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I dedicate this story to the 20th Anniversary of The Storyteller, which is today.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you had joined us in our last short tale, you might reminisce how I had successfully convinced young Sarah Williams to go out and find defenders and protectors of magic and the supernatural to help form the group that was needed to stop Jareth from tampering with whatever force he plans to use for his horrible, dreadful gain.
Dreadful, indeed! The nerve he had of coming in here and making things so dark and cool. What plans does he have anyway?
I still cannot utter a word about what I know. For I could run the risk of interfering with unearthly forces myself. All I can tell is that we are coming very near to the real beginning of our marvelous tale of good versus evil…the mythical versus the supernatural…the sinful conflicting with the righteous. All of it will come together, once Sarah completes the greatest task in her life.
Immediately after my visit to her home, she left to find the defenders and protectors needed to complete our Nightstalker group. Aided by the knowledge that I had bestowed upon her, without even her knowing it, as well as her friends from Jareth’s dreaded labyrinth (Sir Didymus and Ambrosius, Hoggle, and Ludo), she was able to find the first defender of the underground magical world in New York City, the young American Dragon known as Jake Long, at his grandfather’s electronics shop on Canal Street.
“Why do we need a dragon to help us stop Jareth?” asked the worried dwarf that was Hoggle, who once had a fear-induced loyalty to Jareth as he resided in his labyrinth, only to have it swept away by his budding friendship with young Sarah.
“It’s important that we get him to assist us in our mission, Hoggle.” Sarah remarked, ever so willing to complete the task that I had set out for her to accomplish. “The man who came to me earlier in the evening wished that I find the defenders and protectors who could help us stop whatever dark forces that threaten our world.”
“Just be cautious, my lady! For if this dragon threatens your life, Ambrosius and I will not hesitate to slay him to the very ground he walks on!” The brave and yet careless Sir Didymus, who believes he is a great and chivalrous knight, of course, declared this.
Sir Didymus? I think I can recall running into him one time. He has the nerve to a canine a steed, like as if it was some wild horse! Dogs are not horses!
I’m telling a story here, if you don’t mind!
Of course not.
Sarah and her companions entered the shop slowly, and upon their entrance, Trixie and Spud (Jake’s two noble friends) reacted to their appearance with surprise, never seeing creatures as marvelous as the ones Sarah came into the room with. Trixie was most of all worried over the appearance of gigantic beast called Ludo, yet she was unaware of the gentle and playful nature that rests within his monstrous appearance. Spud, on the other hand, was indeed fascinated by Didymus and Hoggle.
“Aw, man! Look at this!” Spud shouted. “It’s a dormouse and a dwarf! Man! Does Jake and his grandpa get the coolest customers or what?!”
“My dear boy, I am not a dormouse!” Didymus exclaimed.
“Spud! What is wrong with you, boy?” Trixie asked him, not before giving him a soft slap against the back of his head. “These folks could be here to cause trouble or somethin’.”
“No, I assure you that we’re not.” Sarah remarked. “We’ve come to find the American Dragon to ask for his assistance.”
“What do you want with our main man, Jake?” Trixie asked.
“A wicked king of goblins that goes by the name ‘Jareth’ is going to unleash an unearthly force soon, just so he can get his filthy mitts on some ridiculous demon.” Hoggle explained.
“Yes, and we need him to help us form a group that will keep all of it from happening.” Sarah added, and Trixie & Spud considered the group’s plea cautiously, wondering if they should lend their assistance on Jake’s behalf.
“You know what? Ya’ll look like you could use some help…goodness knows some of you look like you could use a beautician.” Trixie acknowledged, not taking enough time to consider the greatness of the task that they were accepting. “Whatever ya’ll got Jakey wantin’ to do, I’m sure he can handle it.”
“On the contrary, Trixie…” Luong Lao Shi (Jake’s grandfather) entered the room with Fu Dog and his grandson, Jake Long himself, just as the deal had been made. “The mission that these visitors have been sent to offer is a great one…greater than anything Jake has ever faced before.”
