Sarah was flabbergasted, "You're, you're his nanny?"

Ciara nodded, "Yep."

Sarah shook her head, "I don't believe it. There is no way you could be even slightly older than the Goblin King, let alone old enough to raise him in place of his parents."

"Oh Sarah, there's no slightly about it. I'm far older than he is. In fact, I'm one of the oldest living magical creatures around."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I've been nanny to Jareth's family for the past several generations. That's quite a long time, a few eternities for some, actually."

"How far back?"

Ciara paused, thinking, "Hmm, I'd have to say at the very least back to his great, great-grandfather. It's one of the few problems I have with this position: they live so long and don't really show any signs of aging so it's hard to remember how long I've been caring for the family," she shrugged, "But in all honesty it's not as big of a problem as I might have made it sound."

"So how did you become this, nanny?" Sarah was confused by how this woman looked younger than her yet was probably a thousand years or possibly more, older.

"I raised five younger siblings practically by myself after our mother passed away," Ciara replied, "This was back in the days shortly before the Roman invasion of Briton, for reference. Anyways, Father worked and I stayed at home raising the children. When we needed supplies Father was generous enough to go with all of us so I could get what was needed. We were incredibly poor by that standard; it was truly a struggle to survive. Anyways, one day the children were giving me trouble, and rather than let it go on I merely reminded them of their discipline regiment and they fell back in line almost instantly," Ciara smiled fondly at the remembrance, "One of Jareth's ancestors was there, hoping to cause mischief I presume, but found me instead. He was impressed enough to offer me a permanent position with his family. I said I would in exchange for my family being taken care of for the rest of their days.

"We agreed, I said my goodbyes, and I was taken to the Underground to handle his children from that day forward."

"So when did you stop aging?" Sarah asked.

"The day I was marked," Ciara answered, pulling at the neck of her tunic and tugging it down to showcase a bizarre little mark located over her heart. It was a circle perhaps no bigger than a dollar coin, inked completely in black, with mazelike designs spiraling through the inside.

"What is that?"

Ciara smiled mysteriously, "This," she said fingering the mark, "is a remnant of an ancient and forgotten bonding process."

"How does is work? I mean, if you were bonded to the head of the family you would be dead by now, wouldn't you?"

"Astute observation," Ciara remarked, "And that would be true, if I had been bonded to the head of the family. No, the spell that was used for my mark binds me to the family as a whole. As long as there is a Fae living who bears the name of the family, I am to serve them. However, I have been around for so long, I am like part of the family myself."

"So, you have to serve as nanny to the children of the head?"

"It is a bit more complex than that. Basically, I raise my assigned children until they have children, and the cycle continues. But Fae fertility rates being what they are: there's often a five-hundred-year gap between siblings. On top of that, there's also a child limit."

"Fertility rates?"

"Part and parcel of the extended lifespan gig. You live longer, but you have more trouble conceiving. That's why the Goblin Kingdom is such an important part of Fae life, unless you're one of the liberals that intermarry."

"Liberals? Intermarry?"

Ciara sighed, "Fae politics are incredibly complex and even more tedious, I could spend a hundred mortal years lecturing you and you still wouldn't be able to get it. But in essence, most Fae don't believe in interspecial marriage: that is, marrying a creature with a higher fertility rate. Humans are unique because, if taken early enough, they can become Fae and thus become pure-blooded. However, there was a law put into place when Humans were wishing their children away willy-nilly in hopes that they would find a better life. The law put a limit on how many children, adopted or biological, a Fae family could have in order to keep some families from getting too powerful from sheer force of numbers. Jareth's was among those groups, I believe."

Sarah shook her head, "What? Why would his family need to be controlled like that?"

Ciara shook her head, "You haven't been around long enough. I understand and respect your gumption to stand up to him, but you must remember that in polite society –should you ever return that is- that sort of disrespect towards Jareth is seen as disrespect to his family and could get you in big trouble."

"Why?"

"Jareth is from a very ancient, very noble, and very, very powerful family. They are second only to the King and Queen of the High Court. His family is also special because no heir to the family has ever been a Changeling, though they have adopted them in the past. However, all Heads of the Family were born of the union between the last head and his partner. That is partially why his family is in charge of the Goblin Kingdom, to limit their political clout by distancing them from the 'acceptable' courts."

"Okay…" Sarah drew out the word, "As fascinating as all this is, it really doesn't explain why you're here."

