Author's notes: *Whimpers from behind a corner* Please don't kill me. I know I haven't updated in forever. Yaarrrgghhhhhh!!!! My Bad!!! Anyway, read and enjoy the next chapter.

*~*~*

Chapter 5.

"How much longer is this thing?"

Homer asked for the umpteenth time. He, Hoggle and Bart had been walking for what seemed like hours. In reality it had only been fifteen minutes.

"Hey, cram it Homer. It was your idea in the first place. Hoggle was going to take us up the ladder, but Nooooo, you wanted to follow the murderous, knife-wielding killing machine."

Bart was getting a little irritated. They all heard a loud rumble that shook the walls of the tunnel.

"And would you stop doing that." Bart screamed. "I know you're hungry. And now, thanks to your stomach's constant rumbling, so am I. But where are we going to find food around here?"

It had been a long time since they'd had breakfast that day. The tunnel that they were traversing seemed unending. There wasn't any sunlight to indicate that they were approaching the end. They only source of light they had came from the glitter that seemed to cover not only the walls and floors, but also the ceiling of the tunnel.

"Oh, how did I end up like this?"

Homer, who felt he had been quiet for too long, started wailing again.

"I don't know how, but somehow this is all Jesus McChurchy's fault."

Hoggle looked questiongly at Bart.

"Our next door neighbor."

Homer continued on as if he had been uninterrupted.

"I mean, look at him with his perfect children. Always praying, always spic and span clean. Bah, I hate them. That Flanders is such a bad influence on Marge. It's by watching him that she wants us to be such a perfect family. I mean the only thing that I did wrong was forgetting about my exceptionally smart daughter's educational event that could quite possibly determine her future. I mean any 'normal' father could've made that mistake, right."

"You're right Homer." Bart called out and then muttered under his breath "You lousy excuse for a parent."

They continued to make their way down the tunnel.

*~*~*

Up in his castle, Jareth was looking through his crystal at the progress the Simpson family was making. He was frowning slightly. It would've been better if they had taken the ladder. The path they were set on would lead them towards the castle much faster. It was time to make some interferences and have another talk with Hoggle.

Jareth took a look at Maggie. She was watching some goblins chase a chicken around the throne room, and clapping loudly. He nodded in her direction and disappeared in a shower of glitter.

*~*~*

As they walked further down the tunnel, they failed to notice that it was not only getting darker, but also narrower.

Homer kept mumbling incoherently and Bart had his head bowed. Which is why they didn't notice when they tunnel became so dark that they could hardly see the hands in front of their faces. Unbeknownst to them, they came upon a turn, from where the tunnel separated into three different directions. Homer and Bart then successfully walked right past and entered through two different openings. Not even realizing that they had separated, they continued to make their way deeper and deeper into the darkened path.

Hoggle had entered through the third opening. In his case, he didn't notice where he was going because he had kept looking around himself in fears that something would jump out at him or that he would fall through an unseen opening.

After walking for a while, he noticed the lack of chatter coming from his companions. He came to his senses and realized that he had lost them few ways back. He groaned out loud and turned around in hopes of catching up to them.

As soon as he turned around, he took a step back and nearly lost his footing. For Jareth was standing right there in all his Goblin King splendor.

"So, Hedgewart. You decided to tag along and help them out, did you?" Jareth stated, looking down at him.

Hoggle, who used to cower in Jareth's presence, had gained some strong nerves ever since he met Sarah. He stood up straight in front of Jareth.

"You damn right I's did. I likes them folks. They may cause a bit o' trouble for Hoggle, but them's hearts in the right place."

"Hmm, Hoggle, you finally learned to stand up for yourself, huh. But unfortunately, you'll be unable to help your friends at the moment."

Jareth said smiling evilly.

"What d' you mean? What'd you do to them?"

Jareth gave a small chuckle.

"Oh, I just sent them down a little passageway. 'The Path of Temptation'. I believe you are familiar with that."

Hoggle made a horrified face.

"You didn't. They could be lost in there forever."

"I most certainly did. Now we'll just have to wait and see what happens next. Oh, and in case they manage to get themselves out of there, which I highly doubt, I want you to give them this."

Jareth held out a plain wooden box, which he produced out of thin air.

"In here you'll find things that will be most enticing to them. And no, it won't poison them, just put them in a deep sleep."

He thrust the box in Hoggle's hand.

"And what makes you think I'm gonna do yer dirty work." Hoggle asked defiantly.

"Hmm, lets see. Because I am still the master of this labyrinth. Because I'm your King. And because I will string you up by your stumpy little toes and dunk you head first into the bog of eternal stench. That's why I think you'll do my dirty work."

Hoggle whimpered helplessly.

