Return to the Labyrinth Chapter 5, a Labyrinth + Pirates of the Caribbean Crossover fanfic

Chapter 5

Jareth was frustrated. He had stepped into the Labyrinth thinking it would be a piece of cake. That Jezebel had underestimated him. In truth, he had underestimated Jezebel. After going around in circles, getting chased by his own guards, and then seeming to go nowhere near the castle, Jareth had to admit that Jezebel had allowed him to think this was going to be easy. But it was proving rather difficult. After realizing he had just gone in yet another circle, he cursed himself for not studying the patterns of the Labyrinth's pathways when he was younger, and decided to step into this little clearing within the Labyrinth. And a curious sight met his eyes. A tall man with long dark brown hair way past his shoulders braided and woven into beads and dreadlocks tied back with a red bandanna and a leather tricorn. His clothes were faded and homespun and his tan leather boots flopped down nearly to his feet. Around his slim waist was a faded red and white striped sash with a pistol tucked into it alongside his sheath that held an old cutlass. The man was as tanned as Jareth was fair skinned. Jareth quirked an eyebrow when he saw the man's dark brown eyes lined with kohl and his crooked lopsided golden grin.

"Finally! I've been stuck here for ages!" lied Jack. Jareth folded his arms.

"Really?"

"Aye! Turned into a dead end all around it did!" slurred the man as through drunk. The man with limp wrists sashayed over to Jareth and flopped an arm around his shoulder.

"Listen mate. What say we get out of this god forsaken spot aye?" said Jack. Jareth eyed him and said,

"Certainly Mr...?" questioned Jareth. Jack beamed with hung over pride.

"Captain Jack Sparrow, if you please!" said Jack. Jareth nodded and said,

"Jareth. Pleasure to meet you." Then he shook Jack's arm off and headed out the other exit. Surprised he wasn't there anymore, Jack looked around before sloppingly running after him. As they weaved throughout the Labyrinth, Jack rambled on,

"So you be Jezzy's brother aye? Bet you're steamed she'd pulled one over on you, aye? Say what say we team up and pull one over on her? I'm sure you'd like to get back to your throne and your crown and your scepter and your kingly robes. And of course you'll be wanting to get back to your girl the queen I wager!" Jareth endured Jack elbowing him and giving him a suggestive wink.

"I have no wife." said Jareth tensely.

"Ah! So a little maid upstairs aye?" questioned Jack. Jareth smirked,

"Unless I have become attracted to Goblins in the last five minutes, then no." Jack looked puzzled.

"Well if you got no girls around here sides your lovely sister, then how do ye expect to produce an heir apparent?" asked Jack.

"Faes can live for thousands of years. So I'm not dying of old age anytime soon." said Jareth turning around a corner. Jack shrugged,

"That's good. So then I take it you shall be wanting to join up with me to beat the Labyrinth, then?" Jareth stopped.

"First of all, the only way Jezebel will let me have my kingdom back, is if I beat the two opponents and that includes you. Second, you might as well drop the drunken fool act..." Jack's face fell with this. "...For I already know you are neither drunk nor a fool. Though I do have to admit. If Jezebel hadn't already told me about you, I might have bought your charade top dollar." Jack straighten up and said in a very sober voice,

"Well I guess there's no pulling the wool over your eyes then aye?"

"No I don't think so. I'm sorry I spoiled your attempt to trick me." said Jareth smiling sarcastically. Jack shook his head.

"Ah don't give it another thought, Savvy?...Why, I was just saying to MISS SARAH..." emphasized Jack. Now it was Jareth's turn to have his face fall.

"What?"

"Miss Sarah Williams. Lovely woman. Little naive, little too trusting, but she more than makes up for it with that bum of hers!" joked Jack. Jareth grabbed a surprised Jack by the shirt collar and growled,

"If you so much as laid a HAND on her!" Jack held up his hands,

"Steady Mate! All I did was leave her pretty face in a dead end, Savvy?" Jareth looked within himself and growled,

"Jezebel! I'm going to kill you!" Then he shook Jack and said,

"Where is she?"

"I wouldn't be doing that Mate. Less you want a bit of me blade...Savvy?" growled Jack in return. Matching his dangerous tone, Jareth said,

"Where?" Jack shot daggers at Jareth before replying coolly,

"Around the place you found me." Jareth released Jack and went back the way he came.

"Your Majesty!" called Jack. Jareth spun to face him.

"Yes?" Jack grinned,

"That wool ain't to hot now is it?" Fuming Jareth didn't honor Jack with a response before continuing on his way, praying that the Labyrinth hadn't changed that much within the last few minutes. Jack brushed his hands as if taking dust off and proceeded to continue through the Labyrinth.

