Disclaimer: I do not own any of the labyrinth or characters in it!
CHAPTER ONE
It has been years now since he has been defeated in his own game, and trapped inside a barn owl for so long. He misses his home, the castle beyond the Goblin City, he misses running the labyrinth and everything that was in it. Jareth felt powerless and helpless. Ever since he was defeated by the last challenger and not only that but she has broken his heart. He offered her what no man will ever offer her in the aboveground. He once had power, a title, everything. Now he was no more but an Owl.
Jareth was growing tired of flying so he landed on a small white railing of a walk way in the park. As he looks around it was a simple quiet little park. Not much not as enchanting as the one he use to visit from time to time. As Jareth settled in his new spot looking around curiously at his surroundings, he wondered if he will ever be able to be himself again. Ever be able to go home again. And be king. Jareth then looked up as he saw a tall slightly slender woman walking from a distance. Wearing light solid blue scrub pants, and white sneakers, a light blue scrub shirt with animals printed all over. Jareth tilted his head as he saw her coming, he watched her walked over to a small bench. She had long dark red hair, and a soft fair complexion and Natural rosy cheeks. Almost big puppy brown eyes and a small nose with slightly plump natural pink lips.
He watched her sat down on the bench putting two small brown paper bags on her lap. One was her lunch the other was lunch for the birds, or ducks or even an owl like him to feast on. The woman dug into her lunch and pulled out a small sandwich and a little bag of carrots. She looked content and happy with herself. She slowly ate her food and softly hums to herself as she does so. Then she gets into the other bag and grabs a hand full of seeds and pulled it out as birds starts to fly over to her. She tosses the seeds out in front of her on the ground and the little sparrows and finches came to peck the seeds off the ground. The woman giggled watching them. Jareth felt his stomach rumbled. He felt embarrassed and shamed. But he realized that this woman was generous enough to feed the birds he hopes that maybe she could be generous enough to give him food. So he was about to get ready to take flight to visit the woman, till something hit him hard knocking him off his perch, and he hit the grass. He let out a loud squawk.
He looked up at the blue sky dazed, looking around confused. He heard a couple of foot steps running towards the fallen owl in the grass. "Oh no, I think I hurt him!" cried a concern voice. "I didn't even see him there the poor thing!" another voice said. Soon the generous woman walked up and looked over the injured owl in the grass staring up at them dazed. "It was just an accident!" she said calmly as she knelt down on her knees looking closely at the owl. "Is he dead?" squeal the voice. "No… he's just out of it the poor dear!" said the generous woman as she reached down to pick him up and cradle him in her arms. "Lucky for this little guy I was just heading back to work, I'll see if I can get Dr. Zambronio to fix him up and he can be as good as new again!" she said kindly as she gently held the owl in her arms as she raises to her feet. The two other people agreed and felt at ease. "Thanks well that's the last time we play Frisbee in this park!" the girl said. "Just be careful not to hit another owl, k sis! Or better yet I hope you don't hit a bald eagle!" said the other girl. "I didn't mean to I didn't see him at all!" she cried. "Come on now girls, he's okay see!" the woman said as she turned around before leaving.
The owl looked up dazed at the two girls. They both sighed in relief again as they saw him moved. In the woman's arms. "Well take care girls!" she said waving to them. "Thanks!" they said and then ran off. Jareth couldn't help but feel safe and warm in this woman's arms. But he felt very tired and sleepy as he felt the movement of her form pacing towards her destination he soon passes out.
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Hours have passed, and Jareth's mismatched eyes slowly opens and looks around his surroundings. He was locked up in a canal. Laying on a single towel, he looked towards the bars and through the bars he saw other canals. Full of other injured or sick or well animals. He was confused to where he was. He then got himself up right onto his feet. He flapped his wings a bit seeing if he could get himself out but failed. But to his surprised that Generous woman came walking up towards his cage. "Ah… finally awake are ya?" She said happy to see the owl fully away. "Come here you sweet thing you!" her voice was soft and soothing, she had no trouble at all getting Jareth out of the cage, he comply to her request. The woman cradled him to her arms. Again Jareth felt warm and safe he looked up to her curiously. The woman looked towards him and saw his mismatched eyes staring. She blinked and was surprise she swore that this owl was giving her a thank you. As if she understood him. "Your welcome you'll be free in no time at all!" she said.
She walked out into the halls of the animal hospital and walked towards the exit. But suddenly she was stopped by one of her friends. "Oh Jenna!" A voice said to the generous woman. Jenna turned and saw her friend Daniel. She seemed a bit annoyed by his presences. "Oh Hi Daniel!" She said in a flat tone. The owl looked towards Daniel and then back to Jenna. "So um, have you thought about what I said?" Daniel asked. Jenna rolled her eyes and sighed. "You hardly give me a day to even think about it so NO!" she said angrily as she tries to walk away with the owl in her arms. "Wait a minute I'm not done talking to you!" Daniel suddenly grabbed her by the arm and jerk her over to him, almost causing her to drop the owl. "Ow… let go of me your hurting me!" she cried bitterly as she held onto the barn owl carefully in her other arm. The Owl squawks nervously in her right arm. She looks down at him and then jerks her arm away with a powerful force.
