Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters used in the movie, Labyrinth, even though I do in my dreams. But that's another story in itself.

A/N: I know I said I would put the rest of Act 2 up in one shot, however, that has been more easily said than done. I've been having trouble with Chapter 25 being that it turned out to be 22 pages long. And so I have divided it into two chapter and so the end of Act 2 is now Chapter 26. I will be putting up Chap 24 tomorrow but until then I decided to put up 23 so that you can read this and be prepared for all the new revelations I'll be throwing your way. Enjoy!

Chapter 23

It was dark. And her magical bubble had popped almost immediately. Inside the cave it was dry and warm. No one would've been able to guess that they were still beneath a pond. With a wave, her orb illuminated her surroundings. Carefully, she stepped further, looking for anything that would lead to him.

"Jareth!"

She walked to a darkened corner that refused to lighten.

She placed a hand to it only to have it disappear. She stepped through and appeared in small field of blossoms that looked like green strawberries.

"What the…? I wonder if the Beatles know about this."

"Is that appropriate attire for royalty?" a familiar voice surrounded her. She turned to convince herself that she was not hearing things. But there he stood. The Goblin King dressed in tight grey breeches and beautiful white poet's shirt. His eyes still held her captivated. His hair still very much like a lion's. Without thinking she threw herself at him and wrapped her arms around his waist and held on tightly.

"There There Sarah. I should've known you would not give up." he said rubbing her back.

He rested his chin atop her head.

The concern in his eyes still hidden from her.

"Sarah, you know that this was not a wise decision. You should not have come. I only left to save you and the others."

She lifted her head from his lean muscled chest and looked directly into his eyes.Her response was a tightening in her chest and her fast beating heart. He noticed her eyes lower to his lips and with much restraint he lifted his gloved hand gently placing it to her cheek. His thumb wandered to her lips she closed her eyes and imagined his lips touching her own. Her entire body vibrated at the mere thought of him standing so close and felt him closing the small gap between them. His hand slide down to her neck and she prepared to lose herself within his kiss when she felt his forehead rest on hers.

"I need to get you out of the Underground and get rid of my uncle." he sighed so low she barely heard it. But the moment she had registered her eyes snapped open.

"Jareth" she took his hand that had been resting on her neck, "there's a small problem. Your uncle has taken my friend."

"What do you mean? Is it Heggle? You see, I knew that dwarf would get himself into some sort of trouble…"

"No it's not Hoggle. He's taken my friend from the Aboveground. In exchange for your amulet."

His hand touched his symbol of power as if by instinct, "What? How did this happen? How? We are not allowed to return Aboveground unless we are summoned. That law has been in affect since we were brought here."

"Well they've found a way. Jacob was Aboveground for at least a month. That was how I met him. He knew my friend. He worked along side her."

"This is quite unusual. I don't like this. Did you ever see my uncle Aboveground?"

"No."

"Then he must not be able togo up there. Otherwise he would have been terrorizing everyonethere already. But my concern is my darling little cousin. Had I known this I would not have left you. Wait a moment, where is Paralda? Why are you here alone? I'm going to have a word with our smoky friend. How dare he leave you to fend for yourself?"

"Hey, I can take care of myself. Was it not me who got into the Goblin Castle and won my brother back? Besides, Paralda is under attack as we speak. He sent me to your parents castle with Rastrin and Sielke."

"Is that so? And where are they?"

"I lost them."

"I see. You have grown physically but your maturity and intellect have not matured in the slightest."

She let his hand go and stepped back.

"Look I didn't come here so you could wave your finger at me. I'm not a child."

"Then do not act like one." he sighed and took her hand again.

"Sarah, I understand that you may want to help us and the Underground but your presence here is doing more harm than good. And I will not have that."

She pulled her had from his grasp.

"I was called here, Jareth. I was sent for. It's not like last time when I carelessly wished someone away. I'm needed here and I am not going anywhere until I know that everyone is safe. Besides this time it's not your decision. It's mine.Now that I am your equal."

"You are an insufferable, stubborn…"

"Thank you. I agree with you. But if you can recall this insufferably stubborn little girl beat the Labyrinth. So imagine what that little girl can accomplish as a grown woman." she turned her back to him and headed back to the cave, "Let's go" she threw over her shoulder.

The Goblin King stood there shocked as he looked at the woman his Sarah had become. She truly had the courage and heart of a queen.

He followed Queen Sarah through the cave.

Hoggle was seated next to Myra on the floor of the closet still waiting for the goblins return. She had spent the last 20 minutes staring at Briegal and Konile. They were both achingly beautiful. Their wings shimmered like the Aurora Borealis.

