DISCLAIMER: I do not own Jareth (wish I did sometimes), Sarah, or any of the characters from Labyrinth. They belong to Jim Henson and those responsible for the making of the wonderful masterpiece that is Labyrinth. I also do not own Jack, Sally and the characters from Nightmare before Christmas. They belong to Tim Burton and those responsible for that classic film as well. This was written for fun and I make no profit from it.

Chapter 4

Just outside of Halloween Town, near a large tree run down tree house, three creatures who appeared to be children dressed as a witch, devil, and skeleton hurried across a dangerous looking bridge. "Hurry up!" Shock called over her shoulder. "We have to tell Mr. Oogie Boogie!"

"We know, we know!" Lock yelled at the little witch.

"He's going to be thrilled." Barrel grinned.

The three hurried inside to find their boss. "Mr. Boogie! Mr. Boogie!" They yelled as they searched his play room, which looked like a giant casino.

Oogie Boogie stepped out from behind a slot machine. "What do you want? It better be something good."

"It is!" Barrel cried.

"The Goblin King is up to something. His goblins are decorating a house for a party." Shock explained.

"Yea and they said something about a Lady." Lock added.

"A Lady?" Oogie rubbed his chin. "Come to think of it I did hear a rumor that the Goblin King had fallen for a girl." He let out an evil laugh. "This is perfect! Go and follow those goblins. Find the Goblin King's Lady and grab her. I'm sure he'd do anything to get her back safely, even giving up that lovely medallion of his." Oogie laughed again, then noticed that his minions were just standing there laughing with him. "Well, get going! Go and don't come back with out his Lady!"

"Right boss!" Barrel exclaimed.

"You can count on us!" Lock grinned as they took off for the door.

"And I want her alive!" Oogie called after them.

"We won't fail!" Shock called to him from the door.

Oogie looked around chuckling. "Once I have that medallion, no one will be able to stop me." He was grinning evilly as he started making preparations for his foul plan.

~*~.../...~*~

Later that morning, once the sun had risen, Sarah got up and started her day, completely unaware of what lay in store for her that night. She fed Toby and he happily helped her with the chores with the promise that he could have some candy right after dinner. Around noon Robert came inside the house carrying the mail. "Sarah." He called as he entered the kitchen.

"Yes Daddy?"

"There's a letter for you. No return address." He stated as he handed the envelope to his daughter.

"For me? I wonder who sent me a letter." Sarah tore the letter open and pulled out a card. On the front was a picture of a beautiful garden all decorated for Halloween. The walls around the garden seemed to sparkle and while the flowers were all exotic, Sarah swore she had seen them before. Opening the card she read the contents aloud. "Dearest Sarah, you are cordially invited to an enchanted evening at the 3rd house on Baxter Street at 8 o'clock on the evening of October 31st. Costumes requested, but not required. I await your arrival. Sincerely, an old friend." As soon as Sarah finished reading it she had a bad feeling.

"How lovely." Her father smiled. "You've been invited to a Halloween party."

"I'm watching Toby tonight so I won't be able to go." Sarah replied.

"Oh honey we can cancel our plans if you want to go. You should go be with your friends. The Halloween party at the office isn't important. I can skip it."

"No Daddy, its alright. I promised Toby I'd take him trick or treating. You and Irene go have fun. I'd rather stay home with Toby tonight anyway."

"If you're certain sweetheart." Robert said before kissing Sarah's forehead. "Just let us know if you change your mind."

Sarah nodded, tossed the card on the table, and went back to cleaning the kitchen. A few hours she glanced at the clock and noticed it was almost 3. Looking around she wondered where the goblins were. They were usually late returning after the hunt, but they had never been this late before. She knew they probably had too much goblin ale to drink and passed out at the castle, but she couldn't help worry that something might have happened to them. Hurrying to her room, she closed the door and called for them. "Flower? Patch? Cam? Grunt? Dusty? Goblins? Where are you?" When none of them appeared she sat at her vanity. "Hoggle I need you."

A moment later Hoggle appeared in the mirror. "Sarah, what's wrong?"

"The goblins haven't returned and I'm starting to worry. I know they probably just drank too much, but they've never been gone this long." Sarah explained.

