***This is my little tribute to the memory of David Bowie who will always be the Goblin King. May he reign forever.***

Take note that I've fudged the timeline on when Sarah's original journey occurred for various stylistic reasons. In this story, Sarah's original trip to the Labyrinth occurred at the beginning of summer in 1996, NOT 1986.

I own my original characters and the precise order I put my words down in. The world and characters of the Labyrinth film will sadly never belong to me. I just like to play in their sandbox. I make no money off of this. Seriously. As I'm self-employed and a bit obsessive, I think I might actually be losing money because of it. That said, if anyone owns a spare Jareth, I'm happy to give him a good home. I have references.

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NOTE: THIS CHAPTER HAS BEEN UPDATED TO CLARIFY A CONFUSING SECTION. After receiving some questions, I decided to update the portion of this chapter where Marvok explains the function of the Labyrinth and the nature of goblins. Everything else is the same. As this information is important to the plot, I wanted to make certain that it was understandable. Please let me know if I've succeeded or if it still needs work. Thanks so much to all of you for reading. Extra special thanks to foolalex and those who sent PMs to let me know this wasn't as clear as I'd intended. This sort of feedback really helps me improve my work and I am incredibly appreciative. :)

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Well now you're only fifteen/
And you look good/
I'll take you under my wing/
Somebody should/
They've persuasive ways/
And you'll believe what they say/
It's just a question of time/
It's running out for you/
It won't be long until you'll do/
Exactly what they want you to.

~ from A Question of Time by Depeche Mode

The next two weeks fell into a comfortable rhythm. At school, Sarah hung out with Nikki and her other friends from the drama club. Afterwards, she went home, changed, and went to the park. Half of the time, Sarah was put through more of Marvok's agonizing "physical conditioning." Once she collapsed, she consumed whatever food or drink the goblins presented to her. Then, she would return to the clearing and Marvok would instruct her through a sequence of slow, graceful movements that he called "forms." He assured her that these would eventually turn into actual fighting skills. On alternate days, she was only forced to go for a short warmup run before spending the rest of her time focused on her forms and developing her ability with the Darkblade. It was never easy. The damn thing fought her at every turn. Regardless, she always forced it to obey in the end.

After her training, Sarah would go home, shower, and have dinner with her family. The evenings were spent doing homework and further research. In her dreams, Marvok trained her in mental exercises that were meant to develop her magical control. He explained that Fae children spent the better part of a century perfecting these exercises before learning any actual magic. "You," he promised, "are a much faster study." Marvok enchanted her tea to make her fall asleep every night. She let him. She needed that sleep.

Sarah and her father never discussed what happened the morning before the first day of school. He didn't say another word about it, so she held her tongue. Karen questioned Sarah's new-found obsession with physical fitness after the first week. "Sweetie, you know I want to support your choices, but you don't have to put yourself through this. You have a lovely figure. I know how much pressure is on young women these days to keep up a certain appearance, but you shouldn't listen to that nonsense. You're a beautiful young lady and I never want you to let anyone tell you otherwise."

Sarah stared at Karen in surprise before bursting into laughter. "Is that what you think this is about? Have you seen how much I eat lately?"

Karen gave her a puzzled look. "This isn't about your figure?"

Sarah shook her head, still giggling. "Hardly. If I wanted to get the current "in" look I'd need to starve myself. I'm doing this for me, Karen. I want to be in better shape because I want to be stronger, not because I want to be prettier."

Despite their conversation, Karen still seemed confused and a bit worried about Sarah, but as she watched Sarah at meals, she realized that her stepdaughter ate healthfully and even ate more than was previously normal. After that, Karen gave her full support to Sarah's interest. She bought Sarah new workout clothes and running shoes over the weekend before the third week of school started.

On the third Monday after school started, Nikki's time of imprisonment had finally come to an end. Nikki insisted that they go out and celebrate her release, but Sarah was torn. It wasn't as though she didn't want to see Nikki, but today was one of her harder training days.

"I really want to hang out, but I have other obligations," Sarah explained. "If we wait until tomorrow, we can go to Fast Times, my treat."

Nikki sighed. "Is Karen forcing you to babysit the Golden Prince again?"

Sarah shook her head. "It's not like that. Karen's been great this summer. Besides, he was a hellion last year because he was teething. He's way easier to deal with now."

Nikki shot her a disbelieving look. Sarah rolled her eyes at her friend. "Seriously, Nikki. It's not like it was. Remember how she stood up for me when my dad lost it on the first day of school?"