Lao Shi had spoken the whole truth, for he and I have been Nightstalkers before and overcome marvelous odds to protect the earth and every living soul that walks before it. And though those odds were marvelous, they were nothing compare to what awaits us this time.
“Come on, Gramps.” Jake said. “How much greater can whatever’s going on now be?”
“Very much greater, kid.” Fu Dog told him. “I don’t know if you kids have ever been familiar with the forces of the underworld…”
“You mean like that dude with the flamin’ hair in that one Disney flick? I forgot what the name of it was.” Spud uttered, and Fu Dog shook his head over his naivety.
“No, kid! I ain’t talkin’ about your little red devils with the pitchforks and pointy tails!” Fu Dog exclaimed. “We’re talkin’ about the most powerful forces in the universe here. Guys that can steal your soul and make you regret for all of eternity. Fellas that can really make your life a living…well, you know what I’m talking about.”
“Indeed, which is why I must accept this mission for myself only…not Jake or his friends.” Lao Shi suggested, much to the surprise of his grandson.
“W-What?!?!” Jake shouted. “Gramps, you can’t go up against underworld forces by yourself! You’re gonna need me to be there with you!”
“It is much too dangerous, Jake. I have faced odds just as great as this before and survived. You do not have enough training to fight these forces, so therefore, you cannot accept this mission.”
“Gramps, how much do you really trust me and my skills as an American dragon?” Jake asked. “You’re forgotten that I have faced odds just as great as yours and survived myself. If I can go up against people like the Huntsman and the Dark Dragon, then I can go up against whatever these guys have to offer.”
What a brave kid.
Yes, Jake Long is a very noble boy. Even his grandfather knows this for a fact. But there is too much at stake…too many lives on the line for any room for bravery to be needed. Lao Shi knew that for a fact as well, and he couldn’t let Jake or his friends go on this mission alone. That was why he had chosen to assist them, Sarah, and her friends from the labyrinth on this dreadful, disturbing journey. It was indeed an unearthly, brooding war that was coming up from the horizon. And Sarah is going to need some more brave souls to come with the ones she had collected.
So that’s why she is going to the ‘Juniper Lee’ girl?
Of course! Juniper Lee and her companions are the second group of defenders and protectors that is needed for this mission, and Sarah did not hesitate one second to take herself and her friends to the city of Orchid Bay…the city that was only an hour away from New York. What a grand place Orchid Bay was, filled with magical activity everywhere, but only seen by other mythical creatures or humans who either once carried or are carrying the responsibilities of the Te Xuan Ze. And with a powerful Te Xuan Ze like Juniper Lee, Jareth and his unearthly allies do not stand an inch of a chance against our Nightstalker formation.
But…
What do you mean by “but”?
According to your tale about this young Te Xuan Ze, she is bound to the city of Orchid Bay itself. Around the city is a force field, which repels her should she try to walk beyond it. Only when a new Te Xuan Ze is assigned will she be able to pass through the force field. But seeing as how that might be years from now, there is no chance she’ll get us to help stop the Goblin King and his underworld alliance from taking over existence.
Ah, yes, you have reminded me of one unfortunate factor in our plans. And when Sarah had arrived at the home of Juniper Lee in Orchid Bay with her friends, she was alerted of this by Juniper’s grandmother and the previous Te Xuan Ze, Jasmine Lee, who Lao Shi and I have defended the Earth with as honorable Nightstalkers, years ago.
You mention a lot how you, Lao Shi, and Jasmine have defended the realms as Nightstalkers, but you’ve failed to mention who was there to assist you three in your missions.
Who else was there?
Ahem! Fu Dog the talking, streetwise Shar Pei, Monroe the enchanted Scottish pug, and a certain dog that has always been sitting comfortably by your chair, listening to your tales.
All right, all right. Enough with your hogging all of the attention, I have a story that I am in the process of telling.
Just letting them know all of the facts.
