Finally getting it started... This is based in PaileyRose's "Forged" Trilogy, starting with "Forged Magic", where a majority of this story will be taken from. Go, read all three, then come back here. Enjoy.

"Do any of you know why Jareth called us all together like this?" Sarah said. It was about six months after the joining, and Sarah was not coping well. She had almost completely withdrawn from the others, mourning the loss of Quinn while trying to celebrate the return of Jareth. It was hard on her, and Jareth didn't seem to be making it any better.

Anne shook her head. "He just said he had an important announcement and he wanted us all together for it. I though he would at least tell you..."

Sarah glanced away from her friend. "He hasn't told me anything," she said in a soft voice.

Anne glanced to Ryan, shrugging. Ryan turned to Giles, who was pouring over a set of scrolls. Before Ryan could say anything, Giles looked up and shook his head.

Jareth entered the room, a paper in his hand. Not the parchment they had all gotten used to, but a regular, 8 ½ by 11-inch sheet of computer paper. Grinning madly, he slid the paper to them.

Giles turned it so they could read it. "An LARP Halloween event?"

"Oh, no. I'm done with those. Don't you remember how Sarah's first LARP event turned out?" Anne demanded, crossing her arms.

"I remember very well," Jareth said calmly. "But this one will be different."

"How can you be so sure?" Ryan asked.

Jareth's grin returned. "Because I'm the one running it."

"And that's supposed to reassure us... how?" Anne said dryly.

Jareth sat. "I need you three - four, Giles, if you're willing to be a contestant - to find a group that is entering. It is a four-man group - well, a four-woman group. They don't exactly... play by the rules."

"And what does this have to do with us?" Anne snapped.

"And how difficult is this going to be, exactly? I mean, LARP events usually get a lot of players - how do we know we've got the right team?"

"Oh, you'll know. These girls aren't exactly subtle. And I need to get a hold of them because..." Jareth hesitated.

"Because...?" Anne prompted.

Sarah turned, walking to the window.

"I need to find out who these girls are. What their motives are."

"Maybe they're looking for a bit of fun and freedom." Sarah spoke up for the first time. "Isn't that what most girls are looking for? A night off to hang with good friends, scare up a little entertainment?"

Jareth glanced at her but said nothing.

"Alright. Say we do this. What if we find out there's more than meets the eye?"

Jareth's eyes glittered. "Then we bring them back here."

"I'm in," Ryan said. "Anne?"

"Sure. I could use some fun."

"I'm game. It's been a while since I played in an LARP event," Giles added.

All four glanced to Sarah, who hadn't moved from the window. "Sareth?" Anne called. "You game?"

She turned to look at them, an unnamable emotion in her eyes. After a moment, she grinned. "Why not? It's just a game. What could go wrong?"

Famous. Last. Words.