Part 5

Sara found herself wondering out into the labyrinth. She was wondering what she should do. What did she really want? She was fighting hard to escape the underworld, fighting to get back home, trying to leave the clutches of Jareth. That's was her goal wasn't it? She wanted to go back home didn't she? But what was there for her? An alcoholic step mother, a life of school and then a meaningless job?

"Stop it" Sara mumbled to herself. "This is getting me nowhere. Maybe I can get out of the Labyrinth through the doors." She couldn't really recall how she arrived in the labyrinth in the first place. Jareth just made her appear here the last time. Perhaps she thought if I get back to the beginning of the maze I can find my way home. But Sara couldn't help but wonder again in the back of her mind why. Why go back?

Sara found herself in new areas of the Labyrinth. She had somehow stumbled, quite literally over a tree stump, into a forest clearing. It was filled with vibrant greens and was covered in that strange glittery coating that she remembered from the last time she had been in this place. Ahead she saw a stream, and what appeared to be a unicorn sitting by the side of the stream, talking. Cautiously she went towards the peaceful image. She didn't know what to expect, but she was prepared for anything. She hoped she was perpared at least. At any rate she needed to get rid of these confusing thoughts of doubt.

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Hoggle awoke to find himself still in the tunnel, still with his shoes tied together and further exploration showed that his hair appeared to be braided. (Complete with tin tinsel ties.) He stretched and groaned. He has fallen asleep in and unusual position and was feeling it this morning. He untied is shoes and stood up to the sound of popping bones as his frame realigned itself. One of the braids was long enough to hit him in the face.

Hoggle made a frustrated "Oooww." Sound the way only he could and batted away the braid. The annoying little gremlin was long gone but she had left him with reminders. Like the braids. Hoggle tugged at one of the braids and tried to unweave it. But found that it was woven in such a way that he couldn't possibly get it out by himself. He remembered what his original quest was. To find out if Sara really was here.

Feeling slightly embarrassed about his braided hair Hoggle went through the tunnel. Along the way he passed some sleeping goblins. A few of them wrinkled their noses as he passed but then rather suddenly one of them passed gas and the whole group smiled in their sleep. Hoggle grabbed a helmet and went to the section of the castle that held rooms.

The castle itself was much like the labyrinth in that the rooms, halls and staircases were always moving. But Hoggle was one of the few goblins, being naturally born, who was there since the castle come into being. So he had an idea of when a room would be there and when.

While waiting for the hall to rearrange itself Hoggle thought about the beginnings of this place. Not every goblin was born here or even born at all for that matter. Most were kidnapped boys and girls from the aboveground. Rumor has it that Jareth was born into the land of the Fey. He hated it there, hated the life he had lead and ran away from the kingdoms when he was very young, he was lost and confused about what to do when he came upon a small crying goblin. This little one was himself lonely and confused as to where he came from. And wondering where the others like him were? At that moment Jareth stepped up to be the king of all goblins.

He changed; he was no longer scared or unsure of himself. Jareth told the little goblin that he would have his own place and others would come to him. They would make it so together. Right then Jareth reached out and cut off the little goblin's finger. Now bleeding and afraid the goblin shook in fear as Jareth healed his hand. Then the goblin king made a spell with the finger and told the goblin to find a friend. If it drank from the potion it would become like him.

Scared to defy such a fierce king the little goblin passed between the veils and found a boy who was alone as well. The goblin took the boy back to Jareth, who gave the boy the drink. That boy became the little goblins friend. And between the two of them more boys and girls were brought here. Over time goblins, who had been spread to the winds began to come to the king's side.

Jareth, seeing the need, used his magic to make the labyrinth. Not only did his growing kingdom need a place, but he didn't want the Fey to come looking for him. They would never hurt him again. Over time the castle was built as well.

Soon the kingdom of the goblins began to grow larger and seemed a powerful force. This had the Fey worried. They once tried to come in and crush the kingdom in a great war, but Jareth kicked much ass and that was when the gates went up. The Fey continued to send spies to look upon the kingdom. Fairies. Jareth had appointed that little goblin who was there in the first to go and keep the fairies out of the Labyrinth. That little goblin was Hoggle. That was how he came to meet Sara. He was spending a happy day poisoning the little spies when Sara appeared to change his life.

