DragonShifter: Sorry for taking a long time since my last chapter. I just got out of UVU's first summer block. College is a bummer in the summer. Anyway, I have been trying to enjoy my freedom. Please forgive me for taking so long in between chapters. (Glares from Jareth and Sarah) Is it just me or am I in trouble with my characters. (Runs away)

Sarah: Please comment. (Follows Jareth in direction the author ran) Get back here you lazy were-dragon.

Chapter Five:

Sarah was trying her best to figure out how to work her hair for the ball later that evening when Jareth knocked on her door. "Come in" She said as she picked up her brush. "Oh my….. what did you do to your head." Came Jareth's voice from behind her. "I do not know what to do with my hair. My family tells me that it is pretty on me. I disagree with them to a point. It is nice to put up in a pony tail and to braid, but I like it short."

"Then why not cut it. It would not do any harm, and I am sure it would make it easier on your poor scalp."

"Do you know a good hair cutter?"

"I could do it. I have cut my sisters hair before."

"You have. I find it hard Abey would let you." Jareth chuckled knowing what Sarah meant. "Would you like me cut your hair?"

"Sure. Make it about jaw length." A few minutes later found Sarah with an angled jaw length hair cut. "Thank you. I do not know what I would have done with out your offer."

"You could have chopped it yourself. Then where would we be?" Jareth dodged a pillow thrown at him. "You would be in a pickle. Or have you forgotten that you are my partner for the day." Sarah said mock glaring at him. "Ouch. By the way, we are scheduled for Lagoon in a half hour. What shall we wear my dear?" That earned Jareth another pillow at him. Since he had grown up learning about and visiting the aboveground, he knew what people wore to amusement parks. "You know full well what we are supposed to wear. I may not have grown up here in the underground, but I have learned somethings about you Fae from the local covens in my town and nightly visits to the british isles. I do know your weak spots, especially ticklish spots. So don't you try to be a smart alec with me. Although, my teachers probably wouldn't want me do any thing to you. They have heard of the high prince who has the old magic in his veins. So even if elves are the equals of Fae, My teachers wouldn't want me disrespecting those with old magic." Sarah said as she marched over to her dressing screen. She went behind it to get dressed. A few minutes later dressed in a Ziggy Stardust t-shirt and baggy jeans. She grabbed her wallet which held her license and aboveground money and said "Let's go." Jareth followed her and said "What interesting clothes."

"You might want to change your clothes." Sarah said as she waved her hand over her hair and made it look like an ordered mess on top of her head. Jareth waved his hand over his torso and his clothes changed in to a t-shirt with the cure on it and jeans. His hair became shorter and his Fae markings dissapered. When they reached the front door of the Castle, they saw Abey and her boyfriend by the door. Abey was wearing a Lord of the Rings t-shirt and cut off shorts while her boyfriend was wearing a Pirates of the Caribbean shirt and cut off shorts. "Are we ready to go?" asked Abey. Everyone replied yes and they transported themselves to Lagoon. Everybody invited to the party aboveground met them in front of Lagoon. They spent several hours riding the rides and playing the games on the midway. At seven o'clock pm aboveground time, they decided to head back to the underground to get ready for the ball. They had decided that the ball was going to be a masquerade ball, so Jareth and Sarah had planned in secret to go dressed as the Phantom of the Opera and Christine Daae. But everybody thought they were going as the ancient goblin royalty. It wasn't a unreasonable assumption, since Jareth was connected to the goblins and Sarah had figured out Jareth's hedge maze. Not many could figure out the maze, so everyone was surprised when she figured it out. It was rumored that she was contributing to the building of the rest of Jareth's labyrinth. At precisely nine o'clock underground time Sarah heard Jareth knock on her door. She waved her hand and her door opened to reveal the very image of the phantom of the opera. Jareth walked in followed by the phantom himself. "What a nice surprise this is Nick." Sarah said as she hugged the phantom. " I thought that I might drop by to give you some tips. Gosh, you look beautiful." He replied. "You know, I am glad you agreed to hang out with us and to help us. I have grown to love you like a brother. Thank you for tolerating us" said Sarah as she lead Nicholas to a couch. Nicholas looked surprised. " I know your history. I loved watching your story when my aunt took me to see phantom of the opera on Broadway and in the movie theatre. Now that I know you personally, I have grown to love you all the more. I would be honored if you don't mind being my big brother."