Meanwhile, watching the scene through a crystal, Jezebel and the goblins grinned wildly.

"By Merlin, he did it! He picked up on me using Sarah to get to Jareth!" laughed Jezebel watching the pirate in awe. The goblins laughed.

"That'll show 'em!" yelled a goblin with a long, wart covered nose.

"Who's the big king now?" laughed another.

"Remember guys, we're only PRETENDING I took over ok?" reminded Jezebel. The goblins groaned.

"Yeah, yeah!"

"Sure! Sure!"

"Right!"

"Sarah safe?" questioned Ludo. Jezebel reached up from her seat on Jareth's throne and scratched the beast's ears.

"Oh course! But I'll send the Tunnelers to fetch her alright?" she said as Ludo nodded in agreement.

"But Highness! I thought you wanted Jareth to have contact with Milady Sarah?" asked Sir Didymus.

"I do. But as our dashing pirate captain would say, "We must wait for the opportune moment!" said Jezebel using a spell to speak in Jack's voice. The goblins laughed again. Jezebel joined their laughter before saying,

"Meanwhile, why don't we have ourselves a little party?" asked Jezebel playfully. The goblins nodded excitingly. For there are two things a goblin loves to do. Cause mischief and throw parties. Suddenly music filled the room and Jezebel stood up, dancing around the room and singing with the goblins singing along.

'Hey!

Ready for the big time, ready for the small
Whatever's comin' to me, I'll be ready for it all
Sometimes it ain't easy, sometimes its not polite
Some days I don't get it, some days I get it right

Meanwhile, Jareth frantically searched the Labyrinth for Sarah, calling out her name.

It's in my heart, it's in my head
That's what I said

Jezebel began to dance around with the goblins.

Hey Boys are you ready for the shock
I'm living proof, that girls can rock
Spread the news around every single block
Hey boys, the girl can rock

Standin' in the spotlight workin' up a sweat

Givin' all I got and lovin' what I get
I can't hold back what i feel inside
and if i make you nervous, you better stop aside

Jack looked around at the sky as he heard the music coming from the castle.

"Well, at least someone is having a good time!" he said.

It's in my heart, it's in my head
That's what I said

Jezebel began to lift the goblins into the air by magic exciting them greatly.

Hey Boys are you ready for the shock
I'm living proof, that girls can rock
Spread the news around every single block
Hey boys, the girl can rock

The girl can rock
Don't say maybe or call me 'baby'
I ain't crazy at aaaallllllll! Ah--ha--aaalll!

Sarah had sat down ready to give up. She had screamed for help and no one came. She was about to tear up again, when she heard a low scraping sound. Coming from out of the ground, was a little goblin that could have been mistaken for a little man if not for his squashed up face and protruding nose. The bald creature said,

"Well? Do you want how of here? Or do you want to wait for a flying aardvark?"

"How?" Sarah questioned. The goblin put his fingers up to his teeth and whistled. Soon the stone tiles of the Labyrinth floor began to scrape away leaving a hole big enough for Sarah to climb down into. Sarah laughed as the little creature led her below.

It's in my heart, it's in my head
That's what I said

Hey Boys are you ready for the shock

Jezebel began to produce lighting bolts out of her hands, frying the goblins tails.
I'm living proof, that girls can rock
Spread the new around every single block
Hey boys, the girl can rock

I'm gonna live it up
I'll never give it up
I'm gonna spread the news around the block
It ain't no shock...the girl can rock

Yeah, Rock!' Finished Jezebel as the Goblins began to laugh uproariously. She looked at the clock and said to herself,

"Sigh! Enjoy it while you can Jez. Because in ten hours and four minutes, Jareth will either be toasting you for a jest well played, or dipping you headfirst in the Bog of Eternal Stench!"

&&&

Sarah soon found herself in a little underground city bright with electric lights and curious little goblins. The ceiling was very high so Sarah found no need to crotch anymore. At this point she felt like Godzilla attacking Tokyo with everyone pointing at her and whispering or as in the more nervous types, screaming.

"Who are all of you?" asked Sarah in wonder. The little man guiding her answered,

"We are the Tunnelers. We built the Oubliettes, and we make sure the Labyrinth walls move around properly."

"How far am I in the Labyrinth?" asked Sarah.

"Ah, you ain't even halfway yet!" said the little man. Just then, a bunch of goblin men drove past them in a tinker toy wagon and deposited little newspapers on the ground. As she passed, Sarah read,

"'SHE WHO MUST NOT BE NAMED RETURNS TO THE LABYRINTH'...Is that talking about me?" she asked.

