"This is so awesome!" Sarah cheered. At the present moment, she was running around Jareth's throne room like a chicken with its head cut off. Or, probably more accurately, like a goblin drunk on ale.

"It pleases me that you approve." He chuckled as he watched her race around the room, chasing chickens and goblins alike. Never had his subjects had to deal with such an...exuberant child. They didn't know quite what to make of her...nor did they know to keep out of arm's reach.

It was what they called Spring Break in the human realm, which meant Sarah was free from primary school - otherwise called Elementary in her part of the world. Of course, her adoring parents took this as a perfect time to go on an extended holiday and leave Sarah with that undying babysitter of hers.

It had taken just a small bit of magic to convince said babysitter that Sarah's parents had in fact not called her and she was thus easily exempted from her role as Sarah's weeklong caretaker.

After all, it was a role a certain Goblin King was more than happy to play.

"Sarah, please release Mr. Swilltop now," Jareth requested, kneeling in front of the little girl. The already-green little goblin she had within her clutches was looking a bit worse for wear.

She was reluctant to drop the poor thing, pouting as he scrambled away as fast as his little feet could carry him. To Jareth's surprise, Sarah had not been the least bit shy or scared of the goblins that inhabited his kingdom and infested his castle. In fact, she was quite enamored with them.

"Let's play a game, Sarah," Jareth announced as he straightened back up. Walking over to his throne, he draped himself across it in his usual reclining pose.

The girl was at his side in an instant. Her hands rested on the seat under the shadow of his leg, which was propped up on the armrest of his chair, and she was nearly vibrating in excitement.

"What game are we gonna play?" she queried.

"Trust me, it's very simple. Actually, it is a spinoff of one of your games; House. How about we play Castle?" he asked, flashing her a toothy grin.

The little girl squealed in delight. "Yes yes yes! Who do I get to be?"

"The Princess, of course! And I shall be the King."

Her brows knitted together. "But you're already a King. It's not a game if you're playing yourself."

Jareth blinked."Well, yes. I do suppose so. Who would you have me be?"

"A Prince!" came Sarah's quick reply.

He rolled his eyes to counter the smile that was threatening to pull up his lips. "Oh fine then. Shall I look the part?"

Sarah cocked her head - a new habit she had gleaned from a certain friend. "What do you mean?"

Smirking, Jareth summoned a crystal and slowly rose from his throne. "You may want to stand back."

Sarah obediently took a couple steps away, now bubbling with excitement. She knew Jareth only asked her to step back when he was about to do something spectacular with his magic.

The King did not disappoint. Rising from his throne, he rolled the crystal over his hand a couple times before letting it drop to the floor before his feet. There was a loud POP and the crystal exploded with a large, silvery cloud that surrounded Jareth's entire form.

As the glittering smoke came wafting toward her, Sarah fanned it out of her face. When it completely cleared, the little girl gasped at the sight before her.

Where Jareth had been there now stood a little boy around Sarah's age - seven or so - with a toothy smirk and mismatched eyes. His features were soft but still angular and his golden hair was gathered into a ponytail at the back of his neck. He wore the same clothes (black breeches and a maroon ruffled shirt) as the tall King that had been in his place not moments before.

"Jareth?" Sarah asked.

"Yes, precious?" the boy replied. His voice was quite a couple octaves higher but still unmistakable.

Jareth's grin grew wider, and Sarah's grew to match.

"Let's explore!" she cheered, turning to the throne room door.

"Wait, not yet," urged Jareth. Sarah frowned, but turned back to him.

"Are we quite properly clothed?" He asked, raising a fine brow.

Sparing a quick glance to her faded yellow t-shirt and well-worn overalls, she shrugged her shoulders. "It's just for pretend."

"Oh, but it's so much more fun to pretend when you have a costume!" Jareth exclaimed, balancing on the balls of his feet and grinning like mischief. Perhaps it was due in part to his child form, but he looked positively impish.

"Alright, but I don't want to be a Princess," Sarah declared.

Now it was Jareth's turn to frown, lower lip jutting out in a pout. He had wanted nothing more than to dress her up in a well-tailored, beautiful, regal ballgown fit for a tiny princess.

"Well then what do you want to be?" he asked, unable to keep his tone entirely free of petulance.

"I'll be a knight! That way I can protect the Prince!" she declared, placing her hands upon her hips and striking a most dashing pose.

Jareth couldn't stop a smirk. She would want to play the heroine.

"Oh, very well."

Quickly summoning two crystals, he dropped them before his and Sarah's feet. This time, they were both enveloped in a shimmering silver cloud of magic.

Once the cloud had disappeared, Sarah looked down at herself. She squealed in delight when she found she had been clothed in real golden metal armor. Even more delightful, an authentic (but quite blunt) sword swung at her hip.

"I have a cape!" she exclaimed happily, noticing the red cloak draping from her shoulders.

"As do I," said Jareth. He had clothed himself in finery that greatly resembled Prince Charming from Cinderella. Sarah didn't particularly care for the main characters of that movie, but she loved the mice. He knew she would recognize and appreciate the reference. Adjusting the epaulettes on his shoulders, he hooked a thumb in his golden belt and flashed her a smile.

"We match!" Sarah commented.

"Indeed we do. Shall we go on an adventure?" he queried.

"Alright!" Sarah unsheathed her sword and pointed it into the sky. "Onwards!"

The boy simply shook his head and smirked. "Protect me well, brave knight."

In the blink of an eye, Sarah's expression lost all of its youthful playfulness. Sheathing her sword, she surprised Jareth by kneeling at his feet. Placing her hand on her breastplate, right over her heart, she vowed, "I swear to you that I shall protect you with my life."

She dropped character by letting out a cheerful giggle. Standing once more, she turned away charged out of the throne room with a fierce battle cry. Jareth was left behind, dazed by his wonder at her.

Softly, he sighed.

"Oh, but Sarah," he murmured into the quiet of his throne room, "Something of mine has already been stolen. Something precious. And you're the one who took it from me."

The little prince's steps echoed as he followed his knight in shining armour out of the castle and into the Goblin City.