"You mean besides disrupting natural narrative by showing up unannounced without any context, making sly jabs at the fourth wall every now and then, and acting as the overall beleaguered fangirl?"

Sarah blinked nonplussedly, "What?"

Ciara waved her hand, "Meta-humor dear. Never mind it,"

"Oookaaay…"

"Getting back on track: that question is simple enough to answer," Ciara replied, "I'm here to ask a boon of you."

"And that would be?"

"I need you to return to the Goblin Kingdom and talk some sense into my charge."

Sarah scoffed, "Pfft, why would I do that?"

"Because you care,"

"About him? I don't think so."

"If not about Jareth, then about your friends, and about the other inhabitants of the Labyrinth."

"Why me?"

"Because I've been lecturing him for the last twenty-eight years and he hasn't yet listened to me?"

"Twenty-eight years?"

"Certainly, if I recall you had a conversation about this with your Dwarf friend just a few hours ago. It's roughly seven years for us for every mortal year."

"But, I spent eleven hours in the Labyrinth! When I came back Toby and I were only gone five."

"True, but Jareth also reordered time for you. Technically speaking you should have been gone far longer," Ciara pointed out, "Which brings me back to the issue at hand: I would like for you to come back and talk some sense into Jareth."

"Why does it have to be me?" Sarah moaned, "Surely you can do it, can't you?"

"I've tried in case you weren't paying attention. But he's done listening to me, and anyways: as Champion of the Labyrinth it's your responsibility to help keep the Kingdom safe."

"Since when?" Sarah pressed, "I was never informed of this!"

"Since always: every person who has beaten the Labyrinth has been made its Champion, and let me tell you there aren't that many of you."

"But you said the Labyrinth was nothing more than a game, that the creatures within it weren't being serious, that I wasn't in any real danger!" Sarah pointed out.

"You weren't in any mortal danger," Ciara clarified, "There's quite a hefty price to pay for killing a mortal you invited into your realm, it's considered poor hospitality. But, even though there are few humans that have solved the Labyrinth, there are even fewer Fae which can claim the same thing."

"Not even Fae can solve that maze?" Sarah questioned, "Why? It's a piece of cake!"

"I don't recall you saying that while you were hanging feet-first over the Bog," Ciara retorted.

"If you're trying to convince me to help, you're doing a poor job of it," Sarah replied.

"Fair enough," Ciara warranted, throwing her hands up in a placating gesture.

"Why does it have to be me?" Sarah protested once more, "And for that matter, why do you think I'd want to help him? He's my enemy!"

Ciara cocked a brow, "Explain please,"

Sarah got fired up, "Oh, where do I begin! He stole my baby brother right out of his bed, he threw a snake at my throat, changed my marks, dropped me down into an Oubliette, sent Hoggle to try and lead me back to the beginning, sent the Cleaners after us, nearly allowed my head to be ripped off from my body, sent Hoggle and I hurtling into the Bog, forced my friend to betray me –by giving me a spiked peach, no less- embarrassed me in front of all those people in that fever dream or whatever it was, and sent his entire army after me once I reached the City, then, tried to trick me at the very end by playing on my hope for a Prince Charming and a happily ever after!"

"Well," Ciara replied, "Aside from the whole baby-stealing bit, and the fact that a mortal's first rule in Fairyland is to never eat the food: those are issues you'd have to work out with him yourself."

The rant had exhausted Sarah's ire, and she stood there panting slightly, "Surely, there are other Champions that could knock some sense into him?" she asked tiredly.

The Fae woman rolled her eyes, "You, Sarah Williams, are the only Champion Jareth has ever had since his reign began. And he's been King a great deal longer than any of his predecessors. All the other Champions are dead, have been for centuries now. Besides that, you're the only one I can trust to knock some sense into Jareth. Anyone else simply isn't capable."

"Why not?"

Sighing, Ciara said, "Bear in mind I say this with the utmost affection, because I love Jareth: I really do. However, even I have to admit that he's always been a," she paused, "difficult child."

Sarah snorted, "I imagine so, but I'll bite anyways: how difficult?"

Ciara rubbed at her temples tiredly, "At best: he's a romantic, charming, well-mannered, suave, and incredibly sweet. At his worst though," she groaned, "he's nothing but a spoilt child: vain, self-absorbed, and extremely temperamental."

"Gee," Sarah said, voice oozing sarcasm, expression mock thoughtful, "I wonder whose fault that is?"

