J'attends le Vainqueur

by

Draco's Daughter

Disclaimer: Labyrinth is not mine, I'd like to have it but I think that Jim Henson's estate would ask too high a price. I do own, however, the original characters and will make Zephram and Jarlath my love slaves after this is through. Bwahahahahahaha!

A/N: I came up with this one while talking on the IMDb Labyrinth message boards. The discussion was about if there was a Labyrinth sequel/ remake and David Bowie wasn't interested in playing Jareth who would? Some said Johnny Depp and other actors, but I came up with this little plot. ;p If you can guess the language the title is in and the title itself: I give cookies!

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Prologue: Goodnight Sweet Prince

Zephram stood atop the hill that overlooked the Labyrinth. Next to him stood a woman wearing a blood-red cape that touched the ground. She was called Nur and had once been the proud queen of the fire demons, now she was the loyal servant of Zephram. From where he hailed was a mystery but all who knew of his legend knew him as Le Vainqueur. As he traveled through the Underground, kingdoms crumbled beneath his feet, rulers became his slaves, and he was forever lusting, lusting for power, for glory, for blood, for mastery over all things. Now his eyes of cold grey steel were set upon one of the last Kingdoms that were not under his control, The Goblin Kingdom. The Labyrinth that was the main feature that kept the kingdom safe had long puzzled Zephram and kept him from leading his ever-growing army straight to the Goblin City. But that was before he conquered the Dragons, very useful creatures that could bypass the Labyrinth's walls using their powerful wings. It hadn't been easy to conquer them but their kingdom crumbled in the end, like every other. Zephram his bangs away from his face and smiled the wicked smile that signaled trouble.

"My lord? Shall I give the order to attack?" Nur asked, standing straight and solid despite her servitude. Zephram gave her a side glance.

"Oh, why not? Jareth needs a little wake-up call," Zephram stated, he turned to the mixed army behind him. "It shall be understood: Kill and Maim whatever you wish but Jareth is mine to slay!" The roars and yells of the mixed group rang out in a terrible din, chilling the heart of whatever and whomever heard it. Zephram mounted onto the back of one of the dragons and the coming battle charged forward.

In the Palace, Jareth's face was calm despite the threat of Zephram at his door. No kingdom that Zephram attacked ever stood for long, the shortest resistance had been several hours, the longest had been several months. Now that Zephram had any creature imaginable on his side, it was doubtful that even a god could destroy him now. Yes, Jareth and the Goblins were in between a rock and a hard place, if they didn't fight: they were crushed, if they fought: they'd be crushed harder. Jareth knew the stories, about how Zephram came in, killed or enslaved the ruler, took over the kingdom, and then went on to another kingdom he had not conquered yet when he got bored. That was the thing that made Zephram so cruel, he got bored and went to destroy another kingdom, another race and there wasn't anything anyone could do because Zephram had gotten so strong. Jareth was now going to try and stand against Zephram for as long as he could, even unto death. That was what gave Jareth that calm resolve, death was immanent but he knew that there was one who had the ability to stop Zephram. If she had beaten the unbeatable Labyrinth, then there was no question that she could defeat the undefeatable Zephram. A goblin commander came up behind Jareth, the Goblin King acknowledged the general's appearance with the slight incline of his head.

"My lord, Zephram has begun his charge, mounted on dragons that carry him over the Labyrinth's traps. What are your orders?" The goblin asked, bowing respectfully.

"Bring me the dwarf who worked for me but then aided the girl who defeated my Labyrinth," Jareth said, calm as a summer's breeze.

"But, Milord? What good could that do?" The Goblin asked, confused by his king's orders.

"I'd tell you but there is very little time if Zephram is on the move to explain. Do as I say," Jareth commanded forcefully. The Goblin bowed again and hurried off to find the dwarf.

She is our last hope, Jareth thought. It's too late for me, but if she can stop Zephram then the Underground will be spared. Yes, that was Jareth's only thought now. What was left of the Underground had to be spared the cruelty of Zephram. With no time wasted, the Goblin commander had returned with Hoggle.

"Leave us," Jareth said to the commander, turning around. "Hoggle, there is very little time for the Goblin City. You know the Labyrinth better than anyone save I. Hide yourself in it with that great beast who can call the rocks and Sir Didymus. When you have the chance take this to Sarah." Jareth spun his hand in midair and a crystal appeared in it. He carelessly tossed it to Hoggle. Hoggle remembered the last time Jareth ordered him to give a crystal to Sarah, and was very skeptical.

"Beggin your pardon, Majesty, but you speak as if we was already defeated," Hoggle stated bravely, feeling bigger than he was. If it weren't for Jareth's solemn expression, then Hoggle would have thought the King was joking.

