" Good morning." The voice echoed through the stone pathways and the man and girl, not woman she was too young for the one beside her, stopped. Jareth watched from his elevated position on top of the wall as his test commenced. In front of them was a unicorn, illusionary of course, but it would be very real to them. Its white fur was colored a pale orange from the nebula as it stood there, the horn protruding from its head, stuck in a rotten tree. It looked over to the couple as it stamped impatiently for their reply.

" Hallo, Is said good morning. Or do you not say that in your culture? I get so confused sometimes, please forgive me." The girl recovered first much to Jareth's surprise.

" Excuse us, we have never actually seen your kind before." The unicorn nodded or tried to, but the horn incident prevented him. " Can you help me? I have been in this tree for so long…" The girl smiled and pulling along her still numb companion who was coming around, to the unicorn's side. Jareth watched with building excitement from the wall, his long fingers clutching the opal like pale spiders. He couldn't wait as his imaginary creature chased them from the Labyrinth or… Jareth slithered closer to them, not making a sound on the smooth gem.

" Don't worry we'll get out of here in no time." It was the man who was now studying the situation with a logical eye. Jareth watched, as he would peer up and down the unicorn, stare at the wall a bit, and even touch the horn only to discover the creature was stuck good. The girl on the other hand was keeping the unicorn calm.

" So how did you get in here?" Her voice was level and it seemed to croon the beast into answering. " I was trying to find food and since I wasn't paying attention I rammed myself into this tree here." The man brought the conversation to a halt.

" There is no possible way to get you out, unless?" Jareth could see the unicorn's eyes dilate with fear. " You aren't going to kill me?" The man laughed.

" Why would I do that?" My question is your horn fireproof?" The unicorn snorted. " Of course it is why?" The man though, had already bent down and lit the dry tree with a match causing the unicorn the squeal wildly.

" Don't move. The tree will burn quickly, freeing you and then you can go on your way. Anyway," The girl glanced up and Jareth froze automatically. " Where do you find food in this place anyway? I see no grass."

" I don't eat grass." The creature growled and the girl stopped. Jareth watched, as her eyes grew a bit bigger with understanding and backing slowly away from the beast, went to the male.

" Do not panic Erik." The girl cautioned him. So that is his name, Erik. Jareth said it a few times to himself and then stopped. He didn't like the taste of the word.

" What is wrong Chris?" Jareth was thankful. He could now put names to the dots on his board. The tree was almost done burning and slowly the eyes of the unicorn stopped focusing on the fire, to focus on the couple. " What is it doing?" Erik whispered and Jareth nearly gave himself away stifling the laughter just in time.

" Sizing us up." Chris murmured and Jareth watched her keenly. Her left hand reflexively went to her right hip. She used to wear a sword and finding it missing instead took a step in front of Erik.

" Stay behind me, no matter what happens. Do you understand me?" Jareth glanced back at the unicorn, its razor sharp teeth, still incrusted with the blood of its last victim, gnashed together. Suddenly the unicorn bucked and the tree disappeared in small explosion of ash and smoke. Shaking its head, the unicorn stared down Chris; Jareth could feel the tension taunt as a bowstring in the air.

" The final showdown." He whispered to himself and the unicorn charged. Never had Jareth seen someone change form that fast as the girl leapt forward towards the beast only to ram it down with huge teeth and silver claws the glowed brightly in the half-light. Chris scratched at the unicorn's flanks, drawing blood as ribbons of flesh came off only to vanish before they hit the ground. The air smelled of iron and fear, form the unicorn as it neighed and tried kicking off Chris to get to Erik. Erik was frozen on the spot, his eyes not quite understanding what he was seeing. With a sudden twist, the unicorn slid out of Chris's grasp and hurtled itself towards Erik.

" ERIK RUN!" The roar nearly deafened Jareth, yet it woke Erik out of his trance and ducking down, pulled out a small knife. The unicorn was nearly on top of him, the stench of rotting flesh, making Jareth nauseous. But Erik didn't move, his body stiff and unyielding the creature's terrifying advance. But Jareth saw out the corner of his eye, a flash of silver that came from Erik's sleeve. The unicorn was upon him and quickly Erik braced himself with one knee against the ground and thrust the sword into the unicorn's chest cavity. Blood showered Erik with the sickly sweet smell of decay as the horse vanished along with the blood. Chris had changed back again, her clothes slightly ripped from the unicorn's onslaught. She stumbled slightly as she made her way back to Erik, who caught her before she fell. She smiled up at him and Jareth felt a wave of envy pass through him at the sight.

" Sarah" The thought was in his mind before he could stop it and gazing at the girl's face in the fire toned light, he saw the resemblance. Jareth sighed. This was going to be harder than he thought.


R&R. This was a weird chapter for me to write because everyone likes unicorns. As you can tell, i detest them heartily. No offense to anyone.