Disclaimer: Labyrinth is copy righted by a whole hell of a lot of people, none of them are me. I am simply using their characters to further the ends of my reckless imagination. That said, I will commence with the understanding that no one will sue me.

Author's note: This is going to start some time before the movie, several years in fact, with a younger Jareth and a much younger Sarah. You may not recognize the underground realm yet, but that's because Jareth hasn't come into his reign. If the reviews for the first chapter are good, I'll write some more.

Italicized indicates thought

Beyond the Labyrinth

Chapter One

The ball had barely begun and yet all the faces blurred together, forming a laughing, loud mass of glitter and jewels. Elvin eyes, fairy's gossamer wings, stolid dwarves, elegant centaurs, unicorns...the list went on and on...and was boring the young prince to no end. Jareth understood why his father, king of the underworld faerie kingdom, had to be there, but enforcing his presence was unbearable! He would much rather be out in the countryside riding than entertaining the foolish coquettes that were now flocking to him. Yet here prince Jareth stood, stiffly, next to his father in the grand courtyard, smiling politely at each new name, each new title, that paraded by. He stifled a yawn with an elegantly gloved hand and wished to be elsewhere, anywhere, but here.

Behind the prince, a handsome gnome in royal livery stood. He was the princes' companion...and therefore also required to attend. As Jareth yawned, so did young Hoggle. He knew none of the flighty ladies would even glance at him with the prince there, robust teenager that he was. There would be no enjoyment out of the ball for him; he would be waiting on a very bored and irate prince. Sighing, Hoggle shifted his weight from foot to foot and glanced at the clock...it was far to long until the thirteenth hour.

* * * *

The ball was, as Jareth predicted, a headache. Each woman had tried her wiles on the young prince, and failed miserably. How was he to tell his father that none of the women had caught his eye...again? How could he explain that the glitter and glamour of the myriad balls and fetes simply caused him to revile company of any kind? In truth, being the only child of a mother long dead and too beloved to replace was annoying. His father would lecture him on duty to the realm, would hint at unknown horrors if the bloodline should falter...but he would sigh in the end and arrange another party or ball. It was enough to drive any man mad, much less a royal one. Jareth stalked down the hall towards the family apartments, prepping himself for the argument to come.

Hoggle bowed and scraped before the royal ladies of the court, offering Jareth's apologies for such an abrupt leave taking. None of these fancies caught his eye eh? He thought to himself as the lovelies pouted and simpered at him. What is wrong with the boy? He is surely not addle witted, and he does like the ladies...Why can't he simply choose one and have done with it? The apologies delivered, he hurried down the hallway after the Jareth, eager to speak with him.

* * * *

Jareth bonelessly collapsed on his divan, letting magical, unseen servants comb out his hair and fuss over him. He much preferred these simple servants to any of the people out in the courtyard. At least they did not chatter at him about inane and boring subjects while ignoring his pointed attempts at leave taking. The door opened and Jareth lifted his head a bit, ready to lash anyone who disturbed him. He relaxed when he realized it was Hoggle. "Come to drag me back into the beast market friend Hoggle?" He called.

"No milord, I was jes wonderin if ye wanted to talk 'bout anythin..." Hoggle let his statement trail off as he saw Jareth's face.

"Talk talk talk, chatter! That is all that was accomplished tonight Hoggle! Not a single intelligent thing was said. Mother moon, how I wish to find just one captivating, intelligent, amusing woman!"

Hoggle hopped up to the divan and started helping Jareth with his boots. "I know milord. Every woman in all Fae seems to be overblown in charms, but lackin in both intelligence and wits. Even your dear mum wasn't much for brains. Why can't ye accept the fact and jes pick one? It's not as if we expect you te love her or nuthin..."

"I know Hoggle, but I just can't be that...shallow."

"But yer father says that if you aren't married by the time he dies then all the powers of Fae will come to you... All of 'em, even the ones meant for a Queen. It'll drive ye mad!"

"I can handle madness Hoggle, if it means I would have the power to find myself a Queen of my choosing...hmmm...perhaps a test of sorts? And you are right, no one in Fae will do, I might have to go above ground. Snatchlings and changelings no longer abound, but I am sure some still hold by the old ways. Hmmm." Jareth stared up at the ceiling, contemplating the future.

Hoggle sighed and finished unlacing Jareth's boots. The kid is going right insane already...there will be dark times ahead for us all. "Time for bed milord?"

"In a moment Hoggle. Please bring me a crystal. I would look upon the mortal world and see what it has to offer..."

"As you wish milord."

* * * *

Jareth stared, entranced, at the scenes that moved before his eyes. Their world is so different from ours, so...uniform. In the scene, a little girl was sitting outside on a bench; a horrendously hairy dog curled at her feet. She seemed to be reading a book. Intrigued, Jareth changed the view to see over her shoulder. It was an old fairy tale, about the goblin king, which had been the mortal name for the king of the Fae in darker times...it was called "The Labyrinth" Jareth chuckled low in his throat and crowed in delight. "A labyrinth! Yes, it is perfect!" Smiling he stood and prepared for bed.

Hoggle started at Jareth's slightly sinister laughter. This boy may follow the dark ways of the Fae powers...Gods preserve us.

* * * * * *

So, whatcha think? Good start? Bad start? Intriguing? Boring? Let me know!