" I would be honored Lady." Nicholas knelt and bowed his head. " Get up Nick. Come, you must get ready to come to the ball. You will come as Don Juan." Sarah said as she pushed Nick towards the Dressing room. "Sarah, no, I can't….."

"Ah ha, I knew it. Hello merlin."

" I am not a medieval wizard." Nick said as he tried to stop Sarah. "you know full well what I mean." Nick stopped struggling. "I do." He said. Jareth looked at them in confusion and asked "what is going on guys?"

"I will explain while Nick is changing."

"I need the clothes Sarah." Nick said from behind Sarah's changing screen. Sarah handed Nick his clothes and turned to face Jareth. "You see, whenever Irene was busy and Robert was working Layla would shove me out of the house. I would go over to park to amuse my self. Well one time I took my dog Merlin and we ran into a hobo. Since Nick isn't that much older than we are" Only a few months" "then how did you get into a book, several movies, and a musical" "I don't know. You guys know I have the unfortunate ability of showing up in the most unlikely places. Geez." Nick said. Jareth and Sarah could see Nicks hands fly up in the air in exasperation. "You are incouragable." He said. "Anyway" Sarah said as she started to talk again "I thought he was just a very unlucky teenage hobo at the time. But when we started to run into him every time we went to the park and other places, I decided to engage him in conversation. I found that he was a very avid fantasy fan, and he knew some things about the underground. He also helped me act out plays and stories from my books. He loved to pretend that he was Merlin and I was always his apprentice and had to help him with king Arthur. He taught me things that my aunt couldn't… He said that he has some celtic blood in him."

"That would explain you being weird." Jareth said. He had to dodge a pillow from hitting him in the head. Nick walked out from behind the screen wearing all black and was holding his Don Juan mask in his hand. Jareth and Sarah had learned not to fear his face ailment. "He has old magic. He taught me stuff. My aunt only knew the very basic stuff. Nick here taught me most of what I knew about old magic before I came here. He was still teaching me when I found myself here with my family. I am grateful that he was there to teach me." Sarah said as Jareth got his thoughtful face on. "Nicholas, what is your parentage?"

"I do not know. I was raised in a traveling circus until I was ten. Then I was rescued by Madame Giry. So, I do not know. But from what I can gather, Old magic is pretty important to you two. I just know that maybe I was found and raised until I was ten by a abusive man." Jareth looked at Nicholas and started to glow. Nicholas started to glow as well. Jareth let out a gasp and stopped glowing. "Sarah, He is of pure old Fae decent." Sarah gasped. "Nicholas, would you agree to let me adopt you as my brother." She asked. "Sure." Nick said as Jareth looked at the clock. "We will ask father tonight if we can do the adoption tonight." Jareth said. The trio left Sarah's room and headed towards the ballroom. When they arrived Abey was looking impatient and angry. "Who are you?" She asked as she pointed to Nick, who had put his mask on. "we were invited by prince Jareth and princess Sarah." Sarah and Jareth replied in unison. Abey narrowed her eyes in suspicion, made a noise of disgust, and walked through the ballroom doors. The trio heard her being announced. Abey had decided to go as Carlotta from The Phantom of the Opera. Sarah, Jareth, and Nick had laughed when they heard about her costume. Nick had actually known the prima donna named Carlotta. During one of his accidents of traveling, which was similar to Jareth's time control, (Nick could shift in time.) Nick found him self in the late 1800's outside the Paris Opera house. He had landed on Carlotta, who landed in a huge mud puddle. That was always a joke between the three. Nick told them that Abey was remarkably similar to Carlotta, and that he wasn't surprised that Abey had choose to dress as Carlotta. They walked in and surprised the annoucer. "Presenting The Phantom of the Opera, Christine Daae, and Don Juan." Jareth hooked arms with Sarah and Sarah hooked arms with Nick. Through out the night they danced with several people. But they danced every other dance with each other. Finally came the last dance. Jareth cleared his throat and Nick went over to the organ. He started to play Masqerade and Sarah and Jareth started to sing. After a few words everybody joined in on the singing. Sarah dared to peek at Her grandparents and Jareth's parents, who were hosting the party. They looked a little worried and frustrated. She pulled Jareth nearer to the throne and hid. They listened to the conversation that the four royals where having. "Where are they? Abey said they were coming." Connall said sounding agitated. "I am sure they came in with a crowd and were missed by the anoucer." Shela replied as the Clock struck thirteen. Everyone's hands went up to their heads to take their masks off. Nick found Jareth and Sarah in a corner across the room from the hosts of the party. Nick waved his hand in front of his face before he took off his mask. If Jareth and Sarah didn't know what old magic was and what Nick looked like, they would have sworn Nick was just rubbing his face. When Nick took off his mask he looked normal. No twisted features. Sarah let out a quiet gasp and said "Okay, Nick you look almost scary."