Jasmine Lee tries to do every thing she can to free Juniper from the field’s hold over her. But even during a crisis like the one we are facing, she simply does not have the time to find the key to Juniper’s so-called prison.
“I really wish I can help you guys out, but rules are rules, you know.” Juniper told Sarah and her friends.
“That’s not fair!!” Sarah shouted, remembering how the meaning of those very words helped her escape from Jareth’s labyrinth and rescue her baby brother, Toby.
“That’s exactly what I said.” Juniper said, just as her grandmother stepped in and addressed Sarah and her friends.
“I’m still working hard at finding a way for her to leave.” Jasmine very sincerely stated. “But if what you are telling us is a sign of things to come and the Storyteller does in fact need our help, then I’m afraid the reign of the Te Xuan Ze has come to an unfortunate end.”
“Aww, man!!” said Juniper’s youngest brother, Ray-Ray. “Just when I was startin’ to get use to kickin’ some demon butt!”
“How can ya think of kicking butt at a time like this, lad.” Monroe remarked. “Our world will be coming to an end in a month! That is, if these underworld forces decide to make their mark here in Orchid Bay, which could be a one in a million chance.”
“I must say that those are some marvelous odds!” And just like the moment my fateful dog and I heard it, the voice that the group had heard in the room was loud and clear enough to have them doubt their own ears.
“J-J-Jareth?!?!” Hoggle stammered with fear.
Jareth? Oh, no.
Oh, yes! Right in the center of the room did he arrived, his appearance far more ominous than Sarah or Hoggle remembered. Upon seeing this dreadful figure did Juniper and her grandmother stand in a defensive position, ready to defend their house, their family, their friends, and all of existence as we know it.
They aren’t ready, old man. I could strike them all down with one fatal blow if I wished.
You wouldn’t dare, Jareth! It’s not in your nature to kill…to spill the blood of innocent mortals!
I’ve been learning a lot about myself, as I accompany the son of Mephisto, Storyteller. And I must say that the plans he has for this weak excuse of a realm is very intriguing.
Once again you’ve proven that you have no sense of what you’re doing, Goblin King! But even though I can no longer talk you out of it, I can still stop you with my fearless group of defenders and protectors of all things mythical, magical, and supernatural in the world.
And how do you plan on doing that, old man? One of your defenders is being held prison within her own city…a city that I might add will be the last one we conquer, as we strength this realm with our indestructible force!
“And once you get to conquering it, I’ll be waiting here, ready to kick your royal butt!!!” Juniper declares, boldly but foolishly. “Hey! Who the heck is callin’ me foolish?” She hears me! The Te Xuan Ze hears the words that I say at this very moment in time!!!
“Juniper, how long have ya been hearing that voice?” Monroe asks her.
“Ever since we started talking about me being trapped in the city.” Juniper replies.
“Yo! There it goes again!” Her brother says…he hears me as well!! “Yeah, dude. I can hear ya. Don’t have to yell. Sheesh!”
“June! He, the Storyteller, is your way out of Orchid Bay!” Jasmine tells her, and she is very much correct. “If you wish to help these visitors whom he has sent to warn us of this Goblin King’s future wrath, then you must ask him to take us away from here. Ask him to take us to his castle, where we can be safe.”
“O-O.K., Ah-Mah.” Juniper acknowledges.
“What does ‘acknowledges’ mean?” Ray-Ray asks. “STOP THAT!!!!!”
“Shush, boy. Your sister is about to address the Storyteller.” Monroe says. “OK. That is gettin’ a little annoying.” Juniper stands only a foot away from Jareth, as she looks up towards the ceiling and calls out to me.
“Oh, Great Storyteller! Take me away from here! Take me where my family, friends, and I can be safe from the Goblin King!” And after the Te Xuan Ze has uttered those very words do I use my abilities to transport them from Juniper Lee’s home to here in my humble castle, along with Jake Long and his friends and family.
“What the…? How did we get here in this funky old castle?” Trixie asks, as Spud looks across the room and spots Juniper and her companions.