"Oh no: don't even try to pin this on me missy," Ciara fought back with the elegance and poise of a noble, "I spoiled him no more than I spoiled any other charges over the years, and even then I only spoiled him with love and physical affection: two things most Fae seem to lack. I do know how to raise a child, you know."

"Apparently not," the brunette retorted, "Because that's not the way he turned out."

Sharp blue eyes narrowed at her, "Believe me when I say I know how to raise a child, and raise it right. Unfortunately, all that right raising goes right out the window once your charge is formally presented at court."

"In English, please,"

Ciara mock glared at the girl, "You've got men and women alike sucking up to you, fawning and simpering in an attempt to win your favor. All you hear about is how great your family, and by extension you are: how noble, how powerful, how nauseating," Ciara stuck her tongue out and gagged, "Of course, it wasn't helped by the fact that Jareth is quite good-looking and, if you'll excuse my indelicateness, how legendary his skills in pleasuring his partners are."

Sarah blanched, "Too much info,"

Ciara laughed mirthlessly, "Don't play coy girl, I saw you in the ballroom. And with the way he dresses? Did you honestly expect something less?"

"I can honestly say this is the one time I didn't want verbal confirmation of my expectations," Sarah replied, trying not to wrinkle her face up and failing miserably.

Ciara shrugged, "Se la vie," she said in response.

Sarah pinched her brow and sighed, "Okay, let's go through this logically. So you're telling me the Goblin King needs someone to come and get his ass in gear, why? What's wrong with him?"

"Ever since you hoisted him on his own petard he's been nothing but a sulking little prat. He forgets he has a kingdom to run, but Danu forbid I nag him anymore than I already have."

"And if I refuse?"

"Then you are completely within your rights to do so: just because you should do something doesn't mean you have to. However…" the way Ciara trailed off at the end worried Sarah.

"However what?" Sarah asked, "Why do I get the feeling of foreboding from you right now?"

"It's nothing really," it was said the way someone trying to assure someone else something was nothing, "I just worry a little, that is all."

"Worry?" Sarah replied, "About what?"

"Well," Ciara wrung her hands together, clearly concerned, "with Jareth not completely focused on ruling his kingdom, I fear the realm may be susceptible to invasion. If another Fae can successfully infiltrate the Labyrinth and get to the castle: they can challenge Jareth's claim to the throne. And if such a usurper was successful, you should be worried as well."

Sarah shook her head ever so slightly, confused as to why a usurper would be an issue, "Why?"

"Despite how reluctant of a King he might be, Jareth at least as some modicum of respect for the subjects he rules over. Say another Fae did claim the throne, what do you think it would mean for your friends if a less empathetic Fae became their sovereign?"

"I," Sarah stopped, failing to see how a Fae could truly be cruel to those beings, "I don't know,"

Ciara inclined her head and stared at the mortal a moment before sliding off the vanity and pulling out the chair, "Would you like to know?" she asked, face and voice impassive.

As if her words were hypnotic music Sarah made her way to the chair and sat down before the mirror. Ciara stepped behind her, hands at her shoulders and looking tense. For a few moments neither said anything, neither did anything. The anticipation built, and Sarah could see the emotions of whether or not she should be shown this warring across Ciara's face. The fingers on Sarah's shoulders curled and uncurled as Ciara continued her internal debate, to the point where the brunette was sure she'd have claw-like indents left in her skin. She laid a hand atop the Fae's.

"Whatever it is, I'm sure I can handle it," she said softly, hoping to reassure her companion.

"It's not that I don't think you can handle it," Ciara assured her, "It's just that I'm trying to figure out which one to start off with. This vision can be such a pain sometimes."

"What vision?" Sarah turned to physically face the other woman.

"I have a third eye," Ciara replied, "I can make predictions about fixed points in history if something had been altered, and similarly I can somewhat accurately predict the future. How else do you think I was able to keep tabs on five younger siblings?" she raised a brow.

"So if I asked what would happen if Hitler hadn't rose to power?"

"Is that before or after he wrote his manifesto?"

"Before," Sarah thought for a moment, "And before he was kicked out of art school for that matter. Would those atrocities still have happened? Would all those people have died?"

"Hmm," Ciara closed her eyes and concentrated, "World War Two still would have happened, but it would have lasted much, much longer."

"There would have been someone else?"

"My dear, there's always going to be someone else. The Human world thrives on balance."

"Balance?"

"How boring do you think life would be if you succeeded at everything you ever attempted and always got what you asked for? If the world was always a happy place it would be dull. There would be no great works of art, that's for certain."

