Now, we are back in the present. I think that this chapter will satisfy certain needs for a while... Plus, more insight into Jonathan's plans.

Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Labyrinth.


Chapter Nine – Toby?

The loud echo of someone running along the ground came from down the corridor. Toby instantly stood up and braced himself. The echo became louder and faster as it were approaching. Toby's heart pounded in his chest, feeling like it was going to rip out of his body.

Then, the noise stopped. Toby narrowed his eyes as he tried to look out of the cell, trying to locate where the noise was coming from, but could barely see as there was no light.

He opened his mouth to speak, but words couldn't come out. He tried again, but no such luck. It was like he was stuck in one position, unable to speak or move.

"Toby?"

His eyes widened when he heard his name being called. He knew that voice; it was Sarah!

He once again tried to speak, to shout her name, but failed in doing so.

"Toby? Where are you?" she asked, her voice quivering, as if she was going to cry.

I'm here, Sarah! I'm here. I can't talk, he tried to shout.

The bottom of Sarah's shoes continued to make noise as she searched for Toby.

"Now is not the time for games, Toby," she scolded as her voice was coming in and out of range. "I'd hate to lose you again, and while you were so young, too."

Again? What is she talking about? Toby confusingly thought.

"Toby? Toby? Toby?" the voice was persistent, but wasn't Sarah's.

Very slowly, Toby opened his eyes to find Sienna, with a worried look upon her young face, above his head.

"Toby?" she called, once again, her eyes narrowed down at him. "Are you alright?"

He blinked several times before sitting up and exhaling a breath he didn't realise he had kept in. It was just a dream. Sarah isn't here looking for me, he thought as his eyes searched the cell he was in.

To her late question, he nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine, just a bad dream," he said, glancing at Sienna, who had a look of concern that did not go away. "I am fine," he repeated, firmly.

Sienna noticed her – more than – overly concern for Toby, nodded and sat back against the wall.

Toby gazed at Sienna and cocked his head to the side as if he was observing her. "Sienna, what's wrong? You've been acting weird," he said, sitting beside her.

Sienna felt her face heat up. "Wha-what? I'm fine," she replied, and looked at him. "What makes you think I'm not?"

"Sienna," Toby said slowly. "Your face is red like a tomato."

Well, isn't he captain obvious? She asked herself mentally.

"Oh, I hadn't noticed," she lied, now looking at the floor.

Sienna twiddled her thumbs as there was a pause in conversation.

"Sienna," Toby addressed her as he broke the silence. "How old are you?"

Sienna's head whirled around to face his as if someone had splashed water in her face; the question caught her off guard.

It took her a few moments to reply. "I'll be turning fourteen in a matter of months." Why? she added to herself.

Toby nodded, and smiled slightly. "I just turned fifteen," he stated.

"Really?" Sienna asked as one of her eye-brows rose.

Toby nodded. "Yeah, although, I don't look like I'm fifteen."

Sienna giggled. "You look cute," she blurted, and it only took a few moments to realise what she had said. She felt her cheeks burn up for the second time in the space of five minutes.

Toby laughed. "I am?" he asked softly, searching Sienna's face.

Sienna bit her lip to hide her grin and gave a small nod of her head.


"So, after we get Toby and Sienna back," Sarah started as she walked along side Jareth. "How would we get home?"

Whatever Jareth had been thinking before was now out of his head.

He glanced at Sarah. "I don't know at the moment," he replied, turned back and kicked a stick out of his path. "Can we not think about that until after we get them back?" he snapped.

His reply startled Sarah. "I was just asking, you know? No need to snap," she muttered loudly to his back.

And then suddenly, Sarah collided into Jareth's back. "What the –" she mumbled as she found her balance.

Jareth turned around. Sarah then felt a little afraid as he was clearly pissed off. His mouth was in a fine line and his eyes were narrowed as he breathed in and out very deeply.

Sarah was confused. Why was he angry all of a sudden? Was it something she said? Sarah didn't have time to think about it.

"Actually, I do need to snap, Sarah," he seethed as he stepped closer to her; eventually, he was behind her, his chest against her back. Sarah felt as if she was stuck in mud, unable to move. She was stunned, confused, and scared all in one.

"Sienna is the only family I have, so excuse me…" he whispered harshly into her ear. His hot breath trailed down onto her neck, and Sarah had suppressed a shiver. "Excuse me for only thinking about my family in a time of crisis."

