Ludo ambled quietly behind Sir Didymus, his tummy rumbling with hunger. Suddenly his eyes widened as he caught sight of a castle tower upon the horizon. "Look yonder, milady, there is the castle yet seek." The little fox cried, pulling Ambrosious to a stop and looking round for Sarah. "Where hast thou gone, milady?" Ludo swung around, panic written across his sweet face. Neither one of them saw the orb floating through the sky above them as the raced back down the path. "Why, they hath both gone missing!" Sir Didymius exclaimed as they searched the area. Ludo threw back his ginger head and let out a mournful cry. "Saaaraaah!"

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Sarah was floating, flying high above the ground, dancing among the stars. She didn't hear her friends calling out for her, in fact she had pretty much forgotten about them. Suddenly a glowing orb came into view, swirling around her in a playful dance. Then it froze in front of her face, shivering with magic as she caught sight of an opulent ballroom. Enchanted by the glorious dresses, she barely noticed that the orb was growing larger and larger until it swallowed her up. It zipped across the starry sky as Sarah found herself clothed in a beautiful pale green gown standing in the midst of the ball.

The sea of people swarmed closer to her, the men dressed in elegant suits with leering looks upon their faces and the women wearing extravagant dresses, eyes full of disdain for her. Sarah felt her heart pounding against her chest and instantly felt small and very unimportant. Turning her face from the people, she studied the decor, noting the old candle wax that lined the walls. This place must be hundreds if not thousands of years old! The thought startled her and she glanced back at the people. She was struck by the strangeness of them, their pale skin peeking from behind gaudy masks and the way they swayed to the music, as if they were under a spell.

Across the room lounged other people, either standing against pillars or sitting crowded together in pits. They laughed, eyes roving around the room as glowing orbs danced in orbit around them. Sarah backed up, arms behind her searching for something to hold onto. Where am I? She wondered, spying a tall grandfather clock in the corner just about to chime 12 o'clock. She hit something and turned around slowly as she realized that she had backed into someone.

Jareth gazed down at his, clothed in an lace-edged jacket with a grouping of fabric at his neck. The brilliant blue made his two different colored eyes startling. A crooked smile spread across his face as he held up a mask to cover his face. The mask was golden with horns atop a devilish face. Jareth bowed, his left arm sweeping in front of him. He dropped the mask to the floor as he straightened, eyes sparkling mischievously. Sarah stared in amazement at him as he held out a hand to her.

Cautiously she stepped towards him and was swept into his arms. Before she could speak, Jareth was leading her in a hypnotic dance across the floor. The other dancers parted, leaving the center open for them. Sarah could feel the heat creeping up her neck under his intense gaze. She tried to focus on moving but her eyes uncontrollably turned to his. "I feel...like this is a dream and I'm going to wake up soon." She said softly, turning her gaze downwards. "You must resist that, Sarah." He purred, bending closer. "For this is the one place you will truly be happy."

Sarah jerked back, eyes wide in wonder. "How? And what about my friends and Michael...my father? I'll never see them again!" She cried out, halting the dance. Jareth smiled again though she noticed a tightening around his mouth. "They will just try to make you something that you're not." He soothed, pulling her back into the dance. "Once you succumb to their wishes, you will never be able to be yourself...at least not truly."

Sarah felt her head nodding slowly as he pulled her closer in his embrace. "Don't you trust me, Sarah?" He murmured in her ear, his breath tickling her face. "Yes." She breathed, heart racing as he pulled back to look down on her. Their eyes locked and Jareth leaned closer to her, eyes roving across her face until they settled on her lips. Her breath caught in her throat as he arched his neck slightly, lips moving to meet hers.

Sarah could scarcely breath, the hairs on her neck bristling. This is wrong. came the thought and she turned her head sharply away, wrenching herself from his embrace. Stumbling back, she realized that the dancers had cleared away from them. The clock struck the hour - twelve o'clock. Everything around seemed to shimmer like a veil was being lifted. Sarah caught sight of Jareth's face, once was warm and inviting was no cold and unfeeling. He moved towards her and she fled, running towards a mirror that she hadn't noticed before. It bulged outward, convulsing about like something alive. She could feel him gaining on her so with a cry, she threw herself forward.

The mirror shattered around her, sending her careening forward. She fell quickly, the stars shooting past her. She opened her mouth to scream but nothing came out, only silence met her ears. Movement down below caught her eye and she spied Sir Didymus and Ludo searching the woods. She couldn't hear anything that they were saying and she sped past them in a moment.

Speeding towards her was a hurricane of things, flying fast. She shielded herself with her hand as she flew straight into the middle of the hurricane. Something struck her elbow and she peeked through her fingers. I recognize that picture. She stared at her father's face floating past her. This is my stuff from my room!

Suddenly she found herself standing in her room, surrounded by familiar toys and furniture. Relief flooded her as she sank into the chair in front of her desk. I'm home.