"You just had to befriend that weird painter, didn't you? Well, dumbass, look where you are now - in a whole other land. Angry or impressed? Fuck, it's a mix of both," Ashley mumbled to herself from the back of the group, following behind Hoggle. Bowie was walking alongside Jareth, who was examining the walls of his labyrinth closely.
"M'lady, you have much to say," Sir Didymus said and turned to look at Ashley. Bowie turned as well. "You are quite the interesting human."
"I take that as a compliment." Ashley sent Bowie a small smile and a wink, and Bowie rolled her eyes. She slowed down until she was walking alongside Bowie. "Hey, your stalker is a psycho."
"You're just now realizing that?" Bowie replied in turn, secretly hoping that Mordecai had heard her. Jareth smirked as he listened in on the conversation.
"Well, I'm just saying. Smartass."
"Stop." Jareth held up a hand and everyone was quiet. His eyes darted around the walls of the labyrinth. He took a step towards one, then stepped back in haste. "Of course - the entrances here are solid ice as well."
"Really? So we're stuck here?" Ashley asked with a small groan.
"I don't think so. Ludo, can you do me a favor?" Bowie asked sweetly, and Ludo walked over. Everyone watched as she climbed onto his shoulders.
Across the labyrinth she could see ice covering the stones, the forests - some of the paths were blocked with ice while others hadn't even been touched. The main thing she searched for was another way into the labyrinth, but she found none.
"The only way is to break the ice somehow," she said after a few seconds of contemplation. "Any ideas?"
"Ludo, my brother, summon the rocks!"
Ashley and Bowie shared a look of confusion, before Ludo let out a long bellow that shook the ground. Bowie let out a yelp and moved to stand on top of the wall, looking down at them. There was a rumbling in the distance before a series of rocks came tumbling towards them. Ashley pushed herself against a wall as the rocks turned where she was, and seemingly went through the wall. There was the sound of ice cracking and chips went flying into the labyrinth.
"Impressive," she said, smiling. "You know, I would've never guessed-"
"'Ello!" A chippy voice said, and Ashley was suddenly jumping from the wall. She screamed and looked back at the wall. Bowie hunched down to see what had talked, but the only thing she could see was a blue caterpillar wearing a red scarf.
"Did that caterpillar just talk?" Bowie asked, and her smile widened.
"Get it away from me!"
"That's rude of you!" the caterpillar said, and let out a strong scoff. "I've never done anything to you."
"It's adorable!" Bowie replied, and jumped down from the wall to land on the ground. She lowered down to his level and smiled. "Hi."
"Would you like to come inside, meet the Mrs.?"
"I would love to, but I don't have the time. Maybe some other time, yes?" The caterpillar did a small nod and Bowie stood straighter. Ashley still looked panicked, and Hoggle was side-eyeing the girl in disapproval. "Well, shall we?"
"Yeah, yeah," Ashley mumbled, and was the first to enter the new section of labyrinth. "This place is going to kill me."
"Jareth, left or right?" Bowie asked, noticing the two different ways the path diverged. Jareth stood next to the girl and examined them as well. She tilted her head to the side.
"Left," he said without hesitation, nodding in the direction. "In the past, it lead to a small garden full of life."
"Not like the first with the Fiery's?" Hoggle asked with fear in his voice.
"Of course not. We must find the area before night falls in three hours."