Title: A Phantom's Dreams

Author: Lady Ione Athene

Rating: R for violence and later scenes.

Disclaimer: Sadly I do not own the characters of Jim Henson's Labyrinth or the multiple versions of the Phantom of the Opera. I make no dough off of this so no suing little old me. I haven't got the money anyway! ;)

Summary: The love of his life had left him forever… or had she? As an Underground Faye… forever is a long time… Please R&R! I need lots of positive reinforcement! ;) Phantom/OC Labyrinth/Phantom crossover (Labyrinth side non-Centauri unless I decide I need them ;) )

Setting: The Underground centuries after the fateful episode of the Phantom of the Opera took place.

Chapter 1: Old & New Friends

He often wondered what would have happened if she had accepted his love. Would she have embraced him and his kind, or would she have been even more frightened? Was he doomed to a lonely existence with no one to care for or love him? He had thought that fate rested upon his closest friend once. Erik paused as he thought of his best friend, Jareth. Their situations were so similar, but Jareth's seemed infinitely better to him. No, Jareth did not pay for the sins of his parents as Erik did, but Jareth's parents had not sinned quite as terribly as his own had. Erik's eyes closed in silent pain. His parents… He could still remember their shock and horror upon seeing what their deeds had wrought upon their son. Tears came to his sapphire eyes as he remembered how they had shunned him. Only through their death had he come into his inheritance. He was eternally marred by the deeds of his parents, which was why he wore the mask. It was a simple white mask that fitted the right side of his face like a glove from the hairline down the midline of his face to the top of his perfect mouth. The mask slanted to allow for speech and expression, but it still covered his right cheek. His long midnight locks were neatly pulled back at the nape of his neck with a black satin ribbon. The side of his face that was not covered showed perfect and aristocratic features from his high cheekbones and straight nose to the strong masculine jaw. He was a force to be reckoned with! The rest of the man was arrayed entirely in black. He had a black silk poet's shirt that had a ruffled collar and cuffs and opened at the neck revealing a muscular but hairless chest. He wore black breeches and leather knee-high boots. His hands were also encased in black leather, and he also sported a shimmering black cape. By stark contrast to his clothing, Erik's skin was rather pale where it showed. He was a creature unused to much sunlight, a creature of the night. It was one of those rare times that Erik ventured from his home in the daylight. He was riding on his black charger, Bagheera, on his way to visit Jareth. Bagheera was a present to him from his friend; and Jareth's own magnificent stallion, Nightmare, had sired the steed. They were said to be the finest stallions in the Underground. They had a Friesian build with long flowing manes and tails that brushed lightly on the ground and slightly feathered ankles. Their build was more solid than an Arabian's being descended from war chargers, but they were still sleek enough to be riding mounts. They were as immortal as their masters were for they carried the blood of equine legends. Swiftly did Bagheera carry his master toward the kingdom of his birth. So often had Erik once come to the Labyrinth, he knew the maze almost as well as Jareth himself. It had only been in the past two years that the dark Faye had ceased visiting. Bagheera never faltered glad to be back, and they reached the castle swiftly once they entered the Goblin King's realm. Erik entered the plaza before the castle and was met at the entrance by some of Jareth's subjects. Bagheera was taken away to the stables by a goblin with a bit more sense and height than the majority. A guard escorted Erik to the throne room despite the fact that Erik could navigate the castle as well. Jareth was as ever seated somewhat lazily across his throne surrounded by goblins. His blond hair styled wild and free, Jareth was dressed casually in gray breeches and a white poet's shirt with black leather boots, gloves, and vest. The king was also tapping a black riding crop with a crystal sphere atop it against the leg thrown over the arm of his throne.

"Busy as ever I see," Erik commented smirking in his old friend's direction.

