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 12
Jareth, Jack, and Sally entered Oogie Boogie's lair slowly and cautiously. They looked all around for traps, but found none. Once they were in the main hall, which looked like a giant casino, they stopped and looked at one another. "That was too easy," Jack commented.
"I agree," Jareth said as he looked around. "It's too quiet."
Before any of them could react, a giant cage fell from the ceiling and trapped Jack and Sally inside. Jareth turned hearing the clatter behind him.
"What now Goblin King?" Oogie asked. Jareth searched the room for him. "Your goblins left and your friends are in a cage." He let out an evil laugh and appeared on a platform above Jareth. Without hesitating, the Goblin King summoned a crystal and went to throw it. "Oh, I wouldn't do that if I were you. Unless you want something to happen to your Lady." He laughed again as a big curtain fell revealing Sarah in a cage hanging over a large tub of bubbling green liquid.
"Sarah..." Jareth stopped mid throw and the crystal vanished. "Let her go. She's not part of this. It's me you want."
"Don't worry about me. Make sure Beckie and Whit make it home. You promised me you would," Sarah called down to him.
"I promised all of you would go home," Jareth replied. "And I intend to keep that promise." He looked to Oogie. "Let her go. Take me instead."
"You? Don't make me laugh. It's not you I want," Oogie stated chuckling slightly.
"What? Then why send your lackeys after Sarah?" Jareth demanded.
"What I want is around your neck." Oogie grinned.
"My medallion?" Jareth glared at him. He picked it up and glanced down at it. "Let her go and you can have it."
"Jareth! No!" Sarah screamed.
"You can't give that kind of power to Oogie Boogie!" Jack cried.
"Don't trust him He won't let her go," Sally added.
"Of course I will," Oogie stated. "Just hand over the medallion."
Sighing, Jareth pulled it off. "Very well. Release Sarah and this medallion is yours."
"Jareth you can't. Think of what he'll do with that. It's not worth it." Sarah pleaded as she held on to the bars of her cage.
"I'd give up everything I have to keep you safe Precious." Jareth gave her a soft smile. "Trust in me Sarah. Everything will work out."
Sarah griped the bars tightly. "Why? Why do so much for me?"
"You already know Sarah. You said so the night you wished Toby away. Remember the story you told him," Jareth said as he took a few steps towards Oogie. "Remember the words you spoke Sarah. Once upon a time there was a beautiful young girl," he paused.
"Who's stepmother always made her stay home with the baby," Sarah continued. "And the baby was a spoiled child and he wanted everything for himself and the young girl was practically a slave." Sarah watched Jareth place the medallion on the floor below Oogie. "I remember Jareth, but what good does a fairy tale do us?"
Jareth slowly stepped back, his eyes never leaving Sarah. "Keep going Sarah. What came next?"
She thought a moment, trying to remember the exact way she had told the story to Toby. "But what no one knew..." She stopped as it dawned on her what Jareth was saying. "But it's just a story. You don't mean..."
"I do Sarah. Every word is true." He smiled.
"How sweet," Oogie said mockingly. "Never would have thought the mighty Goblin King would fall for a lowly little human." Oogie climbed down and grabbed the medallion. "And at last the power of the Labyrinth is mine!" He climbed back up on his platform and placed the medallion around his neck. "Too bad she won't have a chance to return your feelings." He pulled a lever and the bottom of the cage fell away.
Sarah held tight to the bars as she dangled in the air over the huge vat. "Jareth!"
"Sarah!" Jareth rushed forward.
"Liar!" Jack yelled.
"I knew you wouldn't let her go!" Sally shouted.
"I didn't lie. I am letting her go. Into a vat of acid!" Oogie threw his head back and gave an evil laugh.
Jareth circled the vat looking for a way to get to Sarah. "Hold on Sarah!"
"Not so powerful without your medallion, are you Goblin King," Oogie mocked.
"I don't need to be!" Jareth shouted. "It's not me you should fear right now!" He looked up at Sarah. "Now Precious! Use the medallion! Say your right words!"
"What?" Sarah was too panicked to comprehend what he was saying.
"Make a wish Sarah!"
