The Way Forward Is Sometimes The Way Back:
Sequel to Labyrinth
Disclaimer: I do not, in any way, shape, or form own Labyrinth, its characters, its scenes, or quotes. They all belong to the geniuses Jim Henson, George Lucas, David Bowie, Brian Froud, Dennis Lee, Terry Jones, & Trevor Jones. I only own this fanfic storyline and the characters I made up (if I make up any).
Note: Sarah and Jareth are going to have flashbacks to Labyrinth throughout this fanfic, so their flashbacks, which will be a flashback of images, sounds, or both, with be written in Bold and Italics like this…
Chapter Two: But Down In the Underground… You'll Find Someone True…
Sarah's eyes flew open as a sudden flash of lightening flashed outside her window. At the sound of her words, a storm began suddenly as lightening struck the transformer close to her house and the power suddenly went out. Memories of the night she wished Toby away began to overwhelm her as she looked around her darkened bedroom.
Toby…? Toby, are you all right? Why aren't you crying?
Suddenly, Sarah began to hear familiar noises sounds all over her bedroom. The inhuman giggling, chuckling, cackling, grunting. Sarah slowly got up from her seat and looked around the room, memories of the sights and sounds from long ago blending with the sights and sounds that were happening just then. Just like before, Sarah began to become apprehensive of the sounds, whirling around to the sounds that sounded like they were coming from right behind her. But why was she so apprehensive? Hadn't she summoned them? Just like she had before?
Without warning, her bedroom window flew open and an enormous gust of wind began to enfold Sarah. Sarah held her arms up to shield her face, by human nature, crying out at the gusts that encircled her.
A familiar silhouette appeared, followed by an extremely familiar figure. As the winds slowed, Sarah lowered her arms and slowly opened her eyes and took in that face that tormented her conscience time and time again. The familiar smirk, the long blonde locks, the black cape surrounding a high collared black ensemble.
Although the figure bore a proud smirk, neither spoke.
Sarah finally brought herself to say, "…It's you…"
The figure's smirk grew as he cocked his head just as he had almost a decade earlier.
Sarah continued, after the figure did not address her, "You… the Goblin King…" she slowly said his name, as if not sure of how it sounded, "…Jareth, the Goblin King…"
The Goblin King's expression and pose didn't change and he continued to gaze upon Sarah with fascination and haughtiness.
Sarah's expression became hard, realizing that by saying "the words" she was damning herself to be in the proximity of this man that took her baby brother, made her suffer torment and tribulation to retrieve him, and haunted her dreams.
"I suppose you're here to take me…" Sarah said, simply.
Mirroring the actions he had made almost a decade previously, the Jareth folded his arms across his chest and smugly said, "What's said is said…"
Sarah, wanting to annoy him, haughtily shot back, "But… what if I didn't mean it?"
Jareth raised is eyebrows and said, tauntingly, "Oh, you didn't?" He shifted and made his hands into fists, putting them on his hips, and took a step towards Sarah. "This conversation is starting to sound very familiar, Sarah…"
Sarah took a step towards the Goblin King and with just as much haughtiness, said insolently, "Almost… are you going to tell me to 'Play with my toys and costumes'?"
Jareth surprised by Sarah's cheek, quickly shot back, "I might, but I know I won't have to make you forget about the baby…."
Sarah, stopped, stunned. At the mention of Toby, tears began to well up in her eyes.
Jareth, seeing Sarah's reaction, immediately wanted to take back what he'd said, but stood fast, not wavering. He didn't want her to see him backing down.
Sarah stood facing the mighty Goblin King, recalling their last encounter where similar exchanges took place. Jareth had taken Toby upon Sarah's request. Her request was made possible for, as the story that she'd memorized told her…
…The King of the Goblins had fallen in love with the girl, and he had given her certain powers. So one night . . . she called on the goblins for help…
As soon as she discovered Toby was gone, Sarah had immediately regretted her wish and had begged to have him back, fearing what her parents would do. Soon, her adamant pleading turned from self-interest to genuine concern….
Listen I do appreciate what you're trying to do for me, but I want my brother back! He must be so scared!
The memories of her first encounter with Jareth began to mix with the more recent memories of Toby's repugnance and disgust. Sarah slowly hung her head, too lost in her sorrow to rebut to the Goblin King's taunting.
