacey’s arms and began sniffing the air, his large bat-like ears twitching. Without much warning, the little gremlin started scampering off.
“Where’s he goin’?” Hoggle asked as he and Stacey started hurrying after Theseus.
“Perhaps he caught a scent of the rest of our group?” Daedalus suggested, flying along beside the pair. When they caught up to Theseus, however, it became clear that it hadn’t been the scent of the others he had found. Instead, Theseus was crouching next to and sniffing at an unconscious Firey, which was lying at the base of a tree, considerably injured. The Firey’s fur was partially caked with dried blood, with his tail bent at an unnatural angle, gashes in his beak and limbs, and part of his ear was missing.
“It’s a Firey,” Hoggle stared at the injured creature.
“So that’s a Firey?” Stacey muttered, eyeing the Firey in shock. “It looks like a cross between a Limber Louie and a flamingo.”
“A limber what?” Hoggle gaped at the unfamiliar name.
“Limber Louie,” Stacey repeated. “It was a toy that was popular for a little while in my world; some kind of marionette with odd colored hair. I used to have a yellow one, but the strings broke.” Turning back, Stacey began to kneel down close to the Firey, in order to get a closer look at his injuries.
“Stacey,” Hoggle stopped her. “I wouldn’t get too close to ‘im. You can never be too careful around Fireys.”
“You might be right, Hoggle, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’ll probably die if we do nothing to help him now,” Stacey pointed out. “And if we just leave him in this state, tell me, how does that make us any better than Jarath?” Hoggle was momentarily frozen, unable to come up with a good argument to that.
“And it’s not just that, Hoggle,” Daedalus spoke up. “I admit I haven’t been here in years, but the last time I was in the Underground, there was only one rule, and that was that everything within the Labyrinth was part of a great puzzle, and if one piece is lost, the picture cannot be completed.”
“I think we’ll need to make a temporary splint for his tail,” Stacey thought out loud, examining the Firey’s wounds. “Also, Sarah mentioned that you care for the garden around the Labyrinth’s gates, Hoggle, which means you should know a bit about the plants that grow in the Underground. Is there anything you can think of that we can use to make a dressing for these gashes, or something to keep them from getting infected?”
“Yes, I do know somethin’ that could help,” Hoggle agreed. “But what about Theseus? His touch helped you when you were hurt by that Tarasque, so wouldn’t it help in this situation?”
“No, I’m afraid not,” Daedalus replied. “The touch of a gremlin can only purify poisonous substances, which is why it helped when Stacey was poisoned by the Tarasque. However, it cannot help with healing ordinary physical wounds, no matter how grievous.”
“In that case, we’ll just have to treat the Firey’s wounds the old fashioned way,” Stacey decided. “Hoggle, I realize you have issues with these creatures, but could you please find some things to help treat his injuries?”
“Of course,” Hoggle agreed after a brief pause. “I won’t be long.”
As Hoggle headed off to find some antiseptic plants, with Theseus scampering along after him, he paused to glance back at Stacey, who was continuing to check the Firey for more injuries.
Stacey, it’s almost like you’re a different person, now, he thought. When you first came to the Underground, you didn’t even care about what happened to anyone who lived here. But now, you’re compassionate and thoughtful. What was it that made you change so much?
-----
Sarah, Ludo, and Sir Didymus continued their journey to the castle, with everyone keeping a watchful eye out for Stacey and Hoggle. Suddenly, Sarah stopped in her tracks, her hand flying to her nose.
“Oh, please tell me that’s not what I think I smell,” she begged, hoping she was wrong about where they were. Unfortunately, her fears proved to be well realized when the three friends turned the corner, and the Bog of Eternal Stench came into view.
“Ah, my old home,” Sir Didymus beamed, seemingly oblivious to the fact that Sarah and Ludo were trying to block out the horrible stench. “How wonderful to return to the place where I met my brother and Lady Sarah for the first time.”
“Cu-Chu!” Theseus said, seemingly appearing out of the blue at Sarah’s feet.