Sarah grabbed the medallion with one hand while she held on for dear life with the other. "I wish I was safely on the ground beside Jareth." There was a loud pop and Sarah landed with a thud next to Jareth.
"Impossible!" Oogie screamed.
Jareth grabbed Sarah to steady her before she fell. "That's my girl." He grinned and looked to Oogie. "Did you really think I wouldn't give my Sarah a way to protect herself."
Sarah pulled away from Jareth and stepped towards Oogie. "Try to drop me in acid will you. How about I put a match to your ugly burlap sack face?" Without realizing what she was doing, Sarah lifted her hand and formed a red crystal. She threw it at Oogie and it exploded on contact, covering him in flames.
"No! This can't be!" Oogie Boogie cried as he rolled around trying to put out the flames. "The medallion should be protecting me!" He rolled off the platform and came to a halt at Sarah's feet. He was black almost all over and small burn holes had bugs pouring out.
Jareth stepped forward and yanked the medallion from his neck. "Fool. This medallion only protects against basic magic. It's no match for the power of the Labyrinth."
"You gave it to her?" Oogie coughed. "A pathetic human?"
Jareth looked at Sarah. "There's nothing pathetic about my Sarah. She's my Champion, my equal, and the only being I trust with my Kingdom, my subjects, my medallion, and my heart." He caressed her cheek and gazed into her green eyes.
"Jareth."
He smiled and turned back to Oogie. "Now what shall we do with this garbage?"
Sarah looked at the smoldering heap on the floor. "I think we should let Jack take it from here." She turned to Jack and Sally and rushed over to them. "I wish this cage was gone." With a pop the cage disappeared and Jack and Sally were free once more.
"Brilliant Sarah!" Jack cheered. Sally smiled as she and Jack walked towards her. "I'm amazed that you are able to use Jareth's medallion. And Jareth, you clever sneak. Sarah had your medallion all along. No wonder you weren't at your best when we fought."
"What?" Sarah looked to Jareth who was smirking.
"Even without it I'm strong enough to take you on Pumpkin King."
Jack laughed. "Yes you certainly did give me a good workout."
Sarah glared at Jareth. Seeing this he sighed. "Come now Sarah, I told you your safety was my top concern. My switching the medallions shouldn't surprise you. Plus even if I lost the battle I knew it would be alright. You have the Labyrinth's healing ability at your disposal. All you have to do is say your right words."
"Doesn't change the fact you did something really stupid you glittery jerk. What if in my emotional state I forgot to use it? Like when I was hanging over the vat?"
Jareth handed her the medallion he yanked off Oogie Boogie. "I still had access to some of the Labyrinth's powers."
The medallion felt warm in her hands. "I don't care," Sarah grumbled. "If you don't stop doing stupid things, I may kill you myself."
Jareth laughed and removed his medallion from around Sarah's neck and returned it to its rightful place around his own neck. "Now, now Precious, if you kill me you'll have to take over as ruler of the Goblin Kingdom."
"Are you saying I couldn't handle it?" Sarah placed her hands on her hips.
"Of course not. Just letting you know of the responsibility that you'll be taking on if anything happens to me. I'm fairly certain you're the only one the goblins would listen to," Jareth explained. "But enough of that." He summoned a crystal and turned to Oogie, who was passed out on the floor. He threw the crystal at the burnt creature and he disappeared. The crystal reappeared in his hand and he handed it to Jack. "I leave his fate up to you."
"Thank you Jareth. I'll see he's dealt with appropriately. I'm sorry for all the trouble he and his lackeys caused you and Sarah." Jack bowed to them both.
"Apology accepted." Sarah grinned. "Now let's get back to town. I'm sure Beckie and Whit are pretty freaked out."
"Your friends from my kingdom are probably worried too. I told them you'd be in town," Jareth added.
"I'm sure everyone will be relieved to see you Sarah." Sally smiled.
Together the group returned to town where they found Beckie and Whit standing back to back, surrounded by goblins. Sarah rushed over to them. "Sarah!" Beckie cried when she saw her.
"Thank God," Whit sighed with relief.
"Lady!" Cam shouted as he and the others huddled around Sarah.
"Sarah will you please tell us what's going on?" Beckie asked.
