A/N: Alrighty. So, my piano has sticky keys! That is one reason why this has taken me a little longer to spit out. I couldn't play music to find my story! Anyway, this isn't the last chapter, but I think the next one will be. Please enjoy!

Oh! And Shavaineth! You may want that Kleenex handy!

Chapter 25

And the Strings Snap

Jareth would not have thought it possible to be attacked during transportation; he had never allowed the thought to enter his mind, but as he neared Mayair, cold, icy hands grasped his neck and pulled him into the world. It was an onslaught that he was not prepared for. The hands tightly squeezed any air from his lungs and helped in producing spots before his eyes. It took a moment for his thoughts to focus and to actually acknowledge the attack, but when he did, he countered. In an outburst of energy, the hands were thrown from him and he was left to blink away the dots dancing in his sight to see his attacker. She stood, not far from him, lips in a sneer, black eyes unblinking, raven hair dropping to the floor. It was the spitting image of his mother, but it was not she, for he could see the true Temnestra on the sidelines, where, he noticed, she was accompanied by Addoyn. With a sigh, Jareth understood. This was his fight, his fight alone. He took a deep breath as the curse concentrated on a glowing orb in an outstretched hand. He was tired, he was tired and exhausted, but he would fight.

"Are you going to just watch?" Temnestra asked as Addoyn appeared beside her. His worry was allowing the lines of age to show, his skin had become pale, he looked old and that thought brought a smile to her lips.

"No," replied Addoyn wearily, "I've come to keep an eye on you; this should be a fair fight."

She turned to him, shock apparent on her face. "Fairness, Addoyn? Really." She scowled and half watched as a ball of energy raced towards her son; she turned her head before she saw the consequences and met Addoyn's blue eyes. "What fairness? I have been destined," she spat the word, "to be destroyed by my only son, how is that fair?"

Addoyn's eyes softened and he pushed a strand of hair away from Temnestra's narrow face, "You always were selfish." He grinned as she glared but made no move to back away, "Who says this has anything to do with you?"

"I do." She replied haughtily.

"Ah, yes, but you see, Love, that is where you are wrong." He grasped her arms tightly and spun her around so she would face her son's destruction. "Is that what you want? Is that what you really want?" He felt her nod, but she did not voice her opinion and he sighed. This woman, this selfish, beautiful, insane woman held their destinies in the palm of her hand, and she was bent upon twisting the paths to fit her desire. That was never how it was to be, she was to allow the paths to form naturally, not clutch them to her and warp the destinations. "Temnestra, let go." She fought his hold suddenly, but he pressed her against him, "This is enough. Jareth will never bring himself to destroy you, and I cannot allow you to destroy him," he growled at her, "You've done enough damage to last both our lifetimes." As have I, he thought to himself.

She pushed away and spun to face him, thankful for the distraction as Jareth was stuck solidly in the chest with an extensive amount of energy. "I should not stop, Addoyn, and you have no power over what I can and cannot do, not anymore." A smile crossed his lips, a strange smile that made her flinch. She was afraid of him, she had never been afraid of him in her life, but right now, as he looked at her with that smile, and that certain glint in his eyes, she was afraid. "What are you going to do, Addoyn?"

"Something I should not have to do in this lifetime, but you," he said pointing at her, his white hand exposed from the black robes that matched his wife's, "you are determined to force my hand, and so I shall act." He paused as her eyes widened and her lips parted; she was afraid and he was glad for it. A grunt behind him made him turn his gaze from his cowering wife and focus on the battle waging behind him.

Jareth fought the curse. He was deflecting each blow, countering every spell, but he was not winning. He was merely holding it off. Addoyn realized with a sad sigh that Jareth, the powerful Goblin King, just did not have the strength to fight a fully empowered curse whose abilities were amplified by the very powerful and very warped Temnestra. The world slowed as Jareth slumped to the ground with another grunt. Nothing was as it should be. Addoyn had also peered into the future when the Prophicae was brought to them, but he had not seen this. He had seen Jareth in full power, on a High crown in a shining castle of white and rainbows. He would have been a great king. A new determination came over him and he tightened his fists: Jareth will be a great king.