And in a matter of a few seconds, Jareth was in front of her, walking ahead in a long stride.

It took her a moment to gather herself before catching up to him.

"Hey!" she shouted, which caused him to turn around. "You're not the only one, you know?" Sarah fumed. "Toby's gone for the second time in his life, and I'm the one to save him… again!"

She threw her arms in the air, and stalked right close to him, like he did before. "It's not all about you and your cousin, alright? Toby is gone, too. I love him, and if I had to, I would go to hell and back to save him, and that would include," she paused, glaring at him. "Going through your labyrinth again," she whispered, firmly.

Neither of them moved for a long moment. Sarah noticed that Jareth's demeanour had gone from pissed off to extremely pissed off. She took this chance to back away. As she did, she felt something latch onto her arm. She turned around, alarmed, to find Jareth moving closer to her and, eventually, his lips on hers.

Sarah didn't know if it was her anger or if it was in the moment that made her kiss him back, with passion. His arms went around her body, pulling her closer. She moaned in his mouth at the contact, and slid her hands into his hair.

He forcibly pushed his tongue through, and Sarah moaned and gripped harder on his hair, of which he made a groan.

As the kiss turned into more of a battle, Sarah was struck with a thought about Jareth's aggression of the kiss. It was evident in his grip on her body that he would surely leave bruises, and the way he forced his tongue into her mouth. And as if someone had slapped her in the face, she pulled away with a gasp.

The only sound that could be heard was the heavy breathing of the couple. Sarah tried to look at anything but Jareth. However, Jareth couldn't stop staring at her.

Several minutes passed and Sarah started to walk away. From the corner of her eye, she saw Jareth following her, a few feet behind.

They walked in an uncomfortable silence; the tension between the two could be cut with a knife, it was clear by the way that Sarah walked as she stood straight and looked ahead with concentration.


It gave Braden great pride and joy when he saw his only son take after him, physically and mentally. He had taught him well, especially as since he had a tough childhood.

When Braden hit his adult-hood, the now late Goblin King had begun his reign as king and Braden was jealous of his fame and fortune having lived next to the king in the neighbouring kingdom. Sure, his family was royal, but not too high on the hierarchy, and had little fortune to their name.

By the time Braden's son was born, he taught him everything he learned and more, wanting his son to become what he hadn't; a ruler with power and wanted by everyone.

When word got out that the Goblin King had died, his son, Jareth, had begun his role as king. This sudden piece of news made Braden work his son harder.

As the years grew on and Braden grew older and resigned from his position from ruler, his son was now in charge of their little kingdom. He had smiled widely, at the ceremony years ago, when he saw Jareth glare and pressed his lips together as his son was named ruler.

A few months later, a rumour had scattered across the Underground, like wild fire, that Jareth had an illegitimate child, a daughter born out of wedlock. It was, in fact, true.

The High Court of the Underground had held a trial right away. It turned out that the mother of the baby girl had left a note saying that she had fled and would not return back. This caused an outrage in the court, members disagreeing with other members, which caused a huge debate about the matter.

After many days of deliberation, the members of the High Court had decided that due to the illegitimacy that had taken place, if anything happened to Jareth, his daughter could not take the position of Queen of the Goblins. They had also decided if another child was conceived out of wedlock, they would cease Jareth's position as King.

From then, the Underground remained relatively quiet until a plan had formulated between Braden and his son. They had planned for months on end. For weeks his son had studied a newly-found power which would be very important in their plan.

They had found out, by outside sources, that the champion's brother of Jareth's labyrinth had showed signs of the ability to wish for things, which would be another addition to their plan.

And thus, they waited for the perfect day to kidnap the Goblin King's daughter.

Braden was pulled out of his train of thoughts there was a soft knock on his door. "Yes?" he addressed, turning toward the door to face his son..

"The boy has been practicing his magic with the girl, and much to my displeasure, he sure is learning quite fast," Jonathan informed, taking a seat opposite his father.

Braden's lips pursed into a thin line and tapped a finger to his chin. "Yes, this does pose as a problem."

Jonathan leaned forward in his chair, and his elbows on his knees. "I say that we use him to our advantage, father."

Upon hearing his son, Braden smiled widely, and got up and patted his son on the back. "I am proud to call you my son, Jonathan. You will be a fine leader one day," he smirked.

"As I said many a time before," Jonathan paused. "I did learn from the best."