Nikki chewed her bottom lip. "Okay. I admit that it was cool of her to stand up to your dad for you." She sighed. "Fine. But I want you to promise that you won't just sit at the café the whole time we're at Fast Times. I want to play laser tag and you're my partner, Princess."

Sarah laughed. She gave Nikki a mock curtsey. "As you command, oh great one."

Sarah's training session went well that afternoon. She knew that she was getting stronger and faster. Her forms were becoming more fluid. Marvok only hit her with stinging corrections a couple of times during the entire session. At the end, he said, "Good. You are coming along better than I had hoped. Soon enough we should be able to move on to working with two blades instead of one."

Sarah's eyes widened. "Two blades? I'm supposed to do this while controlling multiple Darkblades?"

Marvok nodded. "Of course. You have seen us in combat, Champion. You know that shadow goblins wield a pair of them."

"But…I only have the one." Sarah would never forget exactly how unpleasant that experience had been.

"True enough. I crafted a Darkblade and passed it to you after you mastered its power. Soon, it will be time for you to craft one of your own making. It is a necessary step." Marvok gave her a pointed look.

Sarah knew better than to argue with him. After all, she had asked for this training. She didn't want him to change his mind. Sarah took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay. Whenever you think I'm ready."

Marvok simply smiled.

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The next afternoon, Nikki and Sarah headed to Fast Times after school. It was, without question, the single most popular hangout for the kids from their school. The place featured both an indoor go-cart track and an outdoor one, a mini-golf course, a bowling alley, an arcade, a café, and three laser tag arenas. There was even a bar/arcade combo for adults, but Sarah had never been past the smoked glass doors that led into that area.

Because Fast Times was on the edge of town, they took Nikki's ancient VW Beetle instead of walking. The previous owner had painted the little car with black and white stripes. Nikki fell in love with the old thing and named it Beetlejuice. Even though it was hideous, Sarah had been jealous when Nikki got the car the spring before. Sarah had skipped first grade, so she was younger than the other kids in her class. She longed for the freedom of being able to drive herself places and had already passed her driver's ed course during the spring semester. She could only hope that her parents decided to get her a car for her sixteenth birthday. Her training schedule didn't really leave much time for an after school job.

The girls grabbed a snack at the café while waiting for the other kids Nikki invited to arrive. Sarah looked up from her mocha and asked, "Who are we waiting for anyway? You never said who was coming."

Nikki grinned sheepishly. "I may have invited Jerome…and told him it was cool if Eric came with." She gave Sarah a hopeful look. "You don't mind, do you?"

Nikki had had a crush on Jerome since sixth grade. The two had been neighbors since kindergarten, but he'd seemed unaware of the fact that Nikki was a girl until this year. He'd always been nice enough. Sarah didn't really know him that well. Jerome wasn't in the drama club like his best friend, Eric, was, so she hadn't spent that much time around him. Eric had always been a sweetheart and one of the few kids who never teased Sarah about her daydreaming. She smiled and gave Nikki's hand a squeeze. "It's fine, Nikki. This is supposed to be your celebration."

Nikki sighed in relief. "Thanks. I knew you'd get it."

A voice called out from behind them, "Nikki! Sarah!"

They turned and waved at the two males approaching their table. Jerome was tall, dark, and well-built. He was cute enough, but not so much that Sarah understood her friend's obsession. Eric was just as tall, but blond and lanky. Overall, Sarah found him much more attractive. When Nikki didn't respond, Sarah glanced at her. Nikki was blushing a brilliant scarlet. In an attempt to save her friend embarrassment, Sarah turned back towards the guys and teased, "We were wondering when you two would show up. Did you get lost?"

Eric laughed. "You know how it is." He punched Jerome lightly on the arm. "This guy has no sense of direction."

Jerome glared at his friend. "No sense of direction, my ass! We'll see how cocky you are in the maze!"

Eric groaned. Sarah looked at them curiously. "The maze?"

Jerome grinned. "They added a new laser course over the summer. It's this awesome maze. They change it every couple of weeks so it doesn't get boring. Eric and I did one-on-one matches in there all summer and I haven't lost yet. It was closed yesterday while they reset it, so you can't say it isn't fair. I'm betting that Nikki and me will beat you two in no time."