Daniel blinked and looks towards Jenna in surprised. "What the hell Jenna I just want to talk to you!" he said hotly. "No!" she demanded. "No more talking it's over!" she said trying to keep back angry tears. "Leave me alone! You almost hurt the poor thing!"she said bitterly to him as she was able to hold him safely in her arms as she looks to the owl. "Come on now lets set you free okay!" she said softly as she walked away from Daniel. Jareth looked up to her, he wondered what was that all about. Soon as she steps out of the animal hospital she walked over towards the trees, she found a low enough branch for her to perch the owl back on so he can fly away. "Okay here we go!" she said setting him carefully on the branch.
She softly stroke its feathers, she was really surprised by the Owl, it didn't seem scared or couldn't wait to fly away. He just stood there letting her stroke at his back. "Aw, why aren't you flying away? Go on! Go home!" she smiled waiting for the Owl to fly. But he didn't he just sat there staring at her. Jenna felt odd about this owl. It looked like he came attached to her. She sighed and frowned. "Why won't you go huh? Your not hurt and you are okay to fly!" she said. Jareth kept on staring at her. Jenna realized that in some way this owl knew what she was saying but refuses to do what she want it to do. "I guess you don't have a home do you?" she said softly as she strokes his back. The owl squawks sadly, Jenna looked to him sadly as she could understand what it just meant. "Hmmm…. I guess you'll have to come home with me then!" she said offering her hands to the owl. Jareth perks his head up at her offer and squawks happily. He soon hopes into her hands. Jenna again surprised at how obedient and understanding this strange owl is.
Jenna giggled nervously at the owl. "Okay lets go home then!" She said, she walked towards the parking lot to her little blue car, she reaches in her pocket with her free hand and grabbed the keys and pressed the button to unlocked the car. She opened the door and carefully gets into the car while she carries the owl in with her and she let it hop over to the passenger seat. Jenna shook her head a bit thinking she must be going insane already as she closed the door and buckled up. She started the car up and exited out of the parking lot heading towards her apartment.
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It was dark and quiet, as she opened the door to her apartment with her free hand. With a plastic bag of bird food hanging off her left hand and letting the bird perched on her hand as they entered her apartment. She reached over to the wall and turned on the lights and it illuminated the whole place. The place looked as if anyone lives here, or at least barely touched. It was clean and spotless. A small white loveseat settled in the plush beige carpet. A 32 inch TV sitting on a thick large square table against the wall across from the love seat.
The kitchen seem decently sized enough for two people to cook in it. But hardly ever used as well.
Jenna sighed. "Well… it aint much but this is your new home I guess!" she said as she placed her free hand on her hip while holding the owl in the other letting him scan the room. "I know I should spend more time here but, I hate being alone!" She said as if he could understand her. And funny thing was he could. Jenna rolled her eyes thinking she was going nuts. "Right… Jenna and you are talking to an Owl as if he is a person!" She muttered to herself bitterly.
She then walked through the kitchen towards the hall and into the hall towards the bedroom she opened the door. There was a queen size bed neatly made with Purples reds and blacks colors covering the bed. Jareth looked around the room and find it cozy and comfortable, she saw the colors in her room. It was almost fit for royality and he squawks happily again. Jenna blinked and figured he was happy. "Oh glad you like it!" she said giggling. As she walks over to the bed she looked over towards the window. There before the window was a cherry oak desk with a computer and a lamp. She goes over and set the owl on the unused lamp and then goes over to her bed and sat down. She sighs in relief and then falls back on the bed spreading her arms up a bit. "Long day eh there ?" she said. The owl squeaks a little agreeing with her. Jenna stared up at the ceiling and giggled. "You know I swear you can understand me it's so weird!" she said. She then sat up and looked towards the owl as her long dark red hair landed over her shoulders. "So what can we call you?" she said bitting her bottom lip thinking. She then stands up and walks over to her computer and sat down.
The owl joined her side and watched her. Jenna turned the computer on and went online, googled ideas for names. The owl watched boredly as she scrolled down looking for the right name for him. As they passed through the J's there was no name such as Jareth any wheres and Jareth sighed in his mind. He hoped she could guess his name soon. Jenna sighed in frustration. "I guess maybe tomorrow will figure it out okay!" she said softly as she stroke its back. The owl closed its eyes in delight of her touch. "Well good night!" she said as she turns off the computer and gets up walking towards her closet. She pulled her shirt off revealing her back to him. Jareth jerked his body around keeping from looking. Jenna changed into her Pj's and turns towards her bed as she gets in she noticed the Owl was facing away. "Odd…" she said softly and then slides into bed and gets comfortable and falls to a deep sleep. Jareth turned and saw the sleeping Jenna.
That night everything was no longer normal for Jenna, there was a new journey a head as she sleeps. A new adventure to discover and soon she'll face something fear gripping but something worth reaching for. Jareth lightly flew over to the small night stand next to her bed and landed carefully and watched her sleep. Her sleeping face looks to Jareth. As Jareth watched her with careful mismatched eyes he wonders what if he hasn't lost all his power to that wretched girl years ago. What if he still has power, if he does maybe he could see what this Jenna dreaming about. But the looks on her face it seems she was In a dreamless sleep. If Jareth was in her usual form, he would be shocked and conjure up one of his crystals to give her something to dream about.