Chapter 1:
It Hurts Like Hell...
Danielle sighed quietly as she stormed into her dorm room and threw herself onto her bed. She landed face-down in her pillow and screamed into it in frustration.
She hadn't changed much in the three years since her adventure in the Labyrinth, still being an average 5'6". Her hair had only grown longer, she knew that Jareth loved her hair long and swore never to cut it except to trim split ends, now hanging down to her butt. She had it pulled up in a high ponytail braid. She still had her smooth complexion, but something about her face had changed. Her features were sharper, and her eyes had lost their dreamer's quality. Now they were always sad, and a steely grey. She wore a plain black tank top and ripped denim jeans. She still wore her combat boots and her katana and dagger hung on the wall. Around her neck however, rested a black ribbon choker with a gold charm in the shape of an upside-down crescent with a garnet set in the center.
Her room still held an element of fantasy, but it no longer had the childishness it once did. There was a strong Japanese theme to it, with exotic furniture and wall hangings. The only thing that looked out of place was the 'Labyrinth' movie poster that hung on her ceiling. It had a picture of David Bowie as Jareth the Goblin King on it, and was one of the few things that helped her broken heart.
"Danni?" her roommate, Ebony, called. "Are you alright?" She stood in the doorway leaning against the post. She had short black hair, dark brown (almost black) eyes and wore the typical Goth look: all black and heavy make-up.
"I'm fine," Danielle muttered, her voice muffled by the pillow. "I've just had a very long day." She rolled over and smiled sadly, looking up at her poster. "Carius was bugging me again." Ebony frowned but smiled as she thought of something.
"I know what will cheer you up!" she exclaimed.
"No," Danielle interrupted. "No parties, no drinking. I've got Professor Martin's class at eight tomorrow, and I don't need to be hung over for it. We're probably going to start a new show. I'm just gonna go down to the gym and practice, eat, and go to bed early." Ebony pouted.
"Aww... you're no fun! I swear, we need to take you out and find you a man. I'm sick of seeing you moping around here all day," she retorted. Danielle unconsciously grabbed the charm of her choker.
"Definitely not," Danielle replied. "I've told you. I've got a man waiting for me back home." Her friend scoffed and rolled her eyes.
"You know long distance relationships rarely work out! How do you know he's not cheating on you or something?" Ebony retorted. Danielle merely smiled.
"I just know..." she answered quietly.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Stupid mortal..." a crisp, accented voice muttered, "As if I would ever do something like that to Danielle."
Jareth, King of the Goblins and the Labyrinth (and future High King of the Underground, if he ever married), lounged in his throne, crystal in hand. He hadn't changed at all, being fae, although his haunting mismatched eyes were guarded and cold. He still wore his usual clothes, today a white poet's shirt and gray breeches with his black boots and gloves, and his white-blonde hair still as wild as ever and shining in the sun.
He was watching Danielle and Ebony's conversation, eyes softening as he watched the mortal who had captured his heart, and growing angry as Ebony tried to offer to set Danielle up with someone. He eventually calmed down, he had been working on his temper a bit in the last three years, and smiled sadly as Danielle defended him and closed the subject.
"Gods, how I miss that woman..." he whispered, glad the throne room was empty for once.
In the time since Danielle's banishment and his punishment, Jareth had become cold and harsh, cutting himself off from his people and the outlying lands, to everyone including Kitana and Aiden, who refused to let him seal himself away completely. The Labyrinth had been reconstructed to be harder and his negative emotions made the place even more dangerous than before. Jareth showed no mercy for those who had to run it. No one would defeat him again...
Jareth banished the crystal and sat up straight, the sound of footsteps reaching his ears. His emotionless mask set into place as the door opened.
"Your Majesty?" a young woman asked, peeking into the room. She had light purple hair and dark violet eyes. "Am I interrupting anything?"
"Other than my thoughts, Kay-lin, no. Come in," he replied. She opened the door fully and entered, revealing a lilac robe with silver trim. She was an aide to the Underground Council, sent to keep an eye on him.