“Sweet honey! There’s one good-looking bee!” Spud exclaims, leaping across the room towards Juniper, only to be tripped by my fateful dog and left falling to the floor, clouds of dust billowing all over.
Watch it, kid!
“Ahhh!! Talking dog!!!” Spud shouts, upon seeing my dog, crawling his way over to Monroe.
“What’s so wrong with a talking dog, lad?” Monroe inquires, and yet Spud still cowers in fear over the phenomenon, even though a dog in his own group is capable of human speech.
“Oh, yeah. I forgot.”
“Sheesh, kid. Get a grip, will ya?” Fu Dog says, as Sarah comes towards me, with a bright smile on her face that can only describe how joyous she was over assembling our new team of Nightstalkers.
“I have good reason to be joyous, Storyteller.” Sarah says. “Now we all can work together to stop Jareth from putting our world in peril, while accompanied by this son of Mephisto that he mentioned.”
“Yo, who is this son of Mephisto?” Jake asks me, and I only stare at my new Nightstalkers for a very long time, uncertain if I should speak the name of the son of the devil himself.
“Son of the devil?!?!” They shout in a great deal of shock.
Oh, you’re really brilliant at keeping secrets.
“I think it is about time you told us the whole story, Teller.” Jasmine suggests. “With much clearance and vivid description.”
“Yes, and without all of the ‘he says’ and ‘she says’, because that is becoming most annoying.” Lao Shi sa…I mean, he demands.
Yes, Storyteller. Let your precious Nightstalkers in on the whole ordeal. It won’t help you any farther in your task to keep Mephisto’s son and me from accomplishing our goal.
Don’t be so certain, Goblin King. For when I finish telling my companions about the story behind the beings that you have allied with, we shall be ready to confront you and keep you from ruining all that mortals have worked so hard for through the centuries.
You self-assured old fool. The rider is coming…and there is nothing you can do about it.
We’ll see.
Something tells me this isn’t going to be a pleasant story.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you had joined us in our last short tale, you might reminisce how I had successfully convinced young Sarah Williams to go out and find defenders and protectors of magic and the supernatural to help form the group that was needed to stop Jareth from tampering with whatever force he plans to use for his horrible, dreadful gain.
Dreadful, indeed! The nerve he had of coming in here and making things so dark and cool. What plans does he have anyway?
I still cannot utter a word about what I know. For I could run the risk of interfering with unearthly forces myself. All I can tell is that we are coming very near to the real beginning of our marvelous tale of good versus evil…the mythical versus the supernatural…the sinful conflicting with the righteous. All of it will come together, once Sarah completes the greatest task in her life.
Immediately after my visit to her home, she left to find the defenders and protectors needed to complete our Nightstalker group. Aided by the knowledge that I had bestowed upon her, without even her knowing it, as well as her friends from Jareth’s dreaded labyrinth (Sir Didymus and Ambrosius, Hoggle, and Ludo), she was able to find the first defender of the underground magical world in New York City, the young American Dragon known as Jake Long, at his grandfather’s electronics shop on Canal Street.
“Why do we need a dragon to help us stop Jareth?” asked the worried dwarf that was Hoggle, who once had a fear-induced loyalty to Jareth as he resided in his labyrinth, only to have it swept away by his budding friendship with young Sarah.
“It’s important that we get him to assist us in our mission, Hoggle.” Sarah remarked, ever so willing to complete the task that I had set out for her to accomplish. “The man who came to me earlier in the evening wished that I find the defenders and protectors who could help us stop whatever dark forces that threaten our world.”
“Just be cautious, my lady! For if this dragon threatens your life, Ambrosius and I will not hesitate to slay him to the very ground he walks on!” The brave and yet careless Sir Didymus, who believes he is a great and chivalrous knight, of course, declared this.
Sir Didymus? I think I can recall running into him one time. He has the nerve to a canine a steed, like as if it was some wild horse! Dogs are not horses!
