Chapter 7

Jack, Sarah, and Jareth looked up the ladder that led to honestly, no where and everywhere.

"Isn't this the same ladder Hoggle led me to?" she asked.

"Probably. One thing about the Labyrinth. It always changes paths, but it's still the same." said Jareth placing a hand on a rung of the ladder.

"Sounds like someone I know." said Sarah casually looking up as Jareth gave her a look.

"Can we please just get out of here before your charming sister decides to pull something else? Like flood this place maybe?" said Jack stepping forward to the ladder. But Jareth held Jack from going up by saying,

"Ladies first."

"Of course! Where are me manners? Milady?" said Jack mockingly gesturing a hand towards the ladder and bowing slightly.

"Thank you Captain. Majesty." she said coolly before climbing up. Jack grinned devilishly as he watched her go up. He looked to Jareth and whispered,

"After all, mate. How else can I get away with looking at her bum, Savvy?" As he began to climb up, Jareth held him by the shoulder and said,

"I'm afraid you'll have to settle for looking at my bum, 'Savvy'?" Then he gave Jack a little shove before climbing up the ladder himself. Jack only grinned,

"Want the view all to yourself, Majesty?" Jareth looked down at him and shot a glare before continuing on. Jack only laughed to himself before climbing up himself.

"So do you think this will lead to where me and Hoggle came out in the Labyrinth?" called Sarah down to Jareth. But before he could answer her, Jack interrupted,

"Not if Her Royal Highness has anything to say about it, I wager!"

"You know, Captain Sparrow. My sister may at the moment be guilty of treason and total disregard for others, but she is still my sister. And she has been known to be quite a pleasant person." said Jareth.

"Yeah right!" said Jack.

"Don't be so quick to cast the villain, Captain." said Jareth. This caused Jack and Sarah both to pause but for two different reasons.

"Something wrong?" asked Jareth to Sarah. She shook her head and continued on before saying,

"You know, Jack. I have to agree with Jareth. When I met Jezebel, she did seem pleasant enough. Except for the holding my friends captive thing."

"All I know mates, is that Jezebel has done nothing but manipulate, lie, play with my emotions and laugh in my face since the day we met!" said Jack as he climbed.

"Yeah but you probably asked for it." stated Jareth ahead of him.

"How?"

"Tell me. Had you ever expected Jezebel to be what I think to be her usually, sweet, generous annoyingly all knowing self?" asked Jareth.

"No!" said Jack.

"Well, there you go. You didn't give her a chance to prove she could be a nice person. If fact, if you had, we might never have been in this mess." said Jareth.

"Sure, blame everything on the victim, as usual!" said Sarah bitterly.

"Now what's that suppose to mean?" asked Jareth crossly as Jack rolled his eyes. He just continued to climb up after them as they argued back and forth. Finally, they came to the top and to Jack's surprise, they climbed out of a large clay urn in a well kept green shrubbery part of the Labyrinth maze.. Looking under the pedestal, noticing it appeared to have nothing under it, Jack furrowed his brows in confusion as Sarah and Jareth walked out of the clearing still arguing. He walked after them, but soon, paused when he heard the sound of someone crying. He walked up to the sound and looked through an opening very carefully. In the center of various statues was an old man goblin with a live bird hat, resplended in a long white beard fast asleep with his chin in his hand as he sat in a stone chair of carved books. Apparently he had been reading a story to the small and various goblin children all around the clearing when he fell asleep. He looked to the corner opposite the old man and was in shock. The goblin children now gathered around Jezebel, dressed once again in her red pantsuit, comforting her as she sobbed miserably. Jack reluctantly felt his heart wretch.

'Why the devil do I care if she cries? She's my enemy! What do I care she looks completely pitiful as she sits there? I don't! So...why do I feel like such a mangy cad?' he thought. Then he heard,

"Don't cry Princess. It'll be alright!" said a wee girl goblin patting her hand. Jezebel sniffed,

"Hoggle was right! On all three counts! I cast myself as the villain and ended up like Jareth, I do hate myself for how cruel I've been acting, and...well I can't remember the third. But Captain Sparrow didn't deserve all that I put him through! He's right. I'm nothing but an ugly, old witch! A spoiled princess brat, a...a...well I can't remember what else he called me. I'm horrible!" As she buried her eyes in her hands, the goblin children patted her and silently comforted her some more before the little goblin girl spoke again,

"Please don't cry anymore, Princess! It makes me awfully sad!" When the goblin began to tear up and sniff, Jezebel wiped her eyes and said,

"Oh no! No! Don't cry! I've been selfish again haven't I? Don't cry! Look! I'm not crying anymore. I'll tell you what. Let's sing a song. Something to make us all feel better, hmm?" The goblin children looked at each other skeptically until one said,

"Which one?" Jezebel smiled a radiant, genuine smile that made the corners of Jack's month turn upward as well. He liked that smile. Despite his better judgment, he liked that beautiful smile. Then he heard music flow all around him. Jezebel began to sing,

You remind me of the babe'

"What babe?" asked one goblin boy. 'babe with the power'

"What power?" 'power of voodoo'

"Who do?" 'you do'

"Do what?" 'remind me of the babe!'

