A/N: Well here we are! The Dark Labyrinth! *dun dun duuuuuun* Jareth isn't dead, although he's in major trouble with the Labyrinth for letting Sarah slip through his fingers again.
Hour 13========================
When she dared to open her eyes again she was alone. She was in the Puzzle Room, but something was wrong. The room around her was dim instead of bright, the stones themselves jet black and the air full of oily mists. Jareth was gone and the runed platform now contained a dark mirror. Within she saw his reflection she stepped back in revulsion. He faded into the darkness. The mirror pulsed, now in time with her own frantic heartbeat.
Is he trapped again, or am I? In a rush of fear she turned and bolted away from the heartstone. The paths drew themselves up before her, creating a way across the void to a door that had not been there moments before.
She found herself in the castle proper but it too had changed. The warm stones had faded into grays and blacks, and where there had been leering goblins carved into the walls there were now winding, sinuous dragons. The air was cold and still. Sarah ran, opening doors until she found herself in a grand, luxurious bedroom, the castle solar. A fire was lit inside, for it was night and the winds blew chill through the castle's towers. A small table was set by the fire with a mug of hot chocolate and ginger cookies.
What the hell is my favorite snack doing here?
Now more curious than angry, she explored the room and found no hint of the masculine tenant she expected. The books on the numerous bookshelves were all her favorites. The dressing table contained feminine accoutrements and the wardrobe was full of dresses… and jeans. She walked out onto the balcony and found that a light snow was falling onto the moonlit city below. Her power sang deep in her bones.
"It's winter," she breathed. "Winter. This isn't his kingdom at all… it's mine."
She quickly found her way to the foot of the castle, beginning to feel as if the building itself were trying to oblige her by taking her where she wished.
She made her way outdoors into vast gardens of dark roses that bloomed despite the snow, and looked out onto the City below. She caught a glimpse of one twinkle of light far below in the Great Market.
Moments later Sarah alighted on the stones before the market's fountain.
The fox woman sat under the warm glow of a paper lantern while she smoked a long, thin pipe filled with a sweet tobacco.
Tsukiko rose, bowing to Sarah. "It is a peaceful evening, my queen. I welcome you to your realm."
"What do you know of this place? It seems to be empty."
"You have found the dark side of the Labyrinth, the yin if you will. It is empty in part because the Labyrinth itself is out of balance, hoarding the power of all that die within itself. There are some such as myself who visit, and a few who live here," she said, motioning to a shade sitting in a stall, hawking wares that weren't there.
"So… I'm dead now?" Well, that sucks.
"You live, though few but the dead may find their way here, and those of Winter who recognize your sovereignty. Your king, for one, cannot."
"He's not mine," Sarah said bitterly. "Never was."
The fox woman smiled. "You of all people should know that things aren't always what they seem."
Sarah looked up sharply. "And what's that supposed to mean? I'm so sick of hearing that."
"Your king had wanted to free himself from the prison within the Labyrinth, all he had to do was whisper words of love and adoration to you. His power would have been unmatched in all the realms if he had but taken your hand with kindness instead of pierced your heart with betrayal. The fact that you are here now instead of under the thrall of the Labyrinth as its obedient pawn says volumes about the desperate brilliance of his plan. But I know you will not trust in my words alone. You must stop running from the truth, and conquer this place by taking the dark road." She pointed to a shadowy thread that ran away from the Castle, winding down through the City.
"I have to beat the Labyrinth again?" Sarah looked back towards the castle. "I'm already at the center… but can I walk it in reverse? 'The way forward is sometimes the way back'?" A small flicker of hope sparked in her chest amid the charred ruins of her heart.
"You speak true. Your victory will come in the unraveling, not the binding. I must warn you, only thirteen hours are granted to your journey. The king has stopped time for you, but even in the fullness of his power he cannot stay the Labyrinth for longer than that. Seek out your loyal subjects, they will mark the true path."
With that, the fox woman bowed. "I wish you great fortune and wisdom in your journey, my queen."
Thirteen hours? Well, I've done it before. This time I have a few new tricks up my sleeve.
Sarah looked down at the rumpled green kirtle, and in a flourish changed it back to her black silk shirt, old backpack, and beloved jeans. Come on, feet. She ran down the nearly empty avenue towards the city gates.
Hour 12 ========================
She reached the gates, careful to avoid the ghosts that walked the streets. None had tried to harm her, in fact a few had acknowledged her with respect. Still, she had read enough ghost stories to know that the dead weren't to be trifled with.
This place is so creepy… I wish Hoggle and Didymus were here.
As she crossed the threshold, the great gates clanged shut behind her. The noise woke two guards posted before the walls, upsetting one so thoroughly that his helmet fell off.
"See here, I been at me post the whole time, cap'n" he said through the muddle of sleep. "I…"
"Hoggle! Didymus!" she squealed, catching them both into a great hug as their goblin-sized armor fell off them in a great clatter.
"My lady, what is this place?" said Didymus in wonder. "I see yon silver moon upon snow-crested fields, and my blood sings within me as for the hunt."
"This… this is my kingdom," she said hesitantly. "I am queen of the dark Labyrinth, or at least I will be if we can reach the entrance in thirteen hours. Will you help me retrace our steps?"
Hoggle snorted. "O'course. That's what friends are for. Let's go!"
Didymus morphed into his wolf and howled with joy at the night. Sarah and Hoggle clambered onto his back and they raced down the roads, passing by great fields and fens, miles of beautiful countryside. The werewolf ran through the night at a speed that would overtake the swiftest racehorse, his pace never slackening. They soon arrived at the Goblin Gates, except as with the castle the carved stone was now fashioned into a dragon's maw.
"Let's slow down and see if we can find Ludo," said Sarah, slipping off Didymus wolf's back.
The trio walked the twisted mountain trails without fear, until they felt the deep rustle of stone before them. Ludo emerged from the mountainside, his eyes glowing a luminous blue. "Sawa friend, brothers!" he said, scooping them all up into his arms.
"Ludo, I knew you would be here!" said Sarah. "Can you help us get down to the valley? We need to get somewhere near the Great Crossroads."
"Sure. Good night to sing to rocks," said Ludo, opening his great mouth and singing. The whole mountain rang with his voice, and large, pearlescent moonstones began to bubble up through solid rock. As he continued his song they began to float and spin, until they scribed a glowing arc and began to spark with magic. There was a great flash, and a rippling vision appeared within the moonstone arc of the great arena of the Crossroads.
"A portal" said Hoggle, openmouthed. "I knew they's made with moonstones, but never thought he'd pull that off."
Ludo's singing stopped and he smiled. "This place feels good, Ludo sing to many rocks here."
"I think there's something about this place that makes us feel… I don't know, better or something," said Sarah. "My magic feels easier to reach, maybe his does too."
"Indeed, my Lady," agreed Didymus. "My wolf is powerful this night."
Hoggle nodded. "I guess I kin see that. This is a place custom built for Unseelie. Mebbe it's where we're supposed to be, I reckon."
It really does feel right somehow. Maybe… if the Labyrinth's binding is unraveled, we can stay here? Who knows. Maybe it's better than going back. "Well, let's get going," said Sarah. With one final hug to Ludo, they disappeared through his portal.
A/N: We are in the final hours... the way back won't take 29 chapters, haha! There are probably 4-5 chapters left, unless I get an encore for some epilogue. I'm always nervous about my endings, it's hard to wrap up something like this.
