Disclaimer: I own nothing but my own characters and the story line

Being woken by an excited four year old was still Sarah's least favourite way of waking up, even if she did love him to bits. However, on this occasion she could completely forgive him because, as he was jumping up and down on her oh so wonderful mattress, Toby was reminding her what today was.

"Wake up Sarah, wake up," his young voice full of joy. "It's your birthday and you said we could spend today together!"

Sarah couldn't help the smile that graced her lips at his comment. When Toby had turned four just a couple of months ago, he had started his education of the Underground and the SwordMaster had also started to gently train Toby with wooden swords. So the thought of spending the day with Sarah, instead of studying, was heaven to Toby who was a good student but like all boys, he just wanted to have fun.

Sitting up, the young woman watched as Toby continued to bounce on her bed, completely oblivious to the fact that his sister was now up. Feeling a bit mischievous, Sarah clicked her fingers which caused her little brother to start floating. Giggling at what his sister had done, Toby happily floated around her room while she got ready.

By the time Sarah was washed and dressed in simple black breeches, knee high black leather boots, a sky blue blouse and a small black corset round her middle, a knock sounded at her bedroom door. Leaving Toby to continue floating around her room, Sarah opened her door to find High King Mabon and his Queen High Queen Cordelia waiting, each holding a gift for her.

"Happy Eighteenth, Lady Sarah," they both said, as Sarah stepped back to allow them entrance.

"Good morning, your Highnesses," Sarah responded and smiled when they noticed Toby was pretending to swim through the air.

"Good morning, Sire and Ma'am," Toby greeted as he continued his antics, earning a chuckle from both of them.

Mabon gave her his gift then floated into the air to play with the boy. Holding the slim rectangle box, Sarah stood with Cordelia for a moment, both giggling as the King 'chased' his ward through the air. Then Cordelia guided them both into Sarah's sitting room where breakfast had been set up for the four fae. Once both women were sat, Cordelia encouraged Sarah to open Mabon's gift while pouring tea for three then milk for Toby.

Sarah lifted the lid on the box and gasped at the jewellery winking back at her in the morning light. An emerald the size and shape of Sarah's thumb pad framed by white gold was attached to a length of black fabric that was just long enough to attach to it's fastenings, it was the most amazing choker Sarah had ever seen and she was in awe of such a gift.

"We thought you could wear it to your coming-out ball tonight," Cordelia commented after seeing the young fae woman's reaction. "Along with this," and she handed Sarah another rectangle box but this one was slightly wider and shorter.

Holding her breath, Sarah once again lifted a lid off a box and still couldn't hold back a second gasp. Lying on a small pillow was another emerald, this one was shaped the same as the one on her choker but smaller and was also framed with white gold with two white gold chains. One chain was big enough for her wrist while the second would loop around her middle finger.

"Thank you so much," her voice full of emotion for the man and woman who had treated her and Toby like her own. After the heartache of losing their parents, the affection the siblings had received from their new guardians was very much welcome and had helped them grieve and move on with their new lives.

Sarah and Toby had a wonderful morning together after having breakfast with the High King and Queen and were now playing hide-and-seek in the royal gardens. They were also planning a to have a picnic in the gardens for lunch and the young boy was hoping to perform a spell to conjure his sister a birthday cake but as always things didn't always go as planned.

Sarah had been feeling increasingly breathless as she played with her brother but it was only when her heart began to truly pound in her rib cage did she realise something was wrong. Pressing her hand to her heart, Sarah called out to Toby to get Alana from the library. Seeing his sister in distress, Toby rushed to fetch Alana.

Alana took one look at Sarah and knew her true form was making itself known. Kneeling next to the now crouched over young fae woman, she place her hand on her shoulder to try and comfort her.

"Sarah, you need to tell me what you are feeling," Alana said, her voice calm but urgent.

"My heart is pound so hard it feels like it going to break my ribs," Sarah replied in between breaths. "My hands and feet itch to the point of pain and my skin feels very uncomfortable, almost like it isn't my own."

Alana wasn't completely sure what animal Sarah was going to turn into but she knew she had to alert the High Queen. Pulling Toby to one side, she made the boy promise to keep a safe distance from his sister till she returned. Once he agreed, Alana vanished to reappear outside the Queens study.

High Queen Cordelia was enjoying a chat with the Goblin King who was also her son. She had missed him awfully while he had been busy revamping his Kingdom and she hadn't much time to visit him while training Sarah. On some level, Cordelia was pleased that she'd managed to keep Sarah a secret from Jareth this long, however, all that effort was about to be for nothing.