"Really?"

"The Human world needs turmoil and struggle. It's the suffering and Human condition that inspires great works of art. Some of the most prized pieces of art in the Fae realms depict Human suffering. But in regards to Hitler or another psychotic dictator: even if the war hadn't happened there still would have been a massive genocide, or all those victims would have met their end in different ways: I'm seeing more horrible and fiery ways, but my point still stands."

"Then, if I hadn't won?"

"I don't need a third eye to see that. Tobias would have been adopted into a Fae family, raised as a Changeling and eventual full-fledged Fae, and lived much longer. Though, I'm seeing: Jareth, and the boy. Jareth was probably planning to make the child his heir. Child is as stubborn and selective as always," Ciara shook her head at the hypothetical antics of her ward.

"So," Sarah chanced, "What could happen if the Goblin King is dethroned?"

Ciara hummed, closing her eyes and focusing, "I see many scenarios. But let's begin with one a little less gruesome," she opened her eyes, a deep sapphire in color, and nodded towards the mirror's surface. Sarah saw the glass ripple and undulate in much the same way it did when she called on her friends. The glass misted over for what felt like an eternity as the Fae nursemaid projected the vision. Finally, the fog lifted to reveal the entire populace of the Goblin Kingdom in chains.

Sarah held back a gasp. The goblins were being treated like prisoners instead of the citizens they were. The fairy swarm she'd seen before entering the Labyrinth was hiding and not daring to venture out from the bulbs in which they took refuge. Hoggle and Sir Didymus, being only slightly elevated in status, were forced to whip the chained up Goblins as they passed by, or be whipped by their overseers instead. Ludo was trapped in a cage, provoked by the Nippers which she had rescued him from before. Inside the castle a dark figure sat upon the throne she'd only briefly seen, twirling crystals about and tossing them into the air, either unaware or unconcerned for the plight of his subjects. The mirror fogged over once more before fading away to the reflective glass.

Sarah turned to speak, but Ciara stopped her, "Wait, there's more," she said and urged the young girl to look back into the looking glass.

This time it showed far worse an outcome. The Goblins in this vision were all in various states of starvation, already having consumed their chickens, and no other food to be found. There was nothing to be seen of Didymus save his hat upon his sword like some sort of makeshift memorial. Hoggle had been turned into a statuette. The very Labyrinth itself seemed to be in a horrid state of decay, and not the composed decay Sarah had seen on her journey and was now utterly convinced it was used to make the maze seem more daunting than it actually was. This Labyrinth, on the other hand, had gaps in the huge stone walls from where sections had crumbled away. Debris had become the new flooring as the cobblestones beneath it were unable to be seen. The forests were deathly silent. The outside walls were littered with tiny decomposing carcasses with gossamer wings. Inside the castle, that same dark figure lounged on their throne, uncaring to the death surrounding them. But it was what Sarah saw behind the throne that sickened her the most. A great rust-colored pelt hung from the wall like a tapestry, hung from hooks that looked suspiciously like the former owner's horns, and fringed with white and tawny owl feathers.

Sarah felt as though she was going to regurgitate her dinner and was immensely thankful she had foregone dessert. The vision faded away, leaving only the reflection of a pale-faced Sarah with an equally as ashen Ciara.

"I," Sarah struggled to speak past the knot in her throat, "I think I'm gonna be sick," she said at last.

"And the worst part of that is, that's only one of the possibilities," Ciara informed her, "There are countless others, and quite a few of them are far more horrifying than that."

She backed up and watched the brunette stumble out of the chair, struggling to stay on her feet as she wobbled over to the bed and collapsed against it.

"That is why I beseech you come with me," she continued, "So that we can avoid the prospect of such a fate."

"I," Sarah took a deep breath, "I need a moment to compose myself before we go anywhere or do anything. Okay?"

"Of course," the Fae replied. She waited as the mortal dry-heaved a few times, watching impassively. After a few minutes, Sarah returned to semi-normal. Ciara walked over to the bed and sat down beside her, grabbing Sarah's hand and toying with her fingers much like a small child would do when trying to be comforting but not really knowing how.

"Are you ready?" Ciara asked, "I can assure you that reasoning with Jareth, even when he's not acting like a petulant child, is never easy."

"I can take anything that glittery jerk can throw," Sarah said with much more confidence than she felt at the moment, still recovering from that horrific vision.

