Escape (1/1) - Prequel to "LeChuck : The Deep Darkness" 
by Nicoleia.  (nmayer@gucis.cit.gu.edu.au)
Rating : MSR (sort of)

Summary : Margaret Scully, having not seen her daughter for two
        years, receives a surprise...


Disclaimer : The characters contained within are the property of
Chris Carter, Fox Broadcasting and Ten-Thirteen Productions.  No
copyright infringement is intended.  
 

Author's Note:
        This was inspired by Nicole Perry, whose wonderful stories 
have given me hours of enjoyment.  She has graciously allowed me to
borrow the situations created in her fascinating Road Drama, but this
is NOT a sequel to her work.  More of a possibility...
     But if you're interested in the history of this story, read :
"Goin' Nowhere"
"Passing Through"
"At the Blue Hotel"
"Down the Tracks"   all by Nicole Perry. (you can find them at new 
 replacements for the Gossamer Archives)

Even if you're not interested, read them anyway!  They're
definitely worth it!


Now, on to the story...

                   ===========================
     
                            ESCAPE.     
                        
     Margaret Scully sat wistfully in the rocking chair on her
veranda.  It had been 2 years since she lost her second daughter,
and she still had no idea if Dana was alright.  Margaret was a very
strong woman, having lost both her husband and her 2 daughters
within an 18 month time span.  Her sons lived far from home, and if
it wasn't for Walter Skinner, Margaret would have been all alone. 

     Walter had been a lifeline to her, ever since that terrible
phone call announcing that Dana and her partner, Fox Mulder, were
in trouble, on the run, and, quite possibly, dead.  Since then,
there had been a few clues that they were alive, but Margaret knew
that their only hope for survival was to completely cut off contact
with everything and everyone they ever knew.  

     Margaret's friendship with Walter had deepened.  He seemed to
be the only one interested in finding the rogue agents, alive being
the operative word.  The fragile clues that turned up every so
often had brought hope to them both.  

     But there had been nothing for at least 10 months.  Margaret
didn't want to consider the awful possibility that the hitmen had
finally caught up with them.   She preferred to entertain the
possibility that the pair had finally escaped the country, and gone
somewhere safe.  Perhaps England, or Australia...

     She was glad that Dana and Fox had each other.  A very special
friendship had existed between the couple when she had known them,
one that could have developed into love if only the two of them
hadn't been so stubborn as to not open their eyes.  Margaret knew
of the bond that existed between them, and believed that Fox would
take care of her Dana.  Especially if the rumours were true, and
Dana was blind.  

     A car pulled up outside of the house, and Margaret glanced up
in surprise.  She wasn't expecting anyone right now, least of all
a friendly-looking, large man carrying - a baby capsule?
"Mrs Margaret Scully?"  he called.
She nodded in confirmation.  
"I have something for you.  "

     A look of apprehension crossed the woman's face, and she stood
up slowly.  The man strode across the lawn, and deposited the
capsule into her arms.  
"What's this?"  Margaret asked in confusion.  

     "I can't tell you much.  I was at the airport in Texas,
heading for this city, and I came across this," he gestured to the
capsule," next to my luggage.  The baby has a note attached to her,
with your name and address on it.   I could've handed her over to
the airport officials, but the letter has a note of desperation to
it.  Beats me where it came from, but I've never been able to
resist hard luck cases.  Besides, I love a mystery, and I was
hoping you could shed some light on it.  "     

     With trembling hands, Margaret placed the capsule on the
ground and drew back the cover.  A gorgeous baby, perhaps 8 months
old, stared back at her with big, blue eyes.  Eyes that reminded
her so much of Dana's...

     "The letter's tucked in the side," the man said helpfully.  
Margaret drew it out, and began to read.

" To whoever finds this,
     We most humbly ask your help.  Circumstances beyond our
control prevent us from delivering this child ourselves, and we beg
you to help us.  

     The baby's name is Jenni Samantha Melissa M.  She was born on
June 6, 1998, and her parents love her very much.  But she must
visit her grandmother for a while.  We hope you can help us, and
ensure that she gets to her rightful place.  Please don't give her
to an adoption agency, for we will return for her.   
     Thank you so much. "
Margaret Scully's name and address was listed on the bottom.  
     "There's another letter too, addressed to the baby.  I didn't
open that one."  said the man.  
Margaret couldn't believe what she'd just read.  Shaking all over,
she suddenly recalled the immense danger she could be in, just by
having contact with her daughter.  And now granddaughter.  

     "Why don't you come inside with me for a moment.  Would you
like a drink?  Coffee?  Tea?"  Margaret knew she was babbling, but
she wanted to get inside, away from the unseen yet prying eyes of
the government.  Silently, she thanked God for sending her
granddaughter with this man who had the heart of an angel.  

     "Well sure, why not?  By the way, I'm Henry Calrissian," he
said, finally introducing himself.  He picked up the now-open baby
capsule, and followed Margaret inside.  

                 ******************************

     "Real cute kid, this is."  Jenni gurgled happily.  Margaret
marvelled over the health she appeared to be in.  After all that
she'd probably been through...

     Reaching out to gently brush the baby's thick, dark hair,
Margaret could see that Jenni had features from both of her
parents.  There was no question that she was Dana Scully's
daughter.  Or Fox Mulder's. 

     A huge smile erupted on Margaret's face as she realised what
this child meant.  Dana had always vowed that if she ever had a
child, it would have a father as well.  She and Fox must have
finally realised their feelings for each other.  And been married. 


     "What's so funny?" asked Henry in a kind voice.  
"I just realised that I have a new son.  Well, son-in-law," she
amended.  "But he's always been like a son to me, someone I could
trust to take care of my daughter..."

     Henry sat back and smiled.  In a world so full of cynicism, it
was rare to see sudden joy envelop someone.  
"So I take it you're happy to have this baby unexpectedly thrust
upon you?"  

     Margaret hadn't considered that yet.  "At the moment, I'm just
so happy to know that they're alright, and to know that they found
each other in love, well, it's every mother's wish to see her
children happily married.  And I know that those two could never
leave each other.  I'm a grandmother!"  she said again, awe
breaking out over her face.  

     Henry grinned again at Margaret's enthusiasm.  "Well,
congratulations!  But I really would love to know what this is all
about.  That is, if ya don't mind tellin' me.  "

     Margaret picked up Jenni and held her close.  Instinctively,
she believed she could trust this man, but she still didn't dare
reveal the truth.

     "My daughter is... a spy.  I shouldn't even be telling you
this, but about a two years ago, she and her partner were sent on
a top secret mission.  We knew then that she couldn't have any
contact with her family, but it's still hard...  

     "Anyway, in her line of work," she leaned forward
significantly, "children, babies are definitely not allowed.  I
suppose when she discovered she was pregnant, she tried to hide it
for as long as possible.  And then looked after Jenni while she
could.  But I know my daughter gets in very tough, dangerous
situations sometimes, and so she had to send Jenni to me."

     Henry nodded in agreement.  "But why the secrecy?  Surely your
daughter could have trusted her bosses to deliver the child to
you?"

     "Uh, I think the last I heard, they weren't allowed contact
with even their superiors.  I really shouldn't be telling you any
of this, but I trust you."  She laughed nervously.

     "Hey, don't worry about me.  I can keep a secret for as long
as you want. "
"Thank-you," whispered Margaret.  "Thank-you so much, for all of
your help."


                 **************************************

     "Do you think we did the right thing?"
"Dana, we've been over this a million times.  There was just no
other choice.  Better to send our child away for a while than risk
losing her for a lifetime."

     Scully sighed.  She missed her baby so much that the feelings
were almost impossible to bear.  "I just can't help but think that
I'm being a terrible mother.  Abandoning my, our, own child..."
She shuddered, and drew a deep breath.  No time for crying now. 
She'd already shed a million tears, and she knew that more were to
follow.  But for now, she had to be calm and strong.  Now was the
time for escape.

     "Ready?" Mulder asked softly.  They were crouched beneath the
loading docks at a private airport.  In front of them stood a
small, private plane, a plane that could be their salvation.  

     "All set," replied Scully.  She clutched the bag that held her
meagre possessions, and looked at Mulder.  With his eyes, he
silently communicated that now was the moment to go.

     Furtively, the couple ran from the shelter to the plane. 
Mulder was bent over double as he raced, knowing just how much
depended on them making this sprint undetected.  He'd paid a lot of
money, almost the last of his savings, to gain passage on this
plane, and if the plan failed he knew that they were destined to be
stuck in America always.  Or at least until they were hunted down. 
No one could hide forever, even a pair of agents who had so much
luck in the past.  

     Scully scurried up the stairs, pausing only to check that her
husband was right behind her.  "Go!" he whispered.  She scrambled
to the back of the plane, and buried herself under a pile of
blankets.  Mulder was soon to follow, only he hid in a luggage
compartment with his bag on top.  

     Presently, the couple heard the voices of the pilot and his
"lone" passenger.  Scully stifled a groan as a suitcase was roughly
thrown on the pile under which she hid.  She knew she would have
black and blue bruised ribs the next day, but it was a small price
to pay for freedom.

     Freedom.  It seemed like an unreal dream.  They had been
running for so long now that they had almost forgotten what it was
like to not have to watch their backs every five seconds.  What it
was like to be able to walk even outside without fear.  What it was
like to feel safe.  

     The engines roared to life, and Mulder almost breathed a sigh
of relief.  Not long now, as long as they had been undetected in
getting to the airport, there couldn't be anyone tracking them down
and delaying the plane.  The noise intensified, and Mulder felt the
plane lift off.  As it did so, a tear of joy trickled down Scully's
face.  They were getting away.  Finally.  And even though it was
without their daughter, they would be safe, and could be happy.  
Together.

END Prequel.  

        Comments?  Did you love/hate it?  I would LOVE some
feedback!
(Even if to say you read it!) I can be reached at : 
nmayer@gucis.cit.gu.edu.au

LeChuck : The Deep Darkness  (1/8)
            (Sequel to "Escape")
 
by Nicoleia.  (nmayer@gucis.cit.gu.edu.au) 
Rating : MSR (sort of.  There is an X-file as well!)

Summary : Mulder and Scully, finally escaping the USA after being 
          on the run for more than two years, end up on a very
          strange island... 


Disclaimer : Characters contained within are the property of
Chris Carter, Fox Broadcasting and Ten-Thirteen Productions, AND
LucasArts and other creative people.  No copyright infringement is
intended at all.   
 

Author's Notes:
        
1)
        Somehow, this ended up as a cross between The X-Files and 
Monkey Island (which ended up making a GREAT x-file!)   If you've 
never experienced the legendary "Monkey Island" adventure games, it
doesn't matter as I've explained it pretty well in the story.
        
     For those who have, sorry but this story doesn't have the 
hilarity the games did.  But I wrapped up all the hanging threads
from "Monkey Island 2" (and then heard that the third one is being
released next year!) 

2)        
        Huge thanks goes to Nicole Perry, whose incredible "On the 
Road Drama" provided the initial set up for this piece.  This is
NOT a sequel to her work, but a possible future.  (And isn't the
future always in motion anyway?!)

        If you want to read more about how M&S ended up in the 
situation of being on the run, read Nicole Perry's stories: 
"Goin' Nowhere"
"Passing Through"
"At the Blue Hotel"
"Down the Tracks"   

I promise they're worth it!


Now, on to my story...


                ======================================

                 LECHUCK : THE DEEP DARKNESS.


     Dana Scully started as she felt the gentle but jarring bumps
of wheels hitting the ground.  They had landed.  She found it hard
to believe that she'd fallen asleep, but she was physically and
emotionally exhausted.  Not long now...

     "Well, sir, we've arrived.  I hope you had a pleasant trip."
"Yes, yes," muttered the businessman.  "Help me get my case."
Scully held her breath.  The pilot knew they were there, but he was
the only one.  And in any case, the pilot's loyalty was not
guaranteed.  He'd already sold out to Mulder, so who knew what he
might do for a larger sum of money?
                                                      
     But their fears were unfounded, and they soon heard a crashing
through the bush followed by a low rumbling.  They waited another
ten minutes before daring to move.  

            ****************************************

     Mulder peered around the plane's doorway.  Seeing nothing but
jungle and an abandoned shelter, he jumped to the ground.  "All
clear, Scully!"

     She stepped up to the exit, and felt Mulder's arms reach up
and grab her around the waist.  He lifted her down and swung her
around in a dance of joy.  

     "We're free, Dana!" he whooped.  He laughed, the first real
laugh in so many years.  Scully's face broke out in a huge grin as
she comprehended the reality of their situation.  For the first
time, she could feel safe and enjoy the love of her soul mate.  

     A warm, tropical breeze blew through the trees, carrying on it
the soft scent of the ocean.  Birds chirped as the leaves above
rustled gently.

     "It's paradise, Dana," Mulder tenderly whispered, kissing her
on the nose.  They'd never had a honeymoon as such, and he realised
that now could be a delayed honeymoon.  They both deserved it.

     "I love you so much," murmured Mulder into his wife's hair. 
He brought one of his hands up from around her waist and gently
tilted her face to his.  They shared a long, lingering kiss as the
tranquil breeze rushed past them and shared its approval.  

             ******************************************

     "So where exactly are we?" Scully asked.  She knew that the
pilot had taken the businessman to a secret boat ramp.  Scully
suspected that the operation being run here wasn't entirely legal,
but there was nothing she could do about it.  After all, it was
this going-on that had allowed Mulder and her their freedom.  

     "We're on an island called, believe it or not, Dinky Island. 
Uninhabited, but tourists drop by frequently from other islands in
the area.  The plan is to, well, live in the jungle for a while,
then catch a boat ride to a populated place.  From there, well,
we'll see."

     "We could always stay here forever," suggested Scully
wistfully.  "It seems so perfect and serene.  I just wish..." but
she broke off the thought herself.  They'd been over it a million
times, and Scully knew she had to put Jenni out of her mind for the
time being.    

     "How did you manage to arrange all this?"  Mulder had told her
very few of the details of their escape, realising it was best to
involve few people as possible.  And Scully had been busy
orchestrating their daughter's departure.  

     "Believe it or not, I still have a few friends in advantageous
positions.  A suggestion here, a bribe there..."
"Okay, I don't want to know!  C'mon, let's go explore!"  Scully
giggled.  A wave of happiness had come over her, and she felt free
and frivolous.  She hadn't felt like this since she was a carefree
teenager, so she was determined to enjoy herself. 

     Grabbing Mulder's hand, she raced towards the trees where the
sound of the ocean called.  

               **********************************

     "I thought you said this island was uninhabited," Scully
commented.  They'd been strolling along the beach, hand-in-hand,
for the last couple of hours.  Their shoes were tied around their
necks, and every so often a gentle wave scurried up the beach to
cool their toes.  

     In the distance, a small shack was visible with a spire of
smoke rising from what appeared to be a fireplace.  
"In that case, I'm glad we decided to explore.  So, do we go
introduce ourselves, or do we hide?"

     "I'm tired of hiding, Mulder.  Besides, what's an island
hermit going to suspect?  Race you!" she said before taking off at
light speed.
"Hey, wait up!" Mulder shouted as he chased after her.  He couldn't
believe the change in Scully's personality that day.  But he liked
it
very much.  

     Mulder soon caught up with his wife, and grabbed her around
the waist.  "This'll teach you to run off without me!"   He began
tickling her, and she begged for mercy.   "Okay, you win!"  

     "You didn't really think you could escape me, did you?"  The
difference in their heights was almost comical, but Mulder knew
never to mention Scully's short legs.  He had once in an
uncharacteristic fit of spite, and Scully made him pay for it with
seething gazes for the next week.


     "Ah, new students!"  An old man left the shack and tottered
over to the couple.  His skin was withered and brown from exposure
to the elements for many years.  He wore tattered rags, an outfit
suited to his leathery face partially obscured by a dirty white
beard.  Blue eyes gazed piercingly from beneath his weathered hat. 
"I always knew someone would come to learn the mysteries of Zen-
Taoism.  It just took a while for word to get out.  "

     Mulder and Scully looked at each other.  "Actually," began
Scully, carefully phrasing the sentences in her head,"we're just
visiting this island for a while.  We really don't have time for a
lesson."

    Mulder cut in,"But maybe, you could tell us a little more about
this place?  And how you came to be here?"
"Well why don't you sit down."  The man led them to a woven blanket
between two shady palm trees, and gestured broadly.  The three sat
in a circle.  

     "My name's Herman.  I travel from place to place, becoming one
with nature and learning all I can so I can teach it to my
students.  Problem is, I don't seem to get many of those.  'Cept
for the ghosts..." and he laughed ominously.