“Theseus!” Sarah looked down at the gremlin in surprise. “Where’d you come from? And where’s Hoggle and Stacey?” As if on cue, Stacey’s voice could be heard nearby.
“I don’t believe this! What part of ‘don’t wander off’ doesn’t that gremlin understand? This is the second time! Daedalus, I thought you said gremlins were supposed to be good luck.” Seconds later, Hoggle stepped into view, coming from the opposite direction Sarah, Ludo, and Sir Didymus had came from.
“I’m starting to think he is, Stacey,” he announced, smiling as he noticed Sarah and the others. In a moment, Stacey also appeared, carrying the still-unconscious Firey on her back.
“Yeah, I see your point,” she agreed, also seeing the rest of their group. Before anyone could say anything more, the smell emanating from the bog hit Stacey and Hoggle, and the two of them quickly reacted to it. “Oh, now where are we?”
“No, not the Bog of Eternal Stench,” Hoggle moaned, holding his nose. The entire group continued to try and block out the awful smell, with the exception of Sir Didymus, Daedalus, and Theseus.
“Why are ye all making such a fuss?” Sir Didymus asked, looking at everyone as if they had lost their minds. “I’ve said before, the air here is sweet and fragrant.”
“Cu-Chu!” Theseus replied, as if agreeing with the fox.
“Oh, not this again,” Hoggle complained, while Sarah and Ludo gave moans of exasperation. Stacey, however, was looking between Sir Didymus and Theseus in contemplation.
“Daedalus?” she finally spoke, glancing over at the owl. “What about you? Do you smell it, too?”
“I have to say, I don’t,” Daedalus answered.
“How can he not notice the smell, either?” Sarah cried in disbelief.
“Smell bad!” Ludo bellowed.
“Maybe not,” Stacey mused, now crouching at the edge of the bog, staring out at it intently.
“Stacey? What is it?” Sarah asked, watching the auburn-haired girl in confusion.
“When I was a kid,” Stacey began, “Wayne used to say that human senses, like sight and smell, aren’t always completely reliable, and they can fool you. It’s like how you might be watching a movie and think you smell popcorn when no popcorn has been made. Now, most of us can smell the horrible stench around this place, but not Sir Didymus, Theseus, and Daedalus. That gets me thinking. Why can we smell it, when they can’t?” With that question hanging in the air, Stacey closed her eyes, taking long, deep breaths, almost as if she was meditating. After about a minute, with everyone else exchanging confused glances, Stacey sniffed at the air, and a smile formed on her face.
“I knew it,” she chuckled. “Oh, yeah; that’s really clever.”
“What’s clever?” Hoggle asked.
“Sir Didymus is right!” Stacey announced. “The air really is sweet and fragrant! In fact, I can’t ever remember air smelling this nice.”
“What are you talking about?” Sarah stared. “You smelled the stench, too.”
“I know, and that’s just it,” Stacey continued, still smiling widely. “Sarah, what did you say was the most important thing to remember about the Labyrinth?”
“That….things aren’t always what they seem to be,” Sarah replied.
“Exactly!” Stacey exclaimed in triumph. “That rule applies here, too! The horrible smell is just an illusion meant to fool us. Daedalus, Theseus, and Sir Didymus are all animal or animal-like, while the rest of us are human, somewhat human, and human-like. That’s why they can’t smell the horrible stench like the rest of us do. Animal senses are usually sharper, and more accurate, than the senses of humans. So, because of that, they’re all immune to the illusionary smell around the bog. If you don’t believe me, try clearing your head, and forget about the smell. Just keep telling yourself that it’s not really there. It’s kind of like mind-over-matter, in a way. Once I stopped thinking that the stench was real, it disappeared completely. Come on, just try it.”
