Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Labyrinth

A/N: blah blah blah enough author's notes let's just let you read now! I know this is kind of confusing, but it will all be revealed sooner or later. By the way, this story is supposed to be both my and the movies' plot, so please don't hurt me.

Chapter 6

Of Birds and Beasts

Standing straight and tall, I breathed in the fresh air and galnced at my surroundings. Unfortunately, I was still in the Labyrinth. With no sign of life anywhere besides Hoggle and I, my thoughts began to wonder if Goblin City was this dead.

"Where now, Hoggle?" I asked as Hoggle closed the exit we used.

He looked around, "Well..."

An old man hobbled over to a large seat made of stones that resembled large books. His groggy and aging appearance almost made me surpass the odd creature on his head. It was a bird's neck and head, but no body, that sat upon the top of a thin brown hat on the Old Man. Frightening, but the bird was alive. Unless of course it was controlled by some machine.. Labby-Land continued to confuse me with each new experience.

"Ahhh...A young girl.."The Old Man's voice was raspy, but understandable.

I jumped nearly out of my skin when an annoyingly high-pitched voice escaped the bird's mouth. "Woo-woo-woo!"

"Hoggle," I glanced awkwardly at my dwarf pal, "let's leave. These two make me feel uncomfortable."

With just a nod, we began to walk away. Yet, the bird was not ready to give us up.

"You didn't make a contribution!" The bird's voice haunted. I turned around to see the Old Man holding a grey box with a slot in the top. What was I supposed to put in there, money?

I searched my pockets, but Hoggle only shook his head in disbelief. Clearly, he didn't think I should give anything to the Old Man. I couldn't help but feel that I should contribute. Even though the Old Man wasn't any help, he still was a sweet man. I could tell just by glancing at him that he wouldn't hurt anything. I had nothing in my pockets except a pack of gum, some lip gloss, a hair-band, and fifty-cents. So, I stupidly put the fifty-cents in the box, thinking they could buy something nice. Yeah right! Nothing costs fifty-cents anymore, but I don't think they cared what I gave them.

As Hoggle and I walked away, he laughed at my donation. He stated that there was not one place to trade or purchase anything in the Labyrinth. According to him, there was only one place, in Goblin City, to shop and trade; Obviously the only living things using that market were the goblins themselves.

Turning a corner, we spotted some trees and a little stone bench. I sat down, but Hoggle urged to go on.

"Hoggle," I fought, "I am tired.. I know I have limited time to finish the Lab... Labby Land, but I need to take a breath before I pass out."

He grumbled, "You don't understand, Kara. Jareth has the power to watch where you are! He could be looking at us right now. We need to keep moving if you still want my aid and help. If you still want me by your side we need to go...Now!"

"Okay.." I stood up and we started to walk, "You know..You confuse me a little bit, Hoggle..If Jareth can see us, why doesn't he try and stop me?"

"He does.. He put you in this Labyrinth. That is trying to stop you. This place changes all the time. It's like a neverending path to an ending you just can't reach. The only thing you should be worried about is your sister.." Hoggle sighed as we reached another dead end of shrubbery.

I thought for a moment, "You told me I'm pretty much going the same way as that Sarah girl, correct?"

"Yes.." Hoggle pointed to a clearing, and we stood in it for a moment.

"Why, though? If he can't remember her or what happened to her, then why am I re-living her past." My confusion grew overwhelmingly by the second.

Looking directly in my eyes, Hoggle spoke quietly, "I'm not too sure.. Like I told you before, it even puzzles me. He might simply be mistaking you for her. That would be just stupid though. Unless his spell is wearing off.. ... ... ...That's it!"

"What's it?" My anticipation got the best of me.

"The spell must be wearing off. If I remember correctly, the spell had some side effact to it. Something like If by any chance this spell starts to fade, a repeat in history may be made, if not, you are cursed by an escapade. I'm sure it was on the lines of that." Hoggle scratched his head.

I opened my mouth again, "What do you mean by escapade?"

"Jareth would have to go through a challenging task..I'm not sure why, but there has to be a good reason otherwise what the hell s the point? Kara," Hoggle stared blankly at me, "You need to go ahead by yourself for a bit. I need to find out why you are here, and if I am correct about the spell or not. I'm almost one-hundred percent sure that is why history is repeating itself.."

"You can't leave! I don't know where to go!" My whining annoyed Hoggle.

He shuffled his feet and stood up straight, "If history is repeating itself, you will walk in the right direction even if you are going the wrong way. Like I said, The Labyrinth can change." Without any other words, Hoggle was off in the opposing direction, and I was still in a clearing.

Why is it that in books and movies people or creatures leave you either in a bad predicament, or very, very confused. All I know is that I better start moving if I want my sister back in one piece...and human.

My feet automatically began moving, and my brain lagged behind. I was not only confused, but worried. If I didn't get my sister in time, would I still be able to go home?

Ahhhhhhhhhggggggrrrr!

...the hell? Like a complete idiot, I followed the sound of... Well, I didn't know what it was. But I followed it like an idiot to find out what the noise's origon was. My body filled with curiosity like a baby into a new world. I couldn't help myself or my feet from jogging to the source. ..To my surprise, as I hid behind a large bush, a frightening, brown, hairy creature was tied up to a tree.

Little, pinkish creatures poked the beast with spears and laughed. One of them shouted, "Finally, after long years a'waitin', we caught ya'. No more lil' girl-ays helpin' ya' down' from de' trees a-none. We is gonna' beat ya' up till de' break of a-dawn! Then, we is gonna' eat ya' up cuz-a we is a-hungr-ay."

The beast wasn't that bad looking at all once I saw more clearly. He had two very big, very sharp teeth protruding from his mouth, but they were the only scary things on it. It's rugged face seemed friendly, not harmful at all. However, it's helpless look made me mourn silently. How could I help it out of this situation?

Ahhhhhhhhhggggggrrrr!

A rather hard rock rolled next to my foot. I picked it up and scoped out my surroundings. If I could only hit the little creatures..

Thunk...

Guess my aim is perfect!

Thunk, Creature number one down, and two along with it. They scrambled about as scrambled eggs in a frying pan did. Thunk...Another one down. There were at least five more I had to aim at while rocks kept rolling near my foot. I didn't know where they, the rocks, came from, but I was thankful for them anyhow.

Thunk..

"Run fuh' yer' lives!" One of the creatures spotted me, "It's a girl-ay! She has de' rock-ays!" Before I could take another breath, the creatures were out of sight.

Cautiously, I approached the beast. "Hi...umm..I'm Kara.. If I set you free from these ropes, are you going to hurt me?" My dumbfounded appearance matched my question.

"Nooo..." The beast's voice sounded a tad raspy, deep, and drawn out.

I slowly untied the ropes, which weren't tied well at all. I surprised myself by trusting a beast that could very well tear me to shreds with his teeth. The beast was free, for he stood up after I did.

"Thank...You...Ka-rah." The beast thanked me.

Smiling at his kind face, I asked, "What's your name?"

He, I was now sure the beast was a male, answered, "Ludo.."

"Nice to meet you. What'dya say we ditch this popsicle stand and find a way to the Goblin City?" My immediate amiability forced a grin on Ludo's face.

Taking my hand, Ludo led me away from the shrubbery, and onto a whole new part of Labby-Land.