"I am sorry to disturb you, Your Majesty, but I've just received word from the Council," she said. Jareth's eyes hardened, but his expression did not change.
"And what do those fools want now?" he demanded. Kay-lin winced. She hated doing this to the king, but orders were orders.
"Your Majesty, you are nearing your two hundredth birthday, the age of adulthood for our kind. The Council has decreed that since you will not choose a queen on your own, they will choose for you," she said.
"I have chosen my queen," Jareth answered angrily. "I'll marry no one but Danielle."
"But she is not fae, and the Council has forbidden her return. The Council has chosen Princess Keira of the Northern Lands to be your queen. Not who I would have chosen, but they have their reasons," she stated. Jareth stood from his throne, glaring at the woman.
"Let me get this straight Kay-lin," he said quietly. "Those fools expect me to WILLINGLY marry that pink obsessed, power hungry, money grubbing, absolutely useless IMBECILE! How stupid could they possibly BE!" he demanded.
"I don't know, Your Majesty, but she is to arrive tomorrow, and the wedding is to be two crystal moons from today. They also said that you have no choice in this matter," she answered quietly.
"WHAT!" he roared. "How dare those fools think they can order me around like a common servant! In my own CASTLE, no less! Leave me, Kay-lin."
"For what it's worth, Your Majesty, I am on your side..." she said. She bowed and left. Jareth slumped onto his throne and buried his face in his hands.
"Oh Danielle," he whispered. "Now what am I to do?" Outside the castle, it began to rain, mirroring the king's despair...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Danielle sat at her desk, working on an essay for one of her classes. She looked up as she heard the first drops of rain hit the window and frowned. She wore a black tank top and shorts for pajamas.
"That's odd... we weren't supposed to get rain today..." she muttered. She opened the top drawer of her desk, pulling out a black box absently. She opened it, revealing a perfect crystal resting on the black velvet. She smiled as she pulled it out and began playing with it. Her stereo switched CDs right then and Kelly Clarkson's "Beautiful Disaster" came on.
Jareth looked out the window of the throne room, watching the rain fall upon his kingdom. He sat on the window sill, recalling the days he would just leap out the window and fly away. He sighed. He heard faint music from somewhere, and absently sang along, changing the lyrics a little.
She drowns in her dreams
An exquisite extreme, I know
She's as damned as she seems
And more heaven than a heart could hold
And if I tried to save her
My whole world could cave in
It just ain't right, it just ain't right
Oh and I don't know
I don't know what she's after
But she's so beautiful
Such a beautiful disaster
And if I could hold on
Through the tears and the laughter
Would it be beautiful?
Or just a beautiful disaster?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Danielle frowned as she heard a soft voice singing along with her CD. 'She?' she thought, hearing the change in the lyrics. 'Who is singing...?' She opened her mouth and sang the second verse, thinking of Jareth fondly.
He's magic and myth
As strong as what I believe
A tragedy with
More damage than a soul should see
And do I try to change him?
So hard not to blame him...
Hold on tight, hold on tight
Oh 'cause I don't know...
I don't know what he's after
But he's so beautiful
Such a beautiful disaster
And if I could hold on
Through the tears and the laughter
Would it be beautiful?
Or just a beautiful disaster?
She smiled. This verse described Jareth so well... Her heart ached for him, and she sang her heart out. She clenched the crystal as tears drifted down her face.
I'm longing for love and the logical
But he's only happy hysterical
I'm waitin' for some kind of miracle
Waiting so long
So long...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jareth frowned as he heard a female voice singing. It sounded so much like Danielle... He summoned a crystal and saw Danielle. He sighed as he saw her crying, but realized that it was her singing as he spotted the softly glowing crystal in her hands. Her powers weren't completely diminished...
She's soft to the touch
But frayed at the end she breaks
She's never enough
But still she's more than I can take...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Danielle heard him sing. It could only be Jareth... he was the only one whose song affected her like this... She looked down at the crystal, seeing it glowing softly and smiled. He may not be there physically, but he was always in her heart.
