Hi guys! this story was written in response to Nae'ka's challenge in the story "121 Ways to Annoy, Haras, or otherwise Bother Jareth." Look at the first chapter of that story, number 14.

My Older Brother Jareth

Now I know the first thing that you are going to ask me is "Wait a second, I thought Sarah was the only human to visit the Labyrinth?"

Psh, yeah right.

Let me tell you something about Jareth and I. He was practically my big brother. I'd called on him on accident once when I was little, and before he was so prideful and consumed by evil-ness he was actually a pretty nice guy, and had carefully explained to me what I had done to summon the gobbling-king to my bedroom at six years old. I don't remember much from that visit.

Though I didn't know it at the time, I had been carrying a deadly disease inside me for a long while. Jareth had sensed this the first time he'd met me, so (though I didn't know it until later) had kept careful track of me to make sure I was alright. Eventually, my disease landed me in the hospital, surrounded by balding doctors scratching their heads over my mysterious case. Meanwhile, I grew weaker and weaker. One day, I was too weak to lift my head off the pillow, and the doctors took my parents outside my room to talk quietly of my impending death.

It was then Jareth had appeared for the second time. I saw him appear, but was too weak to cry out. I was eleven now.

I remember Jareth had crossed the room with a flourish, and placed the thumb and forefinger of his right hand on my temples.

"Heal," he whispered.

I was instantly more aware of where I was, and began to pepper the goblin king with questions. I guess he was still in his "alright guy" phase, so he patiently answered every one of them, waiting for me to go to sleep. He explained to me that he'd been watching me for years, and agreed that he would still keep in touch with me if I chose. He even promised to take me to visit the Labyrinth itself someday. Then the doctors came back into the room, and were of course astonished at my recovery.

When I was twelve Jareth started giving me tours of his kingdom, and introducing me to his subjects. I learned my way around quickly, despite the ever-changing walls and gardens. Jareth was like my older brother, practically helping me grow up.

Soon, my parents deemed I had been homeschooled long enough, and enrolled me in a public highschool. Jareth visited me less and less. However, one visit had a profound impact on me.

He had reached his "high-and-mighty" phase now, and had begun to treat me more like a subject than a friend. I had noticed, but kept quiet. He told me on this visit all about Sarah, and how he was so in love with her, and what he'd done to her, and now he was regretting letting her go and wanted her back and wanted (ordered) me to tell him how to get her back.

I was appalled. How could this be my Jareth, my older brother? My healer? Was this the same man to whom I owed my life?

I, who was sympathizing with Sarah (with whom I went to school, ironically) refused to tell him how to get her back.

Jareth then got up on this soapbox about how he was so deserving of my gratitude and blah blah blah because he'd saved my life, but I still refused to tell him. Sarah didn't like me much, but I wasn't about to sign her up for that. So Jareth resolved to throw me into an oubliette, which he did with great gusto.

Which is where you find me now.

I'm just a normal fifteen year old girl, with black hair and grey eyes, wearing jeans, tennis shoes, and a normal t-shirt. Sitting in a dark oubliette where my only company is spiderwebs.

Great.

Soon I hear a scuffling off to my left. It's Hoggle, and I squeal with delight. It's been a long while since I'd seen him. I guess he's resolved to check the oubliettes more often now, just incase there is another pretty girl trapped in one that might give him jewelry. I, who was always prepared with a cheap ring that cost like a quarter, bought my way to freedom, and soom found a place where I could wish myself home without interference from Jareth.

Naturally, when I get home, I'm pretty mad at Jareth. He's such a chauvinist pig. I have school in the morning and my big brother is going and throwing me into an oubliette! I mutter angrily to myself as I fall asleep.

The next day at school I am walking around, minding my own business, when who should push past me and slam me into a locker but Sarah herself. I begin to see red. It's her that Jareth wants, it's her fault that I was cast into the dank oubliette last night, and left with no time to do my homework. Grr. I'm fuming.

But then I see something interesting, that makes all my anger vanish momentarily. Sarah pushed past me to meet him. Garette. Her boyfriend. I'd been frightened of what Jareth would do to my boyfriend if I'd ever gotten one, but apparently Sarah wasn't. She proceeded to pull Garette into a corner in glue herself to him.

