-By: Many, many people. Let's see if I can name them for you
1)Delilah 2)Afton 3)Rebekah 4)Raine 5)Nova 6)webby 7)Leigh Gaeriel 8)Leila 9)Dreamspinner 10)Kitiara 11) Cool Cat 12)Aliera 13)Twilight
The story may start out a little slow but it gets better, promise! I want to thank everyone for the wonderful stories and putting up with all the NLR posts I've sent out. Comments are adored! Happy readings!
Beginnings
-Delilah-
Delilah sat down in the dimly lit chair and scotched about for a moment to find the most comfortable position before settling down to write. Her face was lit in a ghostly white as she loaded up her Windows. She went to her mail box and frowned when she saw only three messages for the entire night. Wondering where everyone was she quickly typed a message and sent it out.
'Why do I get the feeling it's going to be another quiet night? Maybe I should get to work on Mistakes and Mishaps. It's only been what, three weeks since the last installment. (Delilah blushes in apology of her laziness) Well I'm off to go feed the animals and close their houses to keep them warm. It's going to be another cold one tonight. Be back later.'
-Delilah-
When she returned she found a message waiting for her.
I'm beginning to wonder if Jareth kidnapped everyone on here, and is like. having a party in the ballroom. It's NOT fair!
*pouts*
Afton
She smiled and typed her own reply.
Here's what we'll do, Afton. We'll have our own little party. Who needs the Goblin King anyway?
I'll bring the peaches
-Delilah-
The reply came almost immediately.
I love the way you think! *giggles* I loved that story about J's make up! I wanna see what he does! For the party I'll get the glitter, teddy bears, etc. But I wish Jareth would be there because I feel like torturing someone! *eg* Ah well, I'll just write a new fanfic!
Mischief forever,
Afton
Delilah sat back and frowned. This was indeed an interesting idea. She glanced at a near by calendar and shook her head. There was something coming up to celebrate but did she dare take over Jareth's castle for her birthday? Damn straight she did. Now all she had to do was get some help. Afew moments passed before she was satisfied with her newest message. Double checked and spell checked she sent it out and waited for the replies.
Okay it isn't really my birthday but it's coming up. December 1st where are you?
It's my birthday and I'll party if I want to (The beginning of a listean fan-fic but I need your help)
"Okay everyone, we have," Delilah pulls out her calculator and calendar, "eleven days till my birthday. Now I've decided to have my party in the middle of Jareth's throne room so we're going to need someone to distract him. Everyone is invited and we also need people in charge of food and decorations. I'll bring the peaches and Afton's bringing the glitter and teddy bears. I want a sleep over, can't have people driving after having all those peaches. So who can we get to do these jobs? Anyone? Come on I know your out there. Who wants to help out with my birthday party? I can't hear you! All right, I can tell you are all falling asleep so get a pen and pencil. Go on, I'll wait. Now my address is Fritchka@fast.net. Got it? Good. E-mail me and tell me what it is you want to do. Once we have the people we can have the party. Now here's the quick list of what we need.
First come first served.
Food (example peach cobbler, peach pie, peach cake, peachy daiquiris) Some creative people to waylay Jareth Musical talent (Who wants to kidnap David Bowie for me?) Labyrinth based games (Pin the hair on Jareth, bobbing for peaches etc) And anything else you can think of.
E-mail me and tell me what your bringing! Then on my birthday I'll send out the whole story for everyone's reading enjoyment.
Love and frozen peaches
-Delilah-
**********************
And the listeans go marching two by two Harrah! Harrah!