Sarah blinked. She hadn't expected her and Nikki to be split up, but one glance at her friend's dreamy expression convinced her to go along with it. Besides, after what she had gone through, she wasn't worried about a laser maze. Sarah arched a brow at Jerome. "I'll take that bet. What's your wager?"

Jerome laughed. "You have no idea what you're in for. Hmmmm…if we win, you and Eric have to pay for all of us to go again this Saturday. If you guys win, I'll pay for all four of us, same time."

Sarah considered her training schedule. Saturday was a light day and since it was her and Nikki and the two guys she could tell her stepmother that it was a double date which would make Karen happy. Even if Sarah and Eric were just friends, it still counted. She nodded at Jerome. "You're on."

Eric and Jerome had already bought their tickets, but Eric walked with Sarah when she went to buy tickets for Nikki and herself. "I hope you know that he's going to be insufferable when we lose," Eric moaned.

Sarah gave him a cheeky grin. "Who said anything about losing?"

Eric rolled his eyes. "You don't get it! Jerome is crazy good at this course. I'm a great shot, but I get way too turned around in there for it to matter."

Sarah looked up at Eric. "Are you a better shot than Jerome?"

He nodded. "Yeah, but like I said…"

Sarah cut him off. "Then we're the perfect team. I'm a regular champion when it comes to mazes. I'll get us through. You focus on taking them down when I find them."

"You're that sure you can navigate the place?" he asked.

Sarah smiled. "It'll be a piece of cake."

Thirty minutes later, Sarah and Eric were strapped with laser tag gear and standing at their starting gate. Eric paced nervously in front of the door while they waited for it to open. Sarah was calm. She could feel the maze waiting for her, welcoming her. She felt the presence of the Labyrinth. It was faint, only an echo of the real thing, but it was enough. Jerome had no chance against the Labyrinth's Champion. Not here.

As the doors slid open, Sarah took the lead. She glanced over her shoulder at Eric. "Stay quiet and follow me."

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Eric followed Sarah into the maze. He'd never seen her so confident before. She'd always been a sweet girl. Her head was in the clouds to be sure, but she'd always been nice. He'd tried to keep the other kids off of her back about her fairy tales, figuring it wasn't easy to have the whole damn world know about your mom running off with a co-star and ditching your family. He figured that fantasy was just how she coped with getting dealt a rotten hand and he knew a bit about how that felt.

Now, Sarah was like a different person. The maze was lit only by black light and it was hard to see clearly, but she didn't seem bothered. She crept forward silently, gracefully, every move radiating certainty. At the first fork, she turned right without hesitation. He whispered, "Sarah, are you sure…"

She turned back to him with one finger pressed to her lips and he fell silent. She definitely seemed to know what she was doing. He followed her through six more turnings and she never even paused. How does she know where to go? he wondered. Finally, Sarah stopped. She cocked her head as though listening. Eric could barely make out Nikki and Jerome whispering on the other side of the wall. He slipped forward and pressed his ear against the wall to hear better; the competition was trying to decide which turn to take.

Sarah tapped his arm to get his attention. He turned towards her and she motioned for him to follow. She slipped into a nearby dead end and started to climb. How is she… Eric looked closer and realized that there was a ladder hidden in the corner, matte black rungs against a matte black wall. How did she even notice that? He shook his head and climbed up behind her. At the top, they were able to reach a hidden walkway that ran inside of the wall. Sarah led him to another ladder and he discovered that there was a room inside of the maze's tower. She pointed to a small platform and Eric smiled. He crept onto it and waited. As Nikki and Jerome walked past him, he easily tagged them both. A bell sounded their victory and the lights came up. Jerome's eyes were wide with shock. "How the hell?" He heard Eric snicker above him. Jerome glared up at his friend. "How did you get up there?"

Eric shrugged. "Sarah wasn't kidding when she told me she was good at mazes and she has eyes like a cat. She saw stuff I never would've spotted in here."

Sarah leaned out above him and waved. "Looks like you're paying this Saturday."

Jerome shook his head, but smiled. "Fine. A deal's a deal. No mazes next time though. We'll see how tough you are on the go-cart track."

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On the drive back to Sarah's place, Nikki was excited to bursting. "I don't know how you did it, Sarah! You have to help me pick out something to wear this Saturday. I want to look hot." Nikki turned and gave Sarah a pleading look. "Tell me you'll help."

Sarah laughed. "Of course I'll help. Not that you need any. Jerome clearly likes you."

"Do you really think so?"

