A/N;

I Stomp onstage and you see that I am very frustrated and agitated. "FOR THE ELEVENTH TIME! I DO NOT OWN THE CHARACTERS IN THIS STORY!" I slam my fist against a wall, then yowl in pain and shake my hand vigorously. I glare. "NOR DO I EVER PLAN ON MAKING ANY MONEY OFF OF THIS." I huff offstage and mutter, "It's just for fun, peoplz, geez!"

A small man in a purple suit steps into place where I had formerly been. "Please enjoy her newest installment, my friends. She's only cranky because she's had one too many sleepless nights and I'm pretty sure she's high on coffee."

A coffee mug comes flying from offstage and would have hit the man in the purple waistcoat had he not moved in time. He sent a glare back the way the mug had travelled, then smiled at you. "Ignore what I just said. Read the story and take to heart all that the she-wolf says."

Willy strode outside and turned his head from side to side as if searching for something. He gave up after a few minutes of intense eyestrain and took off his hat and scratched his head. "I know I left it here.." He muttered to himself. "Maybe it's a little further on." He kept on walking down the stone-lined walkway of the castle, then seemed to hit an invisible wall and bounced back off with an 'Omphf'. Scrub hurried to his side and helped him up. "I guess I found it.." He laughed out dazedly, but moaned and held his stomach as she hauled him to his feet. "Someone make the ground stop spinning."

Scrub shook her head and bit back giggles. "I'd forgotten how easily you get dizzy." She hesitantly, in order not to suffer Willy's fate, approached the Elevator and felt out the door. She tried a button and the door slid open with a ding. "Willy, how do you make it more..um..seeable?"

"Oh, wait just a moment." He fumbled in his pockets and came up a black, square object. He pressed his thumb down and the Elevator beeped twice and immediately emitted a purple glow.

"Nice!" Scrub ejaculated enthusiastically. "Does it do strobe, too?"

Willy smirked. "Of course! And it has a disco feature." Scrub grinned and literally jumped for joy. Sarah rolled her eyes and refused to be surprised. The others were just plain confused, after all, disco was not something they had been exposed to. Swords and castle mannerisms, sure, but when it came to Gloria Gaynor or Kool and the Gang, they were as stumped as..well...a stump.

Jareth, however, was neither confused nor impressed, he pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "So tell me again how in the world a few inches of glass is supposed to withstand an entire battalion of Knids."

"Well, its very strong glass..." Willy said uncertainly. "And it did well the first time this happened."

"The first time?" Jareth's jaw dropped. "You mean this has happened before?"

"Yes, only it was in Outer Space and Charlie was with me and there was a space hotel and the president thought we were terrorists. Then we saved them and we weren't terrorists anymore and the bed wasn't a bomb and the president wanted us to visit the White House, everyone was going to be there, even his cat Mrs. Taubsypuss and his nanny." Willy explained with a tiny, nostalgic smile.

"Ummm..." Sarah glared at Scrub, who shrugged. This guy was madder than Hatter! If this was the man that she expected everyone to put up with, no matter how helpful he was, then there would be repercussions. Most notably those of an insane variety.

"Listen peoplz, I know it sounds far-fetched, but this is our only chance. Willy can help us, we just need to let him..." Scrub said defensively. "Besides, he's said he's got experience with this sort of thing and I see no reason why anyone should say he isn't fit for it. Sarah, you're just going to have to tough it out. You may be the Champion and whatnot, but you can't do this without people by your side." She crossed her arms stubbornly. "And as I aim to stick as close to your hieney as is humanly possible, I suggest you get used to it."

Sarah's mouth dropped open, Scrub had never talked like that to her before. She felt angry and hurt at her words and tears stung her eyes. Jareth put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed lightly. "She's right, you know."

This surprised even Scrub. "I am?" She squeaked, then cleared her throat and held her head a bit higher. "Oh, right, of course I am."