"But we are, no Kingdom stands against Zephram for long. Make sure that gets to Sarah or the entire Underground is doomed. Go now before its too late," Jareth commanded. No threats, no tricks, it was just Jareth, pure and simple. Hoggle, now full of understanding, hurried off as fast as his dwarf legs could carry him. Jareth watched him go with a hint of sadness in his mismatched eyes, the fate of the Underground rode on his shoulders. Jareth turned back to the window, watching as the Dragons and their riders came closer and closer to the city with each wing beat.

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Hoggle raced along amidst the chaos of the Goblins preparing for their last stand. Ludo and Sir Didymus lived in the Bog of Eternal Stench, still keeping an eye on that infernal bridge, it had been replaced after its destruction when Sarah had appeared. Clutched tightly in his hands was the crystal Jareth had given to him to give to Sarah. Dragging that girl back into the Labyrinth was unfair, she had won fair and square but Zephram needed to be taught a lesson in manners, he had destroyed so many lives with little care for what he did. As he reached the Bog, roars came overhead, the Dragons had reached the Bog. Their leathery wings and foul stench were a dead giveaway, Hoggle hid behind some scrub brush as they went over him, their lizard eyes combing the ground for someone, anyone to burn to a crisp. He only came out when they had all passed over. It wasn't long before he reached Sir Didymus's hut.

"Good Sir Hoggle! Didst thou see the dragons flying over thy very head?" The dog asked, shocked at the Dwarf's rude entrance. He didn't even knock before coming in.

"Hoggle back!" Ludo called happily, pulling the dwarf into a bone crushing hug.

"Alright! Lemme go!" Hoggle called as the fluffy giant put the dwarf down. "Listen, we have to get to Sarah. Jareth says she's the only one able to give Zephram a good kicking."

"But Sir Hoggle, no one can destroy the dark lord Zephram, surely my lady could never defeat one such as he!" Didymus announced, worried for Sarah.

"If Sarah defeated the Labyrith, why can't she defeat Zephram?" Hoggle stated, puffing up. "Sides, there's nothin we can do about it. Even Jareth is having a defeatest moment, on any other occasion I'd be jumpin for joy, but this means defeat for the entire City as well as the Labyrinth, Jareth knows it, I know it, and you have to know it too."

"How are we to reach milady then?" Didymus asked. Now this was the real head scratcher, Sarah was the one who called on them, not the other way around.

"I dunno, wish we could get to her somehow," Hoggle stated, scratching his head in thought. At his words, the crystal glowed and Jareth's voice came from it: "Your wish is my command." There was a flash of light and the three inhabitants of the hut disappeared.

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While the three friends were whisked away, the battle raged in the city. Dragon fire scarred the buildings and Zephram, with the aid of Nur, had reached the castle. Opening the doors, he found Jareth alone in the throne room. The Goblin King was unarmed, preferring to fight with his magic as opposed to weapons.

"You have lost," Zephram stated, keeping his sword up. Jareth didn't even look at him. "Do you resign yourself to defeat, old man?"

"It's true what they say, It's better to die on your feet than live on your knees," Jareth replied, looking out the same window, observing the battle below. The Goblins were loosing terribly. Zephram's face twisted into a sneer. How could this king be so calm? Other rulers were on their knees, begging for mercy. Some decided to stand and fight him head on, and were killed because of that idiotic courage. But Jareth was the strange one, neither begging for Zephram's mercy nor challenging him in combat.

"I wonder, what makes Jareth tick? What lies behind those eyes so unique? Shall I spill your innards to see what they say about you or should I slice off the top of your skull and watch your brain work in your last moments?" Zephram taunted, beginning to circle Jareth like a hungry Jackal. "Or shall I cut out your heart and see if it can tell me what kind of person you truly are?" Zephram didn't notice the crystal forming in Jareth's hand, kept at his side, and didn't notice it until Jareth tossed it. The crystal broke at Zphram's feet, becoming deadly asps ready to strike the conqueror down. Jareth would never discover how Zephram got into the air to avoid the snakes, whether it was by wings or magic, but he would take the memory of Zephram's grey eyes to eternity. In one swift motion of Zephram's sword, so swift that you could barely see the blade, Jareth's head left its body. The Goblin King's body slumped unceremoniously to the ground, disappearing in a cloud of glitter. His head landed a ways off, eyes lazily open. Zephram picked it up by the blonde tresses and stood out the window, holding Jareth's head high. "Look now upon what remains of the Conquered!" Zephram's army gave a loud cheer and the Goblins knew that the days of the king were over.

In the Aboveground, Sarah Williams, defeater of the Labyrinth, awoke with a sharp pain in her chest. She didn't know how she knew, but Jareth's life was over and it hurt.

"Goodnight sweet prince."- Hamlet, William Shakespeare