Sarah rolled her eyes. "Obviously. Didn't you notice how he set up for us to go out again on Saturday regardless of who won?"

Nikki chewed her lip. "I guess. But he could have done that because Eric has a thing for you. It may not be about me and him at all."

"If that were true he wouldn't have left you out of paying. If Eric and I lost we were supposed to pay for Saturday, but if you guys lost, he said he'd pay himself. Besides, Eric didn't act interested. He acted like a friend."

Nikki shook her head. "He's probably just shy, Sarah. I've never seen him ask anyone out before." Nikki shot Sarah a look, "Don't you like him?"

Sarah sighed. Eric was attractive, but she wasn't particularly attracted to him. A certain vindictive god-king had sort of set an impossible standard for some high school guy to live up to. However, she couldn't very well tell Nikki that she wasn't interested in Eric because she was too busy fantasizing about the Goblin King. Finally, she said, "I admit that Eric is cute. I'm just not sure he's my type."

Nikki considered this. She was well aware of what type of guys drew Sarah's notice. "So, what you're telling me is that you don't like tall, slender, blue-eyed blondes. Is that what I'm hearing?"

Sarah winced. "I didn't say that…"

Nikki grinned, but didn't say anything in reply. Sarah bit back a groan. She should have known better than to bait her friend like that. Now, Nikki would be hell bent on setting Sarah up with Eric and there was little Sarah could do to discourage her.

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The next three weeks of school were far more difficult for Sarah to manage than the first two had been. While Nikki was grounded, it was easy for Sarah to keep to her training schedule, complete all her schoolwork, and still have plenty of time for her research. Now, Nikki was constantly interfering with Sarah's plans. Not only had Nikki mastered the art of accepting invitations on Sarah's behalf, the blue-haired minx was also adept at winning Karen's support in her endeavors.

As Sarah had feared, Nikki was determined to force Sarah and Eric into a relationship that neither of them seemed eager to be a part of. It wasn't that Sarah didn't like Eric; he was a good friend and wonderful company. She just had no desire to be his girlfriend. For his part, Eric seemed happy with their friendship and never pushed for more. Regardless, Nikki was oblivious to their mutual lack of attraction and nothing Sarah said dissuaded her efforts. Even worse, Jerome had taken up Nikki's cause. Only a week after their afternoon in the laser maze, Jerome and Nikki announced themselves as a couple and Jerome was determined that Eric and Sarah follow suit.

After weeks of this, Sarah was exhausted. She couldn't ignore her training or her homework, but the busy social schedule that Nikki arranged for her left no time for her research or anything else that might interest her. How long has it been since I read a book because I felt like it? Sarah wondered. She was grateful that Karen insisted on buying her concealer before school started. Sarah's skin was smooth and unblemished as polished marble, but she needed the cream to cover up the dark circles under her eyes.

On the last Wednesday of September, Sarah couldn't wait for school to end. She had finally managed to get Nikki to agree to back off for a few days by promising that she'd go to Andrea's party on Saturday. Andrea was the most popular girl in the senior class and her parties were legendary. Sarah had no desire to go. She never went to parties. Besides, she was only invited because she was theoretically Eric's date. None-the-less, sacrifices had to be made. Marvok was determined to teach her how to manifest a second Darkblade and she needed a few days without constant socializing to focus on that. After two days of listening to Nikki beg her to go to the party, Sarah snapped, "Fine! I'll go, but only if you give me the evenings until Saturday to myself."

Nikki gave her a hurt look, "Why are you mad? Don't you like having a social life?"

Sarah sighed, rubbing her temples. She really didn't want to hurt her friend. She knew that Nikki was honestly trying to help her. Sarah tried to sound calm when she answered. "It's not that I'm mad. I'm just not used to this, Nikki. I've never been crazy social like you are. Being around people all the time wears me out. If I'm going to make it through a party, let alone enjoy one, I need some time to myself first. If you had any idea how much concealer it took to cover up the circles under my eyes this morning, you'd understand."

Nikki blinked. "Oh! I didn't think about it like that. I guess I've been pushing you too hard. I was just so happy that you were finally coming out of your shell." Nikki turned huge eyes on Sarah. "Forgive me?"

Sarah hugged her. "You're forgiven, freak. Just give me a little more down time between performances. You don't want me to panic and climb back into that shell, do you?"

When the bell rang that afternoon, Sarah waved at Nikki and headed home. She had bought herself three days of freedom from hanging out. Now, she could focus on what was really important. On the way home she asked Marvok, "Okay. How are we doing this? Should I change to go to the park?"

