Chapter 17. . .I guess. More or less. And do you think that I'm jumping around a little too much? I mean, like going from one scene to another? I'm a bit confused about that. Please give me opinions!

Oh, and a random poll:

How many of you guys think Jareth wears too much spandex in the movie? It's disturbing if you ask me. . .So, just fyi, in this fic he DOES NOT wear spandex, capiche?

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"What is it?" Bryan asked. He apparently hadn't noticed the change.

Sarah didn't answer; she just stood there gawking at him. Oh Jareth. . . She thought, what have you done?!

"Why the look?" Scratching his head self-consciously, Bryan fidgeted under her gaze.

"Hang on a second." Sarah rooted around the now-bright-as-day cave for any sort of reflective object. She tossed aside several rocks and lots of dirt, but could find nothing. Sighing, she slid to the floor.

"What're you looking for?"

"Something shiny. You need to see yourself."

Suddenly, his blue eyes grew suspicious. "Why?"

"Well. . .Let's just say you're in for it."

"That doesn't tell me anything!" He exclaimed. "What is it? Was I turned into a goblin?" This last was said sarcastically, but with a slight tremor.

Sarah wouldn't look at him. Instead, she occupied herself with a fallen piece of slate that had come off the wall.

"I mean, my hands look the same," he muttered to himself, flipping them so he could see both sides. "And I don't feel shorter. . ."

"Not all goblins are short, Bryan. Just look at Jareth!"

Slowly, he looked up at her. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

She nodded.

"OH GOD!" He shouted. "I've been turned into a goblin?!"

Another nod.

"No, no, no, no, no. . ." he moaned, sinking to the floor.

Sarah scooted over to sit next to him, putting her arm around his shoulders. "Shh. . .It's ok. We'll get Jareth to change you back."

"And how do you plan to do that?!" He screamed, making her jump and pull her hands back into her lap. "If Jareth changed me, what makes you think he'll change me back?!"

"I. . .don't know," she finished lamely. "But we can try."

Bryan's now long blond hair swung heavily in front of his bowed head. "It will never work."

"You never know!"

He snickered. "Now you sound like Mr. Hindenburg. Always a stupid optimist."

She stared at him. "And that's supposed to mean what?"

"It's supposed to mean 'will you just shut up and let me think'?!"

Shocked, she fell silent. Bryan never acts like this! She thought fervently. What if being a goblin changes your personality too. . .?

"Why would it?" Bryan asked.

"Wha. . .what?"

"You were wondering if being a goblin affected personalities." He looked at her out of the corner of his eye, bristling with annoyance. "And I asked why."

"B-but I didn't say it out loud!"

He simply snorted and looked down at the ground again, ignoring her.

Sarah pointedly looked away from him as well, once again picking at the slate beneath her. Fine. If that's the way you're gonna be. . .

Minutes turned into hours as the two sat in silence. Sarah wondered vaguely if Bryan had fallen asleep. She sneaked a glance at him.

He sat beside her, staring intently into his open palm. She could barely see beads of sweat forming on his brow as he concentrated. What's he doing? Craning her neck, she stretched to try to find some clue, but could find none. So she sat back and waited.

A half an hour dragged by. Finally she could stand it no longer.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

He didn't answer immediately. Then, painfully slow in her opinion, he tore his attention away from his hand and looked at her.

"I saw Jareth create a magic crystal out of no where," he answered. "I was thinking it could get us out of here. But how the he** do I do that?!"

Sarah shrugged helplessly. "I have no idea."

Disgusted, he turned his gaze back to his palm. "I'll figure it out."

Sure. Sure you will.

Another fifteen minutes passed, leaving Bryan with nothing but frustration. Eventually, he clenched his fist and pounded it against the ground. "NOTHING!" He screamed. "I WISH SOMETHING WOULD WORK FOR ONCE AROUND THIS PLACE!"

Abruptly, a crystal fell from out of no where and clonked him on the head. Swearing, he picked it up, then cut off immediately when he realized what it was.

"I. . .I did it!"

Sarah looked up excitedly. "You did?! Great!"

"Now how do I use it?"

She slumped back again. "Don't ask me."

After a minute's thought, Bryan spoke out on a hunch. "Show me. . .something that can help us."

They both leaned forward as an image swam into view inside the crystal. As it sharpened, Sarah gasped in recognition.

Hoggle and Didymus were coming through the passageway that led right to the oubliette.

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Yeah, this one was kinda slow too. The next chapter MIGHT have some Lindsay/Dragon in it. . .Just tell me who you'd like to hear about!