It's Delilah (again),
Okay, here's what I have so far. I've asked around and it seems that the best thing to do is either you can write a little story of what you want to do for my birthday party and send it to me privately at Fritchka@fast.net or you can tell me a basic idea and I'll write it. On November 30th I'll start to compile the stories into one large story and send it out on December 1st for my birthday. Here's who we have doing what for now. Spots are still open and I need someone who knows a little about cooking to give us a story about how what they had to do to make the food (examples being: a search for the elusive peach tree, blow up Jareth's kitchen, the castle catching fire, etc.) Innovative recipes are also welcome. Finally we need people who can decorate. The more glitter the better. (example: listeans going on a shopping spree with Jareth's credit card (does he even have one?), adventures in crept paper, goblins and helium) I know there's a lot of talent out there hiding and it's my job to dig it up! Don't make me come after you. (evil laughter)
Delilah giggled and pushed the button to send out her newest message. She was very pleased with the new results. Now time for the fun part! She pulled out another message from Rebekah.
Hi Delilah, ya, I think that would work. I was also wondering are we the only ones so far for the party? And I also wanted to know, How are we going to get into Jareth's Castle?
Peachy Dreams To You
Rebekah
That was a good question how were they going to get in? She pondered this for a moment absently flipping through her previous messages. A name popped out at her and she smiled. Afton could get them in! What good is being a princess if you can't bend the rules for your friends? Now who was she going to get for entertainment?
********************
Delilah's entertainment surprise
-Raine-
There is a burst of multicolored confetti and fanfare. Delilah glances in several directions with confusion before **BOOM** a purple and green explosion of... yes.... *peachy scented* party fog blooms in the center of the room. There is a flourish of green and red skirts as a raven-haired woman twirls, cartwheels, backvaults, and lands in the splits position at her feet.
"Oh, please! Dear, dear, dear Delilah! Please let me do the entertainment at your party!" Raine pleads, kissing the hem of Delilah's skirt. "I feel I ought to warn you that my tastes in entertainment tend to lean toward the magical and gymnastic -- music, song and dance! A regular Festival of Fools :)!" Raine raises herself smoothly to her feet and gazes eagerly at the soon-to-be birthday girl. "It'll be a blast!"
Noticing that Delilah is hesitating, Raine steps back and composes herself somewhat. "Ahem... well... if that's just not your style, I could arrange it in a more Medieval style..." **POOF** another burst of peachy party fog, this time pinkish in tint, and when it clears, Delilah finds herself looking at Raine again... This time garbed in a hoop-skirted, low-necked, red-and-silver-trimmed dress that looked like it belonged on a noblewoman of Elizabethan England. Raine smiles coyly and takes a deep breath, preparing to launch into a spectacular speech about the possibilities of a medieval soiree, but chokes and doubles over gasping. "Agh," she mutters, holding her stomach, "these corsets just don't leave enough room to breath! We'll just have to shelf that idea-"
Raine spins to her left and there's a poof of green party fog -- this time she reappears in a less-constricting black-and-green velveteen party dress. "Really, Delilah, I'd evil to do your party's entertainment -- whatever way you want it... 80s? Monster bash? Spider men from Mars style? space? Fae? Anything! I can be subdued.... *really* ;-b!"
Delilah, one eyebrow arched half-way up her forehead, begins to shake her head and respond, but she's interrupted.
"Oh, well, if you've already got someone doing the entertainment, I can cook! I'm a really *good* cook, honest! It just takes a while for the stuff to get ready... and the kitchen's always a mess afterwards... but that's beside the point. I can cook! I know some people with some pretty heavy-duty peach crops ;o) ..."
Delilah rolls her eyes and tries to respond again.
"Or I could do... ahh... I could distract Jareth! I could do that! I've been imagining all sorts of reasons that I'd have to distract him, and I've got some pretty cool ideas... Or I could kidnap David Bowie for you! Have you heard his "I'm Afraid Of Americans" number? It's great! Or, I could just drag MTV to the party and make them play all David Bowie's stuff...! Oh please Delilah! Let me do something!"
After a moment of thought Delilah shrugged and sent the confirmation notice. Raine seemed harmless, energetic but harmless.
****************
Visa, it's everywhere you want to be
-Leila-
Afton grinned as she handed over the credit card. "Now Jareth has a five thousand dollar limit so don't feel you have to be stingy."
