A/N: "Well here is the latest chapter so I hope you enjoy it.

"I don't own the Labyrinth nor its characters. Enjoy! ^_^

Chapter Sixteen: To Be Eaten Or Not?

Maya was stuck. She was on a ledge but the mountain was to hot for her to touch. She was almost to the top too. It figures that this would be an active volcano. She cursed. She willed the cold to her hands once more. She gritted her teeth as she began to climb again.

She took it very slow not used to having to think and act at the same time. She had to keep focus on her hands energy and at the same time the placement of her feet. She was growing more tired by the minute.

She hissed, drawing more energy in to her hands as she grasped the edge of the top. She pulled herself up and groaned as she looked at the sight before her. Rocks jagged and steaming were all that stood before her and the other side.

"Shit, you sadistic, cock sucking, mother fucking unicorn!" She growled furiously as she leapt down to the rocks below her. A scream tore through her as her feet gave out. She was left gasping, her energy swelling around her as she tried to protect herself from the blazing hot lava rock and ash beneath her. Her icy outfit melted away as her hair fell to curl at her ankles.

Her energy was directed to her feet now as a tremor shook the mountain. She ran with her teeth gritted as the ice surrounded around her feet melted from the heat. She held her burned hands out in front of her as she ran ice forming in front of her cooling the rocks slightly. It was enough that her bare feet were saved from most of the heat as she crossed the through to the other side.

She gasped as she focused the ice into her hands and feet before she started to climb out of the creator to the other side. The only thing on her now was the satchel she had been given what seemed like ages ago. She let out another scream of pain as her bare body touched the heated rock. Time seemed to fly by as she inched her way up the creators edge. She stopped and whimpered as she reached for the little light blue flower that she almost missed in her pained form.

She summoned what little energy she had left and froze it before stuffing it into her satchel. Tears sprang to her eyes as fire penetrated her body. 'What the hell am I doing this for!' She thought furiously while swearing colorfully as her nails tore from her fingers while her foot slipped. She heaved herself over the edge gasping at the fresher air.

She couldn't move a muscle, all she could do was lay there. The pain flooding her body as she rested. Her eyes blurred as she remembered the people she had met since arriving. The elves, the pixies, her new pack. Fean...Darious...

After a while she remembered the stuff that the old woman had given her. She cried out as she sat up. Her hand going into her satchel. She yanked the jar out and looked at the dark green goo. "I really hope this stuff works.' She gritted her teeth again as she laid her charred hand on the lid, with a whimper of pain she opened the lid dropping it as she poured the goo over her hand and let out a sigh of relief as it started to work immediately.

Setting the jar down she rubbed the green stuff into her burns watching as the skin knitted itself back together and smoothed out into normal looking skin. She worked her way over her body and finally got to her feet. Pouring what little was left on to her first foot. She winced at what she saw.

The skin was gone as was a great deal of muscle. She could see the bone of her heal and bone at the balls of her foot. She watched with morbid fascination and pain as the muscle stretched over the bone and she had to bite back a scream as the skin and muscle stretched and regrew. With shaking hands she opened the other bottle of oily goo.

She dipped her hand in and with clenched and gritted teeth she slathered the stuff over her other foot. Dots stained her eyes before she blacked out.

Fean waited at the base of the dragons mountain. As screams echoing through the air he paused. It sounded like something was being killed. He gulped as he hoped it was not his alpha. He paced back and forth before cursing as he made his way carefully through and up the mountain seeking the dragon's path. It was obvious to him that he had a death wish.

Sarah fought the elementals as her armor sparkled in the morning light. Waves of creatures had come pouring out of portal. The archers had already taking down the first three waves before drawing their swords as they kept coming. The ogres were the first that they had to get through. Clubs swinging the elves gracefully took them on making it look like child's play.

She dodged a nymph's vine before she sent her energy pouring into the ground to cause it to tremble only to have it blocked by the nymph. She raced past another warrior dodging the swing of his sword till she got close to the nymph. "Why are you fighting us. Why are you fighting for Canum?" She cried out dodging another root.

"We can't stop!" The nymph cried hopelessly as she attacked again, her cry echoing into Sarah's mind. "I can not stop attacking. Our bodies refuses to listen." Sarah cursed as she teleported behind the nymph striking her in the back of her neck knocking her out cold. She teleported her to the healers. "I need you to bind her before she wakes up and be prepared for more." At the healer's nod she teleported back into the frey.