Briegal noticing the look in the mortal's eyes went to sit next to her.

"You are a friend of Queen Sarah's?" he whispered.

"Queen?" I am Sarah's friend but are we talking about the same Sarah. Sarah Williams?"

" One in the same." he smiled

" Holy SH…Crap." she turned to look at him, "I knew she would somehow be connected to this place but I had no idea. Man, this is amazing. My best friend, a Queen."

"Yes, she was shocked when I told her as well."

"I bet. Are you both are Sylphs?" Myra asked pointing to their wings.

"Yes." Briegal answered. "Sarah didn't know what I was when she first met me." the two sylphs giggled, 'She asked if I was an angel."

Konile was confused, turning to Myra, "What is an angel exactly?"

So interested in their discussion no one noticed that Hoggle was pressed to the floor looking through the small opening at the bottom of the door.

"SSHHHHH! Someones comin."

Just as they all stood to move to the back of the closet Konile and Briegal stopped and gasped in unison, "It's Paralda."

"how do you know? Alls I could see was feet." Hoggle wondered.

The young female said, "He's calling to us. Wait, I'm going to tell him we are in here."

She closed her eyes for a moment then snapped them open again.

"Briegal, he needs our strength." they both became smoke and floated under the door straight to their leader.

Now Myra was pressed to the floor trying to make out what was happening. It didn't help that the limited view only allowed her to see up to their knees. But in a moment they all heard a loud thud as all the Fae guards fell to the hard stone floor.

Hoggle stood up in a hurry pulling the mortal with him.

The door opened and there stood the beautiful and elegant Sylph leader with the two younger ones following close behind.

Myra, for the first time in her life, was speechless. She just stared with her jaw hanging open. He was the most beautiful man…uh…creature she had ever seen.

Paralda hadn't taken his eyes from Myra but his held amusement rather than amazement. He finally addressed the others in his melodic tone.

"Sir Ludo, please help me with the fallen guards. We'll need to stash them in here so that no one will realize we've escaped."

He walked over to a still open mouthed Myra and took her hand in his, placing a gentle kiss. "My Lady" and sent to her, 'I am enchanted that my appearance pleases you so.'

She quickly noticed that he had spoken to her without moving his lips.

She thought to herself, 'I hope he can't see my thoughts, otherwise he might have seen himself naked.'

His eyes seemed to twinkle as the corners of his mouth lifted.

He turned to the others to supervise the hiding of the guards giving her the full pleasure of embarrassment that turned her features the same color as her hair.

Jacob was seated on his cousin's throne when his father strolled in.

"Making yourself at home. I see."

"Yes, father. I believe I'll be rather comfortable here with my Queen at my side."

"You mean that red-haired mortal. I presume."

"Perhaps, she does have her fine points. She'll certainly make for an eventful existence."

"Good. I'm glad to see that you have come to your senses when it comes to that other mortal. Sarah. Yes, she'll be a fine consort for me or maybe I shall add her to my collection." waving his hand he produced a shiny glass shard. He peered into it and looked over all the lovely young woman held within.

"I'm quite proud of my collection."

Jacob came up behind his father looking over his shoulder.

"Father? Which one is my mother?"

ÆRNAY's quick movements seemed to scare Jacob into stepping back. The shard disappeared

"Why do you care? It doesn't matter who she is. The most important thing is that you are my son and that one day you will be High King of the Underground. As it should be. Not Jareth. He's not fit to rule this pigsty let alone our entire world."

"Yes Father."

"Have the guards come back with that winged menace?"

"Oh yes father. I've seen him already I've told the guards to chain him in iron."

"WHY DID YOU NOT CALL ME! HOW DARE YOU GO OVER MY HEAD!" WHERE HAVE THEY TAKEN HIM?"

Jacob scowled and motioned to his father to follow him.

"They've taken him to the living quarters to be held in the room just down the hall from us. So that we may keep an eye on him. Really father he'll be quite safe and I did not wish to disturb you while you went for a flight."

Jacob opened the door to the room where Paralda should have been held.

His father strolled in.

"WELL? WHERE IS HE JACOB?"

Jacob stepped into the room and forced down his last bit of courage.

"Maybe they misunderstood my instructions and placed him somewhere else."

"You know what I think? I think he is gone. Because you are a worthless nothing. I should've known better than to leave you alone even for a moment. Now I know I was mistaken in thinking that you could lead even this bit of rabble."

ÆRNAYturned from his visibly shaken son to exist the room. But before he made his final exit he turned one more time to have one last dig, " You were always incompetent."

Thank you all who reviewed you truely make this worth while for me. To all who are reading and have not reviewed I am still grateful that you deem my story worth reading.

XOXOXO