Rivina's jaw was almost on the floor. "My dress…" she squeaked.
"Looks like your little game has changed a bit, little sister." Jareth taunted, walking past Sarah.
"She's in trouble now." snickered a goblin.
"You know, Jare...there is such a thing as too much black."
"Says the snobby girl in the giant pink monstrosity. I'm giving you one final chance, Rivina, to leave before I do something I might regret."
"You think just because you have your magic, I'll back down? If only it were that easy, right, Jare? You're weak, just like I always knew you were. You can't do a thing to me. Not even if you tried. I mean look at your army: A girl, a troll, a beast, Fireys, and goblins. Soooo scary. Think about it Jare Bear, what are you going to do, hmm? You can't kill me. Banishing didn't work out as planned, surprise, surprise. You've got nothing left. I, on the other hand, have everything. My powers match yours, apart from you being able to turn into a little birdie. I have dolls, fairies, Gargoyles awaiting sunset, and...your weakness."
"Oh, really?" Jareth mused. "Do share."
"I've been looking for it for years. You gave it away in the Labyrinth, the other night. My fairies told me all about it. Don't you recall how your shoulder got injured?"
Sarah looked at Jareth, and saw him glance at her, as if to make sure she was still there.
"You almost lost your life because of this little chink in your golden armor. Now I know just how to use it." Rivina smiled.
"Touch Sarah, and you'll wish you weren't born, you wench!" Hoggle shouted up to her.
"Big words from such a small troll. Now, Jareth, no holding back. I want you to give me your best when I use your weakness."
"Nothing you bring on will stop me from returning our parent's kingdom to its former glory." He growled, making a new crystal in his gloved hand. Rivina smirked at him, and tossed a card into the air. But when it came back down, it wasn't a card at all, but-
"Toby!" Sarah shrieked.
"Aww, he's kind of cute for a human." Rivina admitted, cradling Toby.
"Rivina, leave the child out of this. This matter is between you and I." Jareth sneered.
"See, you don't want me to use the baby. You like him. You know, maybe once I get rid of you and your new little friends, I'll keep him as my heir. Wasn't that what you were planning to do if Sarah didn't finish the Labyrinth?"
Sarah's eyes darted around. You have to do something. You have to get Toby away from her. He's in danger, and as long as she's got him, Jareth can't touch her. Slowly, she walked towards another staircase, and went down it, hoping it would get close to Rivina.
"I mean, it makes sense." The crazy woman continued. "I mean, you're over five hundred, no woman can stand you, and you have no children. Why not steal someone else's?"
Keep her attention. Just do me a favor and keep her attention so I can get my brother. The first set of stairs led her to the far right, away from the action. She went to the next case, and the one after that, and even after that. I really hate stairs right now.
Finally, she was right behind Rivina. "For the final time," Jareth growled. "If she asked me to take him, it's not stealing. You don't even know what happened, you were banished."
Sarah seized the moment, and ran to Rivina. "You'd be surprised how fast big news can travel." she told her brother. Sarah's eyes were locked on Toby, who was squirming. Suddenly, Rivina spun around, and wrapped her free arm around Sarah, pinning her arms to her sides. "Oh, look, Jare, I've got both of them now."
Sarah looked across from them at Jareth, who hit himself in the forehead with the hand not holding the crystal. This was getting more and more complicated. Now Rivina had two things on Jareth, and he was the only one who could take her on. Sarah looked at Toby, who didn't seem to like Rivina at all. She knew she had to do something. She had to get them both away from her.
Then she saw Rivina's curly blonde hair, and got an idea. It was really simply, but it was all she had. "What are you going to do now, Jare Bear?" Rivina taunted. "Magic isn't too helpful right now, is it?" She went into another chorus of psychotic laughter, and Sarah seized her chance. She tore her arm from Rivina's grasp, reached up to her golden locks, and yanked as hard as she could, for a moment feeling like Toby.
Rivina shrieked, and her arms went to her head, causing her to release Sarah, and drop Toby. Sarah instinctively caught her brother before he hit the floor, and ran, Rivina shouting behind them as Sarah ran down the closest staircase. "Rotten human! She pulled out three of my hairs! Get them, you stupid fairies! Get them before ahhh! You almost whacked me the head with your stupid crystal!"
"No idea how I missed such a giant target!" Jareth spat back.
Get her, Jareth! Stick her in an illusion forever! Sarah mentally commanded. She saw that Hoggle, Ludo, and the Goblins and Fireys were all battling the fairies and dolls still, and from her point of view, beating them. Now all I have to do is make sure Rivina keeps away from Toby, and Jareth can kick her butt! She looked up, and saw an owl skillfully dodging each card his sister threw at him. She was running out of them quickly. We're gonna win. Sarah realized. There were times when she'd doubted it, but now they were so close.
Jareth and Rivina continued to battle, as crystals and cards were thrown every which way. Jareth transformed from owl to person over and over, it made Sarah a bit dizzy. But every time he did, she noticed that there was always a flash of glitter, just like there were sequins whenever Rivina appeared. The glitter was even more noticeable in the moonlight that shone through the windows. Sarah's eyes widened, as she realized what that meant.
Moonlight. No sun. That means - Toby started crying, as he noticed the bloody eyes watching them both. Sarah saw the Gargoyle come out of its hiding place, and held her breath, not knowing what to do. It was faster than her, and had wings. She was in a confusing room, and all her friends were a bit preoccupied…
But that didn't stop her from screaming and running away as fast as she could. Toby cried louder as the Gargoyle rushed after them. Sarah shouted for help, "HoggleLudoJarethFierysGoblinsheeelllllpp!"