"No," he said. "It will not harm you to miss a day of physical training. I want you to focus on crafting the blade and that will require substantial energy. It will be easier for you to craft a Darkblade when you are asleep. This realm is not ideal for the creation of such a thing and I assume that you would prefer that I not physically take you to another plane of existence at this time."

Sarah hesitated before answering. Part of her was afraid, but another part desperately wanted to see another world. Finally she asked, "What plane is the best for this?"

Marvok chuckled darkly. "The Nightmare Realm, of course. Where else would one go to craft a perfect fear?"

Sarah swallowed. "You're telling me that there is an actual, physical realm of nightmares?"

Marvok answered, "Not exactly. Technically, only half of the realm would be considered Nightmare. The other half you would call Dream. They are one plane and operate under one set of rules. However, the two regions are so different from each other, that most planar scholars list them as separate realms."

"I see," Sarah commented. The idea that dreams and nightmares came from some alien dimension was unsettling. "In that case, I would rather do this in a dream. Or, in a nightmare, I suppose. I don't really feel like physically traveling to some hellscape today if I have another option."

Marvok's laugh sent a shiver down her spine. "I suspected that you might prefer that. The offer is open if you ever change your mind. I would be delighted to show you my homeland."

Sarah stumbled at his words. "Homeland?" she whispered before she could stop herself. She took a deep breath and focused on communicating mentally. "I thought you were from the Underground, from the Labyrinth."

"I am from the Labyrinth, Champion. While her Heart is in the Underground, She exists in all realms. You personally felt Her presence in that human-built maze a few weeks ago. She is the gateway between dimensions. However, I was not born in the Underground incarnation of the Labyrinth. Like most of my kind, I was born in that portion of the Labyrinth that lies in Nightmare. Before our battle with The Unhallowed, Nessos told you that our kind are…unique. Perhaps we should discuss the nature of She whose Champion you are before continuing. I suspect you have questions."

Sarah nodded weakly and spoke no more as she finished her walk home. When she got to her house, the front door swung open. She didn't question it. Her hands were shaking and it wouldn't have been easy to get her key into the lock. She hiked up the stairs as the door swung shut behind her. Once Sarah was in her room, she sat in her desk chair. Marvok hopped onto the desk and turned to face her, his expression expectant.

She took a slow breath to calm herself. "When Nessos told me how the challenge worked, I was concerned that it would make you guys mortal and put you in danger. He laughed and told me that it would make you exactly as mortal as you were in the Underground."

Marvok gave her an encouraging nod and waited for her to continue.

She looked him straight in the eyes as she spoke. "You're not mortal in the Underground, are you? Fae aren't mortal here because this isn't their home realm and you aren't mortal in the Underground because you're from Nightmare."

Marvok nodded and flashed a wicked smile. "Correct."

"If you're from Nightmare, how are you goblins? Aren't goblins a type of Fae? And don't Fae come from the Underground?" she asked.

Marvok tilted his head, studying her. "Those are not simple questions, Champion. To understand the answers, you will need to have a better understanding of the nature of the Labyrinth. Things are rarely as you might expect and nothing is as simple as you seem to believe." He paused, considering. "There are many realms. So far you have seen only two, the mortal realm and the Underground; however, there are far more you are unaware of. The creatures you call the Fae control a number of these realms. Avalon, Mag Mell, and the Underground are a few of the better-known ones. Of the Fae realms, the Underground is the largest. Additionally, there are many realms which are not under the control of the Fae. Nightmare, the Shifting Lands, and the Mirror Realm are some examples. A number of these realms are controlled by creatures whom are of a magical nature, but are not Fae. Human legend speaks of a few of these creatures. The Djinn, the Yokai, and Dragon-kind are all powerful in their own right, but they are of a different nature. Do you understand?"

Sarah nodded. "There are lots of different realms and only some of them are controlled by the Fae. There are also other realms and other magical races. But what does this…"

She trailed off when she noticed Marvok's irritation. "I did warn you that your questions were not simple ones to answer, did I not?"

Sarah felt heat rise to her cheeks and nodded sheepishly. "Sorry. Please go on."

He sighed before continuing. "The Labyrinth is the place where all realms touch. She is the crossroads between worlds and exists in all realms. However, as I stated before, the Heart of the Labyrinth is anchored to the Underground. There She exists in her purest form. Sadly, this description does not do Her justice. She is far more than a gateway. Our Lady is a mighty realm in Her own right. Great scholars have dedicated countless mortal lifetimes attempting to define Her nature. Regardless, what you need to understand is that the boundaries of the Labyrinth are not limited to any one realm."