Sarah, Ludo, and Hoggle all looked at each other unsurely, but soon took Stacey’s advice, willing themselves to believe that the stench really was an illusion. It was Sarah who experienced it first. Ever so slowly, the horrible smell died away, and was replaced with the most wonderful smell she’d ever experienced. It was almost like walking into a gigantic flower garden, when everything was in full bloom. Smiling, Sarah glanced over at her friends, seeing by their faces that they were starting to experience the new smell, too.
“Cor,” Hoggle gaped, his eyes widening. “To think I used to be scared of this place.”
“Stacey clever,” Ludo complemented.
“Please,” Stacey waved away the praise. “You don’t spend seventeen years under Wayne’s care without coming away with something, you know. Wayne always was a good teacher, always encouraging you to think differently, and approach situations from every angle possible. Come to think about it, if I didn’t know any better, I’d think he knew this world existed, and was teaching me all of the Labyrinth’s lessons.” Stacey instantly laughed at the absurdity of that thought. “Nah, I think if Wayne had known about this place, he would have told me about it straight out. Keeping something like this a secret from me isn’t like him at all.” Soon afterwards, the group continued on their way to the castle, with all thoughts about Wayne possibly knowing about the Labyrinth quickly forgotten.
Chapter: 8/16 (Secret of the Bog)
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1,942
Summary: Two years have passed since Sarah's adventure in the Underground, and she's now coming to terms with her family's recent move. Not long afterwards, she receives a sudden plea for help from the Underground. Returning to the Labyrinth once again, she sets out with old friends, and a few new ones, to defeat Jareth again.
Note: This story has no beta, so please overlook the occasional mistake. Thanks in advance.
Stacey and Hoggle trudged through the Forbidden Forest, with Daedalus flying a little ways ahead of them, and Theseus nestled happily in Stacey’s arms.
“Tell me again,” Stacey requested. “Why exactly aren’t we looking for the others, again? It just seems like the sensible thing to do. Safety in numbers, after all.”
“Normally, that would be a wise idea,” Hoggle replied. “But it’s quite easy to get lost in the Forbidden Forest. Our best option is to continue makin’ our way to the castle. Since we were headin’ there to begin with, it’s a good chance that we’ll meet up with Sarah and the others along the way. Besides, I don’t recommend wanderin’ around in this part of the Forbidden Forest, anyway. There’s too great a risk of runnin’ into the Fireys.”
“And exactly who, or what, are they?” Stacey asked, looking down at Hoggle.
“Not the type of creatures you’d want to come across if you’re lost. Absolutely can’t be trusted to take anythin’ seriously. Overall, you’d be hard pressed to find bigger pains than the Fireys.”
“Oh, trust me, Hoggle,” Stacey rolled her eyes. “There are no bigger pains than Phoebe and her harpies.” At the mention of Phoebe, Hoggle cast a wary glance over at Stacey, remembering what Daedalus had told everyone about what Phoebe and her friends had did to Stacey. Knowing how Stacey had been hurt and betrayed by the three girls she once believed to be her friends, he found it rather surprising to hear her mention them in such an unaffected tone. Before Hoggle could get the chance to even consider bringing it up, Theseus leapt down from Stacey’s arms and began sniffing the air, his large bat-like ears twitching. Without much warning, the little gremlin started scampering off.
“Where’s he goin’?” Hoggle asked as he and Stacey started hurrying after Theseus.
“Perhaps he caught a scent of the rest of our group?” Daedalus suggested, flying along beside the pair. When they caught up to Theseus, however, it became clear that it hadn’t been the scent of the others he had found. Instead, Theseus was crouching next to and sniffing at an unconscious Firey, which was lying at the base of a tree, considerably injured. The Firey’s fur was partially caked with dried blood, with his tail bent at an unnatural angle, gashes in his beak and limbs, and part of his ear was missing.
“It’s a Firey,” Hoggle stared at the injured creature.
“So that’s a Firey?” Stacey muttered, eyeing the Firey in shock. “It looks like a cross between a Limber Louie and a flamingo.”
“A limber what?” Hoggle gaped at the unfamiliar name.