"Now then. I'll take you to the end of the tunnel. Where they would emerge, if ever, and you will give them that."

Hoggle didn't utter a word, merely nodded his head solemnly.

A few second later, both of them disappeared from the scene. A faint shower of glitter was the only indication that they Goblin King was ever there.

*~*~*

The path of Temptation. The place, through which, when one walks they would see things that would tempt them to forget about their quest. And if not careful, the person could be lost in their false fantasy forever.

Although it was the place that would make you forget about your quest, Jareth had made it so he wouldn't be completely unfair. There would be signs and clues given to the traveler about their quest. Only if they were keen enough to pick up on them, would enable them to leave the tunnel. Otherwise they would be forever lost in the made up reality.

Now, only their strong will and their desire to get Maggie back, would help them out of the prediction they had fallen in.

*~*~*

"Stupid Flanders. Always messing things up. God I hate him."

Homer kept muttering those phrases under his breath.

Before he could notice his company missing, the scenery around him shimmered and changed. Now, instead of walking down the darkened tunnel, he had walked into Moe's Tavern.

"One beer please, Moe. I'm not having a good day."

Homer said and sat down on the stool.

"Uh, here ya go Homer. And its.uh.on the house."

Moe said as he placed the large mug in front of Homer. Homer looked up disbelievingly.

"Really!! That's great!"

"Uh..yeah. And tell ya what, I'm gonna rip up your bar tab too. Seeing as how you're my best customer and all that."

Moe said, ripping up a rather large piece of paper.

"Wow, Moe. That's like a dream come true."

Homer said smiling widely. He turned towards Barney who was drinking as usual.

"Isn't it great Barney?"

In answer, Barney burped loudly right on Homer's face. But instead of the usual crude sound, his burp sounded suspiciously like "Maggie".

"Eewww gross, Barn."

Homer said, batting the air in front of his face.

"O.K I'll be heading home now." Homer said getting up.

"Oh here Homer. Here's one for the road. On the house."

Homer gulped down the large, frothy mug and stepped outside into a bright sunny day.

He got into his car and started for home. He turned the knob on the radio. He turned to F.M. radio and a song started blaring on the speakers.

"Oh Maggie. You came and you saw and..." (1)

"Yuck, I hate this song."

He turned to A.M. radio.

"And in other news, Jared King has been arrested for kidnapping babies from Springfield and Shelbyville areas. He was apprehended yesterday by the brave cop Hoggle the Dwarf."

At that point, Homer looked at the radio.

"Huh?!"

"...by the brave cop, Harold Dorff."

"Oh, good for him."

Upon arriving home he turned off the radio and parked his car in the garage. When he stepped outside, he sniffed the air.

"sniff..sniff..what is that wonderful smell? Sniff..sniff..smells like.roasted chicken..steak..spaghetti with meatballs.sniff..sniff.. and do I dare hope, home-made donunts!"

By the time he had reached front door, Homer's shirt was wet in the front with all the drool that was dribbling down his chin. When he entered, his eyes widened to the size of dinner plates.

There was food all over the place. Every kind of food imaginable was stacked on the coffee table, on the mantle, on top of the tv, and on the sofa. When he walked into the kitchen, he found more food displayed on the counters, on the dining table and on top of the fridge. Homer found Marge wearing an apron and glazing the ham roasting in the oven, and there was food being cooked on the stoves.

Marge walked up to Homer and kissed him on the cheeks.

"Hi Homey, are you hungry? I bet you are. Why don't you start with this steak here."

Homer had been rendered speechless, and nodded his head dumbly at his wife. Marge placed a plate with a large T. Bone steak in front of him.

"And you don't even have to eat your vegetables, Homey. Better yet, why don't you eat your dessert along with the entrée?"

Marge walked over to the fridge and extracted a plate with a 3-layered cake on top. She placed the cake in front of Homer, who in an eating frenzy, failed to notice that the cake was shaped strangely like a pacifier.

He was practically in tears by now. He picked up a spoon and a fork and attacked the food with gusto. After the steak and cake, he tackled roast chicken and pudding. After that pork chops with a side of honey-glazed ribs and a banana split.

He was scarfing down Bar B Q chicken wings when Lisa walked in.

"Hi Dad. Look, I won another Nobel Peace Prize. This time for my research in the areas of science. And its all thanks to you because you are my greatest inspiration." She said beaming up at him.

"Oh honey, Daddy is so proud of you."

Homer gave her head a messy bar b q sauce kiss.

Lisa walked out and Bart walked in. He was dressed in neat slacks and a crisp white shirt, and his hair was combed nicely.

"Hey Dad. Look, my SAT score came in. And I got a 1500 on them. I am really ashamed of myself that I couldn't get 1600."