Just then the hall rearranged itself and Hoggle started for the room that Sara wouldsurly be in. He knew that Jareth had made the room especially for her long ago. Hoggle didn't have to like it, but it was nice that he knew where the king would put Sara if she ever did come into his grasp.

Hoggle entered the room. The bed looked slept in but Sara wasn't anywhere to be found. Sara must have been here though. Jareth was very picky about this room. No one was ever allowed to come in and much less stay in here. To sleep on that bed was a certain bog-dipping offence. Hoggle limped over to the sink.

He sighed and said, "Aaa brother, if only you could talk." The goblin started to blink his eyes rapidly. "Brother!" the sink goblin blinked once. "What has happened? You have been stone for so long, why the change now?" If it were possible for a statue to look annoyed Hedgewort was doing it now.

Hedgewort had been changed to stone when the Fey came to destroy the Goblin Kingdom. Back before the gates were in place. Some of the tragic results were several of goblins were turned to stone. They were unable to move, eat, or sleep. But they were still alive. Jareth had placed then in strange places around the realm, where they were protected from the weather, and also serve as a reminder of what had happened.

Hoggle stood before Hedgewort. "Was the girl Sara here?"

One blink.

"Was she hurt?" he asked.

Two blinks.

To himself Hoggle asked, "Where are you now Sara?"

Hedgewort looked at the doors. Hoggle followed his gaze, "Where are you going?"

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The Gremlin Queen sat upon her throne with a clock in her hands. Whenever she wanted to think over a problem she found comfort in taking something apart and putting it back together again. Tic and Toc were at her feet taking parts as they came their way, cleaning them, and then placing them back within Cindy's reach.

She simply couldn't understand why Jareth was so smitten with the girl. What was the appeal? And why was she so all consumed about it? Yes, Jareth had his appeal, but he wasn't the only male on the planet. Cindy looked down at Toc. Then shook her head violently over disturbing images. The Queen stood up and walked over to her gazing box. It was much like the nanite technology that made her dress. Billions upon Billions of little machines all made to perform her will. They shimmered at her approach and formed an image of her past.

Without realizing what she was thinking of she looked into the image of the old hanger where she used to work. It had changed over the years. But then the image changed to another garage. The people working looked modern. There were lots more girls in the garage, and the planes looked strange. They had the same basic shape, but were different. Fascinated she looked closer. She saw what looked like a plane, but then was shocked to look closer and see a tiny man working on a what looked like a turbine. The airplane was massive! Huge! She had to see it! Tic and Tock gathered at her back, reading themselves for the trip back to the above ground. They grabbed Cindy's legs and off they went, through the magical tunnel that lead them to this realm.

Cindy stood in awe of the plane; it was bigger than she thought, for the man that she had compared it to was himself large. The gremlins hopped off to look at the machine, and Cindy stepped behind the man. "For the love of Mike!" She said as she looked up into one of the machines 6 engines.

"Yes, she is a beauty isn't she?" The man said with a strange accent. "She's not quite as big as the Spruce Goose but she's close." The man turned around to find a strange woman standing behind him, wearing a sexy gown and a crown of metal of some sort. Confused he just stared at the woman and she stared at the machine.

"Spruce Goose?" Cindy asked.

"Yes, the goose has a wingspan of 97.536 meters, while my beautiful Mriya is only 88.392 meters." Ratchet didn't understand why this woman was standing here, looking like a Queen, and talking to him about his airplane. But he couldn't help himself from talking to her.

Cindy did the quick conversions of 320 feet for the 'Goose' and 290 feet for this airplane. Staggered she had to know more. "Is this yours?" She asked as she walked up to touch the machine.

The man laughed, "No, no this fine Ukraine piece of art is not mine, I just work on her. That is to say I make sure she needs my help."

The gremlins, knowing a liked mined soul when they sensed one, moved closer to look down upon the Queen and the man.

Cindy looked into the man's eyes, as he looked down into hers. Something passed between them.

The gremlins looked at each other and whispered in unison, "The King. "

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Notes: Don't fear, the big scene between Sara and Jareth is coming next. I wanted to split them up between chapters. Also, any interested in Cindy's story or you think I should leave it at that? I wanted to kind of get her out of the way but not leave the reader wondering what happened to her.

Also I have read the reviews and made some changes to this chapter, hopefully it's a easier read.