. Friends to the rescue

Hoggle was standing by a table in his little hut. He was mixing up a new batch of faerie spray when he saw a bubble floating by his window. "Bah." He snorted. "What's that rat, Jareth, up to now?" he put his spraying can down and opened the door. The bubble just floated near his eyes.

"I heard that, Hog brain." The Goblin King's voice bellowed as his face appeared within the clear sphere.

The dwarf jumped up and placed his hands on his hat. "Your Majesty!" He said in a happy voice as though he acted like this was a nice surprise. "What an honor to see you once again."

"Stop the brown nosing, you coward." Jareth replied as he let out a smug look. "Sarah has returned." Then his face disappeared and Sarah appeared. She was sleeping on his bed.

Hoggle's eyes narrowed, "What did you do to her?"

"I did nothing what so ever." Jareth answered him as his face rematerialized and smiled. "She wants to see you and the others. Come to the castle in the morning." Then his face disappeared and the bubble popped.

Hoggle didn't know what to think as he scratched his forehead. He blinked his eyes a few times and shrugged. "Guess it will be better to find Ludo and Sir Didymus." He closed the door and took out a key. He locked it and set off to find the others.



Jareth let a small yawn go on his face. It was getting late for him. He stood up from his throne and headed to the stairs. He stopped and snapped his gloved fingers.

A guard wearing spikes all over his armor ran in. He almost tripped on his own feet. "Yes, Sire?" He squeaked out and bowed deeply. He fell over.

Jareth sighed and waited for the goblin to get up. "As soon as Lady Sarah's friends arrive at the gates, summon me."

The Goblin blinked and replied quickly, "Yes, Your Highness." Then he bowed again and fell over again.

"Get some lighter armor, you idiot." The King of the Goblins replied as he rolled his eyes. He went down the stairs. He made his way back to his chambers. He gave the same orders to the guards at his door and went in.

He smiled as he peered over to the sleeping Sarah. He crossed his arms over his chest. This is a feast for the eyes, he thought, I've been waiting for this for three years. Quietly, he walked toward her and looked over to the sphere. It was light purple. He lowered his arms as leaned over her. She was covered up to her chest and one arm was resting by her right side. He gently picked her hand up and nuzzled it with his cheek. He watched to see if she moved and set it back down. Sarah was breathing deeply as he placed his hands on the bed. He leaned in and lightly kissed her on the forehead. He was about to kiss her on the lips, but decided against it. He thought she might wake up and slap him. He smiled at that thought and backed away from her.

He waved his arms and instantly his outfit changed. He now wore a deep green robe. He was thinking lying beside her, but thought he might be pushing it. I have plenty of time to make my moves, he thought. He flicked his right hand and crystal showed up out of thin air. He placed it down gently on the floor and a long couch appeared. It matched everything else, of course. He lied down, as he looked one more time over to Sarah. Then he closed his eyes and let out a small smile as he drifted away.

Hoggle reached Sir Didymus's new home. He and Ludo talked into moving out of the Bog of Eternal Stench. They had a hard time doing that too. The fox moved to a big tree not far from the castle. He saw Ludo resting outside the door. "Didymus!" Called out the dwarf.

Sir Didymus poked his head out of a hole in the tree. "Who's calling?" He looked down and saw his old friend. "Hoggle, what brings you here so late?"

Ludo opened his eyes and smiled. "Hoggle. Friend." He rose to his big feet and gave Hoggle a hug.

"Put me down!" Hoggle shouted. "Put me down!"

The beast replied quickly, "Sorry, Hoggle." He gently put the dwarf down on the ground.

"I have something important to tell you." Said Hoggle as he backed away from Ludo. He dusted himself off and looked up at Didymus.

Didymus cocked his head. "Well, what is it, ole friend?"

"Sarah is in Jareth's castle," he said.

Didymus and Ludo looked at each other. The fox asked, "Did he capture her?"

Hoggle shrugged, "I don't know. Jareth sent me a message and showed Sarah asleep in a bed."

The fox jumped down and landed by his feet. "He must have found a way back into her world and slipped a sleeping spell on her. We must go to the castle at once and fight to the death to save her."

"Must find Sarah." Ludo added.

Didymus whistled. "Ambrosis, come here." The sheep dog popped his head over a bush and then came out. The little fox jumped on him. "We must go at once." He kicked the dog in the sides. "Tally ho!"

Ambrosis reared on his hind legs and ran off toward the castle as Ludo and Hoggle looked at each other. "I swear that fox is going to get himself killed one of these days." Hoggle said as he followed him.

"Brother, wait." Ludo called after him.

It was almost morning when the misfit gang arrived at the gates of the Goblin City. As always, Didymus was ready for any action. He jumped off Ambrosis and knocked on the gate. "Let us in you fiends!" He yelled out. "You have no right to keep us out." He went over to the sleeping guard and knocked him in the head. "Let us in, you nuts and bolts. I will fight you to the death if we are not let in soon."

Hoggle rolled his eye and sighed, "Here we go again."

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Sarah woke up with her faced buried into a pillow. She raised her head and said out loud, "Oh, it must have been a dream."

"The dream hasn't ended yet, my dear." Jareth answered.