That made sense to Sarah. "That's why I could feel the Labyrinth's presence in that laser maze even though it was faint. In some way, She's here even while She's there."

Marvok nodded. "Correct. Because the energies from all realms pour into the Labyrinth and mix there, all of the inhabitants of the Labyrinth are eventually changed by exposure to these mingled energies. The process has been occurring for countless generations. No race that has spent generations within the Labyrinth, or within Her vicinity, has remained as they began. She changes us. That is what goblins are, the realm-touched children of the Labyrinth. The term does not refer to any specific race, but rather to all of those that have been altered by Her power. Because the Heart of the Labyrinth is anchored to a Fae realm, all goblins are at least partially Fae. In most cases, that Fae nature is dominant, but not in all. My people are an extreme exception to this tendency. We are more nightmare than Fae. Thus, we are greatly feared."

Sarah blinked. The pieces were starting to fall into place and the picture that they formed wasn't comforting. "That's why you radiate menace the way that you do. You're actual nightmares."

"Indeed." Marvok's eyes flared brighter and the shadows seemed to warp around him. The subtle threat that normally hung in the air around him twisted and grew. His dark voice whispered, "We are nightmares; we are shadows; we are the heralds of darkness. What you think of as darkness, is merely the absence of light. It is not true darkness. That deeper darkness does not exist in this world naturally, but you have seen it." His power rippled through the room, carrying the promise of pain.

Sarah had not feared Marvok since the night of the blood bond, but in that moment, she did. Once again, she felt like prey trapped by an inescapable predator. She forced herself to speak, "The Darkblades." He said nothing, but he coiled forward to pounce, claws flexing, lips pulled back to reveal razor-edged teeth. Her heartbeat was pounding in her ears. She had to defend herself! She heard her chair topple backwards as she leapt to her feet. Not without a fight, she swore. I'm NOT prey and I will NOT go down easily.

Marvok's delighted laugh cut through her thoughts. He was just Marvok again. He was the same goblin who perched on her shoulder every day, who taught her to fight, and who defended her against monsters. "What?" she demanded. "What's so damn funny?"

He smiled, "Look down, Champion."

Sarah glanced down. She was in one of the fighting stances Marvok himself had taught her. Her Darkblade was manifest and she held it at the ready. She didn't remember calling it. She looked back up at him. "How?"

"You were terribly afraid, but you transformed your fear into defiance and called forth the power that you have mastered." His face showed clear delight. It wasn't an expression she'd seen on him before. "The experiences that humans call nightmares are pale echoes of the realm that spawns them. The sight of Nightmare itself would drive most people mad. I had to be certain you were ready. Otherwise, I could not risk taking you into that realm, not even in your dreams. But you, Champion, you called on fear to fight itself. I am considered powerful. Even here, in this world of iron and logic, I can call forth the energy of my home plane. Now, I have my answer; Nightmare will not be able to break you." His ruby eyes flicked to her Darkblade and back to her face. "You have mastered one fear. Tonight, you will craft one of your own."

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Guest, Thouerisz, SarahlouiseDodge, cchimp123, eternallycaptivated, Bloodmoon Goddess, and foolalex: Thank you so much for your kind words! I can't say how much they mean to me. I am so happy about the responses I'm getting on this story. It's definitely keeping my motivation levels up. :) To you I send all my fuzzy thoughts and dreams of a world where chocolate is calorie-free and cures all disease.

Thouerisz and Bloodmoon Goddess: Sarah still has a lot of growing up to do, but she's getting stronger every day. As for the shadow goblins, they're hers now. She's stuck with them. Or maybe it's more fair to say that they're stuck with her. ;)

foolalex: Unfortunately for Sarah, Darkblades are never exactly tame. As the physical manifestation of a primal fear, they will always try to gain the upper hand. They're predatory and it's simply in their nature. The longer she has the blade and the more she works with it, the more it will be inclined to obey her demands. Also, thank you so much for pointing out the pronunciation issue. I hope my note cleared it up. I had actually written all of that out and then failed to include it.

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Thanks so much to everyone who has favorited or followed this work and to all of my lovely reviewers. It makes my day to receive this feedback. I wish you all dreams of the Goblin King.

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