Oh cause I don't know
I don't know what s/he's after
But s/he's so beautiful
Such a beautiful disaster
And if I could hold on,
Through the tears and the laughter
Would it be beautiful?
Or just a beautiful disaster?
S/he's beautiful...
Such a beautiful disaster...
Danielle smiled softly. "I miss you Jareth..." she whispered. "I want to come home..."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I miss you as well, my love. It has been too long..." he answered. He thought about telling her about the Council's decree, but decided against it. There was no reason to break her heart into more pieces. She was still fragile from their separation.
"Are you alright? What happened to you after the council?" she asked. "How is everyone?" Jareth sighed.
"It's been lonely here without you," he muttered. "I lost my wings... so I haven't been above at all. Tana misses you terribly... and has become quite the annoyance to the council since her transformation. She keeps demanding that they return you. Hoggle, Ludo, and Sir Didymus are the same as always... but what about you? What has happened?"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Where to begin..." Danielle muttered quietly.
"The beginning is always nice..." she heard Jareth reply. She rolled her eyes.
"Thank you for stating the obvious," she said. He laughed. "Well... after the Labyrinth... I got really depressed. I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep... It wasn't pretty. I got really sick. My sister, whom you know I love oh so much," she said, her voice being very sarcastic as she spoke about her sister, "well, put plainly, she was pissed. She used my sickness to make me utterly miserable. Even after I recovered, things only went downhill. My parents grew to hate me... did you know I haven't spoken to them in two years? According to them, I'm not even worth calling their daughter anymore... so I left."
"Oh Danielle..." he said quietly. "I'm sorry..." She smiled sadly.
"It wasn't your fault. It was mine... but you know... I don't regret it. We might be apart now, but those thirteen hours were the best time of my life," she said.
"Neither do I, my love," he answered.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jareth frowned as he felt the magic from Danielle fading. She was getting exhausted. Within his crystal, he could see that she was fighting to stay awake.
"Go to sleep, love. You're exhausted," he said. She shook her head vehemently.
"No way. I've finally gotten to hear your voice again..." she answered. He sighed.
"I don't know how you did it, but you managed to use some of the magic I gave you. You're not trained in it, and it's draining you quickly. You must rest," he stated quietly. She frowned and pouted.
"But I..." she began.
"No buts," he interrupted. "Go to sleep. I'll try and figure out how you used your magic despite the Council's seal." He heard her sigh.
"Oh alright, you stubborn man," she grumbled. "I'll go to sleep." He laughed.
"I learned from the best, love. Good night. Sweet dreams," he answered.
"Goodnight..." she whispered. He watched her climb into bed and quickly fall asleep, crystal still in hand. The glow of it soon faded, as though it had never been.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(The Next Morning-- 7:30 AM)
Danielle woke up late that morning, with only thirty minutes before her first class. She sprang out of bed, put away her crystal, and hurried to get dressed and get her homework together.
"This is what I get for staying up till all hours trying to finish that essay..." she muttered. She skipped out on breakfast, called out a good-bye to Ebony, who didn't have a class until nine, and ran out of the dorm room.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Danielle hurried into her classroom and took her seat just as the bell rang. She didn't have any real friends in the class with her, so she sat by herself near a large window in the front row. She wore a blood-red velvet shirt with a slight v-neck (it was winter in her world right now) black jeans and black leather boots. Her choker gleamed in the weak light, the garnet glowing softly against the gold crest. Her long brown hair was down and flowing. She pulled off her black coat and her red scarf and set them aside.
"Good morning class!" Professor Andrew Martin said cheerfully as he walked in. Most of the class groaned. It was Monday, at eight AM, and most of the class was made up of jocks (who wanted an easy grade) and drama freaks (who really didn't care either way) who were hung over from a frat party the night before.
"Professor Martin," a cheerleader groaned. "It's much too early to be so cheerful. And could you please not shout? My head is killing me."