"So you wants me to look for them?" Hoggle put his hands on his hips.

"If you could, please Hoggle." Sarah pleaded.

"Didn't know you cared for the little buggers so much."

Sarah smiled, "me either, but I guess I've gotten attached to them over the years."

"Lady miss us?" Patch asked from behind her.

Sarah turned to see all five goblins behind her. "Oh thank goodness! I was worried about you." Sarah rushed over and hugged each in turn.

"Lady really worried?" Flower questioned.

"Yes, you're usually back before now. I was afraid the King did something to you." Sarah explained.

"We misses Lady too." Cam said as he hugged her.

"Kingy no hurts us." Flower stated.

"Maybe kick and bog us, but no hurts." Dusty added. Grunt made his usual sounds which probably was him agreeing.

Shaking her head, Sarah sighed. "Well none the less, I'm glad you're all safe."

"Guess I'll be heading back then." Hoggle said.

"Thanks Hoggle. Are you, Ludo, and Didymus coming tonight? With everyone in costume you could easily go trick or treating with us and no one would know."

"No we better not Sarah. Too many from the Underground will be up there causing trouble tonight. It would only make things worse for you if any of them spots us with you. Jareth is a harmless house cat compared to some of the creatures that like to travel aboveground on Samhain." Hoggle explained.

Sarah nodded. "I know, that's why Tobes and I always trick or treat early and then stay safely at home. I don't like going out at all, and if it wasn't for Toby I wouldn't leave the house."

"Just be careful Sarah." Hoggle warned. "Call if you need me."

"I will and thanks again Hoggle." Sarah smiled. With a wave he disappeared. Sarah turned to the goblins. "Alright I need you five to stay here until Daddy and Irene leave. Then Toby and I are going trick or treating with Beckie and Whit. After that we'll be back, and I'll make treats for you."

"Lady not going to party?" Dusty asked.

Before the others could smack him, Sarah shook her head, "No, just going to spend Halloween with Toby and my favorite goblins." It never occurred to her to ask how they knew about the party.

"We's Lady's favorites?" Cam asked hopeful.

She laughed. "Of course you are. What other goblins do I bake treats for?"

"Lady make tasty sweets." Dusty grinned.

"Yea, others miss out." Patch agreed. Grunt nodded and made sounds that were probably a combination of happy thoughts for sweets, and bragging that the others back at the Goblin City missed out.

"Kingy would like Lady's sweets too." Flower added.

"The King likes sweets?" Sarah inquired.

All five goblins nodded. "Yea, Kingy really like sweets." Cam answered.

"Cooky have special sweets that are for Kingy only." Dusty answered.

"Bet they all involve peaches." Sarah said with a look of disgust on her face. Ever since she ate Jareth's magic peach in the Labyrinth, she couldn't stand the taste of peaches anymore.

"How Lady know?" Flower asked.

"Lucky guess." Sarah sighed. She thought of her choice for costume and wondered if it was a good idea. Too late to change it now. She thought. "Alright you guys stay here. I call for you when its safe to come down stairs."

"Okay Lady." The four said in unison while Grunt just made noises.

Sarah made her way downstairs to be lectured by Irene about feeding Toby and keeping him safe. It was the same lecture she heard almost every time her father and stepmother went out, which was every weekend and occasionally during the week. "Are you sure you don't want us to cancel our plans and take Toby trick or treating?" Irene asked.

"I'm sure." Sarah replied. "I love going trick or treating with Toby."

"Sarah what about that party you got that beautiful invite to?" Irene questioned. "You really should go out more and spend time with kids your age, or even go on a date now and then."

"She's right." Robert said as he walked into the kitchen. "While we appreciate all you do for Toby, you need to enjoy life too, sweetheart. Go to that party. We'll take Toby tonight." He said with a smile.

Sarah thought about it. Maybe they were right. She didn't have many friends besides those from the Underground, and the ones she did have, she didn't spend a lot of time with. On the other hand, she had promised Toby she would take him trick or treating and that he could be Marty McFly. If Irene took him, he'd have to be a pumpkin. "No you guys go on. I'll take him like I promised. We're going with Beckie and her two nieces tonight. I'll see if Beckie is going to the party and if she is I can see if her sister Angela wouldn't mind watching Toby tonight. I know Toby would enjoy spending time at her house."