I’m telling a story here, if you don’t mind!
Of course not.
Sarah and her companions entered the shop slowly, and upon their entrance, Trixie and Spud (Jake’s two noble friends) reacted to their appearance with surprise, never seeing creatures as marvelous as the ones Sarah came into the room with. Trixie was most of all worried over the appearance of gigantic beast called Ludo, yet she was unaware of the gentle and playful nature that rests within his monstrous appearance. Spud, on the other hand, was indeed fascinated by Didymus and Hoggle.
“Aw, man! Look at this!” Spud shouted. “It’s a dormouse and a dwarf! Man! Does Jake and his grandpa get the coolest customers or what?!”
“My dear boy, I am not a dormouse!” Didymus exclaimed.
“Spud! What is wrong with you, boy?” Trixie asked him, not before giving him a soft slap against the back of his head. “These folks could be here to cause trouble or somethin’.”
“No, I assure you that we’re not.” Sarah remarked. “We’ve come to find the American Dragon to ask for his assistance.”
“What do you want with our main man, Jake?” Trixie asked.
“A wicked king of goblins that goes by the name ‘Jareth’ is going to unleash an unearthly force soon, just so he can get his filthy mitts on some ridiculous demon.” Hoggle explained.
“Yes, and we need him to help us form a group that will keep all of it from happening.” Sarah added, and Trixie & Spud considered the group’s plea cautiously, wondering if they should lend their assistance on Jake’s behalf.
“You know what? Ya’ll look like you could use some help…goodness knows some of you look like you could use a beautician.” Trixie acknowledged, not taking enough time to consider the greatness of the task that they were accepting. “Whatever ya’ll got Jakey wantin’ to do, I’m sure he can handle it.”
“On the contrary, Trixie…” Luong Lao Shi (Jake’s grandfather) entered the room with Fu Dog and his grandson, Jake Long himself, just as the deal had been made. “The mission that these visitors have been sent to offer is a great one…greater than anything Jake has ever faced before.”
Lao Shi had spoken the whole truth, for he and I have been Nightstalkers before and overcome marvelous odds to protect the earth and every living soul that walks before it. And though those odds were marvelous, they were nothing compare to what awaits us this time.
“Come on, Gramps.” Jake said. “How much greater can whatever’s going on now be?”
“Very much greater, kid.” Fu Dog told him. “I don’t know if you kids have ever been familiar with the forces of the underworld…”
“You mean like that dude with the flamin’ hair in that one Disney flick? I forgot what the name of it was.” Spud uttered, and Fu Dog shook his head over his naivety.
“No, kid! I ain’t talkin’ about your little red devils with the pitchforks and pointy tails!” Fu Dog exclaimed. “We’re talkin’ about the most powerful forces in the universe here. Guys that can steal your soul and make you regret for all of eternity. Fellas that can really make your life a living…well, you know what I’m talking about.”
“Indeed, which is why I must accept this mission for myself only…not Jake or his friends.” Lao Shi suggested, much to the surprise of his grandson.
“W-What?!?!” Jake shouted. “Gramps, you can’t go up against underworld forces by yourself! You’re gonna need me to be there with you!”
“It is much too dangerous, Jake. I have faced odds just as great as this before and survived. You do not have enough training to fight these forces, so therefore, you cannot accept this mission.”
“Gramps, how much do you really trust me and my skills as an American dragon?” Jake asked. “You’re forgotten that I have faced odds just as great as yours and survived myself. If I can go up against people like the Huntsman and the Dark Dragon, then I can go up against whatever these guys have to offer.”
What a brave kid.
Yes, Jake Long is a very noble boy. Even his grandfather knows this for a fact. But there is too much at stake…too many lives on the line for any room for bravery to be needed. Lao Shi knew that for a fact as well, and he couldn’t let Jake or his friends go on this mission alone. That was why he had chosen to assist them, Sarah, and her friends from the labyrinth on this dreadful, disturbing journey. It was indeed an unearthly, brooding war that was coming up from the horizon. And Sarah is going to need some more brave souls to come with the ones she had collected.