Sarah dodged and wove her way to the front of the line looking for Diagus. There! She rushed forward before getting caught in the arm. She winced and continued on. "Diagus!" She cried as she rushed to his side. "The mortals, and such are being controlled. We have to find Canum. Try to knock the innocents out and send them to the healers! I don't know how to tell the others though!"

Diagus nodded before aiming a kick to the mortal's head. Not turning to face her he shouted back. "Find one of the elves! They can relay the message through the ground, wind and trees!"

Sarah rushed through the battle raging all around her. She ducked and dodged the fury until she spied one of the elven archers. "Listen!" She shouted as she closed the distance between them. She helped defend him from the enraged orc as she continued.

"I need you to send a message through to the other's. The mortals and creatures with magic are being controlled. Their will is not their own. I want to save as many as possible. Tell everyone that can listen to try to just knock them out. The healers can do the rest." Seeing the elf's nod she attacked the orc in earnest to draw him away from the elf while he concentrated.

Sarah felt a flood of energy weave from her feet through her as her message was relied. The elf's voice echoing with in her mind. She was surprised. She didn't know that they could do that. She sighed with relief as the tempo of the battle changed. Suddenly a glowing light zoomed in front of her. It was a pixie. It sang in her ear as she fought.

"Our queen goes for dragon's might"

"We are here to join the fight."

"Stronger you will feel,"

"As we give to you our seal,"

"With the healer's we will be."

"Watch us work and you will see!"

After that the pixie kissed her forehead and a flood of energy coursed quickly through her veins. Then she remembered something. Pixie dust! "Wait!" She cried as the pixie moved to fly away. The pixie turned back to her as she finally downed the orc.

Sarah drew in a deep breath. "Your dust puts creatures to sleep, right?" Seeing the pixie nod she grinned. "The mortals and the creatures with magic are being control! We need to knock them out. They are innocent in this and I don't want them harmed. Can you do that."

Seeing the pixie's nod and grin, she turned to look at the dragon in the sky. The archers still trying to keep the black dragon at bay. Groaning she raced back into the fray.

Maya gasped as she bolted up with a silent scream. She looked at the sun's position. She had been out for maybe an hour. She gingerly sat up and looked behind her. "No way am I trusting a unicorn again!" She growled as she looked over her arms and legs. They looked okay through what she could see of the ash and black that covered her.

She raised her hand to her face and concentrated. Nothing. Her ice was out for the count for now. She would just have to see if the dragons could be reasoned with another way. She looked from the ledge she was on down the face of the mountain and groaned. "There has to be a wa..." She looked down again her eyes drawn to the spot of blue far below. From where she stood it looked like a tiny puddle. If that was the case...

"I have never dove that far..." She murmured. It was the quickest way down. She knew her body couldn't take much more abuse . Plus her hands are still very tender. She closed her eyes and took a deep breathe. As she opened her eyes she ran to the face of the rock and jumped as far as she could. She was confident in her shallow-diving ability so for the moment she just enjoyed the fall.

As the puddle got bigger she could see that she had gotten far enough so that she would land in it. As she fell she heard the sound of beating wings behind her. She cried out as she was grabbed around her waist and pulled down hard. The jarring movement sent her head snapping up and her teeth coming closed with and auditable snap. She gasped for breath as she craned her head to get a better look at what held her. "Shit." She mumbled as she looked down to the ground below that was rising quickly to meet them. This was not how she wanted to meet her first dragon.

Sarah slowly gained as the pixies flew showering their dust over both creature and mortal. The elven archers continued to shoot at the dragon. while the fae with ice tried in vein to keep the black dragon's fire from reaching them. It seemed hopeless. She fought back a tear as she fought the orge in front of her. Daigus and the others were doing their best, she had too as well. Were on earth was her mate?

Maya groaned as she was dropped none to gentle into the lake. She sank letting the cold surround her. She closed her eyes in relief at the feel of the icy water. She let out a moan as a clawed hand lifted her body out of the water and she groaned as she opened her eyes. She looked into the face of the dragon or should she say faces of the dragon who held her.