No more thoughts came, no more regrets, no more hesitations, he turned lightning fast and spun towards Temnestra, whose eyes were glimmering as she watched the curse physically attack Jareth. She did not see Addoyn approach her, for he was just a blur of motion, and she did not see the blade in his hands until it was too late. The blade sliced through her robes and pressed through her skin and pierced her chest. She gasped lightly and fell to the floor, but was caught as Addoyn, hand still wrapped around the hilt, eased her down.

An ear piercing shriek shattered the silence and the doppelganger's form recoiled away from a wide eyed Jareth and appeared above Temnestra's limp body. The doppelganger clawed the air, her physical form diminishing as the extra power was drained from her as the blood drained from the host's body. Jareth followed with his eyes and with a small struggle, for his body had been badly battered; he stumbled over to where his mother lay bleeding. "What have you done, Addoyn?"

"Shh…" Addoyn hushed his son and bent down to where Temnestra's lips were moving, trying to speak. Her face was contorted and she tried to writhe under his hold, but the blade was through her, catching on the marble beneath her. Addoyn lowered his head to her mouth trying to catch her words.

"Have I done extreme wrong?" she breathed. The harsh look in her gaze was replaced by a pleading one; it begged to be understood.

"No Love, not for you," was Addoyn's response and he brushed his lips against her own. The woman looking scared at him now was not the same Temnestra that stood a few minutes ago gleeful at the idea of her son being destroyed. A sureness had strengthened her gaze; sanity had seeped in again and she looked a little lost at the predicament she had placed herself in. The doppelganger screamed again and Temnestra moved her eyes, sluggishly above her, "I did that, though, didn't I?" Addoyn nodded and Temnestra closed her eyes and convulsed. It took so much energy holding their destinies along this path, but this was not the path she saw. Addoyn had tricked her; had altered their paths again. She was about to accuse him so, but her heart shuddered and she was overcome by pain. It would not be long before she could not support her own life, should she even bother with theirs? "Addoyn?" She needed his advice, needed his support, and needed his love. She realized her son was there, she saw his eyes shining at her, but she turned away from him. "Addoyn?" Her sight was fading, her ears were ringing and she was feeling lightheaded from the pain.

Addoyn clutched her tight. Temnestra may have been destroying them all, he should for all reasons hate the woman, but spending centuries with her very different he could not leave her to die alone, especially as his hand was covered in her blood. "Just let go, Temnestra." Her eyes sparkled at him, but they were fading in and out. She was very pale now and her breathing came out in gasps as she fought for air. Tears began to trickle down her cheeks.

"Everything will be alright?" She asked weakly as she watched the curse scream again in frustration. Addoyn nodded, "Yes, it will all go away," he told her with a smile. Temnestra forgot herself; she forgot this selfish and power starved creature she had become, she even forgot what had prompted her to become such; all she saw was blue eyes of a man she had known for so long, so long and each time he was near her it was hard to breathe. With a small nod she released the spell that had tethered their paths along her path, a path she had chosen without anyone's consent. A small sob escaped her lips as Addoyn twisted the blade into her heart.

Jareth saw the small flick of wrist, the sickening twist of the blade, and he watched as the curse dissipated as a breeze breaks apart the fog. The screaming continued for a few seconds and those awful eyes bore straight through him, but eventually it faded and left only them; a very broken sort of family. Jareth lowered his gaze as his father, who had finally earned the title, cradled the lifeless body of his mother. He was kissing her face and smoothing her hair and whispering words to her that Jareth could not and did not wish to hear. Addoyn tore the blade out of her and threw it across the room, mindless of the stains it was leaving on the marble floors. It landed very close to Sarah's body and Jareth shuddered and approached Addoyn. "And how is this all to end?"

Temnestra's body began to shimmer, in and out, and Addoyn watched as a streak of light shot out from her body and through the ceiling, and though he could not see it, he knew she had found a new home in the heavens. A few seconds past, and her body vanished, leaving him with a bloody hand and a wretched look in his eyes. He hoped she would look down on them fondly. There was humming around them, all around them brightness of light, and Jareth found himself standing very close to his father, a little in awe, and a little frightened. Addoyn rested a hand on Jareth's shoulder and looked him straight in the eyes. "She has released us all from our destinies, Jareth. Do not hate her for that." The room began to swim in the warm light and Jareth grasped Addoyn's arm. "And what shall happen, Addoyn?" He asked again.

