Chapter 3: Kingdoms Transform Into Battlefields

Turning away from the pool he exclaims, " By gods! She just told her!"

The Goblin King gives a smirk at the kingling's outburst. " Yes," he replies, seeming to enjoy the anger the younger fae is spewing,"and now, from the storm that is brewing over us at a rapid pace, I'm guessing you wanted to be the one to tell her?"

The deep-blue shirted man snorts, "Jareth, come off it now. You know I do; well, did. Good thing your 'Champion' does not know everything about this world."

Brushing that childish jab aside, Jareth rises from the stones surrounding the water. "One, work on your insults. Two, wait until this war is over to bring her home. I don't think it is a good idea that her first-new impression of the Underground is chaos. Now, come; I don't think her image is going to miss you that much."

He opens his mouth to comment that he will miss her but a goblin scout, bearing the resemblance to a bird, comes barreling in. "Sirs! Sirs! Back! Shadow man back! Hurry! He very quick!"

Forgetting about the girl momentarily, the kingling evaporates to his army while Jareth flies to his, both with anger boiling in their eyes. He will die today, or we will die trying. This has gone on far enough! Too many innocents have been injured or killed. Terrill is a monster. How dare he call himself a fae, the man thinks. "To battle!" the war cry sounds and soldiers respond in earnest with war cries of their own. Starting with a jolt of renewed energy, the fight ensues once more.

I sit awestruck as Sarah recounts her adventure, giving intermittent gasps of surprise and intrigue. "Sarah," I say in a hushed voice, "why didn't you tell me you had such a great imagination before? You could write a book! I'd love to help. I have some paper and pens around this room somewhere-"

"NO! Rose, you don't get it!"

"...Get what?" my enthusiasm starts draining.

She grabs my hands and looking deep into my sky-blue eyes she says slowly, "Rose. You're my best friend, you know that right?" I nod, unsure what to say. "I would never lie to you. Everything I said just now is true. All of it. Please, I'm not crazy. You've got to believe me."

"Sarah, you're asking me to believe that you, a very practical girl, my best friend, actually experienced an adventure with trolls, goblins, and talking fox-like creatures, in an ever-changing maze in a Goblin Kingdom ruled by a very hot fae man, just to rescue your brother, whom you wished away?"

"Yes!" She sighs, obviously now irked by me. "All of it is the truth."

I sigh back, and look away for a moment. "Well...the hot fae man is believable."

"And why is that?"

"That's what I always see when I have a sugar rush, a hot fae man; though, he has black hair and cobalt blue eyes." Sarah groans and falls back onto my bed.

"This isn't about the sugar, Rose! This is really real!"

I look down at her, "I want to say 'prove it' but I'm not sure if I should."

She sits up quickly, voice hushed, "I'll do it. I'll say the words."

"Sarah, lay down. You're having your first encounter with sugar-hangover. Just relax."

"But I can't! You don't believe me! I'm not crazy, and I'm not having a sugar-hangover! All that's happening is that my best friend just labeled me a loon!"

I shake my head while gently cupping her hands in mine, "No, Sarah...I don't think you are any crazier than me."

"Then let me prove it to you." She says slowly with excitement. "Let me prove I'm not making this up."

"Fine!" I throw my hands up into the air, exasperated, "Say your magic spell, and if this insane idea actually pulls through,then, I don't know, I'll bake you a cake."

Sarah points at me, "I'll be eating that cake soon then." Standing up, she crosses the floor of my room to my full length mirror and spreads her arms as a magician does during a show. I sigh softly then join her. "I wish the Goblin King would take us away, right now."

Glitter shoots out of the mirror, enveloping us both. I grab her arm tightly as my room disappears around us, changing into a rugged barren battlefield. "Oh my God,Sarah, what did you do?!"

She frowns, "I brought us here, but it looks different..."

"Yeah! It's a battlefield!"