Disclaimer: I don't own anyting based on Jim Henson or JK Rowling's work!

As always, I want to thank Vaelru! There's no story without you!

Here it is, the last chapter of the past with Ari and Silai...kinda. Jareth and Sarah will reappear in the next one, and we find out what Elsie's role is in this story. Please remember that if you don't know David, go back to the first couple of chapters to read about his character before you read this chapter. He is an important role and you'll see why now!

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Labyrinth 2

Return to the Labyrinth

Chapter 21: The Past -Part 4-...

This time, Ari and Silai were able to walk out into a weird surrounding. Silai recognized it to be somewhat like the Escher room her father created but this time, it was broken up; pieces of it hanging everywhere.

"What happened here?" She asked herself as she continued to follow Ari.

They stopped briefly when Sarah began to descend from above, gently to the ground. Hiding behind a broken piece, they watched as Jareth appeared before her.

"Give me the child," Sarah immediately stated.

"Sarah beware," Jareth warned. "I have been generous, up until now."

"Generous?" Sarah barked. "What have you done that's generous?"

"Everything!" Jareth exclaimed. "Everything that you wanted I have done. You asked the child to be taken, I took him. You cowered before me, I was frightening. I have reordered time. I have turned the world upside down and I have done it all for you!" He sighed. "I am exhausted from living up to your expectations, but, isn't that generous?"

Sarah looked at him with confident eyes. "Through dangers untold and hardships un-numbered," she began as she walked towards him, causing him to keep stepping back."I have fought my way here to the castle, beyond the Goblin City, to take back the child that you have stolen." She smiled. "For my will is as strong as yours and my-"

"Stop!" Jareth ordered. "Wait, look Sarah." He formed a crystal in his hand. "Look what I am offering you." He turned the crystal in his hand. "Your dreams."

"And my kingdom is as great," she continued as if she really didn't hear him.

Ari frowned. Could she really allow this to happen? Would she allow her mom to say the words? She started to go towards them when Silai grabbed her arm, placed a hand over Ari's mouth, and continued to watch the scene.

"I ask for so little," Jareth began to beg. "Just let me rule you and you can have... anything that you want."

"My kingdom is as great," Sarah repeated slowly, looking away from Jareth. "Damn! I can never remember that line!"

Jareth sighed in relief.

Silai was quite surprised to see such emotions on her father's face.

"Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave," he offered, holding out the crystal. Sarah looked to him and the crystal, thinking hard on her decision but the answer was clearly written on her face.

Ari cringed, burying her face into her sister's shoulder.

"You have no power over me," she stated in amazement.

"No!" Ari cried out as Jareth threw up the crystal and her mother disappeared from the Underground.

The Escher Room returned to normal and Silai was left holding a sobbing Ari in her arms. Slowly, Silai picked up the chalk and began to draw the small window on the wall next to them. Helping her sister up, they walked through the window.

Ari was still blinded by the light, but a familiar figure caught her gaze. Turning around, she could not find Silai, but David was there, smiling at her.

"David?" Ari gasped in surprise as she ran to him, clinging to him as she let out the rest of her tears. "How did you get here?"

"I have always been here Ari," David stated slowly, lifting her chin to look at him.

"Where's Silai?" Ari asked looking around.

"She's safe," David replied with a smile. "I just wanted to talk to you for a bit. So much has been happening to you, and I'm afraid it's just not over yet."

Ari backed away a little. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"You ARE the heir Ari," David stated. "You are the heir to rule the Labyrinth; to hold enormous powers for well over 1300 years. You are the destined High Queen after I have taken the throne."

"What do you mean YOU will take the throne?" Ari questioned further.

"That is the fate of all Labyrinth rulers," David began. "When I was told I was to become the Labyrinth ruler, I was given tasks before I could become the ruler. One of the rules included making a prophecy for my next heir. I thought this to be Jareth, however, your mother truly proved to be worthy. I needed someone of both my blood and hers for an heir, so I sent Jareth aboveground and expected her to return but Shardae saw otherwise."

"I don't understand," Ari admitted. "What do you mean of your blood'?"

David stood taller. "I am Divac de Aisling, once Goblin Throne heir to the Goblin Kingdom and now I am the Labyrinth itself. I am also the grandfather of Jareth, current Goblin King," he announced. Ari gasped.

"Grandfather?" she exclaimed. "So that makes you my great-grandfather?" He nodded. "BUT YOU'RE TOO YOUNG TO BE A GREAT-GRANDFATHER!"

"I'll take that as a compliment," he laughed, "but we must get serious Ari," he stated slowly. "Another rule of being the Labyrinth is that I am required to present the next heir tasks to complete before taking my place."

"What tasks?" Ari asked.

"First," he began, "like myself, you must create a prophecy which the next heir shall hear. This prophecy could be told to either the Ruler heir or the Goblin Throne heir. Second, you must do something about Shardae; her powers are very strong but ours are stronger. She employs black crystals; however, the crystal that brandishes your mother's bite mark holds some power, still. Use it to steal Shardae's power from her. This will help your mother greatly. Once the powers are transferred, Sarah will become a fae and thus the curse will be gone." Ari nodded with excitement, knowing that she could now save her mother. "The book must be kept and sent off by the Goblin Throne heir to a single mortal they hope to beat the Labyrinth. If the mortal is successful - like your mother was -he or she must father or bear the next Ruler heir. Ruler heirs may only come from our champions so make sure Silai chooses wisely."

"Silai will be the Goblin Queen?" Ari repeated with wide eyes.

David or rather Divac nodded."She will help you control the powers that we will share with you," he continued. "However, there is one final task that you must complete."

"Yes?" Ari questioned.

"You must create the Time Turner," he announced.

"What?" she exclaimed. "I don't even know how!"

"You don't, but I do," David said with a grin. "I will teach you once you give the Wiseman the prophecy, and ensure Shardae is no longer a threat to this realm." Ari nodded her head.

"Ari?" called out Silai's voice from a distance.

Ari turned towards her sister's form.

"Oh, and one more thing Ari," David exclaimed. Ari turned back to him. "You cannot tell anyone you are the Ruler Heir until the moment I am free from my 1300 years of ruling."

Ari said nothing but nodded her head for the last time before heading towards her sister's blurred shape.