So that’s why she is going to the ‘Juniper Lee’ girl?
Of course! Juniper Lee and her companions are the second group of defenders and protectors that is needed for this mission, and Sarah did not hesitate one second to take herself and her friends to the city of Orchid Bay…the city that was only an hour away from New York. What a grand place Orchid Bay was, filled with magical activity everywhere, but only seen by other mythical creatures or humans who either once carried or are carrying the responsibilities of the Te Xuan Ze. And with a powerful Te Xuan Ze like Juniper Lee, Jareth and his unearthly allies do not stand an inch of a chance against our Nightstalker formation.
But…
What do you mean by “but”?
According to your tale about this young Te Xuan Ze, she is bound to the city of Orchid Bay itself. Around the city is a force field, which repels her should she try to walk beyond it. Only when a new Te Xuan Ze is assigned will she be able to pass through the force field. But seeing as how that might be years from now, there is no chance she’ll get us to help stop the Goblin King and his underworld alliance from taking over existence.
Ah, yes, you have reminded me of one unfortunate factor in our plans. And when Sarah had arrived at the home of Juniper Lee in Orchid Bay with her friends, she was alerted of this by Juniper’s grandmother and the previous Te Xuan Ze, Jasmine Lee, who Lao Shi and I have defended the Earth with as honorable Nightstalkers, years ago.
You mention a lot how you, Lao Shi, and Jasmine have defended the realms as Nightstalkers, but you’ve failed to mention who was there to assist you three in your missions.
Who else was there?
Ahem! Fu Dog the talking, streetwise Shar Pei, Monroe the enchanted Scottish pug, and a certain dog that has always been sitting comfortably by your chair, listening to your tales.
All right, all right. Enough with your hogging all of the attention, I have a story that I am in the process of telling.
Just letting them know all of the facts.
Jasmine Lee tries to do every thing she can to free Juniper from the field’s hold over her. But even during a crisis like the one we are facing, she simply does not have the time to find the key to Juniper’s so-called prison.
“I really wish I can help you guys out, but rules are rules, you know.” Juniper told Sarah and her friends.
“That’s not fair!!” Sarah shouted, remembering how the meaning of those very words helped her escape from Jareth’s labyrinth and rescue her baby brother, Toby.
“That’s exactly what I said.” Juniper said, just as her grandmother stepped in and addressed Sarah and her friends.
“I’m still working hard at finding a way for her to leave.” Jasmine very sincerely stated. “But if what you are telling us is a sign of things to come and the Storyteller does in fact need our help, then I’m afraid the reign of the Te Xuan Ze has come to an unfortunate end.”
“Aww, man!!” said Juniper’s youngest brother, Ray-Ray. “Just when I was startin’ to get use to kickin’ some demon butt!”
“How can ya think of kicking butt at a time like this, lad.” Monroe remarked. “Our world will be coming to an end in a month! That is, if these underworld forces decide to make their mark here in Orchid Bay, which could be a one in a million chance.”
“I must say that those are some marvelous odds!” And just like the moment my fateful dog and I heard it, the voice that the group had heard in the room was loud and clear enough to have them doubt their own ears.
“J-J-Jareth?!?!” Hoggle stammered with fear.
Jareth? Oh, no.
Oh, yes! Right in the center of the room did he arrived, his appearance far more ominous than Sarah or Hoggle remembered. Upon seeing this dreadful figure did Juniper and her grandmother stand in a defensive position, ready to defend their house, their family, their friends, and all of existence as we know it.
They aren’t ready, old man. I could strike them all down with one fatal blow if I wished.
You wouldn’t dare, Jareth! It’s not in your nature to kill…to spill the blood of innocent mortals!
I’ve been learning a lot about myself, as I accompany the son of Mephisto, Storyteller. And I must say that the plans he has for this weak excuse of a realm is very intriguing.
