Thanks to everyone who bore with me, here his the last chapter of No More Masks. I'll warn you now, though, the ending is somewhat typical and cheesy. Sorry 'bout that. I hope you all enjoy it anyway!
Alara's Story
"Once, long ago, there was a world between worlds, a world that survived on a very powerful source of magic. And once, not so long ago, very powerful wizard called the Grey Men came to this world and tried to drain this magic. No one knew why, only that they intended to use this magic for an ill purpose. The magic in this world was sentient enough to struggle against the Grey Men, but it was a losing battle. In a desperate bid to save itself, it reshaped itself into a form that would be safe from their manipulation. And so, a young girl was born, but with her birth, came the death of her world. She escaped from the Grey Men but was left to wander through other realms. She housed an awesome power, but did not as yet know how to use it. This raw power was very tempting to those who would try to use it for their own gain, and the girl was often hunted for the power she carried.
And so it came to be that this girl found herself locked in a tiny cell by a stonehearted man. All he knew of this girl was that she had the ability to heal others, and was unable to refuse them aid. You see, this man had a father who was dying, but he knew what his son was and refused to leave his fortune to him. So, the son used the girl to keep his father alive until he should change his mind. The girl cried every night; the old man had an illness that she was not allowed to heal. Every day she saw him, and every day he begged her for death. She was only allowed ease his suffering a little, before she was forcibly removed back to her cell. It was killing her, bit by bit; everyday she was falling deeper into despair. And then one night a white owl landed on the ledge of her narrow window. She stared at it, disbelieving, for in its claws it carried a little steel key. When the girl stood to get a closer look, the owl flew away but left the key behind. Elated, the girl used it to escape her prison. She ran until she was exhausted and finally hid in the hollow of a tree. There she slept in peace for the first time in a long time.
When she awoke, she found herself in a strange land facing a strange man. He was a Goblin King, and, like her, he was magic-born and was an immortal. He told her about a human girl he had fallen in love with, he loved her so much that he gave her a precious gift, a part of himself. She, of course didn't know this. He had planned to woo her when she was old enough to understand what he was, but then fate took the choice away from him. She had foolishly wished her brother away. The Goblin King thought that now, finally, he could tell the girl what he felt, but she was too young to understand. In the end she refused him and was returned to her mortal world. He was deeply hurt, but even worse, the mortal girl had somehow convinced herself that her adventure never really happened, and passed it off as nothing more than a vivid dream. Because of the King's gift she carried, that disbelief carried over into the Underground, and began to unravel it. It was at this point that the Goblin King saved the magic-born girl's life and asked for a favor in return. The mage-born girl thought that the King wanted her to save his world from this slow destruction. She thought he wanted her to heal him as she had healed others, but she was wrong. What he wanted was death, a release from the pain that consumed him. While the girl had the power release him from life, she refused. Instead, she left for the mortal world to see this mortal girl, now a young woman. Perhaps, she thought there was a way to save the King, and the woman. What she found was a confused and tortured young woman who had never truly been loved; she was as lost in her own world as she was in the Underground. The magic-born girl, Alara felt a kinship with the lost one, Sarah, and they quickly became friends. Sarah became desperate to leave this mortal world, but could see no way out. And so, seeing her friend in pain, Alara offered to take her to a place where she would belong, to be with those who would love her and protect her and would let her dream."
Sarah sat there, as unmoving as a stone, only the tears streaming down her cheeks proved that she lived. Alara stood and went over to a shelf, picking up a crystal ball that was hidden there and offering it to her friend.
"Tell me, Sarah, how does this story end?" Sarah sat there for a long moment before finally reaching for the sphere.
The End Of The Story
Alara watched silently as Sarah and Jareth faced each other. He stood stiffly, his face impassive and seemingly unsure of what to say. Sarah tried to remain as unreadable, but she was wilting under Jareth's steady gaze. Alara sighed to herself and shook her head. Men! Whether mortal, or Faery, or other, they were all too…too pig-headed! Alara moved to his side and stood up on her toes to whisper in his ear, "No more masks, Lord of the Goblins. Remember, she came to you this time, so don't blow it!" He had the grace enough to look chagrined before she turned to Sarah and gave her a hug. "Don't let him pull that kingly attitude on you, Sarah, you've got him wrapped around your finger. Look, he brought you flowers!"
Sarah looked at where Alara was pointing and almost cried. Below them was the expanse of the Labyrinth; every nook and cranny was covered with blooms. "And now, here is my gift to you, Sarah." Alara's eyes went distant as she caught Sarah's hand. Alara pricked first Sarah's palm and then her own with a tiny silver knife. Sarah remained still, knowing that Alara meant her no harm. Alara pressed her palm into Sarah's, mingling their blood. "With my blood, I make you immortal. I give this gift so that you may spend your life with your Lord unhindered by time. With this spell, I bind myself to you. Should you need me, call out my name and I will answer." Alara blinked, then smiled at the King and his Lady. "Go in peace, my friends." She then turned and walked away from the Labyrinth, confident that their story would end in happiness.