     Scully raised her eyebrows and mouthed "Ghosts?" to her
partner.  Just listen, he communicated back.

     But it soon became obvious that the man was quite insane. 
Stories about giant monkeys and vengeful ghost-pirates flowed from
his lips in an constant stream of chatter.  

     "They're still here, you know," Herman whispered
conspiratively.  "Just last week, terrible things happened on this
island.  The evil hasn't gone away.  It's still down there, down
below our feet.  I thought I banished him once, but he came back. 
He's going to kill us all!  "

     "Who is this evil one you mention?" asked Mulder, his
curiosity piqued.  Scully almost gave an exasperated sigh.  Aliens
she could accept now after all she'd seen, but ghosts?

     Herman's tone grew even darker.  "He's back from the dead. 
You'd know it just to look at him.  His body looks like it's
decaying, but the spirit inside him is just as powerful as ever. 
He'll stop at nothing for revenge.  Look at what he's done
already!" 

    "And what exactly is that, Mr Herman?"  enquired Scully.  
"He caused the explosion, I know he did," shuddered Herman.  "In
the middle of this island, there's a huge hole.  It leads to the
underworld, a world of magic where the spirits run rampage and I
hear the tortured screams of my friend.  And," he drew a deep
breath, "he caused that huge storm that wrecked the pretty lady's
ship and stranded her here too."

     "What lady?" asked Mulder.  Scully shot him a dirty look.
"The one that came to save her boyfriend from the evil.  But she's
trapped here too.  We're all trapped!"  With that, Herman began
laughing hysterically.  "Trapped, trapped, trapped!"  He was still
laughing as Mulder and Scully said goodbye and walked away.

     "Well, Scully, what do you think?  Kind've reminds you of back
when we worked on the X-Files, doesn't it?"
"If you ask me, that man's had a little too much exposure to the
sun and not enough exposure to reality.  I mean, really, evil and
ghosts on a tropical island like this?  That's the sort of story
I'd expect to find near a swampland or something, not paradise!"

     "That's my Scully, always the sceptic," smiled Mulder.  "Let's
keep exploring.  We need to find somewhere to stay until a tourist
boat arrives!"  Linking arms, they continued their circumnavigation
of the island.  

     They eventually reached their starting point, and decided to
head inland.  They had seen a rise of land from the beach, and
realised that a hill would be the best vantage point to survey the
whole island.  

     Mulder pushed through the trees ahead of Scully, creating a
path for them both.  Here the jungle was thick and overgrown with
vines hanging down from every conceivable place.  

     Suddenly, a huge noise broke the silence of the jungle.  The
roar grew louder, and Mulder and Scully grabbed each other with
tredipation.  After all they'd been through, was it possible that
Herman's stories were true?

     The sound grew to almost unbearable levels, and Scully started
laughing.  
"What?" asked Mulder, confusion all over his face.
"It's the plane!" she gasped.  "We were scared witless by the
plane!"  Mulder joined her laughter, and they looked to the sky as
the aeroplane flew over the horizon with smiles on still on their
faces.

     "Shall we continue, my fair queen?" invited Mulder, holding
open the bushes for Scully.  
She replied with a gleam in her eyes. "Of course, loyal servant. 
Lead on!"

     The pair crashed through the bush with the delicacy of a
charging rhinoceros.  The air was thick and steamy with the scent
of a hot rainforest.  Trickles of warm water dripped from the
leaves, joining the sweat running down Mulder's face.  As time
passed, he grew increasingly irritated with the mosquitos that
buzzed around them, hungry for fresh blood.  

     Mulder swore as his foot got caught in a vine yet again. 
Shaking it off, he slipped and quickly stepped backwards.  The
ground beneath him squelched offensively as the mud crawled it's
way through both his shoes and socks.  "Maybe we shouldn't have put
our shoes back on.  Who's stupid idea was it, anyway?"  He turned
around and glared at Scully.

     "I told you, there are poisonous flora and fauna we could step
on.  "  She was fed up with the trek through the forest as well. 
"Anyway, you should have told me where we were going.  Our
clothes," Scully gestured to the flimsy shirt she wore, "are NOT
exactly suited to this environment.  "  She looked down at her
jeans.  They were covered with mud, as were Mulder's.  

     "Don't you dare blame me.  I'm the one who got us away, aren't
I?  You should be grateful."
"Grateful that you're dragging me through this ghastly forest?  I
would've been better off if I'd never come with you, if I'd never
met you!"

     That was a low blow, and Scully knew it.  But she couldn't
seem to stop herself.  It had been months since she'd rested
properly, she was tired, irritable and fed up with the forest.  

     "Yeah, well who's fault is it that we had to go into hiding? 
You're the one who didn't know when to stop and leave the damn
truth alone!"   He pushed angrily through the next bush, and
stopped dead in his tracks.  

     Before him, was the hill.  And on top of the hill stood a lone
woman.   She was a figure of beauty, with wild dark hair streaming
into the wind.  Dressed in purple and black with a magenta scarf
wrapped around her head,  she looked perfectly at home in her
surroundings, until Mulder saw her face.  Despair and sadness was
written all over the woman's beautiful features as her deep blue
eyes gazed sorrowfully to the horizon.  

     The wind rippled her silk shirt, and Mulder realised he had
never seen anyone quite like her in his life.  Tall, stunning and
slim, she had the aura of a person who had been through many tough
times, yet was not used to being in such a position of
hopelessness.  

     "Move, will you!" grumbled Scully, shoving Mulder in the back
and jarring him out of his reverie.  She contemplated picking up a
handful of mud and smushing it in his face.  Anything to wipe that
stupid look off it.  

     "Look, Scully," he said, his anger temporarily forgotten. 
Mulder pointed in the direction of the hill.
Scully snapped back a reply. "If you'd move, then maybe I could
see!"
     "Sorry," he murmured distractedly.  He took a step to the
side.  
"Well it seems our friend Herman wasn't completely insane after
all.  "
"Hmmm."
"Mulder!  Are you listening to me?" she demanded, her eyes flashing
dangerously in the sun.
"We have to go talk to her.  See if she knows anything."  Mulder
started up the hill, oblivious to Scully's exasperation.
"Knows anything about what?  Mulder!  Come back here!  Mulder!" 
Grumbling under her breath about how she would make him pay later,
she began trailing after him.  

               ************************************

     "Hi!" Mulder lamely called.  He wasn't sure what to say to
someone who was obviously upset and thought she was alone.
The woman turned, and her face rapidly composed itself into a mask
of togetherness.  

     "Where did you come from?" she asked sharply.  "Is there a
boat here?  Who else is with you?  Do you have any voodoo magic?" 
The questions rapidly burst out of her.  

     "Whoa, hold on a second," puffed Mulder as he reached the top
of the hill.  "I'm Fox Mulder."  He held out his hand as way of
greeting, but then thought better of it.  His palms were streaked
with mud whereas this woman appeared immaculate.  

     "So how did you get here?  You're not with THEM, are you?" 
"If you mean the evil ones that the old man was talking about, then
no, we're not.  Anyway, you're telling me that there are other
people on this island?  And I thought it was deserted!"  Mulder
shook his head in disbelief.

     "Of course there are others.  People have been searching these
islands for my grandfather's treasure for years!  Pity he never did
tell me what it was..."
"So they're treasure hunters."  Mulder realised.  "And Herman feels
that he owns the gold, and has to protect it.  "

     "You don't know how wrong you are," the woman said ominously. 
"Bad things are happening here.  Best to stay away.  But it's too
late for that now.  You're already involved. "
"Involved in what?"

     "Maybe we'd better go somewhere less conspicuous.  Up here,
everyone can see you. "  The woman turned, and her jewellery
flashed in the sunlight.  "Oh, and by the way, my name's Elaine. 
Elaine Marley."  

     "Mulder, can you give me a hand!"  Scully's voice drifted up
the side of the hill.  Mulder jumped.  In the presence of the
mysterious woman, he'd almost forgotten about Scully!  He walked to
the side of the hill, and noticed her struggling to get over a
semi-cliff that he'd vaulted past.  

     "Don't bother, Scully.  Elaine and I are coming down anyway."
"Elaine?!" Scully fumed under her breath.  "He only just met the
woman and already he's calling her Elaine?  And he has the nerve to
call me Scully most of the time!" 

     Elaine marched down the hill, pausing briefly to take in
Scully's appearance.  She didn't bother to offer her help, just
nodded and said, "You're with Fox?  Come on then!"  
Mulder loped down the hill, taking long strides to keep up with
Elaine.  Scully could only stare dumbly at him.  

     "Hurry up!   I think Elaine can tell us a lot more about
what's going on than that nutty Herman!"
"Sure.  Fine.  Whatever."  With that, Scully trailed quietly behind
them.      

                       ******************************

     "I thought Herman was kidding when he said there was a gaping
hole in the middle of the island," noted Scully.  The black abyss
loomed before them - a menacing hole in the centre of the jungle. 
Unearthly sounds wafted from the bottomless depths, and Scully
shivered.  She wished she could go to Mulder for comfort, but he
seemed oblivious to her feelings lately.  

     Elaine gestured broadly to the hole.  "I spent a week hanging
in this hole just listening to a friend spin the biggest tale I'd
ever heard.  Then I realised it was true after he fell down and
LeChuck arrived. "

     "How exactly did this LeChuck arrive?"  Scully put herself
into full investigative mode.  There were answers to be found, and
emotions had no place at the moment.

     "I don't exactly know.  I think his ship arrived while I was
listening to Guybrush, and he somehow got to the underworld.  I
think there's another entrance, but it may be that which the undead
traverse through. "
"Guybrush?"  asked Mulder. 

     "Yeah, that's his name.  Guybrush Threepwood.  We used to be
involved, but, well, that's an even longer story.  I came here to
see what he was doing with the treasure, and rescue him, but it
ended up that he fell down the hole.  And then I realised that
LeChuck was down there and who knows what else..."  Elaine's voice
trailed off, and sadness momentarily appeared on her exquisite
face.  

     "Maybe Guybrush means more to you than you thought," suggested
Scully in a soft tone.  Elaine blinked in surprise, and quickly
replied, "Don't be silly.  We're just old friends.  The important
thing now is stopping LeChuck before he can wreck havoc all over
the Caribbean."

     "I agree," asserted Mulder.  "We should do all we can to help
Elaine and stop this man."
"Ghost, well, he used to be," interjected Elaine.  "In fact, he
used to be my sheriff.  He's very adept at changing his appearance,
and I admit that even I've been taken in by him."

     "Okay then!"  Scully's words sounded unnaturally loud, even to
her.  "The first thing we need to do is find a way to get down this
hole.  How did Guybrush do it?"
"He fell down.   But I don't recommend that.  It's a long way."

     Mulder walked to the edge of the pit, and studied the twisted
metal rods hanging from the sides.  "I take it this was manmade?"
"Yes.  My grandfather built a small fortress around his treasure
chest.  I don't think he expected anyone to blow it up!  But that's
Guybrush for you.  He just didn't know what he was opening up when
he lit the dynamite, didn't suspect the evil that lurks below," 
Elaine explained.  "But before we go down there, we need supplies."

     "You mean like food and water?" asked Scully.
"No, protection.  We need to be able to get around undetected, and
keep the voodoo spells away.  Perhaps Herman Toothrot can help us."
Scully shook her head.  Voodoo, magic, spells, it all seemed
ridiculous to her.  "How about," she suggested slowly, "we figure
this out in the morning.  It's getting later, and we need to find
shelter before dark.  I don't know about you, Elaine, but Mulder
and I have been through a lot and we're pretty tired."

     "Well, if you really want to wait..."  Elaine didn't seem to
impressed with the idea.
"Maybe we should follow Scully's advice.  Besides, we can get more
planning done tonight," decided Mulder.
"Okay, then.  Follow me to where I've been sleeping ever since my
boat was destroyed."

     The trio strode off into the jungle.  Again.  

              *****************************************

     Elaine's campsite was small but tidy.  Just like the woman
herself.  "Basically, I've been sleeping on the sand.  It's quite
comfortable, but nothing beats a real bed.   Stream over that way,
fireplace here."

     Mulder nodded.  He was fascinated with this woman who appeared
to have the world at her feet, until now, that is.  She had
success, power, and no one would dare to cross the one-time
governor of Melee Island.  

     As Elaine expertly lit the fire, Mulder wondered if there was
anything she couldn't do.  She already had half a plan worked out
for the next day, and Mulder knew that even if he and Scully hadn't
come along, Elaine could have taken down LeChuck by herself. 
However, it didn't hurt to have help.  

     The firelight flickered over the group as the last rays of
sunset lowered below the horizon.  A flock of birds called to each
other as they flew further inland, presumably to their home.  It
was the perfect romantic setting.

     Except for the fact that there were now two women and one man.

Scully watched the dancing beams of light illuminate Elaine's
glorious hair, and felt hopelessly ordinary.  She couldn't blame
Mulder for being infatuated with Elaine.  Perhaps she should have
expected it.

     As Scully watched the Elaine and her husband chatting
animatedly, she felt more alone than she had felt in years.  The
pair barely noticed Scully as she withdrew herself from the
firelight and took a solitary wander down the beach.  

    The moon was full and luminous as it rose higher in the sky. 
Scully meandered down to the water's edge and let the waves gently
caress her toes.  It was paradise here, but a lonely paradise.    

    Scully gazed out onto the moonlit water, feeling tears well in
her eyes.  She'd prayed so much that when she and Mulder finally
escaped, it would be wonderful and they could finally live together
as a real, married couple.

     But it appeared that her worst nightmares had come true.  Now
she knew that Mulder had married her out of some sort of pity, not
true love.  He'd said he loved her, wanted to spend the rest of his
life with her no matter what the circumstances, and had promised to
stay with her forever.

     Promises built out of desperation, when they'd thought that
they couldn't have anyone else anyway.  Scully hadn't cared,
because Mulder was the only one she wanted anyway.  But Mulder...

     He'd always played the field, had millions, or so it seemed,
of girlfriends when Scully had often been alone.  Then when they
were forced to run away together, Mulder had looked after Scully
and cared for her.  Especially when she was blind.

     When Mulder had asked her to marry him on the day she got her
sight back, Scully had thought the sun would shine forever.  Even
though their lives were still in constant peril, he had declared
her love for her right at the time when he knew they could go their
separate ways.  

     "It would be safer for us to split up," Scully had argued
weakly.  But she needed him, loved him way too much to ever say no.

So they had gotten married, and it had been the happiest day of
Dana Scully's life.  
     Suddenly, Scully remembered something that sent shivers
through her already-cold body.  She and Mulder weren't legally
married.  There'd been no way they could sign their real names on
a marriage licence, and some sort of identification was necessary
if they'd wanted to use their adopted names of Rick and Lisa.

     Rick and Lisa.  The names brought more tears to Scully's eyes
as she remembered the long days of running, but together.  Mulder
had joked about putting Rick and Lisa Wilder on their home-made
marriage declaration, but they'd ended up using their real names
instead.  Scully still had that precious piece of paper, and knew
she would never throw it away no matter what happened.

     "I, Dana Katherine Scully, pledge my eternal love and devotion
to Fox William Mulder, so that we shall be married from this day
forward and forever," Scully whispered softly into the wind.  She
knew she would always love Fox no matter what the circumstances.  

    But she couldn't hold him to vows made in extreme conditions,
no matter what her heart said.  She wouldn't let him be unhappy,
and if it was Elaine's, or any other woman's company that made him
happier than her, then she would accept that fact.

     Scully heard a peal of laugher, Elaine's, travel down the
beach to her and her heart constricted when Mulder's joined the
sound.  Scully admired Elaine, she was obviously a woman of
strength and vitality, but she cursed the fact that Elaine was
here, right now.  

     "...Elaine."  More fragments of conversation reached Scully's
ears as the wind changed direction.  <Why was he so familiar with
her name?>  raged Scully inwardly.  He only called her Dana in
moments of closeness and intimacy, likewise of she using his first
name.  Years of calling each other Mulder and Scully made the
habits hard to break.  

     Scully walked further down the beach to escape the sound. 
"Fox, don't leave me..." she whispered, crying openly now.  The
ache in her heart was almost too much to bear as she cried of love
gained then lost forever.  Crouched by the water's edge, Dana
Scully sobbed by the uncaring sea as loneliness engulfed her.  But
the ocean didn't care.

               ***************************************
     
     
     "Hey, Scully, where've you been?"  Mulder called cheerfully as
she wandered back to the campsite.  "Elaine's full of the most
fascinating stories!"

