Times Change, and we with Time

Wow! Seventeen reviews, thank you so much to everyone who reviewed. But…what did I say about throwing things? Hmm? It is not wise to try the Lady Destiny's patience, children. It can end badly for you. Anyhow, hope you enjoy this chapter, and remember to review!

Disclaimer: *in a bored monotone* The Labyrinth does not belong to me. The only characters that are mine are Mikayla and Kalani. If you would like to use them for a story please ask. I hate disclaimers, can you tell?

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Chapter 3: Mika kicks some Goblin butt

Sarah walked through the park, with no particular destination. She finally ended up on a bench, sighing tiredly as she looked up at the stars and beautiful full moon.

When had her life gotten so out of her control?

Things had been going so well; she had met Mika, the greatest friend she had ever known, she was getting good grades, and it was almost certain she would be able to get into an Ivy League college.

But now she had an almost four-year-old child to take care of, with no money of her own left to go to college. Sure, she could ask Mika for help, but Sarah was too proud for that. Basically she had no future.

"Such cheerful subjects to think about, Sarah". She said to herself. "I'll figure this whole thing out…somehow…"

But her words caught in her throat, as she put her head in her hands and cried.

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Jareth followed Sarah in his owl form, as she wandered around the park. He was wondering just what he would do. For some bizarre reason, he could not think of one single form of revenge against Sarah.

'Probably for the simple reason you're madly in love with her.' His sub-conscious said in a singsong voice. Jareth would have growled if he had been in human form. He musn't let his emotions get the better of him. He was the Goblin King, damn it, and he should act as such.

Finally, a plan formed in his mind. It was cliché, he knew, but it would work. He would send some goblins after Toby, and make Sarah run his Labyrinth again, only this time he would make it much more difficult.

He sent a mental message, sending several goblins to the house he had seen Sarah come from, where she was apparently living now.

When she finally stopped walking, and sat down on a bench, he alighted onto a tree where he could see her. She looked so sad.

'Well…I don't have to make the Labyrinth really difficult. Just enough…' he thought to himself. 'My revenge doesn't have to be large. A small revenge will do…'

When she began to cry, he completely lost it. He could never take revenge on her, and he knew it. (He had forgotten about the goblins currently on their way to Mika's house)

Jareth flew from the tree, and landed on the ground in front of Sarah, changing into his true form. He took a handkerchief from his pocket, and he saw Sarah take it with a quiet 'thank you', and not looking up.

"What are you crying for?" he asked.

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Sarah could tell there was someone in front of her. She had thought she had been quite alone in this part of the park. Apparently she had been wrong.

She took the handkerchief the person had offered her without looking up, saying a quite 'thank you'. She wiped her tears. That's when she saw the leather glove encased hand that the handkerchief had come from. When she heard the voice asking why she was crying, her worst fears were realized. She gasped, looking up into a face she had hoped she would never see again.

"Oh my God…" Sarah said, unable to form any other words.

"Sarah…" he said, as if he were unable to think of anything either.

Sarah was about to go in to a full on tirade of why he was there, when a horrifying though struck her. "Toby!" He was all alone with Mika in that big house…Goblin King here…Goblins…

Sarah stood from the bench and immediately started running, not bothering to look back, where the Goblin King stood, his cape and hair blowing in the breeze, a forlorn look on his face.

Sarah kept running, even as she heard the sound of thunder, and saw rain-clouds beginning to gather. She kept running as it began to rain.

But she ran too fast, and skidded on the now wet cement of the sidewalk. She could feel the bones in her leg snap, as she fell to the ground.

Groaning, she looked up as she saw lights flickering from some blurry image in front of her. As her eyes finally focused, she saw…

She was right in front of Mika's house. Sarah dragged herself up the driveway, opening the gothic looking gates, and ignoring the small stones the driveway was made of, as they scraped her clothes and bit into her skin. She ignored the steady rainfall, and the sheer magnitude of pain she was in from her most certainly broken leg.

She dragged herself until she came to the door. With her last ounce of strength she ran the doorbell, and collapsed, letting the blackness of unconsciousness envelop her exhausted form.

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Meanwhile, as all this was happening, Mika and Toby were still at home.

Mika was finishing up her painting of Toby, adding a few final touches. Toby was still on the floor, playing with some blocks.

Mika could feel the air changing, and looked out the window to see it was starting to get story. She hoped Sarah would be home soon, she didn't want her to get pneumonia or anything.

"Mika, when will Sarah be back?" asked Toby, who spoke remarkably well for his age. Mika sat down by him, ruffling his blonde hair.

"She'll be back soon Toby dear." Mika said. "Don't worry."

But Mika herself was starting to worry, and decided if Sarah wasn't back in five minutes, she would go out to look for her.