"Very well," the Fae replied, rising and tugging Sarah along with her, "Let's go,"

They left Sarah's room and crossed the hall into the room that had started everything for Sarah. The master bedroom that had housed Toby in his infant years. Ciara dropped Sarah's hand once inside the room and flung open the French doors to the balcony.

"Why are we in here?" Sarah asked.

"I thought it might be easier on your currently delicate stomach if we traveled this way," Ciara replied.

"Easier?"

"Typical whisking away that most Fae prefer can be a bit nauseating for newcomers. And with your face the way it was a few moments ago I thought it would be prudent to simply open a portal. I didn't wish to clean vomit off my clothing."

"So why are we in my parents' room?"

"Easier to open a portal within a doorway than anywhere else," the nanny explained, "Otherwise it takes a great deal of concentration and power to keep the portal open. Power which I do not possess."

"Okay…." Sarah said, stretching out the word in skepticism.

"Are you ready?" Ciara asked, holding out her hand as she stood by the doorway.

Sarah nodded, "Ready," she replied as she grabbed hold and walked forward.

Going through the doorway was not how it had been the last time. Ciara obviously hadn't been kidding when she said it took a great deal of power and concentration to keep a portal open. This time Sarah felt as though she was traveling through gelatin: her movements halting and taxing. She pushed along the invisible membrane before her, trying to locate an opening she could slip through. She felt Ciara's hand yank at her own and pull her forward.

They ended up in a room inside the castle, Sarah presumed it was where Ciara was staying for the time being. And while they looked as if they had just come off the terrace, the force of that membrane had sent them sprawling to the ground most ungracefully.

"Ugh," Sarah groaned as she dusted what felt like residue off her clothes, "What was that?"

"That was the wall between worlds," Ciara replied, "Only the monarchs have the power necessary to open a clear portal. Sometimes in order to complete a mission a king will pool some of his power into an object that will allow the assigned Fae to open a clear portal like that; however, those instances are far and few between as portals are only really necessary if one is transporting a large group of people. Otherwise we can usually whisk them away without incident."

"And you didn't whisk me because?"

"I told you, I didn't want to spend the rest of the evening having Human vomit cleaned out of my clothes."

Sarah rolled her eyes, "Right…" as she looked around the both foreign and familiar settings a sense of foreboding settled in her bones.

Apparently her reservation showed on her face because Ciara asked, "What's wrong?"

"Why do I get the feeling I was just severely manipulated into coming here?" she asked in reply.

Ciara, who had settled herself on her bed at this point, buffed her nails and said, "Because you were: and rather expertly too, if I do say so myself." Her expression was smug, and it really irritated the mortal girl.

Sarah huffed, "You've got to be kidding me!"

"Save it," Ciara held up a hand to stop the impending rant, "I'm far too old for it. I know every trick in the book: probably wrote half of them, come to think about it."

Sarah pinched the space between her brows, "Take me home, now."

"Why?" Ciara cocked her head to the side.

"Because, I will not be tricked into doing anything," Sarah replied, "Open the portal back up, or whisk me back to my house, right now."

Ciara laughed patronizingly, "Sorry Sweetcakes," she said with incredible insincerity, "no can do."

"No can do?" Sarah repeated angrily, "Why not?"

"I'm drained from opening the portal," Ciara replied as though that should have been obvious, "And if you don't wish to speak to Jareth, you're stuck here until tomorrow morning at the very least."

"At the very least?" Sarah questioned.

"Yep," Ciara answered with a bit of sadistic glee, "See; should you choose not to speak with Jareth, you're not only waiting on me to regain my energy to send you back: you're also waiting for me to feel like sending you back. And before you even think of it, the goblins are only allowed to transport themselves from world to world unless specifically authorized to have a guest by the King."

"So I'm stuck here unless I go and knock some sense into His Nibs, is that right?" Sarah asked.

"Pretty much," Ciara affirmed, swinging her legs against the side of the bed.

"Out of curiosity, what's going on anyways?"

Ciara opened her mouth to speak, but sighed instead, "It's complicated."

"How complicated?"

"Why do you wish to know?"

"Considering you dragged me here to help it would be a great advantage to know what I'm up against."

The nursemaid linked her hands together and rest her chin upon them, "My dear Champion, would you care to describe yourself: everything you are, everything you hope to become, in one word for me please?"

Sarah looked at the other woman as though she'd lost her mind, "But that's impossible!" she exclaimed after a moment.

"Isn't it?" Ciara said with an indulgent smile, "And why?"

"I'm too complex to be summed up in one word. Most of humanity is."