     "I just went for a walk," she replied.  Scully's face was
perfectly composed now.  She'd decided not to say anything to
Mulder, but go along with the scheme to bring down LeChuck.  She'd
do anything to stay at Mulder's side as long as possible.  And
after all this business was over, then she'd silently step aside if
that was what Mulder wanted.  

     "Yeah, well, get this.  LeChuck once kidnapped Elaine and
Guybrush followed her half around the world and back to find out
that she didn't need rescuing anyway!"  Mulder and Elaine both
broke into laughter again.  Scully managed a weak smile.  

     "Well I hate to break up the party, but it's getting late and
we really should get some rest," said Scully.  "We've got a lot to
do tomorrow."

     Mulder and Elaine looked at each other.  <He used to
communicate with me through our eyes> remembered Scully.
"Good idea.  So, Elaine, you just pull up a piece of beach and lie
down?"
"Something like that," she replied.  

     "Well it's a good thing it's a tropical climate here. 
Otherwise, we'd freeze," commented Mulder.
"Oh, I'm sure we could keep each other warm."

     Scully almost gasped aloud.  The look on Elaine's face was
pure innocence, but if that comment hadn't been suggestive then she
didn't know what was.  

     "I'm going to sleep over here," Scully announced.  She moved
a couple of metres away from the fireplace and turned her back to
the other two.  Bunching up some sand to use as a pillow, she was
soon settled.  She heard Mulder move towards her, and stretch out
on her left, but she refused to turn and look at him.  

     "I need a drink of water.  Anyone coming?" chirped Elaine. 
Scully was silent, but Mulder replied, "No thanks."  
"See you soon," called Elaine as she entered the forest to reach
the freshwater stream.  

     "She's really something, isn't she," commented Mulder.
"Mmmm."
"Y'know, this is really great.  I haven't camped outdoors in ages! 
Not since that time when we were running from the government about
the tape.  Do you remember that night, Scully?  I know I saw an
alien ship, but you didn't really believe me then."
"Whatever."

     "Hey, Scully, I told Elaine why we're here.  She understands
how governments can become corrupted from the inside, and that's
why she gave up her governorship."
"Exactly how much did you tell her?" Scully asked in almost a
monotone.

     Mulder replied sheepishly,"The whole story, how we saw too
much and were forced to hide until we finally got away on the
plane."
Scully waited for Mulder to continue, but he was silent.  <What
about US?>
"We can trust Elaine, don't worry."
<This, coming from a man who had sworn to trust no one?  No one but
her???>       

     Mulder reached over to touch Scully on the arm.  She still had
her back to him, and she flinched when his fingers made contact.  
"Dana, is something wrong?" he asked gently.  "I know that this
isn't the freedom we dreamt of, but we have to help Elaine.  We've
got so much experience in this kind of thing, and it just seems
wrong to neglect her."

     "I'm just tired, Mulder," Scully said in a subdued voice.
<Always back to HER> her inner voice said.  
"Well, okay, I guess."  Mulder leaned over and kissed her on the
cheek just as Elaine came bursting out of the forest.  

     "I'm back," she announced, unnecessarily.  She gracefully
settled herself next to Mulder on the sand, and turned to face him.

"I'm so lucky that you showed up when you did.  I guess I didn't
realise how lonely I was.  It's nice to have company again, I'm
just so used to being surrounded by friends..."  Elaine's voice
broke as her emotions caught up with her.  

     "Well you've made a new friend today," said Mulder gently.  He
reached out and hugged Elaine, and she relaxed in his arms.
"Thanks.  I needed that," whispered Elaine.   She clung to him a
while longer, then they separated and lay down.  "Is your friend
asleep?"

     "Yeah, Scully said she was pretty tired.  We'd better get some
rest as well."
"Thank you for being here."  Elaine kissed Mulder on the cheek and
settled herself down.  Scully winced as she heard the sound, and
bit her lip to keep from crying.  She'd shed enough tears today.

     "Goodnight," Mulder and Elaine whispered to each other.

               ***********************************

     Elaine was up with the first few beams of golden sunlight. 
She'd become acclimatised to early rising in the few days she'd
spent on this island, and decided she'd change her habits when she
returned home.  Dawn was a time not to be missed.  

     She felt excited at the day's prospects.  For a long time,
LeChuck had followed her around, mostly demanding she fall in love
with him.  She shuddered as she recalled the time he kidnapped her
and held her in his monstrous ghostly lair until the wedding day. 
A wedding she had only narrowly averted.

     But now, Elaine felt she had the power to exact revenge.  Not
just for her, but for Guybrush as well.   Guybrush had destroyed
LeChuck once, a favour LeChuck was no doubt returning through
horrible torture.  Elaine's heart went out to Guybrush.  She
thought she had no romantic feelings left for him, but the image of
Guybrush being tormented by LeChuck was almost too much to bear.  

     She recalled the time he'd come to her rescue.  His noble
actions had impressed her, even though they hadn't been necessary. 
Guybrush had always loved her unconditionally from their first
meeting, and Elaine suddenly realised that she couldn't imagine
life without him.  

     But now, there was a chance to kick some butt!  Mulder had
told Elaine about all his and his partner's experience with the
paranormal.  Combined with Elaine's knowledge of magic, they would
make a formidable team.  Perhaps LeChuck could be brought down once
and for all.

     Elaine quickly bathed in the river.  This early in the
morning, the water was almost icy and very refreshing.  She
realised that this could be the last wash she had in a long time. 
The descent into the underworld loomed closer.  Elaine shivered. 
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a change in the shadows. 
Was that a dark shape over there?

     A wind suddenly arose, and Elaine swam silently to the shore. 
Keeping her head low, her eyes and ears were fully tuned to her
surroundings as the clearing grew colder.  But suddenly, there was
nothing and the sun was out and the birds were singing.  Elaine
shook her head, and decided her imagination was running away with
her.  There was nothing wrong now.
 
    The darkness would be there later.  When they began their
descent into LeChuck's domain.  

              ****************************************

     Scully stretched comfortably on the beach.  She hadn't felt
this relaxed in years.  Always there had been the fear that someone
would capture them while they slept.  Feeling the warm rays of the
sun on her face, Scully smiled.  She felt at peace.  Only why was
there something at the edge of her consciousness, warning her to be
careful, something bad was happening...

      And then she remembered.  Elaine.  With Mulder.  And Scully
wished she could return to that dreamland where everything was
peaceful and happy.

     She opened her eyes quickly and sat up.  Mulder lay asleep
beside her, but of Elaine there was no sign.  <Can we really trust
her?>  <Stop that!> she told herself.  Scully depended on Mulder's
judgement above anyone else's, so if he said Elaine could be
trusted, then she could.
     Scully carefully stood up, not wanting to face Mulder this
early in the day.  Actually, she didn't want to face him at all. 
If only she could turn back the clock twenty-four hours...

     She grimaced as she realised how much sand was in her hair and
throughout her clothes.  It seemed to be everywhere!  Scully
decided to go wash at the stream.  
  
     Elaine almost ran into Scully as they travelled the narrow
paths in opposite directions.
"Whoops, sorry!" apologised Elaine.  
"No problem," replied Scully.  "It's hard to see with all these
trees around."
"I know what you mean.  Is Fox up yet?  I know some great fruit 
trees, but the branches are pretty high up.  No offence meant, but
I think you're a little short to reach them."

     Scully, feeling shorter by the second, looked up at Elaine and
nodded.  "You're probably right.  Anyway, he's still asleep on the
beach.  He usually can't sleep very well, so I like to let him rest
as long as possible."

     "Okay, thanks.  But I'd better get him up now anyway.  You
headed for the stream?  The water's lovely at this time of the
morning."  

     "Yes, I thought I'd go get the sand out of my hair."
"Good luck trying!" smiled Elaine.  She'd shaken off her dark mood.

"Catch you later!"

     With that, the brunette continued down the path to the beach
and Scully made her way inland.  

     The river looked crisp and inviting as sunlight gently danced
over the moving water.  Scully eased into the cool depths, letting
the frustration seep out of her.  All that mattered now was the
mission - their "case".  Possibly the last one she and Mulder would
ever share.  

     <Stop it!> she told herself, and relaxed into the water again.

The trees hung low over the water, and it seemed to Scully as if
she was in a cool, green world of her own.  A gentle rushing sound
could be heard as the first breeze of the day rustled the leaves. 

     Eventually feeling the coldness invade her body, Scully left
the stream and got dressed.  She proceeded to lie in the sun on a
conveniently situated rock, until she felt warm enough to face the
day again.

     The noise of the leaves became louder, and Scully idly
wondered about the strength of the wind.  The sound intensified to
almost a dull roar.   As Scully lazily opened her eyes, she noticed
how dark the clearing was getting.  As if clouds had suddenly swung
overhead, bringing darkness and chaos.  Sunlight no longer reached
her rock, so Scully prepared to head back to the beach.  She
rationalised that Mulder and Elaine had probably gathered breakfast
by now.  She wasn't scared.  Not Dana Scully.  

     Now it seemed that even the ground-hugging bushes were moving.

A gale blew her fiery red hair around her face, tugging at her
clothes and blinding her to her surroundings.  Scully turned her
back to the wind, but it seemed as if the wind was coming from
every direction.  Suddenly worried, she began jogging towards the
jungle path.  But something stopped her.

     Hands grabbed Scully, not normal hands, but unearthly hands. 
Long, skeletal fingers grabbing at her clothes, her hair.  Scully
uttered a short scream as she struggled to get away from the unseen
force that held her.

     She pulled away, hearing her shirt rip but uncaring.  Racing
for the path, she heard the menacing roar grow to a crescendo
behind her.  
"MULDER!"  she screamed.  "I NEED YOUR HELP!!!  MULDER!!!"

     But he was too far away to hear her, or she was not close
enough.  Whatever the reason, Scully felt the invisible hands
overtake her and there was nothing she could do to stop them.  Fear
was her final emotion as she screamed for her husband one last
time, and then everything was dark.  
                  
                  *********************************** 

     "That's the last of it," commented Mulder as he added the
bananas to the immense pile of fruit.  "Seems as if there's enough
food here for a feast!"
"We're going to need it though.  It could be a very long time until
our next meal," Elaine foretold darkly.

     "I'm starving.  Banana?"  Mulder asked, holding out the fruit
to her.  She gazed at it for a moment, then decided, "No thanks,
I'd rather start with one of these peach-type things."
Mulder shrugged as if to say "Your loss" and rapidly peeled his own
fruit.

     "Hey, have you seen Scully?  She wasn't here when I woke up. 
Neither were you, come to think of it.  Do I snore really loudly or
something?"  Mulder grinned at Elaine.  He was in a good mood, and
happy to be back in X-Files territory, searching for the answers.
Elaine smiled back, replying "I saw her heading for the stream. 
She was going to wash the sand out of her hair.  Do you think we
should go get her for breakfast?"

     "I'll go," decided Mulder.  "She should be really glad to
learn that I'm eating a healthy breakfast for once!"  He got up,
and Elaine wistfully watched his long, lean strides into the
forest.  She wished she had someone who knew her intimately,
someone who appreciated her habits.  Someone like Fox Mulder. 
<Wasn't Guybrush caring and considerate?>  <And an insensitive
clod.>  <That's settled then.>  <This loneliness is really getting
to me!>
     Finally, Elaine stood up in exasperation and followed the
trail into the forest.  

     "Scully's not there," called Mulder, jogging down the path
towards Elaine.  "She must have taken an alternate path back to the
beach, and we missed her."

     But Scully wasn't at the beach, either.  

     "She's probably answering the call of nature.  What fruit does
she like best?  I'll set some aside for her," asserted Elaine.
Mulder randomly selected a few, and watched the forest.  As the
minutes passed and there was no sign of her, small worry lines
appeared on Mulder's face.  

     "She wouldn't have gone ahead with the plan without telling
us, would she?"  A troubled look crossed Elaine's face.
"No, I'm the one who does that.  I've been doing that a long time
to Dana..."  Mulder's voice trailed off as he paced back and
forward.  Where could she be?

     "I'm going back to look again," announced Mulder.  "Maybe she
was sunbathing behind a rock or something, and fell asleep there."
"I'll come with you."

     The pair hurried along the path, both worried by now.  They
came to the clearing, but it was still and silent except for the
gentle sound of the flowing stream.

     "Scully!  Are you here?  Scully!" they called, but there was
no response.  Elaine suddenly dashed to the edge of the water and
anxiously peered into the depths.

     "Elaine!  Did you see something?"  Mulder half-hoped she had,
but realised what that would mean...
"I hate to suggest this, Fox, but how good a swimmer was she?  What
if she hit her head, or..."

     Mulder didn't wait for another word, but dove straight into
the water, shoes and all.  Diving again and again, he frantically
searched the depths of the river, looking for a sign that she was
there, any sign.  And then he saw it.

     One tiny gold earring, floating aimlessly above the reeds.  He
grabbed it desperately, and burst to the surface.  
"Did you find anything?" called Elaine anxiously.  She was perched
on a rock, scrutinising the water for any clues from a higher
vantage point.  Mulder nodded breathlessly.  "Her earring..."
He prepared to dive again, but Elaine stopped him.

     "Fox, there's no point.  The water's clear and I can see right
to the bottom.  She's not in there."  Mulder didn't know whether to
be relieved or devastated.  He slowly crawled out of the water and
nearly collapsed on the banks from lack of oxygen.  His hand was
still tightly clutched around the jewellery he had found.  Scully's
earring... one of a pair he had given her long ago.  And now,
possibly all he had left of her.

     Elaine jumped down and hurried to Mulder's side.  
"All this proves is that she did swim here.  It doesn't mean she,
well, drowned," comforted Elaine.  "You get your breath back, and
I'll check downriver."

     The vines and trees threatened to overcome Elaine as she
followed the river's course, and she eventually ended up travelling
through the water.  The creek narrowed and Elaine thoroughly
checked every square metre.  However, she couldn't help but feel it
was a hopeless cause.  At the rate the river was flowing, anything
would have been washed out to sea in a matter of minutes. 
Including a body...

     Elaine heard a crashing in the bushes behind her, and
instinctively drew out the large knife so carefully concealed in
her pants pocket.  She'd used it more than once to protect herself,
and was prepared to do so again on this hellish island.  

     Crouching low in the water, she was ready to spring at
whatever presented itself from behind the trees.  Legs taut, arm
tense, knife in position...  The drill was familiar to Elaine.  So
when it was Mulder who burst out of the forest, she almost laughed
aloud.

     Almost.  The anguished look on his face cut short any mirth
she might have.  
"Anything?" he asked in a tone that told Elaine he didn't want to
hear bad news.  And if that meant no news, then so be it.

     "Nothing," she replied wearily.  "We're almost to the beach. 
If she was washed downriver, and that's a very big if, then there's
no way we could find her once she reached the ocean."

     "But we could try," said Mulder in a strangled voice as he
pushed past Elaine and ran onto the large expanse of sand. 
"Scully!" 
he called desperately, his eyes futilely searching the sea.  
"DANA!  WHERE ARE YOU?!  DANA!"

     Hours later, Mulder finally abandoned the search.  He sat
quietly on the beach, refusing to believe what had happened.  He
was praying with all his heart that his Dana would pop out of the
forest any second, saying she'd just gone exploring for a while and
forgot the time.  Mulder would not give up hope.
     Elaine sat quietly beside this enigmatic man.  She had only
known him twenty-four hours, yet she knew that he was driven with
a passion few could even begin to understand.  Elaine reached out
a comforting hand to Mulder, and he uncomprehendingly accepted her
touch.  

     "There's nothing more you can do," began Elaine, not expecting
him to listen.  He suddenly turned to face her, eyes flashing.

     "But there was!  Did I ever tell her how much I love her?  How
much she is a part of me?"  He shook his head in despair.  "Last
night, I sensed that something was wrong, but I ignored her.  I
decided she'd be over it in the morning.  But instead," he gestured
hopelessly, "she's gone."  

     "It's my fault," he berated himself.  "I promised I'd never
leave her, but as soon as we get away, I overlook her and get
myself interested in some damn X-file again."

     Elaine realised she should feel insulted, and perhaps even a
little guilty, but she found she could sympathise with this man
more than she thought.  "I know what you mean..." she whispered
softly, and suddenly she did know.  She had lost Guybrush, and he
was more important to her than she'd ever realised.  Who else had 
loved her unconditionally, no matter how she'd behaved?  Only him.

     And now Elaine was one of the two loneliest people on the
earth, sitting in paradise with a man who understood her perfectly.

Tears fell from both pairs of eyes as they mourned their losses. 
 