"Only five thousand.. How cheap of him" Leila mumbled to herself.
"And if anyone asks here's a fake id."
Leila looked down at the card. "Leila Kotgs?"
"Yeah, since Jareth doesn't have a last name I just used Kotgs, King-of-the-goblins."
"Oh." Leila shook her head before pocketing the card.
"Here's the list. And hurry back!"
Leila grinned as she stared at the extensive listing of all the things needed for the party. Yes, she would enjoy this, at any cost. And it wouldn't be her cost either! She returned to the Aboveground to a place called 'Trenton.' "Damn, I wanted to be in Philly.." she thought to herself. "Oh well" and entered the first mall she came to.
As an after thought she hired some big strong men to carry the boxes for her as she began to shop. About five hours and two thousand dollars later she discovered that her men were beginning to sag under the weight of her purchases. "Time to send this stuff home," she thought, as she wished it back.
"Hmm..while I'm at it, why don't I take the train to NYC and pick up some fun stuff there?" She looked back at what was left of the list, and wondered how many trees had been killed to make it.
Two hours later she stood in Penn Station, looking at a mass-transit map. After orienting herself, and getting a really good piece of pizza, she started walking in the direction of the east Village. Three hours, three miles and a melted credit card were her results. She had wished everything back, and sat at a café looking over what remained of the list.. "Marble coulmns, blah by blah by blah in dimenti…wait - 40 tall? Where am I going to get that on short notic.." She looked up to see a advert for the Met. "Hmm, wonder if the museums will mind if we borrow some stuff for the night…" She wished the stuff back to the goblin kingdom before seeing a huge candle that would look great on the castle's highest tower. She wondered briefly what would happen when Jareth found out. Pfft, she thought, what Delilah wanted, Delilah got, and the goblin king be damned.
It occurred to Leila, after she had borrowed some stuff from various museums (to be returned tomorrow, never fear), perhaps the party goers needed some new and more appropriate clothing for the party. She entered a rather large and prestigious department store and was immediately set upon by a pug faced sales women who spoke with a frightfully fake accent. "Can I help you miss?" She asked glaring at her from under heavily mascaraed eyes. 'Kiss of the Spiderwoman' Leila thought to herself. She stuck her nose up in the air in a snooty way and chuckled slightly at the way the woman immediately seemed to see her in a new light. "Would you please escort me to your glitter department." The look on the woman's face was priceless.
****************
Birthday Party, Labyrinth style
Nova's adventures in decorating
-Nova-
A girl of six feet even stood in her room. Black hair reached her shoulders some of the bangs landed her vision. Brown eyes framed by dark lashes sparkled in anticipation for Deliah's birthday party. Wearing a old white shirt and faded blue shorts with bag at her side filled with decorations another bag contained two bottles of water and a couple of sandwiches for a lunch break. The last items were a metal ladder and helium tank then she thought *Well Nova you have a lot of climbing to do. Why does the ceiling have to be so high!* She was doing the decorations for the party. *Maybe I'll have fun with some of goblins* Thinking that she grinned.
"I wish the goblins would come and take me to Jareth's throne room right now!"
Her room swirled and was replaced by a room of stone and dust.
"Whew! I need some cleaning supplies before I start to decorate this place." She said to herself. *Where's a goblin when I need one?*
Walking around the area she heard a sound and found a blue furred goblin.
"Hey you."
"Me?"
"I don't see anyone else."
"What yah want."
"Cleaning supplies if there are any."
"You mean the Cleaners?"
"Nope."
"Uhhh, a mop or something."
"Bingo squirt. Can you tell me were they are?"
"No but I can show you."
"Lead on."
Five minutes later. With a mop and bucket Nova began to clean the floor an hour passed.
She sat in the throne and took a short break. *Man I've never seen a floor that dirty but what can I expect when a bunch of goblins live in a castle.* She went back to cleaning the throne room two hours passed and finally she was done and proud of her work. Nova sat on the clean floor drinking some water and bit into her ham sandwich. While rising from the floor she stretched her back and legs grateful for being in such good shape. *Time to give this place some style!* She turned and saw Jareth standing in the room.
