Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here is chapter twelve of "Through Dangers Untild." I had this fic on hold for a while due to writing other fics in which they were mostly focusing on Power Rangers. I decided I would begin working on it from time to time, though it is possible that can change. This chapter features Hoggle, Jason, and Trini escaping the tunnel. Stay tuned for chapter thirteen.

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Chapter 12: Up and Over

Hoggle, Jason, and Trini were still climbing the ladder four minutes later. The dwarf grabbed a rung above him before lifting his leg and pushing himself up. The couple mimicked both of his actions. He took hold of another rung. He put his leg upward to push up. They followed suit with impatient sighs. They looked up at him.

"How much longer before we reach the top of the ladder, Hoggle?" Jason asked.

"It shouldn't be long now," Hoggle assured in a gentle voice.

"It feels like we have been climbing forever," Trini commented and made a funny noise.

"It sure does," Jason agreed. "Imagine if this ladder kept getting taller and taller as we went up it."

Trini chuckled in a nervous way. "In a magical place such as this, anything is very possible."

Hoggle breathed deeply. "Trust me. You won't have to worry about the ladder getting any taller as we go up it."

The trio came to a halt when a rock fell from above. They watched it go past them and disappear into the darkness below. They resumed climbing at a steady pace. Trini clicked her tongue three times.

"Hoggle, could I ask you something?" Trini wondered.

"Sure, Trini," Hoggle answered in eagerness. He inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. "What do you want to ask?"

"What was Jareth talking about when he threatened throwing you in the Bog of Eternal Stench?" Trini commented curiously.

"Oh, it is a very awful place. It smells really bad. It can make even the strongest of people sick," Hoggle said and made a gagging sound. He shuddered with much fear. "Jareth threatens everyone with throwing them into it to keep them in line, especially me."

"Is the only thing it does is smell really bad?" Jason asked and licked his lips.

"That's not the worst thing about it, Jason," Hoggle said honestly. He emitted a heavy sigh. "If you even put a foot into the Bog of Stench, you will smell bad for the rest of your life. It will never wash off."

"Oh, shit," Jason muttered, his heart beating faster.

"Shit indeed," Hoggle commented with a fast nod. "I am sure you two would love to throw Bulk and Skull in such a place."

"We would love to see them disappear from our lives forever," Trini replied truthfully. She mumbled obscenities in Vietnamese. "They are such thorns in our sides that it seems they will never get out of them."

Hoggle reached the top of the ladder, causing Jason and Trini to come to a stop. He pushed against the ceiling hard in which he managed to get it open. The sky could be seen through the opening. He went through it. They came up beside them. They found themselves in the courtyard. The Red and Yellow Rangers looked down to see the door happened to be a huge ceramic jar. The dwarf climbed out of it and got on the table. He jumped off it. They mimicked all three of his actions. She noticed that nothing was underneath the table, as did her boyfriend.

"I can't believe we came out of that thing when there is nothing under the table it is sitting on!" Trini said in great amazement.

"Nothing is what it appears to be in this place," Jason added.

"It has been that way ever since the Labyrinth came to be," Hoggle murmured.

Trini suppressed a yawn. "I am sure it can be so confusing at times for you and others."

"Very much so," Hoggle admitted with a shrug.

Jason scratched his neck. "Just about anything can boggle the mind."

Jason and Trini looked ahead in which they spotted the castle over a ridge. They took three steps forward, as did Hoggle. They moved their heads from side to side to stretch their necks.

"Well, there is the castle," Trini said while pointing her finger at the structure very eagerly.

"Which way should we go?" Jason wondered.

Hoggle gestured toward the entrance to the hedge maze. "This way."

Hoggle went into the maze as he cleared his throat. Jason and Trini followed him close behind. They proceeded to head down a long corridor. The trio inhaled deeply before exhaling slowly. She clasped her hands together while sighing in content.

"This area appears to have an air of calm," Trini said, her voice showing much warmth.

"It sure does," Jason agreed.

"This area of the Labyrinth is much easier to navigate. It never changes with a few exceptions," Hoggle said as his friends came to his side.

"Have you ever taken care of this part of the Labyrinth?" Trini wondered.

"Yes, I have," Hoggle admitted and touched his throat. "I was expected to keep the hedges trimmed as nice as possible. I use garden shears for that. No fairies live here, but rats and snakes do."

"Ugh. I hate both critters," Trini muttered while shuddering in much disgust.

"No one blames you for that, Trini," Jason whispered in great sympathy. "At the same time, snakes are helpful in keeping the rat population down on farms. This is especially true when it comes to rats eating crops."

"I've seen snakes swallow rats whole while they were still alive," Hoggle commented and rubbed his nose. He picked up his pace somewhat. "The rats struggle to get away, but they can't."

Hoggle, Jason, and Trini stopped at the end of the corridor. They made a left turn. They halted themselves when a black rat ran out in front of them. It went into the wall, the leaves rustling. It poked its head out and twitched its whiskers. It emitted a series of squeaks before going back inside. The trio shook their heads in disbelief.

"Trini and I have seen so many rats that we've lost count," Jason said as he and the others got back to walking.

"Rats and mice are a huge problem in Australia. They will consume so many crops that the farmers make little to no money sometimes," Trini added.

"Our soils are not fertile enough for crops such as corn, tomatoes, watermelons, and a number of other fruits and vegetables you humans eat," Hoggle commented and took a deep breath. "However, we do have berry bushes in various areas. We have peach and apple trees too."

Jason smiled in great warmth. "Nice."

"I hope the trees don't come to life and slap our hands if we pick something off them," Trini joked with a snicker.

"I bet they will slap you first," Jason retorted playfully.

Trini blew a raspberry. "You wish."

Hoggle, Jason, and Trini made a left turn. They increased their strides somewhat as a bullfrog hopped behind them.

"It's funny that Jareth seems bad, yet he doesn't at the same time," Trini said thoughtfully.

"He told us about how Rita invaded the Labyrinth thousands of years ago because she wanted its power for her very own, but his and Zordon's combined armies sent them running away," Jason said.

"Rita Repulsa was one mean bitch. She terrorized the Labyrinth for a long time. Goldar and Scorpina were the most brutal of her minions. They killed many creatures. The majority of them were goblins," Hoggle explained.

"Were you part of Jareth and Zordon's army?" Jason wondered.

"No, I wasn't. Jareth laughed at the thought of a dwarf like me assisting in fighting. I found that ironic because many of his goblins were smaller than I was and couldn't fight," Hoggle said, giving a shrug.

"I can't blame you for your hard feelings toward him," Jason said sympathetically.

"Me neither," Trini agreed while clasping her hands together. "No one deserves to be treated badly, especially you."

"I'd rather feel sorry for you losing that little girl than feel that way for myself," Hoggle said in determination. "Let this be a lesson. Be careful with what you wish for. It might come true."

"Oh, we know," Jason commented regretfully. "I will never do what I did again."

"I hope not," Trini said a little tensely.

"Trini, now is not the time, all right?" Jason retorted through clenched teeth.

Trini held up her hands in surrender. The trio headed right and started snapping their fingers.