Addoyn just laughed as the humming intensified and the white began to sting his eyes, "Jareth, would you know all the endings in the world?" He laughed again and motioned to the now spinning room, "This is our paths snapping back, trying to find a common ground. They were held captive for so long." He paused a second before looking far off, a strange sadness in his blue eyes, "How will this end, Jareth? I'm not sure, all I know is this is only one ending, and time is bending for us now, and she has done that for you." Jareth wanted to argue, he wanted to stay a moment longer, but the warm light soothed his fears and covered him in such an embrace that he seemed to forget everything. He closed his eyes and dreamed he saw a smiling brunette with dazzling green eyes that met his own. Would he see her again? The thought of being alive without her tore at his heart and he silently prayed death would take him rather than wake alone.

At first it was small splashes of light that teased his senses. With each spark he turned to follow the light, but it vanished before his eyes, but if he focused on nothing he could see the colors swirling around him; solidifying into shapes. He could feel the ground beneath his booted feet, he could hear a stream in the distance, he could feel the air upon his face and smell amazing things and in a blink his world came into focus. He was standing before a large fortress wall that spun off in either direction as far as the eye could see before bending inwards. He could see forms up on high, but could not see them clearly, and as he was looking up his breath caught in his throat. The sky was blue; a crystal clear vibrant shade of blue with clouds that danced across the warm sun. Was this real? Somehow a blue sky seemed foreign to his eyes. He brought his hand forward and squeezed it experimentally. He could feel, he could see, he could smell and hear, and he could remember. It flooded back to him; his mother, his father, his Sarah, his Labyrinth, even his ridiculous goblins, it came to him, but did not linger and he was left thinking it was a dream, a ridiculous dream, for he was no Goblin King. He was Jareth, High King.

A small laugh rang through his ears and he turned away from the walls. There, sitting languidly on a rock, sat a beautiful woman trailing her fingers through the rushing waters and playing with the small fish that nibbled at her fingertips. Her black hair fell down her back and cascaded to the soft green grass at her feet and a few strands dipped lazily on the blue waters. She was wearing a soft, white gown with billowing sleeves that were also getting wet, but she just smiled, her green eyes twinkling, and turned her head slightly, the sun glinting off her silver crown.

He approached her, "I think I dreamed of you last night," he said softly. Her eyes widened, "Really? What did you dream?" She asked with true curiosity. Jareth shook his head and caressed her cheek, "I'm not sure…I'm not sure I want to remember, either." She frowned as a dark shadow crossed her love's face and she brought her hand up and brushed it against his face. He smiled softly and kissed her palm as it passed by his lips.

"If it was so disagreeable, then let us forget it Jareth." She sounded so strong, his Sarah was so strong, and yet, he felt he had lost her only a few moments ago, and yet, a few minutes ago she had remained sleeping in his, no their bed. He was confused and grabbed her tightly, lifting her from the rock and clutching her tightly to his chest. It confused her, no doubt, but he was confused too, there were too many images spinning in his head, images of her drowning, images of her crying out to him, and he not being able to save her. He held her tightly burying his face in her hair; ignoring the small protest she made. He needed her close; needed her to be near him.

"The memories will fade, in time." came a crisp voice that Jareth recognized. He snapped his gaze up and looked straight upon a man that he bore some resemblance to. Addoyn stood, hands clasped at back, brown robes swaying slightly in the breeze. He smiled at them, a true smile, but it did not touch his eyes. He did not look on them long, but instead turned his gaze towards the city behind the walls. "This is your kingdom, Jareth, do you understand?" Jareth shook his head and Addoyn sighed, "You have found your path; that is all that matters."

Sarah pushed lightly against Jareth, and he released her, knowing she would fight if he did not grant her freedom. She took a small step towards the familiar man in brown robes, confusion echoing in her shining eyes, "Addoyn?" She asked tentatively with a hand outstretched, like she was questioning a ghost. Her memories came back, but she fought against them, fought against them hard. She had never been Jareth's enemy; she had loved him the moment she had laid eyes on him; she was his queen, his love…had she died? She felt light-headed and the world gave a sickening lurch as she lost her footing, but strong hands held her tight and she clutched to his white shirt, pendant resting against her head. "This is all just a bad dream, right? A hallucination?" she asked aloud.