"Aye, news travels fast around this place!" said the little man. Sarah scoffed,

"Let me guess. Jareth's ego didn't want anyone to remind him of who beat him?"

"No his broken heart did." replied the goblin man. Sarah was surprised at this but she didn't say anything. Finally, they reached the edge of the city and came to a ladder her size.

"Here you are then! This leads up into the Oubliette! Just follow it awhile until you find another ladder." said the little man. Sarah smiled down at him.

"Thank you all! I'm sorry if I've caused any disturbance." she said politely. The man waved her off.

"Think nothing of it!"

"I didn't catch your name?" asked Sarah.

"Thaddeus!" said the man.

"Thanks Thaddeus. Goodbye!" said Sarah waving to everyone as she began to climb. She slipped once causing all below to scream.

"Sorry!"

"That's ok!" called someone. She began to climb again and soon found herself in the tunnels of the Oubliette, the Labyrinths Underground maze system. She gulped at the darkness, and then proceeded onward whispering to herself,

"Nothing is what it seems, nothing is what it seems..."

&&&

Jareth walked in despair. He was lost again. And now Sarah was back in his life! How dare Jezebel! Taunting him like this! When he got his powers back...wait. Did he ever try out his powers to see if they really were gone? He had felt a little drained, but he blamed it on stress. Well, no time like the present. He tried to produce a crystal. Nothing. He tried again. Then he concentrated on turning into an owl. Still nothing. He sighed in frustration.

"You know, they say if you keep making faces, it'll freeze that way!" said a familiar voice. Jareth opened his eyes and saw Marin, still in blue and grinning wickedly.

"You!" said Jareth.

"Hello, Jareth. I hope you are feeling well?" joked Marin. Jareth took on a regal tone.

"It's 'Your Majesty' and I've had better days!" he said folding his arms. Marin said,

"Awww, poor Jareth. For the first time in his life he isn't getting what he wants...No wait! I forgot! This would be the second time! The first would be with that girl! What was her name again?"

"So I take it you are either taking advantage of my sister not knowing I banished you for treason, or you are working with her!" said Jareth.

"Well if I were working with her that would explain how one Fae took the throne from the almighty Goblin King." said Marin.

"But Jezebel would never let a traitor like you live let alone come into the kingdom. So I'm inclined to the latter." reasoned Jareth. Marin circled Jareth.

"So...the big bad Goblin King is finally taken down a peg. And how's that working out?" asked Marin.

"Oh you know. I find the whole situation humorous actually." said Jareth dryly.

"I imagine so! First your title and your powers are taken by your baby sister, you get lost and chased around in YOUR OWN Labyrinth, you got tricked by a pirate, and the love of your life, who happens to hate your guts, is back competing against you! That must be fun!" said Marin showing off his sharp teeth.

"And you, a spoiled nobody Fae, who has been trying to copy me in manner, dress, and most recently, position all for your fragile ego since the day we met is here, possibly taking advantage of the situation for your own gain. My day just keeps getting better and better!" said Jareth sarcastically. Seeing Marin fumed, he was satisfied when the Fae disappeared and turn once more into a blue jay, the thief amongst birds. Jareth kept walking until he saw a rather large urn in the middle of the path. Taking off the lid, he figured he could try to reach Sarah from the Oubliette. Maybe the Tunnelers could help him. He jumped up onto the urns pedestal and climbed into the dark opening and disappeared down the ladder.

&&&

Jack was still walking along the Labyrinth making excellent time, when he came to a fork in the road. Should he go left or right? He decided to just turn back, but found a dead end behind him.

"Cripes! Now what?" he asked himself.

"Now ye answer our riddle, and we'll tell ye the way to go!" Jack spun around to the voice and found the oddest pair of sentry he had ever seen. They reminded him of the face cards in a card game. A head coming out each end, with a flat shield guarding them. He thought it funny that their were feet sticking out here and there. And they had the face of dogs but the eyes of men. The blue guard said,

"Good day." Jack took on his drunk routine.

"Good day gentlemen! May I ask why two...er...four... such fine and upstanding gentlemen as yourselves did not merit an invitation to the little party I heard from the castle?" he asked gesturing to all four heads.

"We have to guard the way to the castle!" said the blue.

"It's in the rules!" said the red.

"It's a fine goal, to be sure, but it seems to me that the sooner ye just let me pass, the sooner you four, er two , can get to that party, Savvy?"

"We can't let ya past without answering the riddle!" protested one of the heads on the bottom. Jack crotched down to their eye level and turned his head upside down a bit.

"All right, then. Let's have it!" The bottom heads looked to each other.

"Uh...we don't know it!" said the red.