              ***************************************

     Herman Toothrot aimlessly ambled along the beach.  "Now where
did those two nice people get to?" he mumbled under his breath. 
"Everyone I talk to just seems to disappear!  I'll bet that the
ghosts got 'em.  They were foolish enough to wander away from
Herman Toothrot, and now they gotta face the consequences.

     "At least I've got me own voodoo magic to keep the spirits
away."  He protectively clutched the bag around his neck.  "And I
promised the pretty lady some, but she hasn't come back to get it
yet."

     He suddenly realised that was why he was walking down the
beach, to find Elaine and give her all the help he could.  Herman
rounded the headland, and finally spotted some sign of life.

     "Ahoy there!"  Two heads whipped around and the man jumped up
in excitement.  Then his face fell and he slowly sat back down. 
Herman shuffled up the beach, muttering all the time about how his
efforts were underappreciated.

     "Hi," said Elaine listlessly.  
"Hi yourself.  Listen, lady, did you want these spells or not?"
Elaine looked at Mulder.  He shrugged indifferently.
"Yeah, I suppose so.  We may as well go ahead with the mission.  I
plan to, anyway."  

     Elaine took the proffered trinkets and scrolls, and a small
doll.  "This voodoo doll should work great," cackled Herman.  "That
old LeChuck, he didn't see me creeping up behind him to collect his
spit!  And I got a piece of cloth AND something of the dead when he
ripped his arm on a thorn bush!  All ya need now is something of
the head."

     "Thanks, Herman," Elaine smiled gratefully.  
"Don't thank me.  Just hurry up and get rid of those spirits! 
They're terrible for business. "  With that, Herman turned to go
when a sudden thought came over him.  "Hey, didn't you have another
friend?"  He directed his question at Mulder.  "A cute little
redhead..."

     The look on Mulder's face caused him to quickly shut up. 
"Hey, I'm sorry.  What did she do, run off with a monkey?"
"She drowned," came the flat, cold reply.  Mulder's face held no
expression, just a stoniness existed in his countenance that Elaine
suspected would remain for a long time.  

     "Well, ah, I'd best be going then.  Sorry for your loss and
all that, y'know."  Herman hurried away backwards for a few metres,
then turned and ran back up the beach.

     "Don't be mad with him.  He's only a harmless old man,"
soothed Elaine.  She felt guilty, because she knew that Guybrush
could still be alive.  And she knew she had a mission in front of
her.

     But for Mulder, it appeared that he had lost everything and
didn't even care about living anymore.  His offering to help Elaine
had been a kindhearted gesture from the start, because the pair had
no stakes in it.  However, Elaine suspected that the very idea of
working on a project without his partner was too much for Mulder to
bear.  

     "Fox," she began, but he suddenly whirled around and flared at
her.  
"Don't call me that!"
Elaine blinked in surprise.  He hadn't complained earlier...
"I'm sorry," he amended, "but the only person in a long time who
calls me Fox is...was Dana."  

     Elaine quietly accepted his apology, but inside she was
surprised.  She knew that Mulder and Scully were devoted to each
other as partners, but wasn't aware that they were closer than
that.  Mulder hadn't exactly indicated anything of the sort, in
fact he'd been sending some pretty strong signals to Elaine
herself...

     She moved closer to Mulder, and put her arm around him. 
"Mulder, just remember that we have each other.  You're not alone."
Elaine paused for a moment, her heart pounding.  She had to know
how he felt about her...so she leaned over and gently kissed him on
the lips.

     Elaine felt Mulder's lips reply under hers, and soon he was
kissing her passionately.  She leaned into the kiss, letting the
world and the heartache disappear around her.  He encircled her
with his arms, and suddenly she was lying on the sand beneath him
as the kisses became more intense.  

     Her head whirling, Elaine became lost in the physical contact.
Mulder trailed kisses down to her neck, and she responded by
tangling her fingers in his hair, thick, lush locks...   It had
been so long since she'd been this close to anyone.

     "Guybrush..." she moaned just as Mulder whispered,"Dana..."
Suddenly, they stopped as they realised that the whole situation
was wrong.  Very wrong.  Mulder slowly lifted himself up and,
avoiding Elaine's eyes, moved away from her and sat on the sand.

     "Damn..." she heard him swear under his breath.
"Fo- Mulder, I'm sorry.  That shouldn't have happened."  Elaine sat
up and straightened her clothes.  She couldn't believe how far
she'd let it go one, and how much further she had been prepared to
go...   She stared silently at the man with his back to her, and
realised that his shoulders were shuddering.  Slowly, she went over
and knelt beside him, being careful not to touch, and realised that
he was crying.

     Elaine didn't know what to say, so she just sat by him on the
sand.  Eventually, he turned to her and she saw the confusion and
anguish in his eyes.

     "I did it again.  I swore I never would, but I did!" 
Elaine watched quietly, waiting to see if he would continue.
He took her hand and implored her, "It's not because I don't love
her!  I do!  I nearly went crazy last time she was gone, and
then... I gave in...Kristen...

     "It seems like every time she's gone, I go and do something I
know will hurt her.  But I don't want to!  I just can't live
without her, my Dana..."  Mulder's voice dropped to a whisper.
Elaine listened as he poured out his heart while the tears
continued to flow from his distressed hazel eyes.   She said
nothing, just sat there as a comforting presence as he struggled
with his grief long into the night.   

              **************************************

     Deep within LeChuck's domain, Dana Scully opened her eyes to
darkness.  Her head throbbed immensely, and try as she might to see
where she was, she couldn't make out one iota of her surroundings.

     "Oh, no," she breathed as a horrible realisation came over
her.  "No, please no!  Not the darkness again!  Anything but this!"
Ever since she regained her sight, Scully had been fearful that she
would lose it again.  And now it seemed those fears were a reality.


     She felt the panic rise and swell within her, just like the
first time she realised she was blind.  But Mulder was there for
her then.  Where was he now?

     "Mulder?  Hello?  Is anyone there?!" she cried, her voice
rising in horror.  She couldn't be all alone, isolated in the
darkness from which she knew no escape!
     "Be calm, Dana," she coached herself.  Over and over, "Be
calm, Dana.  Mulder will find you.  Be calm..."

     When her heartrate returned to normal, or as normal as it
could be for a person trapped in endless night, she began to feel
her way around.  She had woken on a cold, dirt floor, and was
thankful that it was dry, at least.  Scully shivered, for although
there was no wind, the air was icy and deathly still.  

     She strained to hear a sound, any sound besides her own
breathing, but there was nothing.   Moving carefully up onto her
knees, Scully began crawling slowly in what she hoped was a
straight
line.  Eventually, she came to what felt like a dirt wall. 
Gingerly, Scully stood up and felt the momentary disorientation
from
being upright with no sight.  A feeling that was so familiar, yet
so foreign, as if it no longer belonged.  

     "This is good.  A wall."  Scully spoke to herself to keep her
spirits up and fight off the terrible feeling of being alone. 
Taking off one of her shoes, she placed it against the wall as a
marker.  Scully then expertly began feeling her way along it, up
and
down, searching for any kind of doorway.   In some places, the dirt
was looser, but her pounding had no effect.  When she felt her feet
jostle the marker shoe, Scully let out a cry of despair.

     Where was she?  Locked in a hole underground with no doors and
no windows that she could find.  <Buried alive> the thought struck
her with full horror.  And despite her desire to remain calm, Dana
Scully let out a heart-rending scream of despair.  Then she cried.

             ****************************************

     LeChuck strode along the corridor of his world, and suddenly
stopped.  A terrible noise of sobbing reached his ears.  Grimacing,
he wondered which prisoner it was now.  Not Guybrush, he still
didn't know the trouble he was in.  LeChuck smiled evilly. 
Finally, he had Guybrush right where he wanted him, trapped in
LeChuck's sick fantasy land where Guybrush was a child to be
tormented in a million different ways.  

     "Guards!" he roared.  Two transparent figures raced to answer
their master.  "Which prisoner is making that appalling sound?!"
Usually, LeChuck didn't mind the wailing of his captives.  But for
some strange reason, this sound grated on his nerves.

     "It's the new one, sir.  The one in the airless pit. "
"The one we brought in this morning," interjected the other guard. 
"Which one exactly!" growled LeChuck.
"The woman, the one with the red hair..."
"YOU IMBECILES!  What did you put her in there for!  Didn't you
know she was special?"
"We're sorry, sir, so, so, sorry..." The voices were cut off as
LeChuck hissed, "Yes, you're going to be very sorry.  Very sorry
indeed."

     And for a moment, other screams drowned out any sound made by
the prisoners in LeChuck's dungeons.  

                 *******************************

     A noise crackled like gunfire above her head, and Scully
jumped in fright.  She was huddled against the wall, her sobbing
having subsided as she willed Mulder to find her.  Immediately,
light poured into the chamber.  Scully lifted her face to the
brilliance, and a smile broke out over her beautiful face.  She
could see! <Thankyouthankyouthankyou>

     "I'm terribly sorry about all this," came a voice.  "It seems
that my 'employees' were hopelessly incompetent.  If I'd known
they'd put you down here, I would have rescued you much sooner."

     Gasping with surprise, Scully felt her body lifting off the
ground towards the portal of light.  She blinked as the world came
into focus, and then very nearly screamed again.

     Standing beside her, next to the trapdoor, was an abomination
of nature.  A huge, festering body that reeked of decay.  Green
skin hung from it in places, revealing yellow bones.  A crusty,
black beard obscured most of the face, but Scully could see
horrible glowing orbs in the eye sockets.  The worst thing about this
creature was that it was alive.  

     "Allow me to introduce myself.  G.P. LeChuck at your service,
my dear lady."  He held out his hand, and Scully reluctantly took
it.  She felt repulsed by his touch, but didn't want to anger the man 
in case he was capable of the evil Elaine had told them about. 

     "Dana Scully," she said warily.  "Why am I here?"  Talk to the
psychopath as if he were an equal, her years of training told her.
"Why are you here," repeated LeChuck, a slight smile on his rotting
lips.  Blackened teeth appeared for an instant, and Scully took a
step backwards.  His breath was even worse than his body odour.

     "You are here, my sweet Dana, because I am lonely.  Sure, I've
got all my crew to fetch and carry for me, to satisfy my every
whim."  LeChuck sighed heavily.  "But the problem is, most of them
are dead.  Except for that obnoxious weed Largo.  Yet I digress."

     LeChuck took another lumbering step towards Scully.  His eyes
flashed dangerously.  "Come, I will show you my home."

     He took her by the arm, and she recoiled at the touch of the
rotting flesh.  But this action only served to have LeChuck tighten
his grip as he led her along the many corridors to his private
rooms.  

     "Sit down, be comfortable," LeChuck gestured widely to the
arrangement of chairs.  Scully chose a small stool, mainly because
she knew LeChuck couldn't sit next to her.  But instead, he
positioned himself behind Scully and placed his hands on her
shoulders.  

    "I want you to be my queen," he began.  "Ever since I saw you
arrive on this island, I knew you were the one for me.  Beauty such
as yours is rare."

     Scully blinked.  All her life she had been told she was
ordinary at best by the men she had briefly dated.  And now, someone 
she'd never met was telling her that she was beautiful after seeing 
her crawl through the muddy jungle?

     Swallowing, Scully carefully phrased her words.  "I didn't
think I was your type.  Weren't you in love with Elaine Marley?  I 
mean, you did try to marry her."

     "Elaine and I had nothing in common.  I realise that now.  In
any case, she was too tall.  I need someone small, someone I can
care for.  Someone like you, my sweet Dana."

     As LeChuck's hands grew heavier on her shoulders, Scully
folded and unfolded her hands nervously.  "Uh, well, you don't even 
know me yet.  How about we just, um, talk for a while and see if we 
get along."

     LeChuck's voice took on a menacing tone.  "I already know I
love you.  And you will love me, Dana."  He moved around the stool
and bent down to whisper the next words in her ear.  "You will
marry me."  

     "I can't marry you," she said in her best FBI Agent Dana
Scully voice.  Rational and calm.  "I'm already married, and my
husband is sure to be tearing up this island in an effort to find
me."

     LeChuck laughed cruelly.  "You really think so?  My poor,
deluded Dana, I will show you that no one cares for you but me!"
With that, he gestured to an empty corner of the room and Scully
gasped as smoke began to coalesce, forming what appeared to be a
large mirror.

     "While you are missing, possibly in terrible danger, this is
what your loving husband is doing!"  crowed LeChuck.  An image
wavered onto the mirror, and Scully's stomach somersaulted.  She
could see the beach, with Elaine and her husband sitting very close
together.

     Smiling evilly, LeChuck suggested, "How about we have some
sound as well!"  Instantly, Scully could hear the rushing of the
ocean, and then voices.

     "...we have each other.  You're not alone."  Scully gasped in
horror at what happened next.  Elaine, leaning over to kiss Mulder,
Mulder responding, the two of them passionately together while she,
Scully, was trapped down here with a monster, her husband - kissing
another woman...

     "Turn it off!!!" Scully screamed in anguish.  "It's an evil
trick of yours!  I don't believe it!"  She hurled insults at
LeChuck, but he continued chuckling.  

     "I'm sorry, my dear, but this mirror only shows the truth. 
I've watched the both of you ever since you arrived - your arrival
in the plane, your visit to the crazy hermit, your trek through the
jungle, your first meeting with Elaine..." LeChuck's voice trailed
off gleefully and Scully knew that all he had told her was true. 
Now she was truly alone.  

     Tears pouring down her cheeks, Scully buried her face in her
hands and cried for what seemed the millionth time in the past two
days.  But this time, she knew there was no hope.  

              *************************************

     Mulder pulled at the rope one more time, and it held fast.  He
just hoped it would stay that way.  By dropping rocks over the edge
of the pit, he could hear that it was a long, long way down.  He
peered again into the dimness, struggling to make out the shapes
below.  But nothing could be seen below the seven or eight metre
mark, and it was as if the blackness just swallowed anything up. 
It had certainly swallowed the rope.

     Stepping back from the edge, Mulder swallowed hard.  He wasn't
afraid of heights, it was the unknown abyss that worried him.  But
Elaine's friend is down there, he reminded himself, and it's my
duty to help him.

     Early that morning, Mulder had finally shaken off his grief,
if only temporarily.  He had a job to do, and had promised to help
his new friend in any way he could.  In only two short days, Elaine
had become one of the best friends Mulder had ever known.  But no
one could ever replace Dana Scully.

     "All set?" asked Elaine as she finished securing her rope to
the twisted metal rods at the edge of the pit's perimeter.  
"I guess so.  Well, this is it.  Goodbye, sunlight."  With that,
Mulder swung his pack on his back and swung himself over the edge. 
He didn't have much experience in rope climbing, but Elaine, a
self-professed expert at it (just like everything else) had
promised to guide him all the way down.

     "Hold the rope tight!  Don't let yourself slide so fast!"
Elaine snapped at him while adeptly descending her own rope.
"I should've worn gloves for this," Mulder grumbled, knowing that
soon his hands would be raw and covered in blisters.  

     Hand over hand, arm muscles straining for what seemed hours,
Mulder and Elaine gradually descended into the pit.  They both
paused as the inky blackness swallowed their heads, and called to
one another for reassurance.  

     "I can't even see my fingers in front of my face!" breathed
Mulder.  He realised for the first time what it must be like to be
blind, to have to endure the endless blackness forever.  He
shivered, for the first time understanding what Scully had gone
through.  Only this feeling for her was every day life.  

     <Don't think about her!> Mulder chastised himself.  Instead,
he called to Elaine, "Do you think we should light a lantern?" 
They had scoured the washed-up wreckage from Elaine's ship, and had
been ecstatic to find not only a working lantern, but kerosene to
run it.  It sure beat burning sticks to use as a light.

     "Mulder, I don't think we're in the easiest position to do
that.  Remember, we need both of our hands for this descent!" 
Mulder felt his heart constrict.  Elaine had sounded so much like
Scully then; his rational partner pointing out the reasonable thing
to do.  

     "Sure.  I guess the darkness was just getting to me," he
apologised.

   "You and me both."  And with that, Elaine began to sing softly,
a delightful sea shanty that rose and fell as they plunged further
into darkness.  The melody calmed both of them, as Elaine sang of
love gained and lost in her melodious voice.  Mulder soon found he
could join in with the chorus, and with strength renewed, they sang
their way to the bottom of the pit.  

     Ground.  Mulder had begun to believe that such a thing only
existed in his imagination.  He felt as if he'd spent forever
suspended on the dangling, swaying rope, but in reality it had only
been a couple of hours.  