Jareth began to feel overwhelmingly guilty, but his fragile ego held him back from consoling Sarah. He had offered the girl before him everything, making himself fully vulnerable, and she had disregarded it. He was not going to make himself so vulnerable again.
Sarah, using every bit of her might not to let a single tear fall in front of the Goblin King, looked back up at him and said sadly, "Yes… I daresay, the last thing that I want to be reminded of is…" she took a shuddering breath, "…the baby… the baby I had stopped at nothing to rescue… the baby that I had sheltered and learned to love… the baby that now hates me, and wants nothing to do with me…"
Jareth's expression and demeanor changed as he watched Sarah struggle to admit her problems to the one person she feared above all others.
Sarah took a quick breath, brushing away a tear that tried to escape the corner of her eye. "But now, the only company that will have me… or want me, are goblins, an unforgiving maze, and a tyrannical King…" Sarah let out a breath with a sarcastic laugh, and cast her eyes downward.
Jareth, ignoring her unflattering mention of him, humbly added, "I can think of others that will have you and want you with them… Others that truly care about you…"
Sarah, saddened and uncertain of who he was talk of, looked back up at the Goblin King with her pale green eyes and said honestly, "Who?"
Jareth faltered for a moment, then said, "There's that fluffball… Ludo, I think his name was… there's that annoying, pontifical fox-like chap… Didymus? And Higgle… no, Hoghead… no, Hedgewart…" Jareth searched to find his name.
Sarah let out an giggling breath as she provided the name, "Hoggle…"
Jareth laughed at his inability to remember his name, "Hoggle, that's the bloke…"
They stood there for a moment, laughing quietly. Both didn't know what to say.
Finally Jareth broke the silence and said, "Sarah, it is not customary for people to wish themselves taken away by the goblins, so I'll let you decide if you wish to leave this life behind and live in the Underground… If you do choose to, however, you would live an eternal life, you would be immortal…"
Sarah looked at Jareth for a moment, then looked around her room, recalling what was happening in her life Aboveground… in her life of mortality as a human…
After a brief moment, Sarah turned back to Jareth and simply said, "A life of immortality with a bunch of stinky, filthy goblins is looking a lot better than this…"
Jareth chuckled as he produced a crystal and began rolling it over his hand, then back and forth from hand to hand, then holding it up to Sarah. "Remember, this is not a gift for an ordinary girl whose life is decided by a screaming baby… Do you want it?"
Sarah didn't answer him, but did give him a small, shy smile.
Jareth smirked and held the crystal a little closer to Sarah. "Then forget the baby…"
Sarah cautiously took hold of the crystal. As soon as she had, her bedroom began to dissolve away. Jareth slowly disappeared too, and soon Sarah was surrounded by torrents of visions and sounds from deep inside her memory.
It's a crystal, nothing more… You have thirteen hours in which to solve the Labyrinth… No I ain't, I'm Hoggle…Things aren't always what they seem in this place…
So you can't take anything for granted…
Dance Magic Dance… Dance Magic Dance…
One of us always tells the truth and one of us always lies…
We're helping hands!
It's a place you put people to forget about them!
That's not fair!
Well let's see how you deal with this little slice!
Sarah? Sarah friend!
We're just after having a good time!
I've never smelt anything like it!
No one shall pass this way without my permission!
But I'll be there for you as the world falls down!
It's all junk!
I forgive you, Hoggle…
I have to face him alone… because that's the way it's done!
Everything I've done, I've done for you!
I move the stars for no one!
Sarah, beware, I have been generous up until now… and I can be cruel.
Everything you've wanted I have done… You asked that the child be taken, I took him… You cowered before me, I was frightening… I have reordered time, I have turned the world upside down and I have done it all for you! I'm exhausted from living up to you expectations of me… isn't that generous?
Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here to the Castle beyond the Goblin City to take back the child that you have stolen…for my will is as strong as yours and my kingdom is as great…
I ask for so little just let me rule you, and you can have everything that you want!
Just fear me love me do as I say and I will be your slave!
You have no power over me!
As the images and sounds started to fade, the darkness consumed everything around Sarah. She soon let herself be consumed by it… and as she slipped into the darkness, she heard the last memory echo in the darkness…
So, young woman, the way forward is sometimes the way back!