"Eventually, that is all it will be, Sarah. Just a dream," Addoyn nodded and straightened his back. He felt so old; he was old, and he truly did not belong in this reality, but he had grabbed at his chance to speak to them again, and now he was here, in their world; a world that he must leave eventually. He walked to his son and smiled. "It was just a bad dream, Jareth." He leaned down to Sarah, who was hiding her face. "Go and look upon your kingdom," he stood and gestured towards the white walls before them. "It truly is wonderful." He wished to linger there with them, for a few moments at least and just drink in the sight of them. Jareth was holding her tightly to his chest, his blonde hair falling around his face and down his shoulders and stray strands wisped about in the breeze, his silver crown was also glistening in the sun, and Addoyn smiled. The son had his kingdom, the mother had his love, and he was obsolete. A bitter smile crossed his features and he turned away from them. He would not interfere again; it was no longer his world.

Together they watched him turn and walk away from them. They did not try to stop him, did not make any move towards the elder man, for one fact was undeniable: Addoyn, as he had appeared before them, did not belong in their world. Sarah clutched to Jareth tightly a moment longer and then stood straight, gaze focused on the walls before her. Her head was held eye, she was sure of herself as she approached the gates, followed closely by Jareth. As they neared, she heard voices shouting from above, "Open the gates for the King and Queen!" Before her eyes, two white walls opened and she was momentarily blinded as the sun reflected off the white brilliance.

She stood in awe. It was a city, a bustling city with merchants pulling carts and pushing mules. People were walking to and fro, in and out of solid shops, laughing and talking amongst themselves, but always pausing and acknowledging their presence by a small bow and a "Morning Highnesses" as if their presence in the city was of no surprise. And Sarah could believe that as she stepped into the city, suddenly surrounded by the throngs of people. Smiling and waving to her, bowing here and there and holding out their wares, "Try this, Highness, it is the softest silk in the world" "No Highness, you must smell these fragrances, they are truly the grandest". A small trace of smugness found its way into her mind and she thought satisfactory, if she wanted any of these things she could command them to give them to her, and they would obey without question. It was a wonderful sensation, but it frightened her and she turned suddenly, looking for her King. She found him leaning against a booth, talking with a small man with plants that lined the shelf. Turning her head away, her eyes fell upon a large castle a short distance away from them. The castle was white and sparkled in the early morn sun. The towers rose straight, striving for the sky, and her eyes lingered upon the tallest tower, a window with a ledge rested up there. It was not as if she could see the ledge, but she knew it was there, for she had sat up on that ledge several times in her life, looking at Mayair. The word washed upon her and she smiled, this was her home, her Mayair. She wished to be next Jareth, but as she turned he was there, smiling brilliantly. He was devastatingly handsome this morning, dressed in all white. He seemed ethereal as the breeze caught his hair and the soft fabrics of his shirt and pants. It was hard not to stare, but he held a small pot out to her and she curiously accepted it.

There was a small flower planted in the rich, brown soil and she looked up to Jareth expectantly. He gave her a smile and shrugged, "It is suppose to bloom a radiate green to match your eyes, or so that man says," he shrugged again, "I was curious to see the accuracy in such an account, for I think nothing can compare." It was sweet, and she smiled brightly up at him, but she knew he was being serious and without a second thought she brought her free hand to him and pulled him close in a kiss. With a laugh, she pulled away, "Come, Love, let's see what else the market holds for us today." Jareth laughed and placed her arm over his and they walked through the crowds, heads held high, thoughts about a different time and a different place fading as the sun reached high into the cerulean sky.

A/N: Let's here what you think…I may have left some things unanswered, if you have questions, please tell me and I will TRY to explain in the next chapter, for it's going to tie some loose strings anyway. But if I have to think too hard on it I may just ignore it ;) Now, time for thanks:

Moonjava: Thank you again

Morrigana: Let's see, I did this chapter for you, to show my gratitude for satisfying my thirst for GSTK. And actually, I hadn't planned on killing her. After I wrote it I screamed at myself, but it was too good to change it!

Shavaineth: Would you believe me if I told you I have no intentions of telling all of their secrets? Hmm…maybe I will eventually write a prequel…

Lady of the Labyrinth: Sheesh! Ease up on my heroine!

Jumping-jo: and what do you think of her now?

Theshadowcat: Did I meet your expectations, Kitty?

Satta: well? Is this how you pictured it?