The Swan KingAuthor's Disclaimer: No, I don't own anything. Surprise! I'm back with a new story. It's inspired by the anime Princess Tutu, if you're familiar. If you're not, no worries! I'm meshing and playing with things so no background knowledge is needed. It's a modern AU taking place at boarding school, where Jareth and Sarah are both ballet teachers. But, because this is Labyrinth and inspired by magical girl anime, you can bet there's an element of mystery and magic. This is a giftfic for kiyomi-chan16, who just celebrated a birthday! Happy birthday, KC! She adores Labyrinth and Princess Tutu, so I've tried to combine them. I hope you'll enjoy the fic!
Chapter 1: The Story
Once upon a time, there was a beautiful girl. She was a selfish girl, one who wanted everything for herself. Every beautiful music box, doll, and book she could imagine. She adored her mother above all, the best actress there was. Every week, her father would take her to see her mother perform, and she received gift after gift from her mother and her admirers. Nothing was too good for Sarah Williams, the golden child.
Until nothing was.
One fateful day, her mother left. Abandoned her, her father, and everything they had for someone else, to chase her dreams in New York City.
Sarah was inconsolable. Nothing her father said or did could make her happy, every gift rejected and thrown to the ground. She hated everything and everyone, especially her classmates.
It had been the day after her mother left, and one of the most popular girls in the school, a short girl who played the violin, passed her in the hall. As soon as their eyes met, Sarah imagined she saw the girl's face momentarily look like a fae or some other fairytale creature with pointy ears and a pale complexion. When she accidentally admitted it out loud, everyone thought she was … different. All of her classmates turned on her, making her feel more alone than ever before.
Sarah had once heard her mother describe "The Sight" to her as they read a nighttime story together, and after that day, she always wondered if she had it. She knew what she saw, and she hated that no one believed her.
Worse, her father remarried, and she was forgotten and ignored by her own family in exchange for a screaming baby.
The scared, unhappy teen took to reading story after story alone in her room. Her favorite book was the last book given to her by her mother, a red, leatherbound novel, a compilation of her two favorite childhood stories, The Ugly Duckling and The Swan Princess.
Day after day, Sarah would dress in her white costume dress and run to the park. She'd stand by the pond, reciting the lines and feeling like both the forgotten, ugly duckling and trapped young princess, talking to the owls in the park because she had always felt like they could understand her as she put on her shows.
All she had ever wanted was to act, to be just like her mother. Everything changed on her sixteenth birthday. Her absent mother swept her away to New York City. Bright lights, flashing cameras, and the whole world was laid at Sarah's feet as she watched her mother in several small productions. She knew then why her mother had left, and she longed to be in New York, too. She may not have been the best actress according to her drama teacher, but now she would work even harder to accomplish her dream.
Then, her mother surprised her by taking her to the ballet. That was the night she was introduced to Swan Lake, and her whole life changed when she watched the main characters perform their moving pas de deux, music swelling and bodies rising in time. No longer did young Sarah want to act; she wanted to dance, to be Odette, the Swan Princess.
When Sarah went home, she begged and pleaded with her father until he relented, signing her up for ballet lessons. Her first day was a disaster.
Never had she felt more awkward and like the ugly duckling as she learned the basic positions, trying to become graceful like the girls half her age. Her flexibility and natural rhythm aided her, as did her tiring work ethic, in order to live out her dream.
Her attitude, however, did not help her. She was too proud to ask for help, and she responded poorly to all the coaching her teachers and classmates gave her. For the rest of her high school days, she worked ceaselessly, and still she was overlooked and ignored by her ballet teachers. Her senior year, the lead of the Nutcracker injured herself right before the last performance, and Sarah was her understudy. Her time had come. She flung herself onto the stage, ready to awe everyone.
That was the day she realized why her teachers always told her to work with others. Her performance was a disaster. She wasn't in sync with anyone, and no one tried to accommodate her since everyone hated her. She flailed, and she stuck out. Worse, her whole family was there to witness her humiliation. Her father and step-mother tried to be nice, but even they struggled to say anything.
Her mother was proud. "You did so well, darling. You were out front and different from all, showing them how it should've been done. You shined. One day, you'll be on Broadway or any show you want. You don't need those people to succeed."
"Thanks, Mom," replied Sarah weakly, barely smiling.
She had always wondered why her mother wasn't more famous. A few days later, she watched her own performance, and she realized just how wrong her mother was, about her and ballet. Ballet was about so much more than dancing. Yes, it needed crisp lines and balance, but it was also about others. Working together to create one cohesive whole. She stuck out, and she wasn't supposed to.