Jareth nodded solemnly and rubbed at Sarah's back, trying to calm her down. "Sarah, you seriously weren't thinking of doing this alone, were you?" He kneeled before her and brushed back a tendril of hair that had fallen into her face. "My Precious Thing, I never would allow you, however honorable your intentions, to go to your possible doom. If you should march yourself to face death itself, I would follow you." Sarah's anger waned as she looked around and saw similar emotions playing across the people whom she had come to know as family or better. Scrub, who had always made her laugh and had helped her through her awkward transition from unemployed high school student to a reasonably read columnist at the local newspaper, Jareth, who had taught her life lessons by dragging her through his Labyrinth, Mirwana, who had shown her a quality of kindness beyond any degree, and the Hatter, who, through his own unbeknownst care for her best friend, had helped her to realize what had happened between her and a certain Goblin King.

And as she took in the merry band of misfits and the newest addition to the lively crew that was to be her personal army if need be, she knew that what had come to her had come to her because of a certain factor. Who says that when Fate is weaving on her loom that she does not place a certain thread in a certain place so that a particular person may be led on to victory by discovering the true beauty that lies within one's self? And for sure, it is the absolute gospel truth that one should see one's own best qualities through his or her greatest friends. In this epiphany, she saw that while her friends may also be her crutch, they were also leaning on her. In fact, they were all limping along together in this great, perilous adventure that would lead each along a slightly different path in life.

So, she let go of her strife and continued forward with a simple reply. "Let's get ready to kick some Vermicious ass!"

{~A Small While Later~}

With a great effort, the group had managed to lug the Elevator into the castle, but only so far as the front hall because it was too big to be expected to fit anywhere else. Currently, Willy was explaining the positive influences that being in the possession of the Elevator would have on the upcoming battle. "This button right here activates the rockets." Willy pointed to one labeled 'Blast Off'. "That's how we're going to get into their ranks, by flying right over their ugly head-ends. They'll be so surprised that they won't have time to attack before we...uhh..errr.." His sentence sank and his expression with it. "Exactly what are we going to do to them?"

Sarah's eyes widened. " You mean you haven't got a plan!" She shrieked. "I thought you were supposed to be a genius!"

"What do you mean he has no plan?" Asked Jareth as he entered the room, an apple in hand.

"Wonka doesn't have a plan?" Inquired Hatter with only a hint of satisfaction.

"I think we've established that point already." Growled Sarah, causing Willy to raise an eyebrow.

"Well, he'd better come up with one quick." All the heads turned to see a butterfly float into the room. "Because we've got a bit of a problem." It said in a deep, bored voice, as if it hadn't the cares of the rest of them. It fluttered over to the window and settled on the sill. "Look." He pointed with on of his antennae.

Sarah massaged her temples. "Could someone please tell me why that butterfly is talking? Am I the only one hearing him..her..it or am I going completely bonkers?"

Hatter chuckled. "You're as sane as anyone here.." Sarah groaned in distress, but he ignored her.

The deep blue insect flew right up to her face. "First of all, I am a he, stupid girl." It/He beat his wings furiously. "Secondly, LOOK OUT THE BLOODY-ARSED WINDOW!" He commanded in a resonating baritone that did not logically comply with his size.

She complied with a shake of her weary head and jogged over to the nearest window (the one on whose that he'd formerly been perching) and called over her shoulder as she stared out the open window. "I don't see what all the shouting is about..." Then she saw what was wrong. "SCRUB!" She shouted. "GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE!"

"Watch your mouth, young lady." Scrub said in a mocking, motherly tone. Then, she froze as she caught sight of what was happening outside.

"Son of a rotten Snozzberry!" She cursed loudly. The rest of the company entered the room, drawn in by the multiple curses now spewing forth from the girls mouths like word vomit.

"What's wrong, dears?" Asked a more than slightly pink Mirwana.

"We've got company." Scrub answered darkly.