"Indeed," the Fae agreed, "Now, take all the complexity that is a single human being, double it, add ten and welcome to the ever changing complexity that is Fae nature."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Fae, by our very nature, run a different gamut than humans. Our personalities may seem similar upon first glance, but there is so much more beneath the surface. Because of our abilities the great Father bound us to duty. And it's an important aspect of our culture," Ciara ran a hand along the length of her braid, "Jareth, Jareth has always been different from others: even among his own family.

"He doesn't like to be bored, and unfortunately the rutted rituals of the Fae court system tired him very quickly. So he took to the mortal world, where things were constantly in flux. He became fascinated by how different mortals reacted to different things. Some retaining a façade for the sake of appearance, and others wearing their hearts on their sleeves. I honestly believe that if he hadn't been heir to this kingdom he would have spent the rest of his days drifting between our two worlds."

"What does that have to do with this situation?"

"Goblins are rather simple creatures: their needs are simple; their wants are simple. Jareth likes a challenge, so you can imagine what it's like to be trapped in a place that is all simplicity in its running? But, Jareth knows his duty and upholds it. And it isn't that he doesn't care for his kingdom, it's just gotten a bit dull for him is all. That's why your victory affected him so: the first time in ages he's been challenged and he failed to rise to the occasion."

"That's what this is all about? And you think I can help him?"

"I truly do."

"Fine," Sarah sighed in defeat, "Take me to the King."

Ciara took her arm, and off they went.

Somehow Ciara managed to navigate the unending twists and turns of the castle hallways and led them both into the throne room. Sarah paused to refocus her vision and saw that as Hoggle had once described to her, the throne room was absolute chaos. Every where Goblins sat, reclined, or just flat out sprawled on the floor. Most were in varying states of intoxication: as an open and almost empty cask of liquor could attest. And, just like last time, there were Chickens in every nook and cranny to be found. There was a general buzz of noise in the air, much like one would find in a cafeteria or other group gathering place, but the noise level was migraine-inducing after just a few minutes: and Sarah had to cover her hands with her ears to block out the noise.

Even in muted suspension, she could not ignore the man lounging bonelessly in the curved throne upon the raised dais. He was tapping a riding crop against a booted calf and staring off into space blankly. His expression was sullen yet impassive, and his eyes were glassy from thought. But otherwise he was unchanged from her memories of him. Sarah turned to the Fae woman.

"Is that how he's been this whole time?" she asked over the din.

Ciara nodded, "Practically," what he's doing right now is channeling his thoughts elsewhere so he can be in two places at once. Helps a lot when you have annoying and preachy people surrounding you," she frowned, "Of course, it really doesn't help us with our current situation, you know."

"Well how do we get him back?"

Ciara grinned conspiratorially, "We could always dump him on his arse, that would bring him back pretty quickly. Don't you think?"

Sarah shook her head, but couldn't deny the comedic possibilities that lay in that option, "And the Goblins?" she asked.

"Ah," Ciara said knowingly; finally noticing the mortal's discomfort. She stuck her fingers in her mouth and a sharp, ear-piercing whistle rang from her lips. The commotion in the room instantly silenced as all the Goblins turned to look at the two new arrivals. The King, however, remained unresponsive, "Yo!" she cried out in greeting.

"Hey!" cried one, "It's the Baby-Lady!"

"Baby-Lady!" the others chorused, breaking down into mutters and ramblings.

"An she's brought the girl!" bellowed another.

"The girl! The girl!" the rabble shouted with joy.

"The girl?" Sarah asked, raising a brow at Ciara, who merely shrugged.

"The girl who ate the peach and forgot everything!" the rabble replied.

"I take it they're referring to you," Ciara whispered in her ear.

"Thanks Captain Obvious," Sarah retorted, "Real helpful. And what about you, Baby-Lady?"

Ciara shrugged once more but said nothing.

A small goblin tugged at Sarah's pant leg, "Lady?" it asked timidly, "What's you doin' here?"

Sarah knelt down to the creature's level, "I'm here to help, is that okay?"

"How you's gonna help?"

"I'm gonna get your King back to work," Sarah replied. The rabble fell silent at that declaration.

"Really?" the little Goblin ventured.

"I promise," Sarah held out a finger for the creature to take. The little Goblin leapt into Sarah's arms, nuzzling against her throat, while the rest in the throne room cheered.

"Things not been same since Lady left," they told her, "King not fun no more, King just sit around and do nothing'. No singin', no kickin', no Boggin'. It not fun anymore!" they cried.