Her mother had always been off on her own, doing what was right for her and not thinking of others. Because of it, she wasn't famous. More importantly, it had made Sarah and her father unhappy. Her mother was selfish and unwilling to work with others, and she was turning into her mother.
No more.
Sarah had been on the verge of going to college for dancing, but she realized just in time that she wasn't ready. She'd double major in it after she changed her major, going into teaching. She had failed to learn from others, and now she would devote her life to it, making sure others didn't make the same mistake she did. As a result, she attended a large university with a teaching and dancing degree, and after two years of intensive study with her teachers, she declared her second major with much encouragement from everyone. She stayed longer to complete it, but at the end, she was rewarded.
For her senior recital, she was the lead for Swan Lake. She, Sarah Williams, had her name proclaimed far and wide, and she had gone from being the ugly, unteachable duckling to becoming a graceful swan, finally stretching her wings, ready to soar.
And soar she did. In a white dress with a bright pink tutu, small tufts of white feathers around her ears, soft, golden wings, and white tights, she was the Swan Princess.
After her first night, she received two encores. Everything was going perfectly, and then something … peculiar happened. She bent down to acknowledge the pit, all the musicians surprised. Sarah's head turned to thank them all, stopping when her gaze landed on the first flautist. Just like in high school, she had a flash of someone completely different, of willowy limbs and an ethereal glow to her face and pointed ears. The flautist giggled and winked at her, telling her that music was universal before waving her on, and Sarah thankfully forgot about it for a time as she immersed herself in the roar of the crowd.
That night, though, she couldn't help but wonder if there was something to her. Why was she different? Why did it matter? That was more important to her than questioning why imaginary creatures existed, as she believed in those instinctually after so many bedtime stories. She had once thought she saw goblins playing in the park as a child, so why not fairies?
Every night after the first night was a sold-out show, everyone wanting to see the stunning marriage of music and dancing that enraptured all who witnessed it. Every night, Sarah flew, face radiant and steps joyful.
But there was still one important aspect missing: a job post-graduation. She had taken jobs as a teacher at a public school, but her heart was in ballet. She wanted to teach others to dance, but no one was hiring, based on her nightly career searches. Even when she did apply, they always rejected her, and she never understood why. Right before her final performance, she peeked out at the audience, making a quiet wish.
"I wish someone would take me away from this place and offer me a job. Is it too much to ask that I can teach ballet and do something more with my life?"
Booming thunder shook the theater, sending Sarah running for her fellow dancers and friends. Now, she knew everyone she danced with, even if she had few close friends, only many acquaintances. Everyone knew and loved her, though, and that was more satisfying than dancing alone.
After the final show, everyone filed past her and wished her well. Everything was going swimmingly until her gaze passed an empty corner. A moment later, she looked back, and suddenly, an old, gnarled man smiled winningly at her. Not wanting anyone to feel left out, she sought him out, shaking his hand and thanking him for coming.
"Did you enjoy the show?" she asked.
He nodded, smiling broadly. "I never enjoyed a show more in my life. You're a natural on the stage. Tell me, young woman, have you always loved Swan Lake?"
Excitement flooded her face at being able to talk about her favorite topic. "Yes! As a child, I read the story all the time! When I was older, I saw the ballet, and that was the moment I knew I wanted to become a dancer, to do ballet for the rest of my life."
He nodded sagely. "You have a bright future ahead of you. Where are you going after graduation?"
"I don't know," she admitted, hanging her head. "I have nothing lined up. I've looked everywhere."
"Not quite."
Surprised, she looked up and saw the old man's face change dramatically, his small, bony face now darker, longer, and wrinkled, with a long, scraggly white mustache and a bird and helmet atop his head. She blinked, and the odd look was gone. He only grinned.
"Yes, you're the ideal candidate for the position. It's been open so long, I feared that my school would never be complete."
"School?" asked Sarah, now intrigued.
He presented her with a card. "Go to that website. I run a boarding school for dancers in Yorkshire, England, and I'm in need of a female ballet teacher. They're tricky to find since your male counterpart is … difficult to work with."
"Oh, then I'm perfect for you," said Sarah, shaking his hand confidently. "As someone who used to be very difficult to work with, I know how to work with and stand up to such men."
"Good. Then come to that address listed in two weeks with every piece of clothing you'll need; we'll provide everything else. I promise the pay is more than you'll make here. I'll have one quick interview, which should be a mere formality. See you then, Sarah Williams."
The old man bowed before disappearing. It wasn't until later that night that Sarah realized what all had happened. She had made a wish, and it had been answered. Again, someone magical had entered her life, but this time, he offered her something much more substantial. How could that be?