'A two headed dragon... great.' she thought. The warm air of its breath caused her skin to protest. "Please great dragon, put me back." She whimpered not gazing away from its blue and green sets of eyes. The eyes seemed to smile in amusement as laughter rang into her head.

"You want to go back up?"
"Fae are not meant to fly you know."

She groaned. Figures dragons would be literal. "I meant into the icy water great ones. Please I need the cold." She begged and sighed with relief as the giant shimmering clawed hand lowered her back into the water. She noticed and was grateful that the dragon hadn't removed its claw from beneath her body. She knew that she didn't have the energy to swim. She was so tired. Opening her eyes once more she groaned as she sat up inside the dragons golden claw.

"You are very weak little one."
"Why did you come here so weak?"

" Help... I came for help." She replied weakly as she struggled to keep her seat. She looked up at the two heads before her. "Please we need your strength."

The dragon swam the edge of its lake and placed it hand on the ground for her to get off. She stared at the ground before looking back to the cold lake with naked longing. She gritted her teeth and moved to slide of the clawed hand. She looked over her shoulder with a gasp as a great beat of multiple wings sounded around her. She cried out as she fell weakly to her knees where she stayed as several dragons of ranging colors surrounded her shaking the ground beneath her as they landed.

She fought to keep her eyes open as she listened to them talk. She noticed that the two headed dragon didn't tell the others that she could understand them. 'Those two did it on purpose.' she thought. She stayed silent and listened as the dragon in front of her spoke her scales shimmering a beautiful copper red in the suns light.

"Where did you find this one? She smells of our mountain." She closed her eyes and fell back to lay on the ground. She smiled softly to fell the thrum of the earth's energy start to revive her.

"She passed out."

"She is weak."

"She is ether very courageous or she was very desperate."

"She dove of the top of our cliff side to our lake. Would have made it too even if we had not caught her. She say that she came for our strength."

"Just like the others! There is a reason we keep to ourselves. We have no need for fae. Only our brother has passed our tests and received our strength. He was strong. Not a weakling like this little child!"

Maya growled and slowly stood up as she flashed her teeth at the shimmering blue dragon that had spoke. She snarled then gritting her teeth she pushed her aura out while tapping into her life force to do it. She began to float of the ground as her aura lashed out at the dragon. Her eyes turning black with rage. "THIS LITTLE GIRL just ran from the Goblin City to here for your strength! I have had to do with Dark Elves, Werewolf Packs, Pixies, AND A FUCKING DIRANGED UNICORN WHO SENT ME UP THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BURNING HELL THAT YOU CLAIM AS YOUR MOUNTAIN! YOU WOULD DO WELL NOT TO UNDEREST.. UNDEREST... Under...underestamate me." She fell to the ground with a gasp as her hair streaked with white as the color was leached from it.

Drained of what little energy she had she lay unable to move. Her eyes closed as she felt her self being gently picked up. She scowled at the dragon's laughter echoing through the veil of pain and into her ears. She felt a breath of ice wash over her body and her aura and body greedily drank it in. Another wave and her chest began to loosen. She gasped inhaling the sulfur smelling artic cold with relief evident on her face.

She began to protest as she was lowered back to the ground. She opened her eyes and growled again at seeing the amusement in all the dragon's eyes. "You do realize we could just eat you little one." The blue eyed head of two headed dragon said still amused their scales shimmering gold as they weaved their heads to and fro.

"Go ahead. I am already half cooked from crossing that forsaken volcano you dragons call a mountain." Laughter rang around her as the blue dragon spoke in shock.

"YOU CROSSED THE VERY TOP! Even I don't dare that! I have ice coursing through my veins. That would be agony! Only Junia can sleep up there!" The blue dragon gasped glancing toward the copper dragon as the others began to murmur loudly.

"It wasn't agony, it was pure hell... Actually I think hell would have been a little colder!" She retorted amused by their astonishment. She watched as they all flew up into the air leaving her alone with the two headed dragon. She stood up as the blue ice dragon's breath having revived her greatly. She almost felt back to normal.

She looked up at the clear sky before grinning at the two heads. "My name is Maya. I apologize for not introducing myself sooner. I am sure you understand why." The two heads chuckled together. "I am Sorin."Sorin replied his green eyes shimmering with amusement.