Sarah laughed sheepishly, "I'll see what I can do to fix that," she told them.

"Hey!" Ciara called. Sarah looked to see her standing behind the King as he gazed at nothing, "Are you ready for this?" she asked, a sadistically gleeful smile stretched across her face. The rabble cheered again, egging on the characteristically uncharacteristic behavior from the Fae.

"Yay!" they cried, "Lift and fly! Lift and fly!"

Ciara lifted the back of the throne, raising the hind legs and sending the Goblin King tumbling to the floor, landing in a most undignified heap. Ciara laughed, as did the rest of the Goblins. However, it did the trick, and brought his mind and fury back to the castle. He glared at the rabble.

"Alright," he snarled as he rose to his feet, "Which one of you little ingrates is responsible for this?"

"That would be me, Jareth dear," Jareth turned to see Ciara perched on the back of the throne, legs folded elegantly and looking like a complete angel. At the moment Sarah couldn't believe that this was the woman who'd raised the Goblin King –and several of his predecessors- from infancy to adulthood. Ciara waved and Jareth sighed,

"I should have known," he said, shaking his head and pinching his brow.

"Yes," Ciara chimed in, "you really should have."

"What do you want this time?" he asked, tone clearly indicating his exasperation.

"The same thing I've wanted since I came here the first time," his nanny replied.

"Then I'll adopt the next child that's wished away so I can get you off my back!" he declared furiously, "Now get off my throne or else!"

"Oooh," Ciara said mockingly, "What are you going to do then? Throw me in the Bog, like you do any other minor annoyance to you and your whims?"

"It sounds quite tempting at the moment," Jareth retorted, clenching his fists at his side.

"Ha!" the raven-haired Fae laughed, "We both know you don't have the power, never mind the bollocks to do that to your caretaker!"

Sarah watched the exchange with confusion, "Are you sure you're his nanny?" she asked aloud.

That brought Jareth's attention to her. His jaw dropped for a moment before he whirled on Ciara, "What is she doing here?"

"I brought her," Ciara said lightly an angelic smile completely belying her mischievous nature.

"I inferred that already," Jareth replied, "Allow me to rephrase my question: why is she here?"

"Hopefully," Ciara began, "to knock some sense back into you and get you back to normal."

"I am fine," Jareth hissed, "I have no need of the likes of her for anything!"

"Hey!" Sarah cried indignantly, "I'm right here you know!"

"Oh please," Ciara retorted, ignoring Sarah completely, "You are not fine. You haven't been fine since the night she beat you at your own game. You've been behavior has turned incredibly erratic and despondent. I'm not even sure you have what it takes to be a King anymore."

"This does not concern you Ciara," Jareth hissed, "And it most certainly does not concern her either."

"Don't like being hoisted on your own petard, do you?" Ciara prodded, "Can't say I blame you, but this behavior is inexcusable! I raised you better than this, and if I need to bring in some help to have you see the light: so be it!"

"I will not dignify this outlandish behavior with a response," Jareth seethed, "I am going to send you back to the care of my little sisters and their spawn: and I am sending her home!"

Sarah set the Goblin she'd been holding down and stalked over to the King, tapping him on the shoulder, "Don't you think I should have a say in whether or not I get sent home?"

"This has nothing to do with you Sarah Williams," Jareth replied icily, "I will apologize for the inconvenience my former nursemaid has caused by involving you in all this, however I think it's for the best that you go home and forget all about this," he turned his back to return to his nanny.

"Oh really?" Sarah raised a brow, "Well let me tell you something: I have to be involved because according to your nanny, you haven't cared enough about your own kingdom since I left the Labyrinth! You allowed your nanny to put a Goblin Guard on my brother," she turned to Ciara briefly, "Something I'm still not happy about –by the way- because you are so absorbed in stewing over this blow to your ego you're neglecting all your duties!"

Sarah took a deep breath and let her words fly, "I won, okay? I beat you fair and square at a game you created. I won even though you cheated at several instances and don't try to say you didn't! I'm not sorry I won: and if I had to I'd go back and do it all again. But I am not willing to let my victory blind me to the fact that you are going to get yourself and your subjects killed if this continues. You need to get over yourself and accept the fact that you aren't the unbeatable monarch you thought you were. Because I'll be damned if I let any innocent creatures, Goblin or not, suffer because my victory wounded your pride!"