She searched online for open job positions, and this time, The Labyrinth Academy appeared. It was mysterious just like him. Somehow he had known her name, but he could've read that in the program. If she trusted the old geezer, then she had a job. How had he found her? Why was he there?
She didn't understand, but a week later, when she walked down the aisle for graduation, the thought of leaving her school, family, and friends behind sounded better by the minute. While she had relationships with all of them that were better now, she wasn't attached enough.
This wasn't where she belonged. She knew it, deep within her soul. She was still trapped, but with this new job, she was sure that she was about to be let free. Start fresh.
Become the person she was always meant to be. There was magic at play; she was sure of it. She had to understand why she could see such creatures, and if it had some greater meaning for her life. She wanted it to mean something, to be special. She wanted it desperately.
So she packed up everything important to her and flew to England. Her family wished her well and promised to visit, and she left without regret. The further north she traveled, the more she realized that anything was possible. Was this not the lands of the moors, of Jane Eyre and other Gothic, mysterious things? Surely there could be magic here, calling her to a grand adventure.
The two, giant manor houses of her new home were the only buildings for miles in the middle of nowhere. It was the only modern thing about the area since the bushes and landscaping were kept natural, vines twining and covering everything and tall, wild bushes dominating the view. It wasn't until she got closer that she realized that the tall bushes seemed to have a path inside, suggesting that there was indeed a Labyrinth at Labyrinth Academy.
The old man of before greeted her and her four humongous luggage with open arms, a boy in blue eager to take her things.
"'Ello!"
Scrunching her nose, she bent over to smile at the boy. "Did you say hello?"
"No, aye said 'ello, but that's close enough. 'e said you were American. Welcome! Come inside. Have a nice cuppa tea" said the boy, missing a tooth.
"We'll have some tea while I ask the interview questions. Thank you for your assistance." Turning to Sarah, he said, "Welcome. Come along, Miss Williams."
The Earl Grey tea was hot and invigorating, waking Sarah up after much travel. The interview questions were easy, and soon, they were done.
"I'm pleased, Miss Williams. I have one final task for you, and then I'll officially hire you. Follow me, please."
Sarah followed him down a hall until they came to the doors to the main training room. As his hands landed on the doorknob, the man turned to her with a curious look on his face.
"Have you ever heard the story of the Goblin King and the Raven?" he asked.
Interest piqued, she responded, "No. Should I?"
"If you're going to work in these parts, yes. Everyone knows the legend."
"Will you tell me?" she asked, making him lean against the door expectantly.
"It would be my pleasure. There once was a brave, noble Goblin King. He loved his kingdom so much that when an evil raven of dark magic came, the king selflessly destroyed his own heart to protect his citizens and seal away the raven. The raven died, but it left the heartless Goblin King alone, powerless, wandering the world in search of another heart."
A chill ran through her. "Did he ever find another heart?" she asked worriedly, approaching the old man.
"No, and he never will until he can find another to love him and offer her heart in return. To this day, they say he still wanders the moors, searching for a heart to claim as his own. They say our Labyrinth out front is haunted by his spirit, that you should never enter it alone. At night, you can hear his mournful singing, calling all fair maidens to their death."
She shivered. "That is … slightly terrifying, if beautiful. Love is such a foreign concept to me-"
"You've never loved another?" he asked, eyeing her carefully up and down.
"No. I was always ungraceful and plain, like that ugly duckling from the story. Some kids used to call me duck because of it." Seeing the pitiful look in his eye, she quickly added, "But now I know better. Now I know I'm a swan."
"Are you trapped under a spell like our Goblin King, or should I say Swan King? You two would share much in common," he said, smiling warmly.
"No. As much as I used to think everything was not fair, I know it's my own fault," she said with a rueful smile.
"Very good. Let's go inside and meet your future students."
They entered the main training room. With wall-to-wall windows and two floors, it was the airiest room in the whole building that she had seen so far. The second floor was more of a balcony to watch the gym action below, and Sarah was amazed at how many students were gathered. There were at least thirty of various ages, with the three oldest teenagers. One was short and round with a bandana covering his head as he huddled forward anxiously. Another older boy was short but lean, with a feathered cap, and finally, the largest person below was a young man with long, shaggy, red hair who sat comfortably between the two shorter ones, holding them close to him. All of them were surrounding a single teacher.
And such a teacher he was. Tall and majestic, he floated through the air when he leaped for his allegro, his legs perfect angles and body balanced. After he landed, his soft, cropped blond hair and upper body remained perfectly upright as he performed a plie, knees bending outward.