At first I turn away, but then an idea comes to me. I discreetly pull my digital camera out of my purse and snap a picture. I'm gone before Sarah and Garette can discover the source of the sudden flash.

At home, I set to work with my awesome photo-editing software. I carefully blur Garette's face to protect him from attempted murder. No need to have innocent blood on hands, right?

I carefully print out several copies of the picture, and then prepare for my journey to the Labyrinth. I dress in grubby old jeans, a baggy t-shirt, and sensible sneakers, suitable for running fast. Very fast. Hey, I have no idea how far Jareth's newfound evil-ness would go.

When I'm ready, I utter the words that will take me to the world where my ex- older brother ruled:

"I, Ichobana, healed by Jareth's gracious magic, wish humbly to come to the place where my older brother, the goblin king, rules."

I hope that being long-worded and specific would eliminate any traps Jareth may have set for intruders. However, I am transported safely, and land, luckily, just outside the goblin city. The guard recognizes me and lets me through immediately, where I shuffle the stack of pictures, and set to work. I staple and tape the pictures all over the goblin city, in the public squares, and by the communal fountain, and the rest of them I take right up to the castle itself. Holding my breath, I walk in.

The castle is quiet; I assume Jareth is away somewhere. Treading quietly, I begin to tape the pictures up on the walls. I finally reach his bedroom, where I have only one picture, I am uncomfortable intruding into Jareth's private quarters, but my sense of revenge is overpowering. I climb onto his immense four-poster bed, and carefully tape the last picture where he will see it right as he lays down to sleep at night. I have no doubt that he will see it, because all goblins can see it the dark, as Jareth had told me.

Then I run.

I tear out of the castle, out of the goblin city, but I haven't gotten past the junkyard before I hear a thunderous roar behind me, followed by the shaking of the earth, causing junk to fall on top of me. But I struggle through it. I have to make it outside the Labyrinth itself before I can wish myself home without Jareth preventing me from doing so.

But soon I hear the fluttering of an angry owl's wings behind me, and I have no choice.

"I wish I could go home!" I cry, diving under an ancient, crumbling bed.

I wind up inside Jareth's castle, in the hole in the middle. I scramble to my feet as Jareth descends upon me. He pins my arms to my sides, and throws me up against a wall. His face is contorted with rage, and, despite my situation, I laugh.

This does not help my situation. Jareth drops me on the floor and stalks off to the other side of the room. I continue laughing until my side hurts. Finally, the laughter subsides, and I am gasping on the floor. Jareth senses my weakness and swoops over to me again, this time picking me up by the front of my shirt, and holding me against the wall.

I giggle.

"Jareth," I say, "You have no power over me. You know that."

His face is still red as he answers. "Why on earth did you feel the need to reopen the wound that Sarah left on my heart when she left?"

I decide it wise not to laugh at this point, but I do smile. "Jareth," I say, "You and I both know that you really have no love for anyone except me, and you're just jealous that all women don't come drooling at your feet. You're jealous that there are other guys out there for us to drool over."

His grip momentarily tightens, but then he drops me again. He doesn't let me go completely however. His arms are still on either side of me, so that I can't move. I smile at him some more.

"You know I…care…for you?" He avoided tossing the word "love" around. He had for as long as I'd known him.

"Yep," I smilingly replied.

"And…do you?"

I pursed my lips to think. Jareth leaned in, but I stopped him by putting my head on top of his head.

"Jareth," I mock-scolded, "I am much too young for you."

Jareth was about to protest, but I held up a hand to stop him.

"I know, I know," I said, "You are immortal and won't age anymore and so it doesn't matter, right? Well, then, why don't we wait a few years, babe? Until then you can keep being my big brother. But!" and I allowed my eyes to flash at him, "You have to be really, really good, understand? No more of this 'high-and-mighty' nonsense, understand?"

Jareth nodded, dumbfounded.

I smiled brightly again, and kissed his cheek. Then I wished myself home using a spell he'd taught me long ago, that would only work once.

I must say, I left behind a very bewildered goblin king.