     He reached out and touched the rope reassuringly.  He couldn't
be sure if there was any way out of this crater, and the rope was
a lifeline, his only connection to the surface and the sunlight. 
The darkness surrounded him, thick and oppressive, everywhere he
turned, threatening to squeeze the life out of him...

     A match flared in the darkness.  Mulder didn't think he'd ever
been so glad to see such a small flame in his life.  

     "Spooky, hey," whispered Elaine.  The tiny flame was a beacon
in the night, calming them both.  Elaine expertly lit the lantern,
and soon ominous shadows flickered over both of their faces. 
However, it was better than the gloom.

     Elaine held the lantern high above her head, chasing away the
shadows that might exist.  

     "It looks like we're in an old, abandoned mining tunnel!" she
said.  Mulder blinked.  To him, their surroundings appeared as a
black-walled cave, the walls slick with some sort of oily
substance.  Very similar to another place he had been to once.  He
walked towards the perimeter, only to have Elaine shout,
     "What are you doing?"  Then her voice took on a stunned tone. 
"You just walked through a wall!"  

     "What wall?" asked Mulder.  "The sides of the cave are maybe
another 3 metres in front of me!"

     A shadow crossed Elaine's face.  "This is not good," she
predicted.  "Magic is strong here, the magic of illusion.  If this
is where Guybrush arrived, he could have seen anything LeChuck's
demented mind could conjure up."  

     Elaine reached into her backpack, and pulled out what seemed
a small vial of herbs.  Casting a sprinkling around her, she
intoned a mysterious verse.  Mulder watched, open-mouthed, as the
surroundings flickered twice then distorted themselves into a wide
dirt cave, with passages leading out in two directions.  

     "This is much better.  Do you recognise this place at all?"
she asked.  Mulder shook his head quickly, and realised how eerie
the "cave" had been.  

     Elaine noticed the confusion on his face, and explained,
"There was a simple distortion spell in operation.  It took places
from our memories, and transformed them into something twisted and
evil.  The mine tunnels I saw exist on Phatt Island, and I
inspected them recently.  The cave you saw, have you been in it
before?" 

     Mulder nodded, then shuddered.  It was frightening to know
that LeChuck had the power to look inside his head.  At least a
more painful setting hadn't been dragged out.

     "Which way?" he asked, finally finding his voice.  
Elaine looked momentarily stumped by his question, but then
decided, "Left."

     The pair marched off into the darkness.
 
                *********************************** 
     
     Guybrush squealed happily.  He wasn't exactly sure what was
going on, but with each passing moment the nagging feeling faded
and he became more focussed on having a good time.  His big brother
Chuckie marched behind him, and Guybrush felt happy that he was
there.  

     Only didn't Chuckie used to have blond hair, not that thick
black stuff?  And come to think of it, his brother's name wasn't
Chuckie at all.  <It was...it was...>

     Guybrush shook his head.  It hurt to think about things like
that, and anyway, why worry?  Here he was in "Big Whoop Amusement
Park", a kids' paradise.  Even his parents weren't too mad about
his and Chuckie's little exploration into the abandoned mine
shafts.

     <Only what was I doing down there?> a little voice reminded
Guybrush.  He remembered someone, a real pretty lady.
"Mom!" Guybrush called.
"Yes, dear?"
"We have to go back to the mine.  There was a really pretty lady
down there, and she's waiting for me," he told her.
"Son, you're way too young to be thinking about girls yet.  Isn't
that right, dear?" Guybrush's father asked.

     "Yes, of course.  Don't worry about the lady, she was probably
just concerned that you were lost," soothed his mother.
"I didn't see anyone," declared Chuckie.  "Guybrush is just making
up stories, as usual.  Next thing you know, he'll be saying I tried
to kill him!"

     <But you did!>  Where had that come from?  Suddenly, Guybrush
remembered intense pain, and he shuddered.  Best to shut off those
memories.  Concentrate on the present.  

     "Can we ride the Rollin' Rollercoaster?  Please, Dad?"
Guybrush pleaded.  A ride would be fun.
     "Okay, son.  Chuckie, would you like to join Guybrush?"
<No!> came a thought that shocked Guybrush with its ferocity.  
"Sure, dad," and Chuckie's eyes gleamed evilly.  In fact, they
looked suspiciously like they weren't even eyes, but horrible
yellow orbs.  Guybrush quickly shut his eyes, and let Chuckie's
creepy hand take his and lead him onto the ride.

     "Wheeeee!  This is fun!"  Guybrush couldn't remember why he
was scared.  Here he was, on the best ride ever, with his parents
waving below and his big brother sitting next to him.  He felt
contented, as if he hadn't seen his family for years but now they
were all back together and the whole world was right again.    

     Suddenly, he felt Chuckie's hand reach across him.  
"What are you doing, Chuckie?" Guybrush asked.  Chuckie just smiled
as he started to release Guybrush's safety harness.  
"No, Chuckie, don't!" he cried in horror as he realised exactly
what Chuckie was doing.  But Chuckie just laughed as Guybrush
struggled to keep him from unbuckling the restraint.  

     "Dad!  MOM!  HELP!" screamed Guybrush as the ride turned
upside down, and he slipped out of his seat.  Hands flailing in the
air, Guybrush managed to grab the side of the cart and clenched his
fingers in a tight grip.  He knew his life depended on his holding
on.

    But then Chuckie leaned over, and ever so carefully, began
lifting up Guybrush's fingers one by one.  
"CHUCKIE!  PLEASE!" he screamed as he felt his middle finger pop
up.  Two fingers left, then one, then...
Guybrush screamed all the way to the ground.  

                 ***********************************

     LeChuck returned to his chambers, laughing horribly.
"You don't know how good that felt!" he bellowed, spitting with
each word.  Scully, huddled in a small chair, flinched.  She'd
changed into the clothes LeChuck had provided for her - a
beautiful, white dress which reminded her suspiciously of a wedding
gown.  However, it was better than her thin, torn shirt which had
let the cold, stale air permeate her whole body.  

     Smiling at her, LeChuck commented, "I'm glad you decided to
change.  A lady of such loveliness should not be hidden inside
men's clothing.  And truly, you look divine."  That was true, at
least.  The dress fit perfectly on Scully's body, highlighting her
slender waist and flowing around her ankles.  Her red hair and blue
eyes starkly contrasted the colour of the dress, complementing the
stunning image.  

     "Why are you torturing that little boy?  What has he done to
you?"  Scully had watched the entire episode through the magic
mirror.  

     "Firstly, he is not a little boy.  I've only done that to his
illusion to make it all the more fun.  That," he gestured to the
screen which still showed the twisted fantasy land, "was Guybrush
Threepwood.  The fiend who forced me to have to live in this
rotting body.  Do you know what he did to me?   DO YOU KNOW WHAT HE
DID?" LeChuck roared.  

     Scully could only shake her head.  Elaine had told her the
story, but she didn't want to enrage LeChuck anymore by letting him
know that.  Despite everything he had done to her, LeChuck was the
only one who cared, and Scully suspected a tormented soul inside
this monster of a man.

     "It was bad enough that a storm sunk my ship, and all of my
crew.  Our drowned bodies washed up on the beach of Monkey Island,
but at least I had made precautions against this sort of thing."
Scully nodded, trying to appear interested.  It seemed that he
believed in ghosts and magic as well, and although Scully had seen
plenty of unexplainable things in the past two days, she still had
yet to see a living ghost.

     <Am I the only one around here who doesn't believe in
spirits?> she wondered idly.  Then she realised LeChuck was glaring
at her, and she refocussed her attention on him.  

     "So my ghostly crew and I were travelling the seven seas,
until I met Elaine Marley.  She bewitched me from the start, and I
admit I lost my senses when I kidnapped her.  But that still didn't
give Guybrush the right to vaporise me!  I exploded into a million
pieces of ectoplasm all over Melee Island."

     His voice took on a poor-little-boy tone.  "Most people think
ghosts don't feel pain, but I can personally vouch for the agony I
went through.  And that little piece of me that remained, to have
it crammed into a disintegrating body was almost unbearable."

     Scully swallowed.  "I sympathise with your pain," she offered.
    "But!"  LeChuck continued.  "That pain is nothing when compared
with the pain of your refusal of me.  Why do you hate me so?"
"Mr LeChuck, I don't hate you.  I just don't know you very well, so
how can I possibly care for you in the way you want?"

     "Ah, my lovely Dana, but that will change."  He moved closer
to her, and she could detect his foul stench.  

     "I have never loved anyone more in my life."  His face was
inches from hers.  "Or death."  Suddenly, Scully realised that he
was
going to kiss her.  She struggled to move away, but then a fog
descended on her brain and she was helpless to do anything as his
mouth descended. 

     As LeChuck reluctantly pulled away from her lips, he smiled
malevolently and promised,  "You - are now MINE."

              **********************************

     They had been hiking for hours with no end to the tunnel in
sight.  Within the first thirty minutes, they had extinguished the
lantern to save fuel, and now Mulder and Elaine trailed their hands
along the walls to keep their bearings.

     "Are you sure you didn't miss a turn off?" snapped Mulder.
"Of course I'm sure.   But what about you?" returned Elaine. 
"You're so scared of the dark that you probably didn't even
notice!"  
     "Well at least my mind's not fixed on a boyfriend who's
probably already dead!"

     Elaine stopped, and whirled to face him, or at least where she
thought he was.  "Don't you dare say that.   You're just jealous,
because I have hope!"  As soon as the words burst from Elaine's
mouth, she knew she should regret it.  But she didn't.  Something
was in her head, making her act this way...

     "Oh, no..." she breathed as Mulder began yelling at her about
ungratefulness and not knowing the meaning of a true friend.  She
pulled out the matches and quickly lit one.  For a moment, she
could see a dark cloud around both her and Mulder's heads, and then
it quickly dissipated as the light touched it.  Elaine blinked as
her head cleared.  She could see Mulder shaking his own head
rapidly.  

     "Okay, we leave the lantern on," she said slowly as she relit
it.  Mulder still looked bewildered.
     "What was going on?" he asked.  "Didn't we just decide to
switch the lamp off?"
     "Mulder, we've been walking for hours.  In the dark.  But
we've been going nowhere.  There was a dark spell here, I saw it. 
I've seen these things before, but never quite so strong.  That's
why it took me so long to recognise it."

     Pausing for a moment, Mulder slowly took it all in.  "Okay,
then how about we head in the other direction."  They turned
around, and set off.  This time with the lamp held high.  

             ***************************************

     Guybrush felt his bones break with a sickening crunch, felt
his shattered ribs pierce his skin and point up to the sky, and
heard his neck snap back with a nauseating crack.  The pain was
intense, worse than he'd experienced in his life.  Guybrush
screamed, a long drawn out wail as more bones snapped throughout
him.  His last image was that of Chuckie high above, with his
yellow eyes flashing and his horrible laughter filling Guybrush's
ears.  The world darkened.

     "Hurry up, you silly boy.  Get over here!" snapped Guybrush's
father.  "We don't have time for your silly games!"
"Huh?  Dad, can't you see I'm dying?" whispered Guybrush. 
Suddenly, the fogginess in his head was lifting, and Guybrush found
he could move.  Not only could he move, but there seemed to be
nothing wrong with him!

     "But I was dead..."  
     "Guybrush has the best imagination, don't you think so, Dad? 
Lying there, pretending to be dead.  What a riot!" laughed a voice
that Guybrush didn't ever want to hear again.  Chuckie.

     Dazed, Guybrush got up and dusted himself off.  He had fallen
off the rollercoaster, he knew he had!  Or did he?  But if he did,
shouldn't he be hurt?

     <I'm fine> Guybrush realised <so it couldn't have happened>. 
He felt very confused, and irrationally scared when his loving
older brother took his hand.

     "Come on, Guybrush.  There are more rides to go on!  How about
we try the river rapids!  I heard they have REAL crocodiles in the
river!"
     "Sure, Chuckie, that sounds like a lot of fun!  Can we, Mom,
Dad?  Please?"
     "Okay, son.  But no more of this silly nonsense, or I'll tan
your hide."

     "Yes sir," replied a subdued Guybrush.  But then his
excitement caught up with him again and he and Chuckie raced on
ahead to the next ride.  

                ******************************

     Scully grimaced and closed her eyes.  She had no desire to see
Guybrush ripped apart by crocodiles.  Right now, "Chuckie" was
pushing him out of the boat into the jaws of an extremely large
animal.  Hearing the screams of agony as pieces were torn from
Guybrush's body, Scully shuddered and blocked her ears.  

     And she knew that LeChuck would be returning for her soon.
Scully wiped her mouth for what seemed the millionth time since
LeChuck's repulsive kiss.  The feel of his stagnant lips on hers
seemed to be trapped there, and Scully was sure she could still
smell him.  His presence had invaded her prison, and there was no 
escape.

     Scully still wasn't sure how LeChuck got in and out of the
room.  Right now, there were no exits save a tunnel that led to 
LeChuck's bedroom.  And there was no way in hell Dana Scully was 
going in there.  "Maybe this is hell..." she whispered to herself. 

     Turning her back to the mirror, Scully focused herself on the
wall that LeChuck appeared from.  Whenever he arrived, she was sure
she could see a door leading to another passage.  But it was always
gone so quickly.  Having checked the walls over and over, Scully
knew that the only way in, however reluctant she was to believe it,
was magic.

    And it was magic that held her captive as LeChuck had forced
his lips on hers.  Scully was terrified that the experience would
be repeated again, and possibly to a further extent...

     "I cannot marry that man!  I will not!" she told herself. 
Initially, she had believed there was hope for LeChuck.  But with
his continued torturing of Guybrush, Scully was beginning to lose
hope.  Even the sight of Elaine and, damn him, Mulder, making their
way into the tunnels did not cheer her.

     Scully had seen LeChuck laugh as his spells trapped them time
and time again.  Scully couldn't help but feel a little gratified,
after all, they had betrayed her.  And she hadn't even been gone a
day!

     But nevertheless, LeChuck had spent long hours whispering to
Scully all his plans for Guybrush, Elaine, Mulder and all others
who dared to cross him.  And he had hinted at plans to take over the
entire Caribbean.

     "With you at my side, we can rule the world!"  LeChuck had
promised, and Scully felt flattered all over again.  It was so nice
having someone love her unconditionally, she just wished it wasn't
a satanic demon.  

     Scully heard Chuckie's maniacal laugh again, and returned her
vision to the screen.  "Oh, no," she breathed.  Now Guybrush was
being slowly pulled into the gears of the ferris wheel.  Scully
felt so sorry for the little boy - it was impossible to think of him 
as a grown man.  But in a way, he was a kindred spirit, abandoned by
the true love of his life.

     And she knew that Fox Mulder was her true love, no matter what
he did.  That was why Scully understood that she could never marry
LeChuck, or anyone else, no matter how they turned out and how
decent a person they were.  Her heart had been given away forever
to one man, and there was no getting it back.  

     Scully suddenly whirled and faced the mirror.  Seeing Chuckie
lining up Guybrush's next torture, a mishap at the pig roast, she
flared, "Doesn't this get a bit old, LeChuck?  Aren't you tired of
tormenting a kid who doesn't know what's going on?"

     She wasn't sure if he could hear her, but the mirror flickered
and showed her another scene, of Mulder and Elaine marching down a
tunnel.  Her heart leapt at the sight of her husband  (<soon to be
ex> she noted sadly) but she still held out hope that he would
rescue her.  Somehow.  And rescue Guybrush, and put an end to
LeChuck's reign of terror.  

     Scully sighed.  The chance of those two accomplishing anything
were very slim, considering LeChuck already knew of their presence
and was just biding his time.  

     A heavy hand landed on her shoulder, and Scully jumped.
"Miss me, angel?" he leered.  Then he noticed where Scully's
attention was focused, and rage contorted his features.

     "You still love him, don't you!  Even after what he's done!"
shouted LeChuck.  "Well, maybe it's time I got rid of him!  What
does he fear the most?"  
Scully stared blankly at him.  

     "TELL ME!" he roared, and shook her roughly.  But she would
not reveal Mulder's innermost secret, his fear of... Scully felt
the fog descend on her again.  <He's assaulting my mind!> she 
shrieked inwardly. She felt LeChuck's presence invading her, 
searching through her precious memories until he found what he 
was looking for.
    Fire!

            *****************************************

    "Fire!" yelled Elaine.  Huge flames had just erupted in front
of them.  They turned, only to see a similar phenomena occur
behind.

     Mulder screamed.  He couldn't help himself.  Fire terrified
him, absolutely paralysed him with fear.  He whirled around, seeing
only a ring of flames.  Desperately, he clutched Elaine's arm and
searched her face for a sign.