Martin shook his head, a smile on his face. He was tall, with short black hair and blue eyes framed by small, round glasses. He wore a simple button down shirt in royal blue, black slacks and dress shoes, and a black tie.
"Well then, perhaps we should begin our next project, hmm? Here are your scripts," he said, passing them out along the rows. "Look them over and decide which parts you plan to try out for. Auditions are at four thirty, and considering that this is half of your grade for this semester, I would advise that all of you are involved." Everyone groaned again. "Oh come now class, it isn't that bad!" he said, exasperated.
Danielle looked down at the script as the rest of the class tried to open negotiations with the professor. She gasped, finding it horribly ironic. It was the "Labyrinth."
"Is something wrong, Miss McBride?" he asked, ignoring the negotiation attempts. Danielle shook her head, though she had gone pale. She began thumbing through the script. Somehow, he'd gotten permission to use the movie script, which she already knew by heart. She immediately began filling out her character request sheet, knowing which part she needed.
"Now, I've got a treat for you all. We'll be having a special guest come in who is going to help direct this. I'm not going to tell you who it is, only that he'll be at try outs," he added. Danielle wasn't listening, but visiting a far off memory.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Later, Danielle was climbing the steps onto the stage, feeling the glares from the other girls who had been called before her coming from somewhere in the back. It was dark, with the only light coming from the stage, and that was only a single spotlight. She could make out Professor Martin sitting near the middle of the audience.
"Alright Miss McBride, you were also auditioning for Sarah, correct?" he began.
"Yes sir," she replied. He looked down at his script and his notes.
"Let's see a different scene..." he muttered. "Please read page eighty-four: The Final Confrontation. From the top please," he said. Danielle took a deep breath and nodded, not even bothering to open her script. She knew these words far too well. They'd only haunted her dreams for the last three years. She easily slipped into character.
"Give me the child," she began, projecting her voice beautifully.
"Sarah, beware. I have been generous up until now, but I can be cruel," came an accented voice from behind her. She whirled around to face the newcomer.
"Generous?" she asked, shocked at the man before her. "What have you done that's generous?"
"Everything," he snapped harshly, beginning to circle her. "Everything that you have wanted I have done. You asked that the child be taken; I took him. You cowered before me; I was frightening. I have reordered time. I have turned the world upside down, and I have done it ALL FOR YOU! I am exhausted from living up to your expectations of me. Isn't that generous?" he asked quietly.
Danielle was, at this point, vainly trying to hold back tears. Even though he was out of costume, the eyes and voice of David Bowie were identical to Jareth's. She refused to let the tears fall, though her heart cried out at the sight of those eyes.
'God... please give me strength,' she prayed. 'Grant me the strength to get through this...' She squared her shoulders and faced him.
"Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here to the Castle beyond the Goblin City to take back the child that you have stolen. For my will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom as--" she began.
"Stop!" he said, cutting her off. "Wait. Look at what I'm offering you:" he said, reaching into a pocket and removing a crystal, "your dreams."
"And my kingdom as great," she continued.
"I ask for so little," he said, backing away as Danielle advanced. "Just let me rule you... and you can have everything that you want."
"Kingdom as great...?" she replied, feigning forgetfulness. "Damn! Oh, I can never remember that line..."
"Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave!" he begged.
"Kingdom as great-- Kingdom as great...?" she said. He held up the crystal and she looked up, into his eyes. "You have no power over me."
A single tear slipped down her face, startling the rock star in front of her. She vaguely heard the professor mention that the cast list would be posted the next day before she excused herself and hurried out of the auditorium leaving a proud drama teacher and a confused rock star in her wake.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jareth watched Danielle through a crystal, wincing as he recognized the try out piece. The situation was only made worse as he saw that the college had somehow called in his mortal look-a-like to help with the play.
He frowned at the image before banishing the crystal, unwilling to see her crying again. He hated not being able to go to her. He was proud that she had gotten through that audition before she broke down. A goblin hurried in and bowed.
"My apologies, your majesty," the young goblin said. Jareth had been taking an active interest in their education, so they weren't nearly as stupid... but they still loved their ale. "I know you wished not to be disturbed... but Princess Keira's carriage is here."