“Limber Louie,” Stacey repeated. “It was a toy that was popular for a little while in my world; some kind of marionette with odd colored hair. I used to have a yellow one, but the strings broke.” Turning back, Stacey began to kneel down close to the Firey, in order to get a closer look at his injuries.
“Stacey,” Hoggle stopped her. “I wouldn’t get too close to ‘im. You can never be too careful around Fireys.”
“You might be right, Hoggle, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’ll probably die if we do nothing to help him now,” Stacey pointed out. “And if we just leave him in this state, tell me, how does that make us any better than Jarath?” Hoggle was momentarily frozen, unable to come up with a good argument to that.
“And it’s not just that, Hoggle,” Daedalus spoke up. “I admit I haven’t been here in years, but the last time I was in the Underground, there was only one rule, and that was that everything within the Labyrinth was part of a great puzzle, and if one piece is lost, the picture cannot be completed.”
“I think we’ll need to make a temporary splint for his tail,” Stacey thought out loud, examining the Firey’s wounds. “Also, Sarah mentioned that you care for the garden around the Labyrinth’s gates, Hoggle, which means you should know a bit about the plants that grow in the Underground. Is there anything you can think of that we can use to make a dressing for these gashes, or something to keep them from getting infected?”
“Yes, I do know somethin’ that could help,” Hoggle agreed. “But what about Theseus? His touch helped you when you were hurt by that Tarasque, so wouldn’t it help in this situation?”
“No, I’m afraid not,” Daedalus replied. “The touch of a gremlin can only purify poisonous substances, which is why it helped when Stacey was poisoned by the Tarasque. However, it cannot help with healing ordinary physical wounds, no matter how grievous.”
“In that case, we’ll just have to treat the Firey’s wounds the old fashioned way,” Stacey decided. “Hoggle, I realize you have issues with these creatures, but could you please find some things to help treat his injuries?”
“Of course,” Hoggle agreed after a brief pause. “I won’t be long.”
As Hoggle headed off to find some antiseptic plants, with Theseus scampering along after him, he paused to glance back at Stacey, who was continuing to check the Firey for more injuries.
Stacey, it’s almost like you’re a different person, now, he thought. When you first came to the Underground, you didn’t even care about what happened to anyone who lived here. But now, you’re compassionate and thoughtful. What was it that made you change so much?
-----
Sarah, Ludo, and Sir Didymus continued their journey to the castle, with everyone keeping a watchful eye out for Stacey and Hoggle. Suddenly, Sarah stopped in her tracks, her hand flying to her nose.
“Oh, please tell me that’s not what I think I smell,” she begged, hoping she was wrong about where they were. Unfortunately, her fears proved to be well realized when the three friends turned the corner, and the Bog of Eternal Stench came into view.
“Ah, my old home,” Sir Didymus beamed, seemingly oblivious to the fact that Sarah and Ludo were trying to block out the horrible stench. “How wonderful to return to the place where I met my brother and Lady Sarah for the first time.”
“Cu-Chu!” Theseus said, seemingly appearing out of the blue at Sarah’s feet.
“Theseus!” Sarah looked down at the gremlin in surprise. “Where’d you come from? And where’s Hoggle and Stacey?” As if on cue, Stacey’s voice could be heard nearby.
“I don’t believe this! What part of ‘don’t wander off’ doesn’t that gremlin understand? This is the second time! Daedalus, I thought you said gremlins were supposed to be good luck.” Seconds later, Hoggle stepped into view, coming from the opposite direction Sarah, Ludo, and Sir Didymus had came from.
“I’m starting to think he is, Stacey,” he announced, smiling as he noticed Sarah and the others. In a moment, Stacey also appeared, carrying the still-unconscious Firey on her back.
“Yeah, I see your point,” she agreed, also seeing the rest of their group. Before anyone could say anything more, the smell emanating from the bog hit Stacey and Hoggle, and the two of them quickly reacted to it. “Oh, now where are we?”
“No, not the Bog of Eternal Stench,” Hoggle moaned, holding his nose. The entire group continued to try and block out the awful smell, with the exception of Sir Didymus, Daedalus, and Theseus.