"Ya man. I don't think normal features suit you." Nick smiled and looked towards the party hosts. "We seem to be missing two of the birthday children." King Oliver said. "We are here grandfather" Sarah said as she started to move towards her grandparents followed by Jareth and Nick. The four hosts looked shocked. "But… But… But…" muttered Abey as she looked at the trio making their way towards the four hosts. "what." Jareth said smirking. "did you all think we were coming dressed in formal regalia?" He asked looking at everybody with a knowing look. Everyone nodded in unison. "Why would we do that?" asked Sarah. " We know that we are to be the new royals of the goblins. Besides, this is not a formal dance, nor a formal meeting. This is a birthday party." Sarah stopped before her grandparents and said "Grandfather, Grandmother, I know that custom dictates that you are to make me take a test of adulthood. But, I have with the help of my good friends Nicholas and Jareth found out that if Jareth and I are going to be the goblins sovereigns, we are to be excused from the test." Sarah's grandparents looked surprised. Jareth's parents turned a hostile stare at their son. "Is this true son?" Connall asked. "Yes father. You can look it up here in this book if you want." Jareth said as he offered a heavy dust covered book to his father. Connall looked in the book and his features softened. "It is true. How ever, Abey must take the test. Abey you must step through this door." Connall gestured to a plain door behind him. "You are to be quiet and not make a peep. Also, when you are done with the test, you are to report to me what occurred behind that door." Connall said. He moved aside and Abey walked to the door and went through it. "Everybody, please enjoy the rest of the evening" Shela said with a smile. Everybody dispersed and started to talk. "Sarah, May I ask you something?" asked Olivia. "Yes you may grandmother" Sarah said in reply. "Where did you met your friend?"

"I met him Above. His name is Nicholas and I would like to make him my brother" Oliver and Connall gasped. "That is powerful magic." Shela said as she looked at Sarah. "I know. That is why I would like your permission your highnesses." Sarah said as she bowed to the high king and queen. "Are you sure you can do it?" asked Connall. "Yes your highness."

"Then I give you permission. You may go." Connall wave his hand and Sarah, Jareth, and Nicholas left the ball room. They walked to Sarah's room and locked her doors. Nick and Sarah cut their fore arms and their palms. Jareth then tied their forearms and hands together. Sarah and Nick began to chant in a language nobody except for Jareth could understand. They began to hover and glow. Soon the glow became so bright Jareth had to close his eyes. After what seemed like forever, the glow dimmed and Nick and Sarah landed gently on the ground. Jareth could see that they were unconscious and unclothed. He blushed as he waved his hand over them. Clothes appeared on their bodies and he summoned some goblins to help him get Sarah and Nick on Sarah's bed. He then promptly summoned a recliner next to the bed and sat down. He looked them over and saw that they both shared simularities. He made sure Sarah's apartments were secure and dark before he fell asleep. That night he dreamed of himself, Sarah, Nick, and a beautiful woman with red blonde hair. They were surrounded by several children that were trying to get the adults to wrestle. The dream made him happy and peaceful.

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