"Sawah!"
"Jareth, do somethin'!"
"Oh, sure, let me just drop this giant fight with Rivina, and grab Sarah! One of you is going to stop the Gargoyle!"
"But what are we supposed to beat something made of rock?
Suddenly, one of the loudest sounds Sarah had ever heard filled the Escher room. The stairs shook, and Sarah winced as she covered Toby's small ears instead of her own. The noise was a combination of a lion's roar, and rolling thunder.
To her horror, Sarah realized that the noise had caused her to freeze in one stop. She looked behind her and was shocked to see that the Gargoyle seemed to be having some sort of seizure. Its head was twitching, and its body looked like it was being electrocuted. Sarah jumped at her chance and ran until she and Toby were on the other side of the room. Wait...I know that noise. It hit her, and she smiled, "Ludo!"
She looked and saw she was right. Ludo was using his "roar" to do something to the monster. Everyone but Ludo was stuck in one spot, as the ground continued to shake, all stunned at what they saw.
"Ludo, what're ya-" Hoggle began, but Sarah suddenly realized what was happening.
The rocks. Ludo can call rocks with that sound. And Gargoyles are made of stone! Ludo can stop the Gargoyles!
There was another horrible noise as Rivina's monster roared back at Ludo, still shaking, before breaking into countless pieces as if it were glass.
The fighting had stopped, as Ludo nodded, happily, before there was a sudden outburst.
"Yes!" Jareth grinned. "In your face, Rivina! My rock monster can beat yours!"
Rivina looked like she was about to explode. "...You know, Jare, I wonder...what would become of your little humans friends if you weren't able to help them?" And with that, Sarah watched as another card rose from her fleeting deck, and flew towards Jareth. He responded the same way as he did with all her other cards: he transformed into his owl self.
But that was exactly what Rivina had wanted. Sarah watched in horror as her face twisted into a smirk, and the card suddenly became a large net. Owl Jareth tried to dodge it, but found himself caught before he could. "No!" Sarah yelled, but instantly covered her mouth as Rivina's crazed eyes flicked in her direction.
"Why didn't I think of this earlier?" she asked herself. Sarah had no idea what to do. Jareth couldn't defend her, and Rivina was targeting her and Toby! The woman looked through her deck, and Sarah broke into a run, holding her brother tightly, but kept looking at Rivina.
"Jareth, you have to get out of there!" Hoggle shouted.
Jareth transformed back into his human self. "I'm using my sword, but it's not cutting the ropes! What do you expect me to do?!"
"Something else!"
"Oh, Jare, don't you know anything about voodoo?" His sister mocked, her eyes widening. "Ooh! The perfect card!"
Sarah faced forwards again, and skidded to a stop just in time. The staircase she was climbing stopped abruptly! She looked down, and saw she was about five stories up! Oh my God...If I jump from this height, it'll shatter my neck! Where do I go?! She turned around, hoping that she could get down the stairs, but saw she was too late.
Rivina's card rose, and she smiled, deviously. "I've always hated humans. But I love dolls. So why not turn my least favorite thing into the best thing? Goodbye, Sarah! Maybe I'll send your parents their little baby doll!" And she flicked the card right at Toby.
It seemed like everything beyond that point went into slow motion. Sarah could only watch as the card whirled closer and closer to the baby in her arms. Jareth was struggling in the net. Rivina was laughing.
"Jareth, stop her!" Hoggle shouted.
"How?!"
"Use your magic! Do something! "
"Sawah!" Ludo thundered.
"Jareth!"
Sarah saw something change in the King's face. "Hoggle, make sure Rivina is stopped!"
Something inside Sarah suddenly kicked in. She had to keep Toby safe. Even if it meant taking the bullet for him. She dropped to her knees and covered Toby, as if she was ducking for a tornado drill. She placed her hands over her head, and just waited. This was the only thing she could do. If Rivina's card turns me into a lifeless doll, at least Toby won't be affected. Then the others can find a way to stop her, and free Jareth, and he'll bring Toby back to Dad and Karen.
I hope they remember to walk Merlin.
She felt something crash into her. Something much larger than a tarot card. It knocked her onto her back, but thankfully, she didn't fall from the stairs. Sarah groaned and sat up quickly, making sure Toby was alright. ..I'm not a doll. Sarah acknowledged. Toby's totally fine. And...everything is oddly quiet. She looked back at Rivina, extremely confused….but Rivina wasn't there.
All that was on the staircase she just stood on was a small doll that was identical to Jareth's sister and an empty net. Sarah looked around, and watched as the dolls exploded into sequins, and the fairies quickly retreated through the windows. We won…..we actually defeated Rivina! Sarah got to her feet, relieved she wasn't a doll. "Hoggle, Ludo, Jareth, we finally…." Wait...where's Jareth?
Before she could ask, Hoggle ran up the stairs to her and looked at the end. "He didn't...how could he…" Sarah heard him mumble.
Then, the last minute ran through her head: Her and Toby in danger, Jareth shouting at someone else to stop Rivina, as if he couldn't, and then something knocking her over.
It wasn't something...but someone. No...he wouldn't do something like that. "Hoggle…?"
He looked at her, shocked. "He just...teleported out of the net, right in front of you. He blocked her card."
"So Jareth-"
"I don't see him." He told her.