“Why are ye all making such a fuss?” Sir Didymus asked, looking at everyone as if they had lost their minds. “I’ve said before, the air here is sweet and fragrant.”
“Cu-Chu!” Theseus replied, as if agreeing with the fox.
“Oh, not this again,” Hoggle complained, while Sarah and Ludo gave moans of exasperation. Stacey, however, was looking between Sir Didymus and Theseus in contemplation.
“Daedalus?” she finally spoke, glancing over at the owl. “What about you? Do you smell it, too?”
“I have to say, I don’t,” Daedalus answered.
“How can he not notice the smell, either?” Sarah cried in disbelief.
“Smell bad!” Ludo bellowed.
“Maybe not,” Stacey mused, now crouching at the edge of the bog, staring out at it intently.
“Stacey? What is it?” Sarah asked, watching the auburn-haired girl in confusion.
“When I was a kid,” Stacey began, “Wayne used to say that human senses, like sight and smell, aren’t always completely reliable, and they can fool you. It’s like how you might be watching a movie and think you smell popcorn when no popcorn has been made. Now, most of us can smell the horrible stench around this place, but not Sir Didymus, Theseus, and Daedalus. That gets me thinking. Why can we smell it, when they can’t?” With that question hanging in the air, Stacey closed her eyes, taking long, deep breaths, almost as if she was meditating. After about a minute, with everyone else exchanging confused glances, Stacey sniffed at the air, and a smile formed on her face.
“I knew it,” she chuckled. “Oh, yeah; that’s really clever.”
“What’s clever?” Hoggle asked.
“Sir Didymus is right!” Stacey announced. “The air really is sweet and fragrant! In fact, I can’t ever remember air smelling this nice.”
“What are you talking about?” Sarah stared. “You smelled the stench, too.”
“I know, and that’s just it,” Stacey continued, still smiling widely. “Sarah, what did you say was the most important thing to remember about the Labyrinth?”
“That….things aren’t always what they seem to be,” Sarah replied.
“Exactly!” Stacey exclaimed in triumph. “That rule applies here, too! The horrible smell is just an illusion meant to fool us. Daedalus, Theseus, and Sir Didymus are all animal or animal-like, while the rest of us are human, somewhat human, and human-like. That’s why they can’t smell the horrible stench like the rest of us do. Animal senses are usually sharper, and more accurate, than the senses of humans. So, because of that, they’re all immune to the illusionary smell around the bog. If you don’t believe me, try clearing your head, and forget about the smell. Just keep telling yourself that it’s not really there. It’s kind of like mind-over-matter, in a way. Once I stopped thinking that the stench was real, it disappeared completely. Come on, just try it.”
Sarah, Ludo, and Hoggle all looked at each other unsurely, but soon took Stacey’s advice, willing themselves to believe that the stench really was an illusion. It was Sarah who experienced it first. Ever so slowly, the horrible smell died away, and was replaced with the most wonderful smell she’d ever experienced. It was almost like walking into a gigantic flower garden, when everything was in full bloom. Smiling, Sarah glanced over at her friends, seeing by their faces that they were starting to experience the new smell, too.
“Cor,” Hoggle gaped, his eyes widening. “To think I used to be scared of this place.”
“Stacey clever,” Ludo complemented.
“Please,” Stacey waved away the praise. “You don’t spend seventeen years under Wayne’s care without coming away with something, you know. Wayne always was a good teacher, always encouraging you to think differently, and approach situations from every angle possible. Come to think about it, if I didn’t know any better, I’d think he knew this world existed, and was teaching me all of the Labyrinth’s lessons.” Stacey instantly laughed at the absurdity of that thought. “Nah, I think if Wayne had known about this place, he would have told me about it straight out. Keeping something like this a secret from me isn’t like him at all.” Soon afterwards, the group continued on their way to the castle, with all thoughts about Wayne possibly knowing about the Labyrinth quickly forgotten.