Mika didn't have a chance to do so, though, as several Goblins appeared in her living room.

"What the…" Mika cried, as they started for Toby. Mika grabbed Toby in one arm, and snatched a long wooden staff from two brackets on the wall. The staff was made of strong solid wood, and was polished to a sheen. It had symbols on it, and it had two white feathers on the top, tied there by leather thongs stringed with beads. It was tall, at least five feet.

Mika set Toby down behind her, and brandished the staff, swinging it once above her head with an expert air.

"Listen you little disgusting creatures, stay away from us, before I am forced to hurt you!" Said Mika. But the Goblins ignored her words.

"Stay behind me, Toby." Mika said, as the Goblins got closer. Mika swung the staff, and hit the first one square across the chest. It flew against the wall. The other two attacked at once, and Mika smacked them both on the jaw, swinging first one way, then the other. She waited tensely as they all seemed to be unconscious, making sure there were no others. She turned around as she heard Toby yell, and saw a smaller Goblin close to him. Toby grabbed a small wooden totem pole off of a nearby table, and whacked the Goblin on the head.

Mika and Toby high-fived as the Goblins disappeared.

"What were those, Mika?" Asked Toby.

"I don't know…but whatever they were, they sure were strange." Said Mika, setting the staff down. She heard the doorbell ring, and hurried towards the door. She opened the door warily.

Slumped on the ground, soaking wet and unconscious was Sarah!

Mika grabbed her friend under an arm, and grabbed her legs, hoisting her up. Mika buckled slightly, but was able to carry Sarah to the couch. She could see Sarah shivering in her sleep, and quickly changed her into warm flannel pajamas. Having seen the long bruise on Sarah's leg, and feeling it, she could tell it was probably sprained, if not broken, so she bandaged it as best she could. Poor Toby had fallen asleep during all the excitement, so she carried the little guy to his bed, and grabbed a blanket from the linen closet for Sarah.

She stopped before entering the living room again, when she heard a voice.

A voice that definitely wasn't Sarah's.

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Jareth had finally been able to track Sarah down through a crystal. Of course, this was after he had finally gotten over the shock of her running away.

He appeared in the house, looking around. It was more interesting than most human dwellings, with all its exotic artifacts. He saw Sarah on a couch, and he rushed to her side. She looked pale, but her cheeks were flushed with fever, and her one bandaged leg was swollen. Whose house this was, why Sarah was here, and how she had been put in dry clothes and bandaged didn't matter to Jareth at the moment. What mattered was Sarah was hurt, and it was his fault.

"I'm so sorry, Sarah." He said, taking one of her hands into his. "I am such an idiot, surprising you as I did. I will make it up to you, somehow."

Jareth jumped slightly as he felt something wooden pressed against the back of his neck. He heard a female voice, with a faint hint of an accent.

"I do not know who you are, and if you had anything to do with those…creatures, that were here earlier. But I do know if you do not get away from my friend I will snap your neck quicker than you can blink."

Jareth backed away slowly from Sarah, as the wood was still pressed against his neck. He quickly spun, and grabbed for the wooden staff held by the redheaded girl. He got his hands on it, but before he could do anything the girl jabbed his stomach with it, making his let go and double over in pain.

"Who are you?" she asked, still fiercely holding the wooden staff.

Jareth decided to go with the truth. "I am Jareth, The Goblin King."

"So that's what those creatures were…" the girl said. "So why are you here, Monsieur Goblin King?"

Jareth tried to think of something. "I am…an old acquaintance of Sarah's. I was simply here to say Hello, but I'm afraid my Goblins mis-interpreted what I said."

"Uh huh…" said the girl, as if she was not sure whether to believe him or not. "Listen…'Goblin King', I don't have time for this, Sarah's leg is possibly broken, and she's maybe got pneumonia. So leave, before I am forced to remove you forcefully from my house."

"I can help." Said Jareth, a plan forming in his head. "Sarah can heal much more quickly in the Underground…where I'm from…than one of your hospitals. Let her come with me, and I will help her."

The girl looked torn, as if unsure again whether to believe him or not. But Jareth knew she didn't have a choice.

"Only if Toby and I can come too." She said. Jareth nodded.

"Terms accepted. Now just say 'I wish the Goblin King would take us away, right now'."

The girl took a deep breath, looking once to Sarah. "I wish the Goblin King would take us away…right now."

The four in the house disappeared.

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Phew, what a stopping point! I swear though, if anybody throws anything, I will not be happy. Comprende? Good. Anyhow, hope you enjoyed this chapter, and remember…

"Please leave a contribution in the little review box"

Emerald, The Lady Destiny a.k.a. Emmy-chan