"What you are doing?"
"What else decorating. You don't have anything against that do you."
"Not at all but what is this for?"
"Can't tell, its a surprise. I'm glad you have nothing against this otherwise I would have done some flips and landed on your shoulders putting your neck in a leg lock"
Living up to her word she did some back flips and landed cat like on the floor. Jareth smiled and left with the parting words.
"I'll live you to your work then Nova."
"Thanks."
She bent down and withdrew from the bag some peach and red colored crepe paper then walked over and set up the ladder. thirty minutes passed and draped along the walls was the crepe paper. The next items were plastic orbs filled wish silvery glitter and peach blossoms. Climbing the ladder she strung the orbs high up on the ceiling each orb having a small timer. *All I have to do is set the timers then walah glitter city!* Of course these timers were set to Labyrinth times for eight o'clock. She then went down the ladder and took some muti colored balloons and began to fill them with helium from the tank. As she placed the balloons around the room she didn't notice that some of the goblins were playing with the tank. Nova turned and saw the goblins.
"Oh no."
Some of them were floating in the air and others sounded like the chipmunks.
She climbed down the ladder and began to laugh and collapsed on floor unable to stand up from laughing so hard.
Jareth heard the noise and walked into the room.
"What!"
He saw Nova lying on the floor laughing her eyes filled with tears from the funny site. She calmed down enough to make a reply.
"Don't worry it's just helium there voices will go back to normal and the others will eventually come down. Hey it's not my fault they're your subjects."
Jareth left the room in huff. Nova stood up her stomach sore from laughing and continued her work. She went over to the nearly empty bag and took out some paper mache owls and peaches and began to hang them in the throne room occasionally pushing aside a floating goblin. She took another lunch break and greedy drank down the last bottle water and finished her sandwiches. The grand finale was a peach pinata filled with an asortment of candy and some pendants shaped like Jareths. Climbing the ladder one last time she took the rope which the pinata was attached to and placed on a hook then tested to see if the rope would snag and it didn't, Nova climbed down the ladder and sat tiredly sat on the thrown and thought *This party is going to be a blast!* Jareth entered the room and saw Nova sitting on his throne.
"Finished."
"Yes and can you take me home?"
"Anything and take that helium with you."
"I'll be seeing you soon."
He gave her a crystal and she disappeared.
Home in her room Nova jumped in the shower and began to get ready for the party.
**************
Problem's abound
-Delilah-
"Shoot! I should have seen this coming." The blonde sat on the throne pondering. Another woman came up and glanced at her.
"Problem?"
Delilah looked up and caught sight of Afton. "I forgot about his royal highness. He almost caught Nova. How are we going to do this with him around?"
Afton thought about this dilemma for a moment then looked up. "Why not get some people to distract him? I'm sure there are plenty of people who would help."
"True. And it would prove most interesting." Delilah said as her spirits began to lift.
Afton smiled. "And why don't I take first watch."
"And what would you be doing, may I ask?"
Afton shook her head. "You'll see, or rather, you'll hear." And with this little bit of information Afton turned and disappeared from the throne room leaving a bewildered Delilah.
*******************
Crystals, crystals everywhere
-webby-
Webby glanced about and laughed. A lone goblin came walking into her range of sight and leapt for it. "Gotcha!" She howled triumphantly.
"Lets go! Lets go!" It hollered in annoyance.
"In a sec." Webby assured as she whipped out a crystal. She carefully began stuffing the squirming creature into the crystal and after a few moments she threw the crystal high into the air. The goblin pushed at the sides trying to get out while it floated higher and higher into the air.
Nodding at her handy work Webby caught sight of another unsuspecting goblin and went after it. Floating goblins! Why hadn't she thought of this before!
****************
She's making a list, and checking it thrice!