Once again you’ve proven that you have no sense of what you’re doing, Goblin King! But even though I can no longer talk you out of it, I can still stop you with my fearless group of defenders and protectors of all things mythical, magical, and supernatural in the world.
And how do you plan on doing that, old man? One of your defenders is being held prison within her own city…a city that I might add will be the last one we conquer, as we strength this realm with our indestructible force!
“And once you get to conquering it, I’ll be waiting here, ready to kick your royal butt!!!” Juniper declares, boldly but foolishly. “Hey! Who the heck is callin’ me foolish?” She hears me! The Te Xuan Ze hears the words that I say at this very moment in time!!!
“Juniper, how long have ya been hearing that voice?” Monroe asks her.
“Ever since we started talking about me being trapped in the city.” Juniper replies.
“Yo! There it goes again!” Her brother says…he hears me as well!! “Yeah, dude. I can hear ya. Don’t have to yell. Sheesh!”
“June! He, the Storyteller, is your way out of Orchid Bay!” Jasmine tells her, and she is very much correct. “If you wish to help these visitors whom he has sent to warn us of this Goblin King’s future wrath, then you must ask him to take us away from here. Ask him to take us to his castle, where we can be safe.”
“O-O.K., Ah-Mah.” Juniper acknowledges.
“What does ‘acknowledges’ mean?” Ray-Ray asks. “STOP THAT!!!!!”
“Shush, boy. Your sister is about to address the Storyteller.” Monroe says. “OK. That is gettin’ a little annoying.” Juniper stands only a foot away from Jareth, as she looks up towards the ceiling and calls out to me.
“Oh, Great Storyteller! Take me away from here! Take me where my family, friends, and I can be safe from the Goblin King!” And after the Te Xuan Ze has uttered those very words do I use my abilities to transport them from Juniper Lee’s home to here in my humble castle, along with Jake Long and his friends and family.
“What the…? How did we get here in this funky old castle?” Trixie asks, as Spud looks across the room and spots Juniper and her companions.
“Sweet honey! There’s one good-looking bee!” Spud exclaims, leaping across the room towards Juniper, only to be tripped by my fateful dog and left falling to the floor, clouds of dust billowing all over.
Watch it, kid!
“Ahhh!! Talking dog!!!” Spud shouts, upon seeing my dog, crawling his way over to Monroe.
“What’s so wrong with a talking dog, lad?” Monroe inquires, and yet Spud still cowers in fear over the phenomenon, even though a dog in his own group is capable of human speech.
“Oh, yeah. I forgot.”
“Sheesh, kid. Get a grip, will ya?” Fu Dog says, as Sarah comes towards me, with a bright smile on her face that can only describe how joyous she was over assembling our new team of Nightstalkers.
“I have good reason to be joyous, Storyteller.” Sarah says. “Now we all can work together to stop Jareth from putting our world in peril, while accompanied by this son of Mephisto that he mentioned.”
“Yo, who is this son of Mephisto?” Jake asks me, and I only stare at my new Nightstalkers for a very long time, uncertain if I should speak the name of the son of the devil himself.
“Son of the devil?!?!” They shout in a great deal of shock.
Oh, you’re really brilliant at keeping secrets.
“I think it is about time you told us the whole story, Teller.” Jasmine suggests. “With much clearance and vivid description.”
“Yes, and without all of the ‘he says’ and ‘she says’, because that is becoming most annoying.” Lao Shi sa…I mean, he demands.
Yes, Storyteller. Let your precious Nightstalkers in on the whole ordeal. It won’t help you any farther in your task to keep Mephisto’s son and me from accomplishing our goal.
Don’t be so certain, Goblin King. For when I finish telling my companions about the story behind the beings that you have allied with, we shall be ready to confront you and keep you from ruining all that mortals have worked so hard for through the centuries.
You self-assured old fool. The rider is coming…and there is nothing you can do about it.
We’ll see.
Something tells me this isn’t going to be a pleasant story.
MARVELOUS MINI'S