"Can we get out of this weird place first?" Whit questioned.
"Sure. I'll explain everything." She looked behind her. "Jareth, can we go home now?"
"Of course Precious," he replied with a slight bow.
"Who's that?" Beckie asked, giving Sarah a nudge.
Sarah shook her head. "Beckie, Whit. This is Jareth the Goblin King."
"King?" Whit and Beckie said together.
"It's a pleasure to meet you ladies," Jareth said with a grin.
Beckie bowed. "Your Majesty."
Whit followed suit and bowed as well. "Nice to meet you."
"Please, no need to bow to me," Jareth stated. "Any friend of my Sarah is a friend of mine and welcome in my Kingdom. I apologize for the events of this evening and ask that you not think less of me for allowing it to happen right under my nose." Jareth bowed to them and Sarah rolled her eyes.
"What do you mean?" Whit asked.
"Jareth was the host of the Halloween party we went to," Sarah explained. "He was there the whole time."
Beckie's eyes lit up as she realized something. "Whit, he's the one Sarah was dancing with!"
Whit smiled. "You're right."
Beckie leaned closer to Sarah. "So is this the King your brother said you had?"
Jareth smirked at her question. Sarah simply glared at him. "Yes, he's the only King I know. Though he can be a royal pain in the ass."
"Love you too Precious," Jareth teased. "And I must correct you. I'm not the only King you know. You now know the Pumpkin King as well, right Jack?"
Jack stepped forward. "Correct. I'm honored to meet all of you." He turned to Beckie and Whit. "I'm Jack the Pumpkin King. Welcome to Halloween Town. I am so sorry you had to visit us this way. I assure you Oogie Boogie has been dealt with and will never bother you again."
"Its alright," Beckie assured him.
"Yeah, it all worked out in the end," Whit added.
"Now we should be getting home. It's probably really late," Sarah said.
"Really Sarah, have you forgotten what I can do so soon?" Jareth asked.
"What can you do?" Whit looked at him suspiciously.
"I can reorder time, I can turn the world upside down, I can move the stars if I desire," Jareth said as he juggled a crystal from one hand to the other.
"I thought you moved the stars for no one," Sarah said with a smirk.
With a flick of his wrist the crystal vanished. "Well almost no one. I can think of one person who could get me to do so by simply saying her right words." He gave her a mischievous grin. "I'm such a generous man after all."
Sarah smiled and shook her head. "Nice try Jareth, but you promised to take us home."
"So I did and so I shall." Jareth turned to Jack. "Thank you for your assistance in this Jack. You too Sally."
"It was our pleasure." Jack smiled.
"Yes, we had to stop Oogie," Sally added.
"You and your friends are welcome to visit anytime Sarah," Jack told her. "Since you can travel to the Labyrinth, all you need to do is knock on the door in the forest to gain entrance."
"Thanks, but we don't belong here. The above ground is where we should stay," Sarah replied.
"I don't know Sarah," Beckie spoke up as she looked around. "This place might not be so bad. A town dedicated to Halloween."
"Yeah, after all, Halloween is the best holiday ever!" Whit added.
Jack smiled. "Well, even if you never visit us here in Halloween town, be sure to look for us each year on our holiday." Jack held out his hand to Sarah who took it and shook it. "Be safe Sarah. I hope we meet again. Take care of Jareth."
"He doesn't need me to take care of him," Sarah replied.
Jack leaned close and whispered. "Every King needs a Queen to look after him, even if he won't admit it."
Sarah ducked her head, embarrassed. "I'm not, that is we aren't..."
Sally stepped forward to spare her trying to explain. Hugging Sarah, Sally whispered. "Jareth isn't a bad man and he truly cares for you. I say you give him a chance." Pulling back, she smiled. "Take care Sarah."
Together Jareth, Sarah, Beckie, Whit, and Sarah's friends headed for the portal with the goblin army following behind.
A/N: So did any of you guess that Sarah had the real medallion the whole time? Like Hoggle said, Fae never tell the whole truth. Jareth said he enchanted the fake one. Never said he gave her the fake one to wear. Well only one more chapter left! Its a short chapter and I know all of you will be screaming for more with the ending, but fear not there is a sequel, that still needs a name.