-Delilah-
Delilah looked down at the notepad in her hand and carefully began putting checkmarks near the names of the people she was sure were here.
1)Distracting Jareth Afton Rebekah Cool Cat 2)Entertainment Raine 3)Kidnapping David Kitiara 4) Decorations Leigh Gaeriel aka Labyrinthian Sprite Nova 5) Cooking Aliera 6) Shopping Leila 7) Goblin patrol Webby Twilight
As she walked into the throne room she became aware of a squeaking noise and the muffled screaming of a goblin. Looking up she saw four goblins floating up by the ceiling in crystal balls. Cocking an eyebrow she reached out and places a check next to Webby's name. Now that she had figured out where the screaming was coming from she looked for the squeaking. A few goblins were sitting next to a helium tank and she repressed a smile. Leigh must have brought another tank unaware of Nova's experience with goblins and the light gas. Shaking her head she turned to find out how Afton was doing with the Goblin King.
**************
Afton Lynn, superstar
-Afton-
Afton shook her head and reloaded the cd player. In front of her twenty goblins sat their oversized ears covered by headphones. Most sat with dumb expressions trying to figure out how the stereo worked while others sat scratching at the headphones.
"Now try it again!" She said as she pushed play. Music filled the heads of the goblins and after a moment to get over the shock they began to sing in their strange guttural voices. "I you wannabe my lover, you gotta get with my friends!"
One of the goblins stopped and looked at her. "What's a lover?" Afton stood for a moment and blinked slowly. "It's not important. Ask Jareth one of these days, I'm sure he could explain it."
"Or better yet Stefan." Afton turned to see Delilah leaning against the wall. Ear plugs sat loosely in her hands.
"True. Now let's try it again!" She clapped her hands.
There was some grumbling but the goblins got ready to sing again. Another goblin took this time to speak up. "Why are we doing this again?"
"Because won't Jareth be so happy when he hears that you've filled the halls with music?" She asked.
"Oh, I guess so." She pushed play again and set the stereo on repeat.
"Looks like music class is coming along." Delilah said as she pushed the earplugs back in.
Afton raised her voice so her friend could hear her. "They've already learned Mmm-Bop! and tomorrow we do the Barbie girl song." Delilah shook her head. "And then what are you going to do with them?"
Delilah decided that she most defiantly didn't like the smile that was crossing the other woman's face. "Let's just say it involves strategically placed goblins, shall we?"
Nodding Delilah turned and left the room obviously not needed for this phase of the plan.
********************
Glitter and Glow. . . an experience in decorating part 1
-Leigh Gaeriel-
The night was chilly but Leigh Gaeriel was happy to be doing what she was doing. She skipped around the throne room, not bothering to avoid stepping on goblins, measureing various fissures and doorways to figure out which decorations would fit where.
In one corner of the musty throneroom, Leigh had piled up everything she could possibly find to decorate with. Fortunately one of the old oubliette broom closets was filled to overflowing with party favors and other such joys.
The first thing she did was to plug up every hole in the room and drape heavy cloth over every window. "This will make everything glow prettier," she thought to herself. She was amazed to find several outlets in various parts of the room. Into three of the outlets she plugged hyperpowered black lights. In the fourth she plugged a giant strobelight. She flicked on the blacklights so that she could see a little better in the dark room.
The goblins ran around screaming. They were completely stunned by the glowing eyes and teeth of their neighbors. Leigh ignored them and went to the pile. She pulled out several sheets of glow-in-the-dark stars and unrolled the giant glow-in-the-dark-carpet. "Ahh," she thought, "that warms up the cold floor considerably." (Leigh is always barefoot.)
Several goblins boosted her up on their shoulders and walked her about the room as she covered the entire ceiling with a glow in the dark mural of the universe.
When she had almost finished the goblins below her gave way and she fell gently to the floor with an "Oof." They had reacted to several high-pitched squeals that echoed through the room. In a corner two goblins stood frozen in fear. They opened their mouths to cry, but only squeaks came out.