"What?" Jareth demanded. He strode angrily from the room, his black cape flaring. He reached the outside steps as a carriage decorated in pink pulled by white horses pulled up. He stayed at the top of the stairs, an emotionless mask on his face.
A beautiful young fae woman stepped out of the carriage. She wore an extravagant light pink gown with gold embroidery and wore her hair in a fashionable bun with pink gemstones scattered through her light brown hair. She had lavender colored eyes and full, pouty lips painted pink. She was around 5' and slender. She smiled at him as she climbed the stairs.
"Hello Jareth-honey!" she called, waving. Jareth winced and sent a silent plea to any gods listening.
'Please, grant me the patience to deal with this twit...' he prayed. He bowed shallowly at the waist to greet her.
"Good day Princess Keira," he greeted. She immediately latched onto his arm with an iron grip.
"Oh, Jareth-honey, there's no reason to be so formal since we are to be married!" she exclaimed, giggling. Jareth grimaced.
"Allow me to show you to your rooms, Princess," he replied. He tried to get her to let go; he was losing the circulation in his arm. His winced as her grip only became tighter.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Danielle sighed quietly as she set the weights back in their stand. She'd been there in the gym for four hours. She wiped her forehead with a towel and took a sip from her water bottle. It always helped to come work herself in exhaustion to keep herself from doing something crazy in her depression. She sighed and headed toward the back of the gym, going into a room with mats on the floor and punching bags in the corners with a mirror along one wall. She began to stretch.
"I figured I'd find you here," came a male voice from the doorway. She looked up and frowned.
"What do you want Carius?" she demanded. She frowned as he looked her over. She wore a black muscle tank top, black shorts, and tennis shoes. For the last year, Carius had been a thorn in her side, deciding that she was 'his woman' and that no one else could have her.
"I'd heard that you were feeling depressed during your little try outs. I came to check on you," he answered stepping into the room. She rolled her eyes.
"Oh, do give me a break!" she retorted. "You could care less. You came to see if you could get into my pants again." He sighed. He was tall, around 6', with shoulder length black hair and cold blue eyes.
"Well, there is that too," he muttered. She glared at him.
"The answer is NO... and it will always be NO! Get it through your thick skull! I want nothing to do with you!" she replied, thoroughly disgusted. She began taking her anger out on a nearby punching bag. He glared.
"Oh really? Still waiting on some fairytale prince to sweep you off your feet?" he scoffed, leaning against the wall. She smirked.
"I already met him, a long time ago. He's just waiting on me to come home," she answered.
"Oh really? And what does this guy have that I don't?" he demanded.
"You want a list?" she asked. He nodded. "Okay... well... Everything. He's handsome, kind when he's not being arrogant, and strong. He can sing, he dances, and he understands me. He's willing to reorder time for me. He'd move the stars, only for me..." she said, getting quieter as she remembered. "He offered me my dreams once, but I had to turn him down because of the circumstances. He's willing to offer them again, when I return home."
"He sounds like some fairy prince," he scoffed. He headed toward the door. She laughed.
"More like a Goblin King..." she said quietly. Unseen to her, Carius' eyes widened as he heard that. Once he left the room, he disappeared.
She frowned once the door shut behind him. She hated it when he came around. He gave her a really bad feeling... there was something... different about him. She shrugged it off and continued her martial arts workout.
--Authors Notes--
Lady Day: Hi everyone! I can't believe I finished the first chapter so soon! Yay! Anyway, before I totally get sued or something...
(Disclaimer: We don't own anything from Labyrinth, Kelly Clarkson's "Beautiful Disaster", David Bowie, or anything you may recognize! We just take them and twist them for our own sadistic purposes!)
Lady Night: Ano, Where's Tana and Aiden?
Lady Day: In chapter two. I needed to get the intro out of the way. Anyway, please read and review! You know the drill!
Lady Night: Yes! Please leave a contribution in the little box!