I saw my baby, crying hard as babe could cry Jezebel began to dance around the goblins.
What could I do?
My baby's love had gone
And left my baby blue
Nobody knew!

What kind of magic spell to use?

"Slime and snails!" joined the goblins.
"Or puppy dogs' tails
Thunder or lightning"
Then baby said
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance) Jack leaned against the wall in amazement. This was not the same woman. It couldn't be. He liked this woman.

Put that baby spell on me
Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump) She lifted the goblins children into the air, much to their delight.
Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump)
Put that magic jump on me
Slap that baby, make him free!

I saw my baby, trying hard as babe could try
What could i do?
My baby's fun had gone
And left my baby blue
Nobody knew!

What kind of magic spell to use
Slime and snails
Or puppy dog's tails
Thunder or lightning
Then baby said
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Put that baby spell on me
Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump)
Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump)
Put that magic jump on me
Slap that baby, make him free
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump)


Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump)
Put that baby spell on me (ooh)

Slap that slap that baby make him free
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dan...' "Ahh!" cried Jezebel almost bumping into Jack. All the goblin crashed onto the ground in a loud thud waking up the old man.

"Er...What?"

"Don't worry! You didn't miss much!" said the man's hat in a Spanish accent. As the little goblins groaned and moaned, Jezebel stood opened mouthed at the grinning pirate who had his arms folded in front of her. In compete wonder he said,

"I must admit. I like this side of you far better!" Taking on her regal air, she said,

"Oh?"

"Yeah, for a minute there, I was seeing a kind, caring, fun loving girl and not some spoiled brat."

"Well, they're just kids. Once they get older, they'll know I do not as a rule fraternize with Goblins!" she said raising her chin up. He stepped notoriously close as he said,

"Highness, you are a terrible lair when surprised."

"The game isn't over Captain. And I believe you have a little less than six hours left?" she reminded him coolly.

"So I do. After all, I made an accord with your brother to help him get his kingdom back." said Jack. Wide eyed, she said,

"What?"

"Good afternoon, Princess!" said Jack tipping his hat and walking away leaving her.

"Hey!" she called running after him.

"In my Labyrinth, you do not walk away!" she said. He looked back at her and then crept towards her like a jungle cat.

"I have a feeling that it's not really your Labyrinth, Milady." he said.

"Because you're going to help Jareth get it back from his ugly witch sister?" she asked sarcastically. He leaned over and whispered in her ear,

"I've never thought you ugly, Luv." Chills went down Jezebel's spine and her legs turned to jelly by the time Jack walked away. She adjusted her gloves and then felt something metallic touch her wrist. She pulled out of her right glove, her pendant, still sparkling and shimmering as always. She smiled. He returned it. But why? Placing it around her neck, she turned to go the other way, when Marin blocked her path.

"Ahh! Marin! It's only you! Don't do that!" she said slapping his shoulder. He laughed,

"You like him don't you?"

"Who?" she asked.

"That pirate." said Marin.

"Him! No! No! No!" she protested.

"He's right. You are a terrible liar when surprised." grinned Marin. Jezebel shrugged,

"Well who is?"

"So Jareth has reunited with the mortal Sarah, you appear to be getting back at that Sparrow character for his insults, and you've gotten a taste of the crown. How do you feel?" asked Marin. Jezebel sighed,

"Exhausted! I can't wait till this day is over!"

"So what are you going to do if Jareth doesn't make it to the castle before thirteen hours?" he asked.

"Tell him the truth before the Labyrinth starts to go wild." she shrugged.

"Ah! That's right, for if the king does not return to his duties before thirteen hours is up, then the Labyrinth will shake and go into self destruct mode, right?" asked Marin.

"That's right!"

"Hmm? That's interesting. In fact, even now it would be fairly simple to have someone steal the Labyrinth right now wouldn't it?" he asked circling her. Jezebel said suspiciously,

"Yeah, what are you trying to get at Marin?" He grinned making Jezebel feel uneasy.

"Did Jareth mention me when you got back?" he asked her.

"No...he spoke rarely. Why?" she asked.

"I'm afraid my dear I haven't been honest with you. For you see, before the whole 'Sarah' incident, Jareth had me banned for treason!" he said.

"What!" yelled Jezebel.

"All I did was try to take what I was born for. My rightful place as king!" said Marin cheerfully.

"Oh! And I suppose you came here wanting me to be your Queen?" asked Jezebel bitterly.

"Well it would be nice to have a Fae Queen. Especially considering you are the last one left in the kingdom." said Marin advancing towards her. As she backed up she said,

"What do you mean? The Fae have been living in the outer provinces of the kingdom since my parents died, even Jareth sent me to live Aboveground with our Aunt Minerva!"

"Ah yes! Dear old crazy Aunt Minerva! Running away from home to live with the mortals. So I guess next to you, she's the only other Fae woman of the Kingdom!" he said.

"What have you done to the Fae?" demanded Jezebel.