Bart bowed his head.

"That's ok son. Your mother and I still love you, despite your horrible marks."

Homer said patting his head.

"See Marge. My kids are much smarter than Jesus La Femme's. Won't he be jealous when I rub it in his face, he he he he he."

Homer said, giggling madly.

"Oh Homer, you know you can't do that. Remember last week, Ned's home was crushed by a meteor. He was dead on the spot. A real shame though."

"Oh damn, I lost my chance for gloating. Stupid Flanders, always putting a damper on my happiness."

In a blink of an eye, the whole scenery changed. Now he was sitting on his seat in sector 17 G of the Nuclear Power Plant.

"Simpson!"

Homer whimpered and turned around to see Mr. Burns and Mr. Smithers standing there.

"I am here to congratulate you on a job well done. You are a great asset to the power plant and you're the employ of the month. Oh and here's your Christmas bonus. I know it's a bit early, but with the hell."

Mr. Burns handed him a white, thick envelope. Homer accepted the envelope with a large smile.

"Thank you sir, I try my hardest to keep the plant safe."

"Hmm, you're right Simpson. You do deserve a promotion. Oh yeah, I know, you can have Smither's job."

Burns said thoughtfully and turned towards Smithers.

"Oh and by the way Smithers, you're fired."

Smithers gave a loud yell and fell to his knees.

"NOOOO!!! I have been beaten by the best. Damn you Homer Simpson, damn you!!"

Smithers was lead away, screaming and kicking, by two large burly guys. Both of whom had pacifier in their mouths and were suckling on them making the same noise as that of Maggie.

"So, Simpson, go and take your new office. And while you're at it, here, they will serve as your slaves from now on."

Burns said, shoving Lenny and Carl in Homer's direction.

Homer put his fingers together and smiled mischievously.

"Excellent!!"

In the next instant, Homer was seen riding a one man carriage, holding a leather whip. His carriage was being pulled by Lenny and Carl. He was bringing the whip down on them from time to time.

"Faster slave.whip..faster!!"

"Ouch..hey cut it out Homer..yarrrgh..that hurts!" screamed Lenny.

"Yeah...yowch..we used to be your friends." Yelled Carl.

"Quiet you. Take me to my new office..whip..Faster I say."

Whip cracking continued, followed by the painful screaming from his friends/slaves.

The scene changed once again and Homer was once again standing at his front door. He scratched his head.

"Huh"

He shrugged his shoulders and stepped inside.

"Marge!! Kids!!! Where are you guys? You will never believe what happened in the office today?"

There was no answer.

"Huh, where is everybody?"

He went into the living room and stopped dead in his tracks.

"Huzzahh Whattt??!"

There stood Patty and Selma, dressed in French maid's outfits and each holding a feather duster in her hands. There fat, hairy legs were exposed up to upper thighs for the whole world to see.

"Hiya Homer." Patty said in a low deep voice.

"How can we serve you?" Selma spoke, batting her eyelashes.

"Hey!! What are you hags doing here in my home dressed like French whores?" Homer asked, his voice raising a little.

"Oh Homer," Selma giggled. "We love it when you cal us names like that."

"Yeah." Patty said walking up to him. "Why don't you lay down on your stomach and we'll give you a long, slow sensual massage."

She said running her hands over Homer's shoulders and back. Selma also walked up to him.

"Yeah, you look to tense Homer." She said bending down a little in front of him, her cleavage spilling out of her overly tight outfit.

Homer bent his head, took a deep breath, then looked up towards the ceiling and screamed at the top of his lungs.

"NOOOO!!!!! This CANNOT be happening! Somebody get me out of here!"

Homer was running around in circles, rubbing his eyes and screaming like a banshee. Unknown to him, the scene around him blurred and disappeared, and was replaced with the stony walls of the tunnels. But this time, instead of the pitch black darkness, it was bright and sunny. For Homer was standing just a few feet away from the entrance.

He looked up and ran out towards the opening. Outside, Hoggle was sitting down with his back propped against a large boulder.

Homer fell on the ground and picked up a large, pointy rock.

"Oh dear eyes. How you been horribly defiled. I must put you out of your misery."

Homer was just about to shove the rock in his left eye when a scream stopped his movement.

Bart was running out from another opening in the tunnel, screaming at the top of his lungs.

*~*~*

TBC.

1. Remember this song that Homer sings about his coworker Mindy, "Oh Mindy". I can't really remember all the lyrics, so I just winged it _

Author's notes: Wanna know what happened with Bart, leave a review ^_^ Anyway, I just wanna let you guys know how much your reviews are appreciated. And not to worry, the next chapter is under production. I'll put it up as soon as I finish typing it up. Love you guys, bye ^_^