Then he looked up at her, and she was lost. Clear blue eyes stared into her soul, and she didn't know how to breathe. He smiled, showing his eye teeth, and he beckoned her forward with just a slight incline of his chin.
She felt as though she were in the presence of royalty, even if he wasn't.
"Is that my co-teacher?" she asked curiously.
She didn't see the headmaster smirk. "It is. Would you like to meet him?"
"Very much so."
The main teacher demonstrated the next several moves that the students were about to learn, and Sarah understood why he didn't need anyone. He was a perfectionist, so tall and straight that she could've used his back to draw straight lines. He was toned but not muscular, and Sarah had to remind herself not to look at his navy blue leotard and the gray tights for extended periods of time.
By the time they got down, he had finished, and the students all got up. One of the older teens, the one with a feather cap, had a mustache already and was bouncing from foot to foot, ready to perform. When he finally executed the fourth position, though, one foot in front of the other and arms extended out and over the head, the teacher roared his disapproval at the teen putting the wrong foot forward.
"This is a basic step! You should've learned this years ago! Do you want to join a probationary class instead?"
"N-no, I thought I had it right this time-"
"Fix it or get out of my class."
As the teacher made an abrupt about-face, Sarah was unable to resist just watching anymore. That was not the right way to treat a student. Her hands balled into fists, and she glared at the teacher.
"His name is Jareth," whispered the headmaster, pushing her forward. "Go ahead."
Her eyes met his in gratitude. "Thank you."
Feeling emboldened, she marched forward, and Jareth ignored her. Instead she went to the teen.
"If you still think that you're doing it right, then perhaps you should take a few days to focus on technique. Ignore your teacher and ask for help," she said, causing all to gasp.
The teen in front of her let his mouth gape so wide that she would even say such a thing. Jareth stormed over to her.
"What right do you have to order my students or tell them to ignore me?"
Hands going to her hips, she fired back, "Because you're disrespectful to them! You should be working with him, not ignoring him and letting him continue to fail!"
"He'll only succeed if he learns on his own!"
"That's wrong, and we both know it!" she screamed in return, unafraid of his raised voice. The rest of the students all inched back slowly, but she didn't care. "We only continue to do the same thing until someone shows us what is right. If you're not willing to do everything to help your students succeed, you shouldn't be a teacher."
More astonished gasps filled the air, and Jareth looked ready to kick someone.
"They are my students. They follow my rules. Not. Yours," he ground out.
"Until I join you," she retorted. "I'm not afraid of you."
He got in her face, staring her down. "You should be."
"I've dealt with bullies like you before; you don't scare me," replied Sarah, getting on her tiptoes.
For a breath, his eyes bore into her as he glowered menacingly. "You will never-"
"Actually, she does now officially," interrupted the headmaster, smiling warmly. "Welcome to Labyrinth Academy, Sarah."
"You must be joking. Her?" cried Jareth in outrage. "She's doesn't have-she's a shrew-"
"And good for you. You've never had one actually talk back to you before," said the headmaster gently before heading out. "I'll leave you two to it."
"This is preposterous," grumbled Jareth, leaving Sarah. "If you think pandering to the students will help, go ahead. I refuse. You're only encouraging them to remain soft and dependent on you."
"I used to think like that until I saw what I looked like when I acted alone; then I learned better," she declared, going to the teen with a softer expression. "What's your name?"
"Didymus, My Lady," he replied, bowing.
"Please, call me Sarah. Allow me to help you."
His long nose and mustache wiggled as he spoke. "Old habit I'm afraid, My Lady. I think he's right, though. I don't even know you, and you're already insulting my idol and favorite teacher."
Body tensing, she took a deep breath. "I'm new. You'll learn soon. Now, what's the proper placement of your feet?"
Didymus started to do so, but when she corrected him midway about keeping his legs straight, he overcompensated and tripped on his feet, crying out in pain as he landed on the ground.
"Now you've done it," growled Jareth. "You've managed to injure him. I hope you're proud of yourself, Sarah."
With that, Jareth turned around, despite pleading eyes from Didymus for help.
"Won't you escort me to the nurse, Sir?"
Jareth ignored him, and Didymus deflated. Sarah was beside herself as she leant him a hand.
"He's too stubborn and proud to help you. Please, let me help you."
For a long, tense moment, Didymus looked between her and Jareth before he finally accepted her help. Even as their hands touched, she felt something in the air change, as though something new had been set in motion.
It was time to finish the story.
Author's Notes: Thanks so much for reading!