She had jabbed him in the chest several times while ranting at him, forcing him back a step each time. The entire throne room watched on in silence, awed by the mortal who dared to speak to their King in such a way. Ciara looked at the pair with extreme pleasure and interest: happy her plan was working out. Jareth had been too stunned to respond immediately, unlike all the other times Ciara had tried to get through to him where he had retorted with a quip and a threat. She decided to take the opening his floundering was providing.

"She's completely right you know," Ciara said, coming to Sarah's side, "And that was exactly the reason I brought her here. I tried to tell you this myself, but Danu forbid you listen to the one who bathed, changed, and raised you herself."

Sarah looked at her, "You did all that?"

Ciara sighed, "Noble Fae, like Jareth's family, are not very big on affection: even with their own children. They leave that to the nannies and nursemaid that can be bought with money. So the task of raising this little hellion fell to me as per my agreement with his ancestors."

"I'm not little!" Jareth grumbled sullenly.

Ciara rolled her eyes and put her hands on her hips in a matronly fashion, "Honestly Jareth," she chided, "You are over five-hundred mortal years old. You may not be an old man yet, however that does not give you leave to act like this. You are no longer a petulant child: you are a King and you need to act accordingly."

"Enough!" Jareth bellowed as he returned to his throne, "I will hear no more of this!"

"Listen to us Goblin King!" Sarah shouted, "We're trying to help!"

"I have seen into the future," Ciara added, "And I foretell great suffering if you intend on continuing this behavior."

"What a surprise!" Jareth retorted.

"She showed me!" Sarah cried, "if you don't shape up, someone is going to come and takeover the kingdom and they will destroy it! Do you want to see that happen?"

"Please," Jareth scoffed, "My family is the only Fae family that has ever ruled this kingdom, and unless I die without an heir it will continue to be the only family to rule this kingdom. And do you want to know why? It's because no other self-respecting Fae wants this place. Can you honestly blame them? You are isolated from all the other major courts, have to rule over simple-minded, chicken-obsessed, subjects, and you have to be the Keeper of the Unwanted: the Guardian of the Lost, the Collector of the Wished-Away. Tell me Sarah, does that sound like a long-term fate you would wish for?"

"I, no," Sarah answered honestly, "But, the vision. Ciara showed me-"

"I'm certain that any visions my nursemaid showed you were some of the more extreme possibilities. And that is all they are: possibilities, not probabilities, not prophesies. These visions she shows are often select ones she chooses in order to manipulate the viewer of them to her whim. It's a trick that was well-employed with younger versions of myself and my predecessors," Jareth replied, "But allow me to guess, the visions she showed you displayed the ruination of my kingdom, the abject enslavement of the Goblins, and the deaths of the ones you hold so dear. Am I correct?"

"How did you-"

"It was the same vision she showed me when first trying to, in her words, 'talk some sense into me'. She has jumped to her own conclusions about my life and is interfering yet again. As she has stated, I am over five-hundred mortal years old. I do not need my former caretaker lecturing me on how to live my life and run my kingdom! I am through being bossed around by two females who should know better than to stick their noses where it doesn't belong because of some misguided Hero complex!"

Sarah turned to look at Ciara, "Is this true?" she asked, "Did you show me nothing but an outlandish outcome in the hopes of bringing me here?"

Ciara ignored the girl, "Heed my words Jareth: if you do not clean up your act, someone will come and dethrone you. And you will be left with nothing, not even your pride."

"Oh yes," Jareth replied with faux-sincerity, "The visions told you so did they not?"

"However unlikely the situation may seem, all of my visions are possible outcomes. Not one has been false."

"You let your wild imagination and sense of duty run too far," Jareth told her, "I do not want nor need your continued interference with the running of my kingdom. You will pack your bags and leave the moment Sarah Williams is sent home."

"Running?" Ciara asked, "What running? Without me here to act as Regent for you while you were off sulking and skulking about your kingdom would have fallen into ruin ages ago! And I think you forget who you're dealing with, Jareth,"

"I believe the same could be said for you," Jareth replied, "Sarah Williams will be sent home, and you will take your leave as well. And that is final!"

"I will not abide by such a command," Ciara stated just as coolly, "I do not take orders from a King who would let a mortal girl disrupt him so."

"You have no power to defy me," Jareth nearly roared.

"Wrong!" Ciara cried, "Just as you were wrong about my visions: you are wrong about this. You are no longer fit to be King! Jareth, I challenge your claim to the Goblin Kingdom's throne!"