Their eyes grew wide and they began to tremble. A few moments later, Leigh had dashed across the room, and was examining the large tank that stood ominously behind the goblins. It was helium, of course! The mishevious and rather silly goblins had swallowed a large amount of it and their voice boxes were warped as a result. She petted the still frightened goblins on the head.
"Silly silly goblins. Just keep your mouths closed. It'll go back to normal in a minute." When the goblins realized that she was right, they ran back to the tank and swallowed more...in a few moments there were masses of goblins around the tank gulping down helium.
"So much for the balloons!" Leigh cried as she covered her ears with her hands. The noise with unbearable.
When the helium had run out and the racket had subsided, Leigh went back to the dimished pile in the corner and grabbed up bags and bags of glitter. The first thing she did was to pour a handful over her thick brown braids and her green velvet dress. Then she took to her feet and danced about the room splashing glitter all about. She sang as she did so, and soon found that the goblins were more than willing to join her. So she broke into a chorus of "Dance Magic" and imagined what it would be like when the poor kidnapped Jareth found out what she had done to his bleak dreary throne room.
The thought made her smile, so, glitter all gone, she skipped over to Jareth's very own throne. She sat regally down in it and looked at what she had done. In the black lighting the sparkles shimmered and the stars shone. "I'll lay may love....between the stars," she sang.
"And over there," she thought to herself, "is where we'll set up the stage."
**********************************************
Rebekah's evil idea
-Rebekah-
Rebekah glanced about the corner looking for possible witnesses. When she was sure there were non about she hurridly slipped around the wall and raced down the hall. A peculiar smell reached her and she quickly leapt up onto a table and sat very still. Two goblins came waddling around the corner muttering to eeach other in their stitled english. One paused and looked up at her and Rebekah caught her breath trying to stay as still as possible. The creature cocked its head and elbowed its companion. "I don't remember that thing being up there before." It said.
The other goblin cocked its head in a strangly dog like fashion. "Me neither. But cha know the boss, he got strange taste."
"Ain't that true." The two goblins turned and continued walking. When they were out of hearing range Rebekah jumped down and made a face in thier general direction. "Good thing goblins are so stupid!" She muttered as she hurried the other way. She found herself in front of a large door and smiled as she pulled out a bag and some rope. "Oh, Jareth!"
She giggled as she opened the door and sneaked in. She saw a whisp of blond hair poking out of the covers on the bed. Quietly making her way up to it she thanked whatever gods were listening that Jareth had opted to take his afternoon nap. Actually it hadn't been much of a choice. She lifted a little vial up to her lips and kissed it. Poison, what a wonderful invention.
Cautiosly she reached out and poked the sleeping form. When nothing happened she grinned and began shoving the blankets under the prone body and tie the Goblin King up in a package of silk. Reaching into her pocket she pulled out a crystal that Afton had armed her with. There was no way she would be able to lift and carry Jareth, no matter how thin he was. She held the crystal out and consentrated. A glow formed and enclosed both her and her package in its soft light before it winked out taking the two forms with it.
*****************
(Note: About 1 hour later)
Rebekah absently kicked at one of the fieries as it tried to pull her ankle off. Those creatures were beginning to bother her. She shifted slightly and began to wonder if Jareth was going to ever wake up. Carefully moving her hankerchief that had been designed to keep her nose safe from the noxious fumes coming off of the bog of eternal stench she admired her work.
Jareth hung limply from the rope she had used to tie him from the tree. His feet were about six inches from the putrid water and any prolonged struggling would dunk them in. If this little trap didn't buy Delilah and the others some time, nothing would. Oh sure, eventually he'd figure out how to get down but it was going to take some time. Noticing that his eyelids were beginning to flicker she got up and slowly made her way around a tree. Her job was done, might as well get a better look at this Labyrinth before heading back for the party. As she walked a ways she suddenly heard a cry of surprise and rage and couldn't repress an evil smile.
This was indeed going to be fun!