Maritra, the Underground's oldest resident, was waiting for Jareth, as he knew the little girl would be. She looked like she belonged in a school yard skipping rope, until she turned those old, old eyes on you. Old or not, they were clear as a gazing pond, all shades of blue and green mingling and bright.

Jareth knelt before the seer, waiting for her to acknowledge him, knowing she would delay to prick his pride.

But not as long as he imagined it would be.

"Goblin King," she trilled. "You have a problem."

"Yes, Lady."

"Oh get up- that's got to hurt."

He rose gracefully.

"What is it?"

"I thought you knew," he said, not liking one bit how often he was feeling at sea.

"Yes, I know, but do you - you can't solve a problem you can't define."

Jareth sighed. The wise could be so frustrating. "Do you know about the wished away boy?"

Or must I repeat all that?

"No, you don't have to tell me all about Toby. Cute kid, if I was the age I look, maybe.." she laughed.

"His sister- Sarah," even Jareth heard the way his tone softened on her name. "When I offered her her dreams, it appeared that she defied me still, she said those words.."

"You have no power over me?" the seer giggled.

He nodded with a shudder. "The winds that would blow her and him back to their world roared through, and when they stopped, the child was gone, but she lay still before me. I took her, healed her, and I love her. "

"Took- Jareth you didn't!"

"Not like that, never would I take advantage- and what happened to the knowing most all?"

"Most- and I do not peek!" she sounded so infuriated and young, it was almost humorous.

"We have been happy for a week now, and so I felt her well enough for guests, so went to find Hog-gle and the others. Hoggle had this story of another Sarah who rejected her friends. I saw the truth, but the truth is also, Sarah is in ou- my home, already half fey or more. And the sage is spouting prophecy that I never heard."

Maritra nodded. "Well put, Goblin King. You know what your problem is."

"No I really don't. I don't know if one is false, if both are- if my Sarah is being hurt if she's real..." Anger overwhelmed him, and he smashed a wall in it.

Maritra was unimpressed. "Your Sarah is fine. She is where she belongs, according to the sage's words and to what is real. "

"The other is a simulation?"

Her eyes were sad. "She is the part of Sarah that Sarah rejected. For you. For herself."

Not certain what to make of this, Jareth tested a theory or two aloud. "Sarah has a half soul?"

The wisewoman shook her head.

"One of them is what- a shell? She cloned herself?"

Sighing, deeply, the girl/woman motioned for him to sit. "Sarah knew she had a duty to Toby- but her love of you is - it makes her heart beat. Without that, she- her purpose of being created was her role with you. " Her hands waved in frustration. "You were sliding into darkness and despair- something a king such as you are to be can not be, which is why the prophecy was hidden from you. She lit the darkness for you, yes? " He nodded, though it was not necessary. "The duty interfered with her purpose, so in that moment when she had so much power, she wished to be able to fulfill duty and destiny. That sliver of her that wanted to be obedient went to what she called home until you came into her life. That was the moment when all her dreams and screams collided, became one and she became two. The one you have- when you gave her the truth and life, you began to restore what was lost. She will become much as she was, but not conflicted. No more masquerade balls in her mind. You are giving her a new duty. She won't run around like the doctor or the foolish captain."

"Who?"

"Legends of her former world. People who split themselves in two- the scribes never got it right. " The old one sighed. "Sometimes the science of the mundane and science that is magic collide- the genius minds of the worlds see those points, and ponder the what if they ever happend- and the what if happens so rarely it is little more than some dream or myth. Possible worlds exist for a moment, one choice will slay one world, one choice will bring another to life. When Sarah had her moment, she found a way that can never again be to rescue she the she that she would be from the dying world and send it to her old life to live while she truly lived - with you. "

For a split second, her words made perfect sense, but when Jareth tried to nail down the truth he apprehended it flitted away.

"Your head will explode, Goblin King. Somethings can not be held to comprehension. " The girl looked to a distant spot. "Yet, such a pity what life the other Sarah will live. It has no purpose since she walked away."

He was being called on to say something, so Jareth said it, softly. "But doesn't she?"

The ancient child smiled.