Maya turned to the other head and fought not to figit under its intense blue-eyed gaze. "My name is Lailah. We are one yet two. I am the leader of the water dragons while my brother is the head of the forest dragons." Maya bowed low from the waist. "Lailah is a beautiful name and it is an honor to meet you both. Thank you for catching me. Will the others return?"

"They will after the discuss your presence. It has been long since last has challenged us for our strength. They are deciding whether to just eat you or accept your challenge."

"The blue artic dragon leader, Tome, will vote in your favor as will Junia, the copper colored dragon is the leader of the fire dragons. You have done the impossible for one of the ice and snow."

Maya nodded in understanding before tilting her head to the side while contemplating the two before her. Struck with a thought she set her satchel down and pulled out the pixie's flower that she had frozen forever. "I know it is not much of a gift but I want you two and the other dragons to have it. It was a gift from the pixies."

Touching the forever frozen crown that circled her head and under her fallen hair she continued. "I would give you my crown but that was given to me by two very sweet little boys. I hope you accept my gift and understand."

Maya took a breath and continued on before ether could speak. "I know that I am supposed to give you a gift in turn for considering not to eat me. This is the only thing I can give and I want you to know that I give you and the dragons this flower not in return for that but for the fact that you all are so beautiful that it takes my breath away and for the kindness that you all have shone me so far. A beautiful flower that will stay forever beautiful for the most beautiful of beings."

"Your words are sincere and we thank you for the compliment. We accept your gift and your words. You are right that it is a proper show of respect to bring a gift when you come to us."

"For such a beautiful and unique gift we will not eat you but start the challenge. You have shown great respect and we shall offer the same in return. The challenge consists of three tests. If you pass them we will give you our strength for battle. Should you fail you will be killed. However since you have shown us this respect, we will personally take your body back to the Goblin City for burial."

Maya frowned. "Thank you Lady Lailah however failing is not an option. To do so would bring great destruction to Avalon. As it is, it may already be to late. What do I need to do?" She looked from Sorin to Lailah.

"We are the first test. You have three choices. To pass you must answer our riddle correctly. You only have one shot at this however." Sorin replied, Lailah and his head weaving back in forth.

"The choices are these. Music, history, or myth. Think well on your choice Maya for you will not be able to change it."

Maya thought about it carefully. All three categories were broad and expansive. She had always been a history and mythology buff. The only music she really cared to listen to was classical, Celtic, opera, and oriental so that was out. She looked at the two before her and while looking into their eyes she took the leap.

"I choose myths."

"Very well. You have chosen your fate. Show us your wisdom and knowledge. Here is our riddle."

Lailah began. "What wore feathers colored with that of a rainbow?"

"Who sung with the sweetest of voices?"

"Who lost it's beautifully colored feathers by fire and ashe?"

"Who lost it's sweet tone by ashe and fire however saved her friends with her selfless act?"

Maya thought hard about the clues that the dragons had given her. 'Feathers means it was a bird... Sweetest voice. I don't understand that one...' She sat down on a stone nearby and stared out onto the lake "Can I have some time to think Lord Sorin?"

"Take all you need. We are patient and will give you until sundown."

She nodded and impulsively, she ran to the crystal clear lake and dove in, than letting her limbs relax in the icy cold, she flipped over and let herself float to the surface. She held her eyes closed with all sound except the water blocked from her ears.

'Okay. lets ignore the second line for now.' She thought as she search her mind. She had a feeling that she knew the answer however with so many myths and legends out there she had to find the right one.

'The third and forth lines counter the first two. Fire and ashes... Ashes and fire...' After what seemed like hours the only thing she could come up with was a phoenix or a bird of paradise. but it just didn't feel right somehow. She opened her eyes and started back toward the shore. Failure had always left a bitter taste in her mouth and her mouth was tasting pretty bitter right now.

On the shore she saw that the other dragons had returned. She turned to scan the sky. As her eyes met the sun's glare, a door swung open in her mind and she smacked herself on the forehead. 'duh!' She grinned as she made her way back toward Sorin and Lailah. She bowed low to the other dragons before turning, still grinning toward the two headed dragon.