While enjoying her conversation, a sudden knock on her door had her frowning in concern. Issuing the command to enter, Alana rushed in, her face flush with her haste and her eyes dark with worry.

"Alana, what is the matter?" Seeing the Goblin King, Alana dropped into a curtsy before answering with careful words.

"It's your Lady-in-Waiting, your Majesty," the fae nanny said. "Her true form is coming to the surface." Cordelia paled at this news.

"Jareth, stay here," Cordelia's tone was full of concern to anyone's ears. "I'll be back soon." And with that said, she and Alana telaported to the gardens to find Sarah still crouched over and Toby stroking her back.

"Toby, you promised to keep your distance!" Alana was terrified for the young boy. If Sarah hurt him during her transformation, she'd never forgive herself.

"Don't worry," Toby said, not in the least bit concerned of the danger he was in. "Sarah would never hurt me." His voice was completely calm as he continued to stroke his sister's back.

Cordelia was about to command Toby to come away when Sarah suddenly let lose a cry that only a large cat would make. Before their eyes, her skin gave way to pure black fur and her bones groaned as they changed shape, Sarah continued her growls till she finished changing.

As a hush settled over the royal gardens, two fae women, a young fae male and an observer looked with wide, impressed eyes at the sleek and powerful black panther before them. The large jungle cat breathed heavily as her emerald cat eyes took in her surroundings and enjoyed the caress on her back. Looking over her left shoulder, she looked over at a young boy who continued to stroke her fur gently and smiled lovingly at her.

"Wow, Sarah, you look really cool," as soon as he said her name, she came straight back to her senses. Her brother had comforted her while she had been painfully uncomfortable and had ignored the danger to his own life.

Moving slowly as not to worry anyone, Sarah rubbed her big cat head under Toby's chin causing him to giggle as her whiskers tickled him. As her brother's giggles sounded in her ears, Sarah also became aware of three others watching them. Three not two. She could clearly see Cordelia and Alana as she moved around Toby, still rubbing her head against him in affection while subtly looking around the gardens.

Using her sensitive hearing, Sarah quickly pin-pointed the whereabouts of the intruder and with a swift growl, she used her lightening quick reflexes to pounce onto him. Before anyone could react, Panther-Sarah stood over the Goblin King, who had been hiding in the shadows and once the scene had been absorbed by everyone the first to laugh at the awkward situation was little Toby.

"Jareth!" Queen Cordelia was the first of the fae adults to recover from her shock and the look on her face, showed her son that she wasn't pleased. "I told you to stay in my study!"

Moving back so the Goblin King could get up, Sarah lowered her head sheepishly and if a panther could blush, she would have, deeply. She continued to move away and back to Toby, then noticed Alana was gesturing for her to follow her behind the blushes. The fae woman was kneeling with a robe on her arm waiting for Sarah to join her.

"To change back," Alana said, smiling gently, "you only need to think of yourself as you normally are. Just to prepare you, you will be naked when you change back which is why I've summoned a robe for you."

Sarah made a gentle chuffing sound to show her thanks and after Alana draped the robe over her furred form, Sarah managed to change back pretty quickly. Once back in her original form, she waved her hand over herself and was dressed in the clothes she had been wearing before. Coming out of the blushes, Sarah and Alana found High Queen Cordelia and her son, King Jareth, having a rather heated discussion.

Toby didn't seem to mind the drama happening in front of him between mother and son, instead he had the biggest grin Sarah had seen on his face in a long time. Seeing where his grin was aimed, Sarah suddenly realised that her little brother remembered spending time with the Goblin King durning her run through his Labyrinth. As if to confirm this Toby suddenly pointed to Jareth and yelled:

"You remind me of the babe!"

Cordelia and Jareth both jumped at the young fae boy's yell and they remembered they weren't the only ones in the royal gardens.

"What babe?" Sarah asked, kneeling next to her brother, clearly confused.

"The babe with the power," Toby replied, still looking at Jareth, who started to smirk.

"What power?" Jareth said, before Sarah could.

"The power of voodoo."

"Who do?"

"You do."

"Do what?"

"Remind me of the babe?" And with the last line, Toby and Jareth burst out laughing. Seeing the Goblin King laughing with joy, his body relaxed and his eyes carefree made Sarah's lower abdomen tighten in desire and her heartbeat race with an emotion she couldn't identify.

**Author's note: Well, a bit of 'Magic Dance' was bound to come into one of my stories at some point, so I hope you like how I slipped it in. Please review, as I really enjoy knowing that you guys are enjoying what I write and it helps keep my muse happy. To those who have read my other stories and have asked me to continue with a third, here is my answer; yes I will but it may take time, hopefully I can write out a prologue to wet your appetites and keep you all happy. **