"But they do!" said the blue looking up. Jack straightened up and pretended he did it far to quickly. Then he said,

"Right then! Come, come! I haven't all day!"

"Well! If you're going to be like that then I say we don't tell ya!" said the blue head on top as the rest broke out into laughter and snickers. Jezebel's taunting voice echoed in Jack's memory,

'Where I come from, a lot of eyes would laugh at you.' He said,

"Apologies. Please continue." The Red and the Blue eyed him and then each other before the head in red said,

"Alright." Jack held up his hands like in prayer in gratitude. The Red cleared his throat.

"Listen mortal if ye may! For a wrong answer leads to death this day!"

"Ooooo!" said the other three as Jack eyed them all curiously.

"Many things can create one. It can be of any shape or size. It is created for various reasons, and it can shrink or grow with time. What is it?" continued the Head. Jack put a finger up to his chin and thought. The sentries laughed and whispered to each other,

"He'll never get it!" Meanwhile, Jezebel and the goblins watched the scene from the crystal.

"They are in on it right?" she asked. Hoggle drooped,

"Doohh! I knew we forgot something!" Jezebel sat up and said,

"Uh oh!"

"You can keep him safe, yes?" asked Didymus.

"Without the Sentries in on the plan, I have no control over that part of the Labyrinth!" said Jezebel shaking her head no and worryingly looking towards the image of Jack.

Then Jack snapped his fingers and pointed at them.

"A hole!" he exclaimed.

"Then go through one!" said the guards laughing. Just then, a hole began to slowly open up at Jack's feet. He stepped away and luckily it stopped. Jack glared at them and said,

"Nice try!" Then the wall behind him began to slide forward. He sidestepped the wall as it covered the hole fairly quickly with a loud slam. The guards laughed as they disappeared,

"Don't worry! You'll fall yet!" Jack walked towards them, but soon the wall behind and to his right slid to connect with the opposite wall. Jack began to run towards the corridor on the left, but that was soon cut off by a wall of stone.

"RUN JACK!" yelled Jezebel to the crystal. Jack ran down the other corridor looking back only to find wall after wall closing up behind him from the left, the right, the ground, and both sides. Jack looked up ahead and saw a dead end. But it shimmered a different shade of gold in the sunlight. His instinct told him to go for it. He jumped and went straight through the wall. It shimmered again and became solid leaving the final section of wall to slam behind it.

"He made it!" squealed Jezebel happily hugging a goblin. Hoggle put his hands on his hips.

"I thought you didn't like him?" She straightened up and said,

"I don't! But...what fun would it be if...someone got hurt?"

"Yeah right!" said Hoggle as Jezebel waved him off watching Jack intently as he stood up and brushed himself off. He looked up to the sky and said,

"Is that all you got Jezebel?"

"He thinks I did it?" asked Jezebel fairly disappointed.

"Well, Highness! What did you expect? You are his enemy!" said Didymus as Jezebel reluctantly nodded. Then she watched in horror as Jack disappeared down into a hole.

"WHHHOOOOAAAAAHHHH!" yelled Jack as he fell down. But soon, multiple blue pairs of hands came out of the wall and caught him. He struggled for a minute and yelled,

"HHHHHEEELLLLPPP!"

"What do you mean 'help'? We are helping!" said the hands forming a face next to Jack. He struggled and looked at the hands around him in confusion.

"What the blazes are you?" he asked.

"We're Helping Hands!" said another hand-face.

"Well you're doing more hurting than helping, mates, Savvy?" Jack said. Another face formed to say,

"Would you like us to let go?" They released him as he yelled,

"NO, NO, NO! I DIDN'T MEAN IT! I DIDN'T MEAN IT!" They caught him again. A face resembling an old man said,

"Well which way? Up? Down? Sideways?"

"Which way?" said Jack looking all around.

"You heard the hand!" said another voice as many hands not holding Jack began to point in every which way.

"Well, since I came from up, that would be the most logical place to go!" concluded Jack.

"You heard him lads! Up it is!" said one laughing voice as the rest roughly pushed Jack up in a chorus of,

"UP! UP! UP!" But instead of warm daylight, Jack found himself in a dark cavernous place as he climbed out, he said,

"Aye! This ain't where I came from!"

"Well, you said you wanted to go 'up'. Not to where you came from!" called a voice from below. Jack stood up and brushed himself off. Then noticing his hat was gone, he called back down to the laughing and applauding crowd below,

"I had a hat!" The hat shot up from the hole like a cork as Jack caught it. The manhole cover slammed shut.

"Much obliged!" said Jack to the hole. He looked around the dark room and began to walk when his head connected with stone and he fell to the floor passed out.