"Once there was a bird with feathers the colors of the rainbow," she began. "The bird had the sweetest voice in the forest were she lived with her friends and all the other forest creatures. She knew it too and would spend her days proudly singing or preening her beautiful feathers."

Maya smiled. She knew the story by heart and was please to tell it. She was surprised that they knew about the legend since it was not very well known. She continued on with her story realizing that the other dragons were listening. Interest shining in their eyes.

"One day something strange started to occurred. White flecks of cold water started to fall from the sky. It was cold but that didn't stop the creatures of the forest from playing in it. They played all day but when night fell the chill made the white stuff colder. The bird's friends went to her and asked her to go to the Great Spirit and ask for help. She agreed and left the forest. She flew all night and made it to the Great Spirit by dawn.

"Great Spirit!" She cried. " Something white and wet covers the ground and my friends grow very cold. What is it and what can we do?"

The great spirit looked down at her and replied "The white water is called snow. Go to the great tree in the center of the your forest and ask the spirit residing there for one of her branches. Than take the branch to the sun spirit and ask him to share his warmth. You may take the branch with the sun spirit's warmth on it back to your forest friends. Feed the warmth sticks and branches from the forest spirits. It will warm your friends."

Then she turned and flew to do as the Great Spirit had advised. When she got to the great tree she cried out to the spirit within. "Great tree spirit! I have come to ask for one of your branches. Snow blankets the ground and my friends are in need of the great sun spirit's warmth. They are cold."

The tree spirit spoke with a voice soft and soothing. "You may take a branch however pick wisely for you must remember that you will have to carry the warmth back to your friends. Pick a thick enough one and it will serve you well."

She flew from branch to branch before she finally found the one she needed. She knew the moment that she saw it, that it was the right choice. She broke it off with her sharp beak and nodded her thanks to the tree spirit before she flew toward the sun spirit in hopes that he would kindly share his warmth.

When she was close the sun spirit spoke. "I know why you have come and I am more than willing to share my warmth. Hold the branch close to me and it will catch my warmth. It will burn if touched and you can call it fire."

She did as she was told and held the branch that had been given to her close to the sun spirit. Her eyes widened as the end of the branch caught with this red warmth. Fire, the sun spirit called it. She had never see such before. It was hot just as the sun spirit had warned. She flew as fast as she could back to her forest friends however because the branch was in her beak, the smoke made her caught and turned her beautiful voice harsh and horse. The fire's hot flames burnt her beautifully colored feathers black as night and short in stature.

When she got to her friends they rejoiced in the warmth while she took one look at herself and with a strangled cry she hid herself away in her nest and refused to come down for fear of seeing herself again. Her friends tried to cajole her down from her tree but she refused. Then a small, young little squirrel climbed high to her nest.

"Leave me be little one. I want no company." She croaked heartbrokenly. However the small young one came closer and in a rush gave her a hug. "I just wanted to say thank you for saving us. Your my hero! I hope someday I can be as strong and as brave as you." With that said the young squirrel left her in peace.

She thought about what the young one had said. Flying down to look into the lake she realized that she may have been the most beautiful of all in the forest but looking at her reflection she realized that she didn't need to be as beautiful as others or more so. She was still herself and her friends were safe and warm. That was all that mattered.

Her name was Raven. That is why when the sun spirit's light touches a raven's feathers they shimmer with color. Black though they may be their beauty still shines through." Maya grinned at her captivated audience before turning back to Sorin and Lailah. "The answer to you riddle is 'The Raven'."

"You answer was true and you have passed our test." Sorin said weaving his head back and forth around his sister's.

"I congratulate you Maya. That myth was beautifully told. Though there are some different variations. I find that I very much like yours. Your wisdom has shown through your words. You understand what this myth teaches. Beauty does not come from a pretty appearance but true beauty lies within the heart. The dragons have decided your fate. Are you prepared for your next test?"

Maya nodded as Junia stepped forward.

A/N: "Well that's it for this chapter! I know you all love me don't you! We'll catch you all next chapter and as alway please leave a review at the door!

P.S. The myth about the raven was a Native American myth that I had read when I was 12 years old. I never forgot it even as I grew older. The meaning is the same and the plot I know is close to the same of the one that I had read as a kid. I found the legend beautiful and wanted a way to share it with others. I hope you all loved it and found it as inspiring as I did!

Catch you all next time!