The Author's Many Notes:

Disclaimer: Nope, I don't own The Labyrinth. I own a paper crane. I made it in math class.

Daemon Faerie Queen : :P Supposedly, according to people at my school, a pimp slap is a back hand slap. Lol, go figure. Any way, about the plot, much more is to be revealed this chapter.

Belladona: ^_^ I'm happy you like it!

Jessie Deal: That is my favourite part as well, fancy that.

Robyn Maddison: Thanks, o first reviewer!

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Chapter Two

Sarah looked around, outraged. She had not wished her self away, or anyone else for that matter, though Greg would fit the bill for someone she wanted to get rid of at the moment if she was foolish enough to do so. Which at the moment she wasn't. So, according to the rules she should not be here. Suddenly, a quite obvious realization struck her. She wasn't in the Labyrinth. She was in a computer game that mocked the Labyrinth. She could tell that by the cheap graphics. Again, something that was supposedly impossible was happening. She was in a clearing, albeit a beaten down one, with a forest encroaching around the rim, but they were not the dark dank forests of the Labyrinth but rather happy looking ones. Obviously, some one had taken some poetic license to the Labyrinth. Jareth, if he had heard of it, would not have been happy.
"Now.what do I do?" Sarah wondered aloud, wishing she brought the instruction booklet with her. But as she spoke, the computerized Hoggle appeared with a burst of 0's and 1's (in green and black like the Matrix, Sarah noted with desultory nod.) He was dressed like an expensive accountant, though an expensive accountant from around possibly colonial times. He had gilded spectacles, which obviously ment there had been some shift in power in the underground if this was actually a real projection of the physical Hoggle. Sarah thought it was. He also carried a clip board with a pen.

"Sarah! Hello, haven't seen you in a while." HE took a step toward her, and held out his hand. Sarah shook in.

"Er, nice to see you to, Hoggle," She released his grip. "So, why am I here, exactly? I thought this was a computer game."

Hoggle tried to lower his glasses either to look intelligent or as if he was confiding in her a secret. He accomplished neither.
" It's actually quite clever. This is just a computerized projection of you, just as this is a projection of me," Sarah gave him a look that prompted him to get to the point. "Anyway, now that you are in you can't get out. You have to play the game until either you lose or you die." Sarah looked at first dismayed but then her eyes glinted with triumph. "Suicide, however, is not an option." Sarah's face fell.

If I'm stuck here, I might as well go off knowing what I am supposed to do.

"Okay Hoggle, what am I supposed to do? Like, the point of the game and stuff."

Hoggle finished jotting down a note on his clipboard. He looked up at her.

"You are to have your pick of a multitude of companions. You may pick three out of the selection presented to you. The objective of the game is to reach the Goblin Palace,"

Oh, where have I heard *that* before.

"Once you get there you will face down the Goblin King, Jareth."

Been there, done that.

" However you do not travel through the Labyrinth to get to the palace. Somebody posted directions on Mapquest, so we can't do that anymore."

Sarah flushed, but luckily Hoggle missed it.

"You follow a magical thread that takes you to the palace. Along the way you will meet other dwellers of the Labyrinth. The knowledge they pass on to you may or may not help you. If you are successful you will be awarded a magical talent that will affect you in the real world."

Sarah hitched up her jeans. So far, so good. Get companions, follow thread, beat Jareth, get talent. Easy enough, but there had to be a catch. Always was, other wise someone was really retarded.

"So what's the catch-22?"

"Catch-22, catch-22, oh yes, the fault or trick of the game. Yes, there is one."

Sarah resisted from saying "Duh" in a loud obnoxious way.

"Well, of your three chosen companions, one is unfaithful and will eventually betray you. It is in your best interest to find out this traitor before you reach the castle, because if they haven't betrayed you already, the will to be sure betray you then."

Sarah gulped. That was one unexpected catch, something to deep or crafty for Hoggle and something Jareth could come up with. Yup, definitely Jareth, which would make this game infinitly harder. Sarah decided that she should get the most information out of Hoggle.

"How will I know who is the traitor?" To her disappointment, Hoggle just shrugged uncommittedly. Sarah let out a sigh tinged with exasperation. All she wanted to do was to get on with the game.

"Can I see the possible companions, Hoggle?"

Broken out of his short reverie Hoggle muttered something and then, poof! A small screen appeared, separated into thirteen different sections. Each space was filled with a face. There was Sir Didimus, Hoggle himself, and Ludo filling up the first three. About to choose them with out considering the other ones, Sarah paused. Jareth would most likely expect her to take these three, so why not choose other ones? Plus, I would rather be betrayed by someone I don't know than a friend. Retracting her finger from the screen, she scanned over the other possibilities.
Tell a Tale - A green, tiny pixie who could speak to spiders and conjure lettuce.
Katalat - A gigantic ocelot.
Mongo - An oddly-coloured Orge.
Neemo and Finch - The wife and husband worms Sarah had met on her first adventure.
Gurr - A female goblin, who by the looks of it, was one tough cinnamon roll.
Tim - A warlock.
KoriKori - A red jelly monster. The next creature was a sludge creature from the Bog of Eternal Stench. Not gonna happen. She quickly skipped over that one and continued to the last two companions.

Ashe - A blonde, well endowed mermaid. Sarah eyes her with distaste, while Tim the Warlock, eyed her as well. Ashe blushed and Sarah passed her, disgusted. Finally there was as little golden finch who was a singing quite fetchingly. With out thinking, Sarah picked the bird as her first companion. Shoot, I cant do that again. I need companions with good abilities.
Sarah once more looked over the other companions , sizing up their abilities. Finally she decided on Tell A Tale the Pixie and to her surprise, Gurr the goblin. All three materialized together. Suddenly, Hoggle and the peaceful scenery disappeared. They were in the dank Labyrinth forest Sarah remembered, with only a glowing crimson thread to guide them.

This'll put a dapper on things.

A/N: Sarah's thoughts should be in Italics.