She jerked her head to the sound of his voice. He was sitting at the table pouring a glass of juice for him. She saw that he was wearing a green robe. She shifted her eyes over to the other side of the bed and saw that he didn't sleep there. Then she stared at the couch and nodded slowly.

"Did you sleep well?" He asked as he poured a glass for her. He set the pitcher down and looked up over to the crystal. It was again light pink and he smiled. He changed his expression on his face as Sarah looked back to him.

She let out a small smile, "To be honest, I did." She sat up slowly and stretched her arms over her head. "That was really the best sleep I had in years." Sarah looked over to the table and saw all sorts of food. It was the biggest breakfast bar she ever laid her eyes on.

Jareth took a piece of bread and set it on his plate. "I'm glad to hear it." He stood up and then pulled a chair out across from where he sat. "Please, do join me." He motioned his hand over to the chair. "You must be starving."

Sarah hesitated a little. Last time she ate something in this world, her head was spinning and she drifted into a dream. She decided since she was stuck for now, that the food should be safe. Her stomach let out a small growl and she looked down. She blushed, "I guess I am then." Sarah stood up as Jareth held out his hand. She took it into hers. It felt so warm and inviting. She was surprised at that.

He smiled at her as she sat down. He pushed her chair gently and sat back down. "It's nice to have a pretty face to look at while eating, for a change." He told her truthfully. "Far better than looking at these drably walls and goblins."

Sarah looked down at the table. There were all sorts of fruit and nuts in the center. Three types of bread at every corner. A small ham was at Jareth's end of the table. She gently grabbed a piece of bread and set it down on her plate. She noticed that the plates were deep red. She took an apple and then some almonds as she placed a napkin on her lap. She has forgotten that Jareth was watching her as she began to nibble on the almonds. She looked up at him and blushed again, "What?"

A smug look brushed on his face, "Nothing. You have better manners than these crooks of mine." He bit a piece of bread off and watched her grab the glass. His eyes peered over to the crystal again. The pink shade was now growing deeper.

They ate together in silence for a while and then there was a pounding sound at the door. Jareth stood up quickly and waved for the door to open. "What is it?" He asked.

The goblin with the spiky armor was standing there. This time he changed the armor to no spikes, but the hat was the same and heavy. "Sire, the dwarf and the others are at the gate."

"Let them in and have them escorted to my throne room at once." The Goblin King ordered.

Sarah stood up as she threw her napkin down on her plate. "Hoggle and the others are here." She started to head over to the bathroom to change when she heard Jareth's voice.

"Stop." He said as the main door closed. "Where are you going?"

She played with her fingers and replied slowly, "I wanted to change back into my clothes."

Jareth placed his hands on his hips. "Those will not do. They are filthy." He waved his hands and the robe that he wore disappeared in a second. Then he was fully dressed. He wore a white shirt as his necklace dangled from his neck. A pair of blue pants with black leather boots and coat. He placed his palms together and a crystal appeared. He rolled it in his hands and said, "Why don't you wear this?" He threw it on the bed and it became a blue box with a ribbon on the top. Then he headed to the door and left her alone as he smiled to himself.

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"Open up, I say!" Yelled Didymus and then the gate opened. He jumped back and climbed on Ambrosis' back. "It's about time."

A pair of guards appeared and said in unison, "The King would like you to join him in his throne room."

Hoggle raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like a trap."

"Find Sarah." Ludo said as he looked down at Hoggle and then Didymus.

Didymus nodded once and looked down at the ground. Then he looked up at the castle. "What choice do we have?" He winked at them and yelled, "Charge!" He kicked the dog's sides and off they all ran toward the castle gate. They knocked goblins down if they were in their way.

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Sarah looked over to the box and sighed, "What does he have up his sleeve now?" She went over to it and opened it. She found a black shirt with bell sleeves, a pair of blue pants and black leather boots. She shrugged and put her socks back on. Then she went to the bathroom and found her bra. She ran back to the main room as she put it on. She sat down and pulled on the pants and boots. She stood up and put the shirt on. She headed over the mirror and looked at herself. The shirt was a v-neck and showed some cleavage. There was a brooch nestled in the center. She noticed it was Jareth's symbol. She smiled to herself and twirled around as she looked at every angle. She ran by the crystal as it turned another deeper shade of pink. She rang the bell and the door opened.

One of the guards came in, "Yes, Your Ladyship?" He bowed his head.

"I want to go to the throne room." She said as she twirled her hair around her finger. Behind her, the food disappeared; the bed made itself and the room was like as she entered.

"At once, my Lady." He bowed again and led her away.

Hoggle followed Didymus up the stairs and entered the throne room. He was panting so hard. He felt like he was going to have a heart attack. He placed his hand on his chest.

Didymus yelled, "Where is Sarah?"

Jareth was sitting on his throne as he looked at them. He turned his head as Sarah entered the room and smiled. She looks perfect, he thought to himself. Her outfit matched his.

"I'm here, Sir Didymus." She said as she walked over to Jareth and then smiled at them.

They all dropped their jaws as Jareth stood beside her. Hoggle's mind was racing as well as his heart. "Sarah?"