     But the grimness in her eyes only confirmed the terrible
truth, that there was no escape.  He felt the heat creep closer and
closer, could almost feel his skin being singed.  

     "Tell me it's an illusion!" he begged, but Elaine only shook
her head.  She ripped open her satchel and scoured the contents,
then quickly gathered up a fine powder.  Scattering it in a wide
circle around them, she began murmuring a strange incantation.  

     It didn't work.  The fire leapt past the ring with renewed
ferocity, and Elaine's heart jumped into her throat.  She had
nothing more to help them.  

     Mulder and Elaine clung to one another as the sparks jumped
onto their clothing.  Huge walls of fire were all around them,
extending forever.  Mulder doubted that the flames even ended.  The
whole world was a torturous fireball, and it was only a matter of
seconds before it engulfed him.

     Then they would burn eternally.

             ****************************************

     "Stop it!  Stop it!" screamed Scully.  She hammered her fists
on LeChuck's chest, not bearing to look at the mirror while LeChuck
smiled tantalisingly.  

     Mulder's clothes caught fire, and he frantically shook his arm
while still protecting Elaine from the heat.  LeChuck grasped
Scully's face, and forced her to watch.  
     "Please," she begged.  
     "You really want me to stop?"
     "Yes, I'll do anything!  Anything you want, I promise!  Just,
please, stop hurting him!"

     With that, the flames disappeared and Mulder collapsed in a
quivering heap.  Scully reluctantly watched as Elaine consoled him.

<That should be me!>  But when she could see that Mulder was
alright, Scully heaved a sigh of relief.  

     Until she heard LeChuck's low, ominous laughter.  Hesitantly,
she turned to face him as the words of her promise rang in her
ears.

     "You and I, Dana, will be married tomorrow.  Then we will
bring Mulder hear and you will personally tell him the news, and
tell him how much you love me.  I will then tell Elaine Marley that
Guybrush is dead, and I will send them away to a distant place. 
You and I will be together, and uninterrupted, forever."

     Scully swallowed hard.  But she realised that she would
sacrifice her own happiness for the freedom of three others.  

     "I will do this on one condition, you allow Guybrush to go
free with them."
     "Never!"
     "Mr LeChuck, listen.  Hasn't your purpose become empty if all
you do is hurt Guybrush over and over again?  He only killed you
once, but you've had your revenge several times over."
Scully could see she wasn't getting through to him, so she
swallowed her pride and batted her eyelashes.  Her voice took 
on a flirtatious tone.

     "I just don't want you to be... distracted when we're married.
I'd feel as if I was less important than him."
Momentary indecision crossed LeChuck's face, and then he smiled at
her.  "Of course, lovely Dana, you are right.  I will permit
Guybrush to go free, but he will never set foot in the Caribbean
again."

     Scully nodded in acceptance, but inside her heart was
pounding.  She had just sold her soul to the devil.  And there was 
no getting it back.  

          ***************************************

     Guybrush shook his head in confusion.  For a moment, the
amusement park had flickered crazily around him, and a thought
popped into his bewildered mind.  <LeChuck's power is fading...>  

     Who was LeChuck?  The very name sent terror through Guybrush,
and as he saw Chuckie approach again, the fear was just as intense.

Why?  What had his big brother ever done to him?

     "Well, Guybrush, you're going to die once more."   
<No, not again, please, not again!>  Chuckie dragged Guybrush off
to his favourite attraction, the mirror maze.  Full of deadly sharp
edges...

          *****************************************

     Largo LeGrande kicked the wall in anger.  He'd been a fool to
trust LeChuck again, and now he was trapped just as efficiently as
one of the prisoners!  While that stupid woman now had HIS place at
LeChuck's side...

     Sighing heavily, Largo wondered just what had possessed him to
resurrect LeChuck in the first place.  He'd had it good on Scabb
Island, where the locals were terrified of him and gave him all he
needed.  But the lure of LeChuck's power had been too much, and
somehow Largo had remembered only the good times, not the bad.

     LeChuck had been like a father to him, providing him with food
and shelter and a good belting at least once a day.  Largo had
quickly learnt the tricks of pirating, and had eventually become
LeChuck's trusted, right-hand man.  

    But always second best.  Until LeChuck had drowned, and then he
had been free.  For a while, at least, until the hideous form of
ectoplasm had come after him and demanded his help.  And then
freedom again, when LeChuck was killed by Guybrush.  Until that
terrible day when the cosmic forces compelled him to go dig up
LeChuck's body.

     Largo kicked the wall again.  He was really fed up of the
gloom down here.  It seemed as if LeChuck didn't care about him at
all.  He'd become obsessed with torturing anyone he could, and that
included his loyal slaves.  Largo himself could be next...

     Only yesterday, two of his friends had been vaporised due to
LeChuck's anger.  Largo thought that was going a little too far. 
Not that they didn't deserve some punishment for stuffing up, but
LeChuck was a bit too obsessed with his latest conquest, the red-
haired woman.  

     "Hmmmm," Largo mused aloud, "perhaps I can use that to my
advantage.  LeChuck needs to learn he can't push around Largo
LeGrande forever!" 

     Largo walked across the room and tried to open his door.  It
was locked.  Was he really a prisoner?
     "LECHUCK!" he yelled, his voice trailing off a little
apprehensively.  "OPEN THIS DOOR RIGHT NOW!  Please," he added
sheepishly as he imagined LeChuck's wrath.  But there was no reply.


            ****************************************

     Scully sat desolately in the centre of the room that was her
prison.  She had finally been able to sleep for a few hours,
realising that she needed all of her strength to go through with
her promises.  

     She idly glanced at the mirror.  Mulder and Elaine were still
struggling through endless tunnels.

     "Haven't they realised by now?" Scully mused aloud.  The pair
looked exhausted, but kept going.  "Maybe Mulder does care after
all.  We were best friends once..."

     Scully still had no idea that Mulder thought she was dead. 
She believed that Mulder had come to try and find her.  
Unfortunately, Scully had no hope.  At least Elaine would have 
rescued Guybrush.  Perhaps she felt some sort of duty to rescue 
an old friend, too.

     The mirror flickered to show a new scene, but one that was
very familiar of Guybrush being torn apart, again.  
     "That's enough, LeChuck!"  she murmured.  He had been at it
for hours, ever since she had agreed to marry him this afternoon
(if there was such a time in this place.)   It was as if LeChuck
was getting his one last act of vengeance over and over.

     But this time, as the torn pieces of Guybrush's body moulded
themselves back together, it was in the form of a man.  Finally,
it was over.
 
         ***************************************

     "Guybrush, YOU'RE DEAD!" howled LeChuck in glee.  Guybrush
felt excruciating pain travel every nerve fibre in his body, and
knew that this was the end.  He could now remember every incident
with "Chuckie" in the amusement park, and he never dreamed revenge
could be so hideous.  Only the thought of Elaine kept him going
now.  She was the only one who knew where he was, the only one who
could save him.  

     Electricity seemed to flare from LeChuck's fingers and sear
his skin.  
     "Now you know what it is like to die!   Curse you, Guybrush
Threepwood, forever!"  As Guybrush felt the final onslaught of fire
surge through him, he clutched the E-ticket in his hand and thought
of his love.   "Elaine..." and the darkness came.  

     "LeChuck!  You promised!"  The pain receded, and Guybrush saw
angel hovering above him.  She smiled at him, and he smiled back. 
Now he knew he was finally free from the terror.  Guybrush slowly
reached out his arms to the blue-eyed angel.  She was the most
beautiful thing he had seen in his life, with radiance streaming
from behind her.  Her red hair was ablaze with the light, and she
reached down her arms to help him up.

     Only why were the angel's eyes so sad?  Why did he see shadows
that haunted her face?  And - why was LeChuck standing behind her?
     Scully helped Guybrush up to his feet.  Her hands felt warm,
solid, real to Guybrush.  

     "I'm not dead?" he asked, and then realised the stupidity of
his question.  Looking around him, he could see the underground
tunnels leading off in two directions, and a jail cell.  

     "No," said Scully.  LeChuck came forward and roughly propelled
Guybrush into the cell behind him.   
    "You are very fortunate, Guybrush, that my fiancee has
convinced me to free you.  Though I do not no why she desires this,
I cannot go against the wishes of my love!"  LeChuck grimaced.  
     "You will stay here until after the wedding, when I will send
you far, far away.   NEVER will you return, or I WILL kill you,"
threatened LeChuck.   He turned to leave, grasping Scully's arm to
take her with him.

     "Wait!"  Guybrush called.  "LeChuck, sir, may I please speak
to your fiancee?  I want to thank her."
     There was a note of desperation in Guybrush's voice that
caused LeChuck to pause.  <Aha!>  he realised.  <He's still in love
with Elaine!  Well, it won't take long for Scully to dispel that
illusion!>

     "Go right ahead," LeChuck said graciously, as he strode off
down the hall.  He was in control and loving it.
     Guybrush walked to the bars of his cell.  Dana Scully stared
at him from the other side, compassion in her eyes.  

     "I, uh, want to thank you, Miss..."
     "Call me Dana," she offered.  "I've seen what LeChuck's been
doing to you, and I don't think ANYONE deserves that kind of
torture.  I really admire you for standing up to him in the first
place."   She could still see the little boy in Guybrush's face,
even though LeChuck had returned him to his true form of a handsome
young man.  

     Guybrush was a little short, with blue eyes set in a young
face.  Blond hair crowned his head in long, wavy locks.  He had
grown a beard in an attempt to look older, but Guybrush was one of
those people who would appear young no matter what their age.  He
wore the traditional clothes of a pirate, however, his face was too
sweet to fit the image.   

     "Thank you so much, Dana. I don't know what you did to get
LeChuck to free me, but you have my eternal gratitude."
Scully just smiled sadly.  "I did what I had to do."

     "One thing I don't understand.  If you don't like what LeChuck
does, how can you possibly agree to marry him?  You don't seem the
type of person to be his evil queen."

     "It's kind of a long story.  My friend and I arrived on Dinky
Island, and met Elaine Marley..."
     "Elaine!  Is she alright?  She's not being tortured by LeChuck
as well?"   The hope in Guybrush's eyes lit up the whole room.    
     "At this point in time, she's fine."  
Guybrush's face lit up in a beaming smile.  "I knew it, knew she
was alive!  Elaine, she means everything to me.  I can't wait to
tell her about the treasure!  And maybe I'll finally have the nerve
to propose..."

     Scully sighed heavily.  She knew she had to tell Guybrush the
entire truth, no matter what hurt it caused.  
     "Guybrush," she began, "there's more you have to know.  Elaine
and my friend are also trapped here, in LeChuck's domain.  The only
way to achieve their freedom, and yours, was to agree to marry
LeChuck."

     "But why?  Why sacrifice your happiness for people you barely
know?"  Guybrush had never met a more compassionate person.
     "Elaine and my friend, Fox, have fallen in love."
Guybrush's face fell.

     "I know how you feel," Scully went on in a softer voice.  "Fox
was everything to me, and I thought we would be together forever. 
But even though he's left me, I want him to be happy.  I want him
to be free."

     Guybrush was pacing around the room, anguish apparent on his
face.  "I've been such a fool, and now I've lost Elaine forever!"
he moaned.  Suddenly, he raced back to the bars and took Scully's
hands in his.

     "No matter what happens, it's not right that you should be
trapped down here.  I will find a way to save you,"  he vowed.  
"You are my guardian angel."

     Scully felt tears well up in her eyes, and turned away.  "Good
luck, Guybrush.  I won't see you again," she whispered and walked
away.  Down the corridor to her doom.  

                     *******************************

     Herman Toothrot sat shivering in his shack.  Outside, the wind
was whirling as thunderheads approached.  He could feel the forces
of evil gathering above the island, preparing for the showdown he
knew was to come.  Lightning flashed and a huge crash resounded
through the hills.  The storm was coming, and Herman feared for his
life.  Death was near.
  
                **************************************  

     "With this ring, I thee wed," Largo read from the voodoo
version of the bible.  He was being extremely careful not to anger
LeChuck.  Largo didn't know if LeChuck had locked him in his room
on purpose, but he knew that he had to tread very carefully around
his master.  And look for the opportunity to escape.  

     "With this ring, I thee wed," Scully repeated in a monotone. 
The only way to keep her sanity was to pretend that this was a
horrible dream, and she wasn't really marrying a monster.  When she
woke up, everything would be fine.  But would she ever wake up from
the nightmare?

     Even the church was a thing from the darkest dreams of the
night.   It was full of ornate designs, but these depicted
gargoyles and demons rather than traditional heavenly motifs. 
Scully and LeChuck stood in front of the "altar", a monstrosity of 
immense proportions.  There were no windows to let in the light, 
rather the walls glowed a luminous, unearthly blue.  And of course, 
the dreaded magic "mirror" stood to the left, providing a 
kaleidoscope of terrifying images.

     Every word uttered echoed throughout the large hall, for the
ceiling was high above.  Huge marble columns supported it, although
Scully believed that this room didn't need any supporting with the
amount of evil magic in it.   

     The ceremony passed in a daze, as Scully's mind kept screaming
<This is not happening, this is not happening...>
But it was, and LeChuck sealed the marriage with a kiss, this one
longer than any Scully had yet endured.

     "We can get a lot closer yet," whispered LeChuck in her ear,
and Scully visibly shuddered as he wrapped his arms around her
waist.  But she wouldn't think of that now.  Whispering in his ear, 
she replied, "We had a deal.  It's time to say goodbye to Mulder,
Elaine and Guybrush."

     "I'm sure that can wait until later.  I want to get to know my
new wife!" snickered LeChuck lewdly.  His hands drifted lower, and
Scully pulled out of his grasp.  

     "I can't concentrate on anything, until they're gone.  Just do
this one thing for me, please, *darling*."  She had to force the
last word out.  
     LeChuck's face twisted in anger, but nevertheless, he turned
to Largo.
     "Bring them here, now!"  he commanded.   

            *****************************************

     Elaine sighed.  "I don't think we're getting anywhere.   We've
been trekking around here for hours!"
     "Three days, believe it or not," said Mulder, checking his
watch.  At least now there were lights along the tunnels.  Small
lanterns had appeared after their encounter with the walls of fire.


     "Maybe we should give up.  Try to find a different way down." 
Mulder hated to suggest it, but he could see Elaine was growing
pale and weary.  They hadn't eaten much at all during their time in
the darkness, and slept even less. 

     "Think about it, Elaine.  Even if we do stumble upon LeChuck,
will we have the strength to fight him?  Maybe we can go to the
surface and get together a team of people.  Organise some supplies.
Anything is better than this."

     Elaine turned to him, tears in her eyes.  "I just don't want
to give up hope.  We've come so far, and if there's even the
tiniest chance that LeChuck's prisoners are still alive, I want to
help free them.  I promised that when they helped me escape the
last time."

     Mulder took her hand.  "One more day," he agreed.  "But then
we have to turn back."
     "Thank-you," she whispered to him.  "I don't think I could
have made it this far on my own."
    "No, thank You," returned Mulder.  "I would've gone crazy by
now if I didn't have something to occupy my mind.  Your company
keeps the bad thoughts away."

     That was true.  Mulder had forced his brain to bury any
memories of Scully.  He just couldn't cope with knowing she was
gone.  He knew he would have to face his feelings eventually, but 
right now he was happy to just pretend it had never happened.

     Only at night, when he slept, did his blue-eyed angel haunt
him.  In Mulder's dreams, she was always there, watching him,
calling to him but he couldn't save her and he would wake up with
tears streaming down his face as he tried to erase the horrible
images from his memory.

     He hadn't even had the chance to say goodbye.  His last words
to Scully were said with disinterest, as he'd blatantly ignored
her.  Mulder's own failure hurt almost as much as her death.  And 
he knew he would never be whole again, for a piece of him, the part 
that contained his heart, was lost forever.

     "Elaine, thanks for the other day as well."  Mulder had been
too full of shame to talk about their encounter with the fire. 
     "I never told anyone this before except Scully," his voice
seemed to catch on that word, "but fire absolutely petrifies me. 
I mean, it's not like a little fear.  Fire is just, I Hate It." 

     "I understand," sympathised Elaine.  
     "Sorry if I lost it back then.  It's weird.  I can face the
spookiest stuff, but when you get to something like fire..."
     "You don't have to explain anything else," said Elaine.  "It's
alright, and I'll be there whenever you need me."
There was nothing more for either of them to say.  They walked on
in comfortable silence until, for the first time in days, they saw
something different.