"But never too busy for an old friend," Jareth returned with a smirk of his own. The Goblin King stood and descended the steps from his throne. Erik met him half way around the pit in the center of the room each clasped the other's right forearm in greeting. They had been children together though Erik had always been slightly awed by Jareth. While all Faye had some skill in glamour magic, Jareth's was far more powerful because of his close relationship with the Labyrinth's wild power. Faye always had a gifted ability other than their inherited affinity for magic. Jareth had both the gifts of song and the ability to see into the dream sphere. Erik was gifted with both singing and the composing or playing of music. Jareth's voice was heaven to the ears, but Erik's held the power to entrance a listener. Erik's music also contained power, but since both men were musical artists, they had natural talent in other forms of art. Jareth was able to sculpt stone better than Michealangelo. Erik worked with wood and metal usually to fashion instruments, but he could fashion swords as well as carve furniture. "I was wondering when you would show up in my kingdom," Jareth groused.

"Nice to know you missed me," Erik responded to his friend's good-natured complaint with a laugh. "I decided I would stay with you a bit before the masque."

"I'm glad you came, Erik. I know how you have avoided them though they were once your favorite kind."

Erik's reply was cut off by a soft voice. "Jareth?"

Erik and Jareth both turned to find the new Goblin Queen standing at the door to the Escher Room. Sarah Williams formerly of Aboveworld had been the key to Jareth's understanding of Erik's predicament. But there had been a happy ending for the Goblin King, and that was why Erik had distanced himself from his friend for the past two years. Erik had even refused to attend the wedding. He knew Jareth had been hurt by his refusal since the Goblin King had intended for his masked friend to be his main attendant for the wedding, but Jareth also understood his friend's reasons. Jareth had not suffered over ten years though it had seemed an eternity to the Faye king. Erik had watched his love choose another, grow old, and finally die. It was not a fate he would wish on anyone, but he had needed time to heal without the reminder that fate had been kind to another. Looking at the young woman before him, Erik could understand how his friend had lost his heart to the girl. He was glad for his friend also knowing they would not suffer the eternal parting of death. When Sarah had defeated the Goblin King, she had proclaimed herself his equal, and she had become so. Sarah was Faye though she retained a few human qualities. One of those was her ability to easily conceive hence the reason Jareth was throwing a masque ball. A mere two years after their wedding, Sarah was carrying their first child. So far the Goblin Queen wasn't showing, and her clothing still fit properly on her slim body. The queen's dress was an emerald green with a princess waist and a soft blue over layer, which accented her hazel eyes; and her dark brown hair was pinned up in an intricate style leaving only a few ringlets on either side of her face. Her face was barely touched with makeup for her natural beauty needed little help. Her ring finger bore the King's ring, which was a miniature version of his symbol; and around her neck was the smaller pendant designed for the Labyrinth's queen. A coronet had been worked into her hairdo, and Erik found the effect of her overall appearance stunning. Jareth walked over to offer her his arm and lead her into the room having noticed her curious glance in Erik's direction. Erik bowed as they came to where he stood with all the flourish the Faye court demanded.

"Sarah, allow me to introduce Lord Erik Daris of Swancrest Manor. Erik, may I present her highness, Queen Sarah of the Labyrinth."

Erik did not miss both the pride and slight possessiveness of the Goblin King as he introduced his bride. "It is an honor, Your Highness… Jareth has told me little of you, but the rumors of your beauty have reached even Swancrest."

Jareth snorted quietly. "I would have told you if you had not sequestered yourself away in your lands."

Sarah placed her hand gently on Jareth's arm having already sensed it a sensative subject between the two men. "Please, Lord Daris. If you can call my husband by his given name, then do so with me as well."

"Only if you will call me by my name, milady."

"Agreed!" Sarah responded with a smile. "What brings you to the Labyrinth?"

"Your ball, of course," Jareth reminded.

"It also provided me with a chance to make a much needed visit to an old friend."

Sarah continued to regard Erik curiously. "Why do you already wear a mask then, Erik?" Sarah was surprised to see Erik's features pale slightly before he lowered his eyes from hers.

"Erik's face is terribly scarred, Sarah," Jareth explained for his friend. "He wears the mask so that others can be more comfortable around him."

"Oh," was all Sarah could say. She wished she could kick herself! She had only just met the man, and she had already blundered on a sore spot. Sarah soon excused herself for an appointment with the castle decorator who had insisted the Goblin Queen look over the decorations of the ballroom.