Author's Note; Well. Here it is. My Forbidden Game/Labyrinth Crossover. Relax. Read. Enjoy. Review. :D
Alive.
It was as if everything came rushing back, all at once. Every memory, every emotion, every victory, every game. As the lifeforce rushed on, sending electricity throughout his entire entity, Julian realized one thing -- He was alive.
Quickly, Julian changed from his shadow form -- merely vapor and a pair of extraordinarily blue eyes -- into his human body once more. The smooth skin felt like a worn glove and he grinned when a lock of frost-white hair fell into his line of vision. But that wasn't the only thing in his line of vision -- There was a man with beauty to rival his own standing directly in front of him. Julian felt his lip curl in recognition. "Jareth," he began, the name spilling from his lips as easily as if it were his own, "Was it you then?"
The tall, slender King of the Goblins, a gorgeous fae with hair as white as Julian's, though much longer and more unruly, smiled a sardonic grin. "Yes, Julian, it was I. I bargained with your elders. I found a life to trade for your's to earn their approval. I myself carved your name back onto the runestave. So it was I who brought you back to life. And, frankly, I'm quite exhausted after all my hard work."
Julian returned the grin. "Really, and to what do I owe for your generosity?"
"Simple, really. There is something I want. Better yet, someone. I've tried with all my power and cunning to bring the mortal girl to me. I offered her her dreams. I changed time for her. I even went as far to turn the world upside down if only to earn her love. And it failed. She once told me 'You have no power over me', and she's correct. I can't get her to leave Aboveground and come live with me Underground by myself -- she's convinced herself that all my actions were erected out of cruelty and not love. Therefore, I have forced myself to come to you for help. Unfortunately, I broke the barriers between the worlds, leaving the Underground for your Shadow World only to find that you, Julian, the only one who understood what it was like for one of our kinds to fall in love with a mortal girl, had paid the ultimate price of your love by giving your life over a month before. I was most displeased when I heard of your fate, but I took it upon myself to bring you back. And now I have -- and I need your help."
Julian half-listened to Jareth speak, interested in hearing about everything that happened once his name had been removed from the runestave, but breathing a sigh of relief that it had only been such a short while since he had been dead. Well, he couldn't really say he had been dead -- a thing that has never been born could never be dead. Julian preferred to think of it as being erased. "Jareth, firstly I would have to say that I owe you my existance for re-carving my name. But, I must admit that I am still rather confused what your need for me is. Our styles are very different. You offered your love her dreams, I forced my Jenny," he paused for a moment as the warmth he felt when he dared to utter her name flooded his body, "to face her nightmares. You tried to convince her to stay with you in the Underground by offering her gifts and listening to her fantasies. I aimed to make Jenny mine through force and cruelty once she turned down my proclamations of love, which I made quite clear. Did you, Jareth, ever once tell her of your love?"
Jareth's eyes flashed for a moment at Julian's question. "Was not my love made clear time and time again? I did everything I could for Sarah and she refused it. What more could I have done?"
"Maybe said 'I love you'."
"One would think that you would show more respect to me now that I have brought you back from the dead, Julian," Jareth snarled, whirling around so that his back was to Julian, his cloak whirling around his thin frame as he did so.
"Jareth, I know of your power and your rule over those cretins you call goblins, but remember one thing: I am a shadowman and I respect no one," Julian acknowledged, appearing right in front of Jareth. "Now, I am all for helping you as I would care to repay my debt to you, but could you make this a little quicker? It's been so long since I've caught a mere glimpse of my Jenny, and I must say I am starved for the site of her." Julian smirked to himself, imagining the lovely face of his beloved, hair like liquid amber framing a golden face, while innocence twinkled in her cypress eyes. "Jenny," he murmured quietly to himself, itching to lurk in her shadows once more and catch just a simple glimpse of her before announcing his presence again.
"Julian."
Jareth's elegant, yet cold, voice broke up Julian's thoughts at once. "Yes, Jareth?"
"I have a proposition to make for you. We both have the same problem -- and undying love for a mortal girl who doesn't feel the same. We both brought them to our own worlds and put them to a test. Both Sarah and Jenny passed their tests -- your Jenny beating you at your games three separate times. But I have come to a realization. What if we help each other out? With my help, you can use the labyrinth to make Jenny your bride. In return, I would like to convince Sarah, with your help, that only I can make her happy."
"I like the idea of it, Jareth, but how would you--"
Jareth held up his right hand. "Julian, leave it to me. I will take care of everything, just like I took care of you. All I need is your promise that no matter what happens, you will help me to win Sarah. In return, I will do anything in my power to bring your Jenny to you."
Julian thought about it for a second -- If he thought about it Julian had to admit to himself that he had lost three times to Jenny, her determination winning over his obsession everytime. This fae standing in front of him had given him another chance at winning Jenny, and was even offering his help. And all he wanted in return was for Julian to do what Julian did best: play a game. Julian felt a genuine grin come to his face. "You have a deal, Jareth."