     A green light coming to them down the hall.  Mulder and Elaine
strained to see it, so unbelievable was the sight.  But it was
there, and it was coming closer.  
     A small man approached.  
     "Hi," Mulder offered warily, but then Elaine snapped,
"Largo LeGrande!  What the hell are you doing here?"
"Ms Marley.  Nice to see you again," he snickered.  "LeChuck
requires your presence."

     "LeChuck!" repeated Elaine.  Then she said snidely, "I see
you're still doing his dirty work for him."
Largo momentarily bristled with anger, but then realised that he
held the upper hand.
     "At least I haven't spent the last three days wandering
through the same four tunnels!"

     Mulder and Elaine looked at each other in surprise, and
realisation slowly dawned over both faces.  
     "Of course," breathed Elaine.
     "Yes, that's right!"  Largo said gleefully.  "LeChuck had
known you were here since the moment you arrived!  LeChuck is aware
of everything!  You were fools to think you could outwit his mighty
power!"

     "Then why did he wait so long to send for us?" asked Mulder.
"Oh, he enjoyed watching you wander around.  And besides, more
pressing needs occupied his mind.  Like torturing your friend
Guybrush Threepwood..." Largo leered at Elaine.

     Elaine made her face blank.  She would not show emotion, would
not reveal anything that could be used against her.  
     "LARGO!  GET YOUR SORRY BUTT HERE!" boomed a voice from the
ceiling, and all three jumped.

     "Well, I guess we'd better get going.  LeChuck doesn't like to
be kept waiting, y'know," stammered Largo.  He snapped his fingers,
and the end of the passage was revealed.  Propelling the two
travellers in front of him, Largo walked towards the door and
fumed.  Once again, he had been made to look like a fool.  If only
there was some way of revenge...

     Elaine took Mulder's hand.  "Well, this is it."  They stepped
forward.  

              *************************************

     High above, above even the surface of Dinky Island, lightning
tore the sky apart.  The forces of evil personified in nature were
almost at a frenzy.  Herman Toothrot hid under a blanket.  He knew
the meridian was very close.

     "Not long now, not long now," he muttered over and over.  He
just hoped that he would survive it, the culmination of rage and
darkness.  Or the evil would be released over the entire world.

                ***********************************

     Scully heard a noise behind her, and quickly turned, glad to
get away from LeChuck's obsessive gaze.  A door she hadn't noticed
before creaked open, and three people stepped inside.  She forced
her gaze from them, even though her heart was pounding and ordering
her to go throw her arms around Fox Mulder.

     Elaine looked around in surprise.  "It's a church!" she said
to Mulder.   But he wasn't listening.
     "DANA!" he shouted in utter confusion.  He couldn't believe
it, she was alive!   Hope and happiness spread over his face like
a rising sun.  "DANA!"

     But her eyes were to the ground, and she couldn't see his
reaction.  Could only hear the disbelief in his voice.  <Yeah, that
stuffs up your plans with Elaine now, doesn't it.  Can't have a
wife hanging around in the way.>

     Mulder began sprinting from the doorway, up the aisle to the
front of the church.  But an invisible wall stopped him, and he
crashed to the ground.  Shaking his head, he got up and looked to
his wife.  "Dana, are you alright?  Look at me!"

     Then she did, and her eyes were filled with pure ice.  She
wasn't looking at him, she was looking through him.  "Dana, what
have they done to you..."

     "I've done nothing," came a booming voice.  "She has done this
all of her own free will."
     Mulder became aware of his surroundings.  Scully, up there,
wearing - a wedding dress?  <she couldn't have one when we got
married>  And what was the freak beside her?

     As if he'd read Mulder's mind, LeChuck stepped forward.  "I,"
he announced grandly, "am LeChuck.  King of this realm, and soon to
be king of the Carribean.  And you already know my wife, the lovely
Dana LeChuck."

     Wife?  "She never would have married you," Mulder spat
spitefully.  "You've done something to her.  Cast a spell or
something..."

     "I assure you, Mulder, he has done nothing."  Scully's voice
was as hard as steel.  "LeChuck has cared for me in a way you never
have.  I love him."

    Saying those words was breaking Scully's heart, but she knew it
was for the best.  And as she saw Elaine walk up and take Mulder's
hand, she told herself she was doing the right thing.

     "I'm so sorry, Fox..." whispered Elaine.  "She's telling the
truth.  Magic cannot make someone fall in love."  
Mulder felt his world fall out from under him, again.  His brief
hope had been shattered.  

     "I still don't believe it!" he shouted desperately at LeChuck.
"Believe what you want, but Dana and I will be together forever." 
He laughed evilly, and Scully walked up beside him and took
LeChuck's hand.

     "Actually," LeChuck continued, "you should be showing more
respect for the both of us!  Dana has pleaded for your release, and
convinced me to let you go. "

     "What about Guybrush Threepwood?"  asked Elaine, the
apprehension in her voice obvious.  

     "Ah, Mr Threepwood," sighed LeChuck.  "You will be gratified
to know that he is going with you.   But warn him to watch his
back...  LARGO!  Fetch Mr Threepwood NOW!"
     "Yes, sir!" snapped Largo, while mumbling curses under his
breath.  He raced from the room.  

     Scully stepped closer to the invisible barrier.  "You should
be happier, Mulder.  I've orchestrated your release, and you and
Elaine can be happy together.  What more do you want?"

     "I want you to be happy," he offered.  He'd never seen Scully
like this.  Had he been suppressing her true nature all those years
they'd been together?  Was it only now she was free?

     Scully showed a funny half-smile, almost tinged with sadness. 
"I am perfectly happy."  To prove her point, she swallowed her
pride and turned to LeChuck.  Beckoning him forward, she planted a
full kiss on his lips.

     But LeChuck had other ideas on his mind than a simple kiss for
show.  Soon he was kissing her passionately, and her eyes popped
open in surprise.  Mulder was staring at them, an expression of
agony on his face.  But Elaine, she was gesturing wildly, mouthing
one word over and over.

     As LeChuck kissed Scully's neck, Elaine uttered a cry of
exasperation, then reached up to Mulder's head and extracted a
single hair.  Every move was done with an exaggerated nature, and
then she pointed to Scully, who finally got the message.

     Scully wondered what on earth Elaine wanted with a strand of
LeChuck's hair, but she ran her fingers through the matted mess and
pulled one out.  "Sorry," she murmured to LeChuck as she carefully
curled it into her hand.  

     Scully felt as though LeChuck was eating her alive, and
suddenly pulled away.  He glared at her with fire in his eyes, but
she smiled seductively and promised, "Later."

     "Elaine!" someone yelled from the back of the room, and she
whirled around.
     "Guybrush?  Is that you?"  Happiness burst over her face like
the sun on a rainy day.  "Thank God you're alright!"  She ran to
him and they clung to one another like two survivors of a storm.
"I thought I'd never see you again..." she whispered.

     "How touching," snickered LeChuck.  It gave him immense
pleasure to see a scene such as this.  Particularly as he knew they
wouldn't be alive much longer.  Dana was so foolishly trusting!

     Mulder watched the happy reunion, pain coursing through his
heart.  There would be no happy reunion for him.
     LeChuck gestured grandly, and suddenly the three prisoners
were standing in a semi-circle.  LeChuck and Scully were at the top
of the small flight of steps, and Largo was on his knees behind
LeChuck.  He grimaced angrily.

     "It's time to say goodbye," ordered LeChuck.  "You will NEVER
return to the Carribean, or you will die."  He said this for the
benefit of Scully, who was feeling glad that some good could come
out of this mess.  

     "Wait!" protested Guybrush.  "Can I just thank Dana, shake her
hand?  She's done so much for all of us, and I can't stand to think
of her trapped down here while we're free."

     LeChuck smiled.  <Why not?  It's not as if they're going to
shake anyone's hand ever again!>  "Go ahead," he granted.
Dana Scully slowly descended the stairs.  This was it.  She slowly
stepped in front of Guybrush, and looked into his eyes.

     "Thank-you, from the bottom of my heart." He grasped her hands
warmly as tears welled up in his eyes.  It just wasn't fair.
"Be happy, Guybrush," his angel spoke to him for the last time. 
Scully moved on to Elaine.

     "I wish you all the best of luck," she said stiffly, and
offered her hand.  Scully didn't think she could ever forgive
Elaine from taking Mulder from her, but she would be civil, at
least.

     Elaine shook her hand firmly as Scully transfered LeChuck's
black hair into her palm.  Elaine let a small smile cross her face,
and said, "Thank you.  For everything," she added meaningfully,
glancing at her hand.  She casually adjusted her backpack, bringing
the opening close to her right hand.  But Scully wasn't interested
in what she was doing.  It was time to say goodbye to the only man
she'd ever loved.   

     "Mulder," she began, but then her mind was blank.  She
couldn't look at him, she could only stare at the floor as her mind
whirled with endless things she still had to say to him but never
could.  

     "Dana," he whispered, "look at me.  I love you."  He took her
hands, and with that simple gesture, everything inside her snapped. 
Her resolves to hate him were gone, she couldn't keep away.  Gazing
into his tortured eyes,  Scully felt drawn to him with all her
heart.

     Mulder and Scully threw their arms around each other, and they
kissed desperately, passionately, as if it was their first, and
last ever, kiss.  All their emotions came pouring out through the
touch of each other and it seemed as if they could never let go.  
Nothing could separate them now...

     "WIFE!!!  YOU BETRAYED ME!!!"   With a powerful throw of his
arms, electricity crackled from LeChuck's fingers.  The tendrils
raced down to the couple, encircling Scully's frame and throwing
her across the room.  She hit the wall with a sickening crunch, and
her body crumpled to the floor.   

     Mulder fell to his knees as the energy drained from him,
partly from the deadly electrical surge, partly from horror.   He
could see the blood pooling around Scully's head, and she was oh,
so still, her body twisted at angles no human body should ever be
in.

       "I WAS A FOOL!" screamed LeChuck in anger.  "I CANNOT TRUST
ANYONE!!!  WELL,  IT'S TIME FOR MY ATTACK!   I WILL RULE THE WORLD,
ALONE!   NOT EVEN THAT SORRY LITTLE EXCUSE FOR A MAN, LARGO, CAN BE
MY ASSISTANT!"  LeChuck became even louder, almost overcome by his
sense of greatness as the powers of darkness surged around him. 
Never had he been so strong.  "IT IS TIME!!!"

    And with that, Largo finally snapped.  He summoned all of his
rage, and all of his courage as he reached out and shoved LeChuck
in the back.  

     A look of disbelief, which only Elaine was privileged to,
crossed LeChuck's face as his hands flailed wildly in the air.  The
movement had been so sudden, so unexpected, that LeChuck could do
nothing to stop his unceremonious tumble down the stairs.

     Elaine gave a triumphant shout.  She lifted the voodoo doll
above her head and began the incantation, confident now that
LeChuck's slight "accident" had given her all the time she needed. 
She was right.

     As LeChuck began to slowly, purposefully, and menacingly, haul
himself to his feet, Elaine drove a wicked looking needle into the
body of the doll.  LeChuck flinched.

     "Who has the power now?" she crowed.  "Look at the mighty
LeChuck, bowed on his knees!"
     LeChuck stood up and glared at her, a deathly stare that had
been known to kill men.  But Elaine was unfazed.  Too long she had
waited for this moment, to finally give LeChuck what he was due and
be rid of him forever.   

     She vindictively thrust the needle through the doll again,
this time in the vicinity of the heart.   LeChuck clutched his
chest, but did not stoop.  

     "A puny doll cannot stop me!   I have all the forces of evil
at my fingertips!   One doll can do no damage!"
     "I don't believe you," said Elaine coldly.  "This doll is made
of REAL ingredients.  No substitutes.  And you, of all people - if
you even are a person - should know what that means."   She cruelly
twisted the doll in half, and enjoyed the look of pain that crossed
LeChuck's face.

     "Guards!  Largo!  Apprehend this woman at once!" LeChuck
ordered.  "No, better still, kill her!"  But not a soul came to his
aid.   The dark forces were just too terrifying.  

     "Do you enjoy suffering?"  taunted Elaine.  "You've made
enough people suffer over the years."   She glanced over at Mulder,
still trapped on his knees.  Scully, lying motionless near the
altar.  Largo, fleeing the room as fast as he could.  And
Guybrush...where was Guybrush?  

     A huge bolt of lightning suddenly pierced the ceiling, and the
heavens opened above.  Rain, wind and hail poured into the now open
chamber, and the battle was far from over.   Thunder pounded as
LeChuck declared, "But I have the powers of midnight!  The magic of
the darkness!  It is mine, and nothing can overcome it!"

     He was telling the truth.  No one had ever conquered these
powers, granted only to the foulest of minds throughout history. 
It was rumoured that these individuals had only been stopped by the
devil himself, and were still plotting away in hell.  

     But there were other rumours, whisperings that a way was
possible, if only Elaine could recall them...
And then *she* felt the lightning.  The doll dropped from her
stunned hands and she could only watch as LeChuck raised his hands
to the sky, drawing his power down from the thunderheads.  He was
utterly, completely invincible.

               *********************************

     Herman Toothrot knew that it was very bad.  His island had all
but disappeared, and now he was crouched on the very edge of the
crater of evil.  He could not move for terror, but remembered a
phrase his grandmother had taught him.

     "There's a deeper magic, a deeper magic..." 

                 ****************************

     "... a deeper magic," Guybrush recalled as true memories of
his childhood finally overtook the horrifying parody LeChuck had
created.  There was a deeper magic, and that was the power of, of,
what was it?

     He saw Elaine crumble, and agony tore at his heart.  From his
carefully chosen vantage point, he could only abandon his sketchy
plan and run to the one he loved more than anything.  But first, he
called to LeChuck, "Feel like some root beer?"  The substance that
had killed his spirit the first time.  Surely the mention of the
stuff would cause LeChuck to hesitate.

     And he did.  Guybrush ran in front of Elaine, blocking the
flow of deadly charge.  
"LeChuck!  Wait!  I have the answer you seek!"

     LeChuck barely heard him, and increased the force flowing
through his body.  
"You're scared!  You know there's a deeper magic!  Well, I have
that secret!  The secret... of Big Whoop!"

     That was enough to make LeChuck stop frying Guybrush.  
"It's true!"  Guybrush continued.  "It does contain the power to
travel to alternate dimensions!  And I have it right here!"  He
held the E-ticket proudly over his head, as Elaine weakly blinked
in surprise.  The E-ticket, after all this time...

     "GIVE IT TO ME!"  LeChuck was in no mood for negotiations. 
All he knew was anger, rage, hurt, that was all that was left.  He
took a step forward, moving away from the vortex of power.  
"You can't stop me!  You are MINE!"  

     As Guybrush tantalisingly waved the piece of paper, Elaine
regained control of the voodoo doll and began tearing it apart.  No
more room for compassion.  This was their last chance.

     She twisted off the head.  LeChuck looked at her in surprise,
realising he had left the safety of the maelstrom.  He turned
sluggishly, but someone had beaten him to it.

     Fox Mulder precariously held the magic mirror beneath the
vortex.  He was channelling the energy!   But Guybrush could see
the struggle on the weakened man's face, and raced to help.

     "This is the end!" cried Elaine as she threw the remains of 
the doll, nothing more than pieces of fluff, around the room. 
LeChuck groaned.  He staggered closer to his goal, but then a wave
of energy hit him in the face.  

     "We hold the power now," gasped Mulder.  He felt the mirror
slipping, even with Guybrush's hold on the other side.  Then a
third pair of hands joined their quest, as Elaine bravely joined
them.

     LeChuck fell backwards.  All the power he could have achieved
was now directed at him!  He turned to escape, but the doll had
weakened him too much.  Screaming in agony, LeChuck was encompassed
by the swirling energies. He was finally ground to dust.  

     Later, Elaine swore she had seen spirits of the darkness drag
LeChuck's essence off to the domain of the dead, but that hardly
mattered.  He was gone from the living world, and that was all that
really counted.  Finally, they were free.

     "How do we shut this vortex off?" called Mulder over the
horrendous noise.  The mirror still channelled energy through the
hall, and the very walls, illusions of LeChuck's domain, were
crumbling.

     "I don't know!   It should have stopped by itself!  No one's
calling it anymore, are they?"  Suddenly suspicious, the trio
glanced warily around.  No one else was in sight.  
     "The mirror's evil!"  realised Guybrush.  "I've seen what it
can show!"     

     So Elaine ceremoniously lifted the needle above her head and
smashed it into the glass.  The world seemed to shatter with the
mirror, and then everything was quiet.

    Midnight had passed.

