Disclaimer: I own squat of Labyrinth. I'm not kidding.
Well hello again my beautiful readers! How are all of you doing? I'm sorry it's been a while since my last update, but it seems like school, dance, and work have all conspired against me to compete for time. So the result is a criminally short chapter *cringes*. However, I feel like this was the place for this chapter to end...so enjoy! ;D
Humongous shoutouts to my beloved reviewers: Kami74, RyeSample, Ree923, Buggus264, shm429, Amyloo12, A Gumshoe, Joesette, fare-thee-well, black-heart-green-eyes, fanaticallyFictitious, The Queen of Water, Love's Symphony, Georgina, and Exodrac! You all make me smile and just for your kind, lovely words I have baked fresh and warm melt-in-your-mouth brownies for you all! May your taste buds be tantalized ;D
For my gorgeous followers and those who favorited: bear-beara-kuma, Yankeegirl01, Erin'sSong, Hotgirlow, Rosewoods Muse, Alyss L, AnimeGalRena, and lexiptr, I humbly bequeath a single delectable brownie for all your dessert needs :)
And, as always, a BIG thank you to all those who took time out of their eventful lives to read my story! You may pick up a packet of my brownie mix at the end of this chapter ;)
Chapter 12: Race Against Time
Jareth had been perched on the pinnacle of the West tower when he saw her. Even though it was pitch black outside, his sharp vision could discern Sarah's form tumbling from the Northern tower windows.
Hot fury flowed fast through his veins as he took off into the sky with a terrifying screech. Blinking moisture out of his large black eyes as he continued to fly towards his falling Sarah, Jareth knew that to save her would cause great pain to himself. Even with knowing this, he wouldn't stop. Without a seconds hesitation, or a thought to his well-being, Jareth pulled out of his daring plunge and spread his downy golden feathers wide.
Still high above the Underground, the fierce owl gave an impossibly loud cry as a shockwave emanated from the tips of his outstretched feathers. Time slowed down.
Successfully managing to suspend the time surrounding his love, Jareth's minuscule form quivered with the effort of stopping the natural tempo of the universe.
Despite the difficulty, the desired effect took place, and Sarah now seemed to be steadily falling in slow motion. The air around her rippled with delayed motion that made it seem like Jareth was viewing her fall through water.
A small tear leaked from his large eyes and glistened as it tumbled down his plumed face. Knowing that he couldn't still time forever, for a moment, the great and powerful Goblin King let himself shed a few tears. His one and only love was still far from the ground and if he relinquished the time he had slowed, she would surely die. It seemed that the ticking of the clock would bring about the end of the only person he'd ever cared about and for the first time in his life Jareth loathed the hand fate had dealt him.
'It's not fair! Just now when we were beginning to understand one another, i'll be forced to live without her! How can I live without her?...It isn't fair...' He thought despondently.
As if in response to his mental outburst, he could clearly hear an echo from Sarah's past run through his mind.
'No. It isn't. But that's just the way it is.' he heard her speak with a surprised lilt to her voice. The irony of the situation was almost too much for his owl form to take.
Time was slipping from his grasp and the shimmering space around Sarah began to waver as he weakened.
Energy and magic rapidly depleting, a slow transformation began to take place. Looking up into the sky, goblins stopped and stared as the majestic silhouette of the large barn owl changed into the lanky form of their king. Slowly, fingers replaced feathers, and long tawny hair replace plumage. Eventually, all that anyone could see was Jareth hovering in the sky. Face scrunched in utter concentration, the powerful Goblin King's hands shook from the strain.
Every moment that he prolonged her falling felt as if heavy weights were piling unmercifully onto his chest. Suffocating under his heavy burden, he watched as Sarah's descent grew faster and faster as he lost control.
With a loud CRACK, a second shockwave shot through his body and his vision blackened. Mentally and physically exhausted, Jareth could do nothing as he crumpled out of the sky and dropped towards the Goblin City.
"I'm so sorry precious. I've failed you.." was the last coherent thought before Jareth the Goblin King fell from the sky and landed among the stone rooftops.
I know this one was short. Trust me, I know. But as per usual, I would really REALLY appreciate feedback from all of you! Please please PLEASE review and let me know heat you think! ;D