"I've turned the Fae into my own personal armies of Gurnocks. Now they serve me willingly and faithfully. A little stupid, but loyal." said Marin as Jezebel pushed past him and said,

"I hereby place you under arrest, Marin! By my authority as a Goblin Princess!" Marin met her strong piercing gaze and went on,

"This is your last chance to consent to being my Queen. If you refuse, part of the spell that I placed on the Labyrinth to take control will come over you. You will lose your powers and eventually fall into an eternal sleep. Do you want that?"

"I'd rather sleep for all eternity than share my bed with you!" she snapped. He stepped forward,

"And I suppose you'd rather share it with that pirate, hmm?" She turned to go when she felt something small drain out of her painfully.

"Ahh!" she cried clutching her chest.

"I should warn you, you'll lose your powers slowly and rather painfully. So you'd better get back to the castle before you either can't become a bird, or my Gurnocks take it over. Whatever comes first!" he joked. She glared at him before changing into a hawk and flying quickly towards the castle leaving Marin to laugh evilly behind her.

When she flew over the Goblin City, she saw the Gurnocks, running all over, trying to break into the castle. She flew into one of the castles many windows and changed back. She looked out the window and saw the former Fae race trying to break down the door. She raced down to the grand entryway, where she saw the goblins, Ludo, Sir Didymus and Hoggle all leaning up against the door trying to keep the Gurnocks out.

"Highness! We are under attack!" cried Didymus. Producing a crystal, she waved it over her hand saying,

"I know! I know! And it's all my fault!" she said. She cast a spell using the crystal to seal the door shut like melting steel. Confident it would hold, everyone backed up and waited for Jezebel's orders.

"Alright, everyone take the secret passage and meet in the old bookshop. Hoggle, Ludo, Sir Didymus, you go retrieve Jareth, Sarah and Jack. And take this!" she said. She threw a crystal to Hoggle who caught it and said,

"What's this?" he asked.

"Jareth's powers. He'll need them! Go quickly! I'll meet up with you as soon as I can!" she ordered as the Goblins ran down the closest set of stairs. Hoggle was about to follow them, when he stopped and said,

"What are you going to do?"

"I'll distract them! Now go!" she yelled as the door began to give way.

"But..."

"That's an order!" she commanded.

"Yes your Highness!" shouted Hoggle running down the stairs. Jezebel braced herself for action with every thud of the battering ram upon the door. Then a sharp pain arose and she clutched her chest and gritted her teeth. At that moment, the door fell in and dozens on tall, gangly dead looking Gurnocks charged in. Concentrating, the crystal began to glow as Jezebel shouted,

"Catch me if you can, boys!" Then she dropped the crystal and disappeared just as a great explosion erupted from the small glass ball. The Gurnocks stumbled and fell. When they got up, they saw Jezebel waving at them from the top of the stairs.

"Get her!" one in front yelled. They chased Jezebel all over the castle as she disappeared and reappeared in the most inconvenient places just out of their reach. She ran them into walls, suits of armor and each other before they came to a great room with various sets of stairs everywhere going every direction imaginable. They looked over their heads and saw Jezebel running down, or up, or whatever way she was running over them. They jumped up in feeble attempts to catch her. They went down and up various ways trying to get a just a piece of her clothes. But she would go sideways and everyway to avoid their long claw like fingers. Finally they had actually seemed to catch up with her, when she jumped off the stairs and turned into a hawk and flew out the window leaving them to jump after her and crash into each other and on the floor below.

She flew desperately until she reached the forest edge. Then in a flash of light, she fell from the sky, changing back into herself and crashed into a rough patch of bushes below. As she slowly and painfully got up, she became dizzy for a moment before she wandered into the woods, hoping to find her companions.

&&&

Hoggle paused by a tree and caught his breath, clutching Jareth's power's tightly to his chest.

"Come Sir Hoggle! We must press on!" urged Didymus.

"That's easy for you to say! You're riding!" huffed Hoggle glaring at Ambrosious who whimpered.

"Don't you pay him any mind, my loyal steed, he's just cranky!" comforted Didymus patting Ambrosious on the head.

"Cranky? The kingdom is in trouble, the King is missing, and Jezebel might be dead! I think I'm more than cranky!" yelled Hoggle as Didymus dismounted.

"Now see here!..."protested Didymus getting nose to nose with Hoggle. Just then Ludo let out a huge growl and picked both up by either their shirts or their tails.

"Ahhhh!" they yelled in unison. Ludo shot them a glare and said,

"Sarah need friends!" They fell silent before Didymus said,

"My brother Sir Ludo is right! We must stop bickering and find Milady Sarah!"

"Aye!" sighed Hoggle as Ludo let them down.

"Ludo help Sarah!" cried Ludo as they pressed further into the woods searching for Sarah.

&&&

Marin stood on a balcony overlooking the Labyrinth and said while holding a peach,

"I think it's about time I meet the Famous Sarah Williams and see why Jareth fancies her so. Maybe I can meet this Captain Jack Sparrow as well!" he said to himself chuckling softly.