Disclaimer: As all of my Labyrinth fan fictions other than the plot and a select few other things I don't own anything in the story. They belong to the Jim Henson Company.

Tempting a Devil

By: Willow Halloway

Prologue

Sarah's radiant smile shone all throughout the night as she played with her new friends from the Labyrinth. Sarah was thrown a magnificent party. Her room was decorated with a rainbow array of streamers, and while the guest weren't considered decorations they proved to make a multicolored adornment from the Fireys' orangey fur to the dingy clothes that of the Goblins.

The most exciting decoration to Sarah was a simple white banner that would later be discovered as Sarah's bed sheet. The white sign was written in something resembling chalk which spoke what no one dared say out loud. The sign wrote, 'Great Job Beating Our King.' Years later it was discovered that Hoggle wrote the sign, but even with clear evidence towards it, it was dismissed as a myth since everyone knew he was a coward.

When the banner magically appeared on the wall everyone was shocked and looked towards the small amount of people who knew magic for answers. It was as if time stopped for the party. No one dared to move, and many didn't breathe. The crowd was frozen; a lot of them expecting the Goblin King to appear in a cloud of glitter.

Sarah looked around wondering what the pause was and saw the sign. At first she was just as alarmed as the others, but after a long moment went by she considered the fact that she had beaten Jareth and he was out of her life for good. This thought brought a fear that matched the fear that she had for losing Toby. The fear was almost pain. The agony was worse because she couldn't define this feeling that was between remorse, and infatuation towards the matter of Jareth.

As Sarah was about to slip into depression, and many of the creatures were about to faint from lack of breath the goblins broke the silence. Goblins are good at lifting a mood if a celebration takes a spiral down. Some people believed goblins to be brave because goblins were better at having fun, than cowering in fear from a person who wasn't even there. So they were the ones to lighten the atmosphere.

"Yappy birthday to joo! Yappy birthday to joo! Yappy birthday dear Sarwah," the goblins sang in disharmony. While the song went on many of the goblins passed out, and large amounts of snoring along with hiccupping was heard. The crowd of other creatures could not stop laughing. Everyone finished the lines, "Happy birthday to you!"

The corner of Sarah's lips rose up until she couldn't help laughing. She pushed aside her bad feelings hoping not to unease her guests, and goblins drunkenly singing her a birthday song had a large responsibility for the smile.

"Thank you everyone for coming, but it isn't my birthday. I thank you for the delightful song from all my new friends. I'm glad that I was able to meet all of you. I just wish Jareth could…" Sarah spoke with desperation, and was about to make another mistake had it not been for Hoggle cutting her off.

"WELL! That's enough for tonight. You can still party but you can't do it here," Hoggle screamed faking a large laugh. Hoggle rested an assuring hand in hers, and they both watched as her new friends disappeared.

"If you need us," half of the group departing voiced softly as they waved goodbye.

"Just call," spoke the last group waving also. Everyone was gone except for her closest friends, Hoggle, Ludo, and Sir Didymus.

"Sarah you have to be careful with what wishes you make, especially when it has do with the Goblin King," Hoggle scolded. Hoggle wasn't one to be firm, but when it came to protecting a friend from herself he was learning to be disciplinary, and swift.

"I know," Sarah muttered, "But I just can't get over the adventure I had."

"My dear sweet lady," Sir Didymus approached kissing Sarah's hand, "If I may interject." Sir Didymus waited for an answer, but only a sigh from Sarah and a motion to proceed.

"Sarah we'll go on many adventures together another day," Sir Didymus promised. He was not completely certain of the situation, but she said 'adventure' and he knew a lot about having adventures.

"Sawah friend," added Ludo. He was rather quiet the whole night some primitive instinct in him sensed that Sarah was dealing with some feelings even she couldn't understand. Though Ludo was the most in tune with Sarah's feelings he was the least likely to be able to help her since his communication skills lacked.

Hoggle wasn't sure what troubled Sarah, but he could tell by the way Sarah was clenching her hands together that she didn't want all this company. Hoggle whispered to Sir Didymus that he wanted to be alone with Sarah. With a subtle nod of his head Sir Didymus agreed.

"My fair lady," Sir Didymus bowed, "Parting is such sweet sorrow, but alas I must depart." Sir Didymus smiled towards Sarah, and then turned to Ludo.

"I have use for you my brother, we must make haste so that we may find my noble stead," Sir Didymus declared to Ludo. Ludo shook his head, his woolly locks moved up and down in assurance.

"Sawah no be sad. Kingy wants Sarah," Ludo whispered as he warmly hugged Sarah. Before Sarah was able to comprehend what Ludo meant, Ludo and Sir Didymus were gone.

Hoggle moved to the bed pushing plates, food, and a live chicken off. Hoggle sat down with his motions silently telling her to sit down. Sarah sat down, finally allowing the dam that was hold her emotions to break. Crystal tears landed on Hoggle as he wrapped his arms around her in a strong hug.

For what seemed like hours they held each other. Even as Hoggle's arm grew tired from hugging Sarah he held on to her. Somewhere is his mind he felt this was his penalty for betraying her during the game, but a feeling deeper was growing a want to be near this beautiful creature. A creature as lovely as a fairy but didn't bite. For the first time in his life he wanted to keep something beautiful not destroy it out of spite.

Hoggle held Sarah until she couldn't cry anymore, and kept holding even after that. It was Sarah who broke the hug.

"Thank you Hoggle," Sarah wiped the last tear from her eye, "I'm glad I have such a great friend as you." Sarah felt weak, and tired. Even Hoggle picked up on it.

"Sarah have a good night's rest," Hoggle tucked her in bed turning the light off, and with a wave of his hand, Hoggle disappeared and every remnant of the party with him.

As tired as Sarah was, she couldn't fall asleep. Sarah turned on the light, looking around the room everything was as it always was. If the trip into the Labyrinth hadn't left her so sore she would have believed it to be a dream. Sarah looked around the room spotting an envelope made of some type of leather. Her heart pounded she was fearing, and hoping that it was from Jareth. She opened to reveal a letter from Hoggle. Sarah let out a sigh between relief and disappointment.

Dear Sarah,

I forgot to tell you about your mirror. We were able to come back to the Underground today with a little of the magic we stole from the king, but the mirror is the only way we're allowed to visit you now. All you have to say is "I need you" and the one you need. You have to be touching the mirror as you say it. I hope you'll need me soon.

Hoggle

Sarah thumbed at the letter. She was happy that her ties with the Underground were not cut but was disappointed. She collected the envelope and the letter and laid them in an open box she kept important mail in. She settled into her bed, and moved to turn off her light. She saw something on her dresser. It was a black rose. Never in her life had she seen a rose so dark. She grabbed at it and a pain shot through her arm.

The stem of the rose twisted up her arm to form a tight bind. Thorns dug into Sarah's flesh as she screamed in suffering, but she knew no one would hear her other than Toby, and he couldn't help her. Small trails of blood slowly dripped from her arm, and the fingers that she used to try and rip the vine off. A large thorn bit into her wrist and everything stopped. The blood stopped flowing out of her, and in her dizziness she fainted. On her wrist the symbol of the Goblin King was drawn proudly with blood red "ink".

Author's Note: I tend to drop stories so before I even wrote this chapter I wrote an outline. So if I stop writing my story you have a detailed summary for the rest. I don't plan on dropping the story, but who would plan something like that.

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