                 ********************************

     It was dark, very dark.  But a peaceful kind of dark, the calm
after the storm.

     "Elaine?  Are you okay?" ventured Guybrush.  
"I'm here," she replied, reaching out for him.  "Mulder?" she
asked.
     "I'm fine," he replied, puffing a little.  
"It's finally peaceful," realised Elaine.  "Now if only we could
see something..."

     And then Mulder remembered the terrifying thought he had
blocked from his mind during the final battle with LeChuck.
"Oh no, Dana...  Dana!  Are you alright!" he called desperately. 
There was no answer save for the despondent breathing of Elaine and
Guybrush.

     "I saw her earlier, she was hurt pretty badly," warned
Guybrush.  "I just can't believe..."
"Where is she?" begged Mulder.  "If only I could see, I don't even
know where I am!"

     It seemed that someone heard his plea, for the clouds finally
cleared and radiant moonbeams suddenly streamed down, illuminating
the wreck of the hall.  And revealing the form of Dana Scully,
still crumpled in the same position they all remembered.

     Mulder got there first, running faster than he had in his
life.  "Danadanadana..."   He touched her gently, and felt
coldness.  A coldness that travelled through him and glazed over
his heart.  "No..."

     Finding one of her wrists, he lifted it gently.  No pulse.
"There has to be one, there has to!" he cried aloud, disbelief
coursing through his veins.  

     He finally reached for her face, careful not to jar her in the
slightest.   Sweeping the red hair thick with blood away from her
temples, he saw no indication of breathing.  Her blue eyes were
forever closed.  Not just to the light this time, but to
everything.

     "No!" Mulder repeated again.  "This isn't possible!  Elaine,"
he said, whirling around to face the couple behind him, " you have
to help her!"

     Her examination of Scully's body was quick but thorough.  "I'm
so, so sorry, Mulder."  She turned away and Guybrush caught her,
tears streaming down both of their faces.  

     Mulder now knew that moving Scully could do nothing more to
hurt her, but even so, he very gently rolled her head to face him. 
Positioning her body into a more human position, he again implored
Elaine.  "Please, can't you do something!  LeChuck came back from
the dead twice!  Surely you know at least a little of that magic!"

     Mulder caressed Scully's cheek as Elaine slowly shook her
head.  "Magic alone cannot raise the dead.  Just as it cannot
transform true love.  No, LeChuck only achieved his immortality by
selling his soul long ago."

     "Then I have nothing."  Mulder began openly weeping, cradling
his wife's body in his arms.  High above, the stars rained down
their sympathy on the trio who had lost so much while gaining hope
for the entire world.  Their sacrifice would never be forgotten.

                  *************************

     "Dana, I love you.  I've always loved you, and I always will. 
I can never say goodbye..." whispered Mulder.  He buried his face
in her hair, savouring the sensation of closeness for the last
time.  He then found her lips, and placed one last kiss.

     Dana Scully moaned.  A sound so slight that Mulder almost
believed he had imagined it, until it repeated itself.  "Dana?" he
asked warily.  This wasn't possible!

    He stared down at the woman in his arms as Elaine and Guybrush 
walked over to crouch beside him.  
"She just moaned!" he told them.  In fascination, the trio watched
as moonbeams seemed to dance along Scully's limbs, leaving a trail
of healing.  And finally, she opened her eyes.

     "Dana!" repeated Mulder in joy, locking his eyes with hers. 
Within them, he saw the deepest love he had ever known.  
"Fox..." she replied weakly.  She saw him smiling down at her, and
knew that everything would be okay.  They were together and alive
with forever to play with.

     "The deeper magic..." murmured Guybrush.
"Oh, of course!" realised Elaine.  "The stories were true!  Beyond
the power of midnight, there is a deeper magic.  The deepest magic
before dawn."

     "And it can only be found through the power of love,"
continued Guybrush.  He gazed at Elaine, and realised that he had
in front of him what he had been searching for the whole of his
life.  And he saw that love reflected back in her eyes.

     But Fox and Dana barely heard the other couple.  
"I'm sorry, for everything," he offered, but she shushed him with
a smile.
"It doesn't matter.  Nothing matters, but being here with you."
"Dana, I love you."  And with that, Mulder kissed her again.  This
time, she was alive to feel it.  

                   ********************************

     Largo shook his head and picked himself up out of the rubble. 
He'd got away!  Finally!  He still found it hard to believe that he
had possessed the nerve to shove LeChuck down the stairs, but he
had.

     <Hey...> a sudden thought struck Largo.  <Maybe I killed
LeChuck!>  He could see the ruins of the tunnels, and knew that
such a thing could not happen unless his former master was dead.  

     Grinning gleefully, Largo began jogging in the direction of
the light he presumed was the sun.  He couldn't wait to finally get
out of here, and tell the world what he had done!

                       **********************

     Morning dawned beautiful and clear.  Scully sighed peacefully
and turned her face to the sun, enjoying the brilliance of natural
light.  Mulder tightened his arms around her, and smiled into her
hair.  They were safe.

     Scully heard the sounds of Elaine stirring behind them. 
They'd slept the rest of the night in the crater, being too
exhausted to find a way out.  But now it was daylight, and, well
rested, they could explore their options.

     Guybrush sat up and yawned happily.  He was alive, he was
free, and it seemed that Elaine did care about him after all. 
Plus, he'd made two wonderful new friends.  There was a lot to be
glad about.  Now if only there was a way to get out of the hole and
off the island...

     "Hey..." he wondered aloud.  "Is Dinky Island even still
there?"  From the size of the chasm, all that could possibly be
left was a small ring of sand. 

     But his question was answered rapidly with a cheery voice
calling, "Ahoy down there!"
"Herman Toothrot!" responded Guybrush, craning his neck.  He and
Herman went a long way back, although Guybrush knew that Herman was
a crazy old man.  Still, Herman had helped him on the odd occasion,
warning him about LeChuck.  

     "Mr Threepwood, you're alive!  Well done, son, well done!" 
Herman cackled cheerfully.  "The evil is all gone!  But did you
have to wreck my island?"

     "We're sorry," called Elaine, getting up and striding over to
the walls near where Herman was perched.  "But we did it, we
destroyed LeChuck!"

     Herman clapped his hands with glee.  "I knew you would, I knew
you would!" he crowed.  "Never doubted for a moment!"  He seemed to
have forgotten cowering in his shack, hiding and whimpering.

     "Mr Toothrot, good morning!" called Scully, joining the
conversation.  
     "Well, miss, seems you aren't dead after all!  Didn't think
you were stupid enough to go get yourself drowned!"

     Scully whirled to face Mulder, a half-amused, half-angry look
on her face.  "You thought I was dead?!"
     He shrugged apologetically.  "Well, that was before I really
believed all this business about LeChuck.  Sorry," he added, seeing
the look on Elaine's face as well.  

     Smiling, Scully walked over to her husband and hugged him
gratefully.  "It doesn't matter anymore."
     Elaine and Guybrush shared a knowing look.  There was a bond
between the two ex-agents, one that could never be broken.  And one
that could possibly come to exist between the two of them...

     Suddenly remembering the E-ticket, Elaine opened her mouth to
ask Guybrush about it.  But then she changed her mind.  If he
really was the one, he would come forward.  Right now, they had to
concentrate on getting out.

     "Herman!" she called again.  "Can you help us get out of
here?" 
Herman scampered around the edge of the crater.  
"If I had some ropes, you could maybe climb up," he suggested,
eliciting a groan from Mulder.  Not rope-climbing again!
But there were no other options available.  Unless...

     "Hey, Elaine!" he said.  "Remember you told me about the other
entrance!  The way LeChuck got in here in the first place?"
"Oh, of course," she recalled.  Stepping away from the rock walls,
she surveyed the room with determination written all over her
features.  

     "You wouldn't happen to know anything about the other
entrance, would you Herman?" shouted up Guybrush.  Herman furrowed
his brow, then replied, "That one's no good anymore!  It caved in
two hours ago, just after that little man came running out!"

     "He knew about it all along?" spat Elaine incredulously.  "And
he didn't tell me?!"
    Guybrush smiled wryly at her.  "That's Herman Toothrot for you. 
Never tells you anything useful!"
"You know what else that means," commented Scully.  "Largo got
away."

     "Oh, him.  Well, he won't bother us anymore.  He won't mess
with Guybrush Threepwood ever again!" declared Guybrush.  
     "Don't forget, he did help a little..." added Elaine.

"Oh, who cares.  Let's just get out of here!"
     All four of them craned their necks towards Herman, but he
wasn't there.  
"Where did he go now..." groaned Elaine in exasperation.
   
             *****************************************
 
     Five hours later, a rope made of vines came slithering down to
the bottom.  "Sorry about that, folks," called down the cheery
voice of who they all now knew was a certified lunatic, "I got
hungry and decided to have breakfast.  And then I couldn't figure
out where all the trees had gone, so I wandered around for a while. 
I guess I just fell asleep, and then I woke up and remembered you!"

     Elaine grabbed the rope impatiently.  "You can explain later. 
Is that rope secure?"  She tugged on it.
"Hey, tug-of-war!" shouted Herman happily.
"HERMAN!" the four prisoners yelled.  "CAN YOU PLEASE TIE DOWN THE
ROPE!"

     "Why?" came the innocent question.  "Oh, I get it.  You want
to climb up!  That sounds boring.  How about I throw the rope down
to you, and you can tie it?"

     Scully rolled her eyes.  She couldn't believe this guy was so
dense!  "Herman," she called in a rational voice, "we need you to
tie the rope to a tree and see which one of us can get up first."

     "Oh.  Okay, I'll be timing you!"  With that, he tied the rope 
around one of the few remaining palm trees of Dinky island.
"Finally," said Elaine.  The past few hours had been interesting,
with the four of them trading stories of the last week.  But there
were still a few unanswered questions, questions she couldn't ask
Guybrush until they were alone.  She also suspected Dana and Fox
were longing for privacy too.  

     "I'll go up first," announced Elaine.  "I'm the fastest, so I
can get up there and make sure Herman doesn't do anything else
stupid!"  With that, she expertly began shimmying her way up. 
Somehow, they weren't as deep as when they'd first come down.

     "Who's next?" asked Guybrush.  He could tell that neither
Mulder nor Scully had much experience with rope climbing.  Added to
the fact that Scully was still very weak from her now-healed
injuries, Guybrush decided that Mulder should go next, followed by
Scully and himself last.  

     "Hey, Scully," joked Mulder over his shoulder as he began his
ascent, "we're going to forget how to think for ourselves soon!"
Scully only shook her head and laughed.

               *************************************
     Sunset on Dinky Island.  A glorious, joyous sunset that many
suspected they'd never see.  The group lay sprawled on the beach,
as Herman pottered around in his "kitchen".  He'd promised to cook
a feast worthy of heroes, and that was what they were.

     "You realise, Guybrush, that we're going to be famous all over
again," said Elaine lazily, stretching out in the warm last rays of
sunlight.

     "I don't really care, anymore," he replied. 
Mulder shifted on the sand, suddenly startled.  "You can't tell
anyone that Scully and I were involved," he warned.  "There are 
still people out there, looking to kill us."

     Scully's face saddened.  For the past week, she'd been able to
forget about their terrifying past.   "Mulder's right," she said a
little wistfully.  "The two of you did it all by yourselves."
"Hey, don"t forget about Largo!  He's probably out there right now,
claiming all the credit!"  recalled Guybrush.  They just had to
laugh.  

     Staring at the gentle waves, Mulder thought of something he
should have done a long time ago.  Time to treat his wife the way
she deserved to be treated.  

     "Dana?" he asked, giving her his drop-dead gorgeous smile,
"feel like a romantic stroll by the water's edge?"  The smile she
returned gave him the only answer he needed.
     
     Elaine and Guybrush stared after the pair so obviously in
love.  Guybrush swallowed uneasily.  It was time to take a chance. 
"What about you, Elaine?  Feel like a walk?" 
"Okay," she responded.  They set off in the opposite direction.

     "Did you mean that, what you said earlier, about not caring if
you're famous?," casually asked Elaine.  "I thought being a
notorious pirate was your lifelong dream!"   The sand squished
quietly beneath their feet as she waited for the reply.  

     "I've realised a lot of things lately," Guybrush began, "and
one of them is that fame and fortune don't matter in the greater
scheme of things.  Elaine," he turned to face her, "I'm sorry I
abandoned you for the map piece of Dinky island.  It wasn't worth
it.  Nothing was worth hurting you for."

     "Are you just saying that because there was no treasure?" she
asked.  She had to ask him that, no matter how much it pained her. 
She had to know.

      "But there was a treasure," he said, surprising her.  He
pulled the E-ticket out of his pocket.  "This."
Feigning curiosity, Elaine took the piece of paper and waited for
Guybrush to explain.

     "At first, I couldn't figure out what it was.  It certainly
wasn't the fabled secret to other dimensions!"  He smiled at her. 
"But this ticket, with it's ornate letter "E" and nothing else,
made me think of you.  How important you are to me, how much I care
for you, and how I would feel if I never saw you again."

     His eyes were shining as he stared deep into hers.  "If I ever
lost you for good, I don't know what I'd do."   He took a deep
breath, and got down on one knee.
     "Elaine Marley, will you marry me?"

     The wind rose and whipped through Elaine's hair.  Time seemed
to stop, and she looked brave and strong as she faced the future. 
She suddenly knew that there was no reason to be afraid of the
prophecy any longer, because all of her dreams had come true.

     Guybrush gazed hopefully up at her.  He was afraid to move. 
Afraid to shatter the illusion.  Afraid of the answer...
"Yes," she whispered.  "Of course.  There could never be anyone
else."  Finally, she knew that it was true.  She'd been so afraid
of trusting her heart in the past.  How else had she become the
formidable Elaine Marley, renowned across the Carribean?  Only by
being strong, and not letting her emotions get in the way.

     But as Guybrush rose to kiss her, she let the wariness and
fear wash away by a new emotion, that of true love.  
     Guybrush smiled, and as his lips touched hers, he knew that he
could be full of joy forever.

     Far down the beach, Scully watched the pair and smiled.  It
was wonderful to see the two of them reunited, and this time with
love.  She turned and suddenly kissed her own partner.   

     "What was that for?" he asked in surprise.
"It was because I love you," Scully responded.  And she did.

               *************************************

      "My grandfather told me, a long time ago, when I was only a
little girl, that he could see the future."  Elaine was finally
reaveling her secret, the one she had kept all her life.
"He was a sorcerer, and a very powerful one.  He knew things,
terrible things that no person should ever know!"  She shuddered,
and Guybrush held her close.  He was still amazed that she cared
for him so much.

    "He told me that he was going away, and that he was going to
die.  I begged him not to go, but he wouldn't listen.  He said that
prophecies cannot be avoided.  Then he told me of my own future."

     Guybrush listened closely, fascinated.  He didn't think
anything had ever scared Elaine. 

     "Don't get me wrong here, Grandfather Marley would never do
anything to purposely scare me.  He just wanted to know that I'd
grow up okay, and that's why he told me what he told me, and did
what he did. 

     "He made up the legend of Big Whoop, and the only treasure he
planted here was the E-ticket, the ticket you now have.  He
predicted that the only man ever tenacious enough, determined
enough to find it was the man I was to marry.

     "I hated the idea!  I loathed the fact that he had set this
farce up, that he had determined my future for me!  But then when
I found out that it was you, everything changed.

     "That's why I let you have my piece of the map," Elaine
explained.  "I knew I had to get it over with, no matter what
happened.  Then I could finally put it behind me."

     She sighed, and settled in Guybrush's arms.  "I'm so glad
everything turned out well. Better than I had ever dreamed.  I love
you, Guybrush Threepwood."
"I love you, Elaine," he replied, and together, they walked back
down the darkening beach to the future.  


              ***************************************

     Scully sighed peacefully, leaning heavily against Mulder.  She
felt safe and secure in his arms once again.  Life was perfect but
for one small detail...

     "Jenni..." she whispered sadly.  "Our baby..."
Mulder swung her around, to gaze steadily into Scully's eyes.
"We'll get her back one day, Dana.  I promise you."
Scully smiled weakly, and both pairs of eyes filled with longing
tears.  Holding each other tightly, they could only hope and dream
of the morning.

               ***************************************



That's it!  Except Mulder and Scully and Elaine and Guybrush and
Herman partied all night and lived happily ever after.  Eventually. 
But where, I wonder...  Any calls for a sequel?  E-mail me at :
nmayer@gucis.cit.gu.edu.au


This is the longest piece of fan-fic I've ever written, and I would
*really* appreciate any feedback anyone has.  :)