"That sounds like a wonderful plan." Robert smiled.

Irene looked unhappy with the idea, but sighed. "I suppose, but I want Toby home first thing in the morning."

Sarah nodded and grinned, "Of course." She quickly ran to call Beckie.

While Sarah was busy talking to her friend and making plans for the night, she wasn't aware that she was being watched. "Is that her?" Shock asked.

"Could be." Said Barrel.

"She doesn't look like much." Shock added.

"Are you sure she's important to the Goblin King?" Lock asked.

"I heard the goblins talking about Lady and how Kingy would be happy to see her." Barrel answered.

"Why does Mr. Oogie Boogie want us to find Lady anyway." Lock inquired

"Idiot, if we kidnap the Goblin King's Lady, Mr. Oogie Boogie can use her to get his power and then Mr. Oogie Boogie can take over the Underground." Shock said a matter of factly.

"So let's grab her now." Barrel said excitedly.

"No you fool we have to wait." Shock said. "We have to make sure she is the right one. If we grab the wrong lady Mr. Oogie Boogie will be mad."

The other two nodded and started giggling. Upstairs, the five goblins had heard noises and peered out the window. Dusty, Grunt, and Patch jumped down and tackled the three little spies. Getting free, Lock, Shock, and Barrel rushed to get away with the three goblins hot on their tails. Flower looked to Cam. "Keep Lady safe. I go tells Kingy about strange creatures." She disappeared before Cam could reply. Looking around nervously he decided to hide in Sarah's room.

Once she was done talking to Beckie and Angela and arrangements had been made, Sarah rushed up to her room. She hoped the goblins didn't mind being on their own for the night. When she entered her room, she was surprised to see the goblins were nowhere in sight and what shocked her even more was the white barn owl sitting on the window sill. Before she could react, it flew away. She slowly walked over to the window and peered out. 'It couldn't have been.' She thought, and then panic overtook her. "Goblins!" she waited, but no answer. "Cam!" she started to call them all by name, but got a reply to the first name.

"Lady." Sarah turned hearing the tiny voice. "I over here."

Sarah found Cam hiding under her desk. "Why are you hiding Cam? Where are the others?"

"We's falls asleep waiting for Lady to comes back. We hears weird noises outside and look to sees creatures looking in the window downstairs. Others went to scare them off and Flower went to tell Kingy. I stay to keep Lady safe, but I was scared." Cam explained.

Sarah knelt and picked him up, hugging the tiny goblin. "Its alright Cam. You said Flower went to the King?" Cam nodded. "So that Owl was him?" he nodded again. "Aren't you guys going to be in trouble now that he knows?"

Cam shook his head. "No Kingy already knows abouts us visiting before Flower fetches him. He mad at first, but then says he glad we look after Lady and made us promises to keep you safe." He told her.

"When did he find out?"

"Last night." Cam answered. "We's late getting to the castle and Kingy noticed we's not there. But its ok Lady, likes I said, Kingy not mad. He just want Lady to be safe." The little goblin smiled.

Sarah hugged Cam again. "Well, I guess I won't be going to the party tonight with weird creatures hanging around.

"Lady has to go to party!" Cam was suddenly panicking.

"Why?"

"Lady has to have fun and be happy. Kingy say so." Cam said.

"But what about the creatures?"

"Kingy takes care of it. We follow Lady and stay hidden." He grinned. "Lady go has fun."

Chuckling she shook her head. "Alright I guess I couldn't be safer with you five and the Goblin King looking out for me." She smiled. "Well you stay here, let the others know when they get back that I'll be going out after trick or treating with Toby. I'm going to go make the treats I promised you guys."

"Lady make sweets for party?" Cam asked

"I hadn't planned on it." Sarah looked at Cam suspiciously. "You think I should?"

Nodding, Cam stood on Sarah's bed. "Lady should shares her treats and be sure to leave some for us gobbies."

"Alright. I'll take some with me." She patted the goblin's head. "I'll make sure to leave enough here for you guys to have tomorrow." Cam cheered and jumped up and down on her bed. "Ok, I'll be back. You be good." Sarah headed downstairs to make cookies and brownies.