Disclaimer: See previous chapters
Last Time:
Sarah blinked and turned to look at Valdis who looked at her in confusion. "Huh?"
Arcadia sighed and rubbed her forehead. "Father…"
Westlyn grinned. "I lived!"
Valdis transformed and stood close to Sarah. "What the hell just happened?"
"I have no idea," Sarah mumbled.
Arcadia sighed again. "Fight's over. Father was probably just testing Westlyn… again."
"At least he didn't shoot me in the head this time," Westlyn chimed happily.
"Shoot you in the head?!" Valdis and Sarah cried at the same time.
"Yeup! Wasn't too pleasant I'll tell ya." He scooped up Arcadia. "What say you to a fresh cup of French blood and a cozy fireplace?"
She smiled. "That sounds wonderful my dear." They waved and vanished.
Sarah blinked again and Valdis growled. "What the hell just happened?" she repeated.
With a sigh, Sarah headed back towards the castle. "Why are my friends so weird?"
Valdis scoffed. "I really need to stop hanging out with you."
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Chapter 22 (April 17th)
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"Sarah?"
She glanced up from her book and smiled. "Jareth." She set the book aside and held up her arms. He walked over and hugged her, yelping when she dragged him onto the bed beside her. He scowled up from her cream colored comforter and Sarah giggled. "How goes it?" she asked.
He flopped onto his back and sat up, propping himself up on his elbows. "Have you been in here since breakfast?" She nodded happily. "You do know that Kira's just about forgotten you transformed all of her food into broccoli and made her ice cream taste of vegetable?"
"Yes but I'd rather not take chances."
He snorted then sighed. "There is another wished away. I cannot go visit the runner." He rolled his eyes. "I have a meeting. Will you watch him?" Sarah nodded and got off the bed, stretching. "No cheating Sarah. Do not help unless he truly deserves it."
Sarah waved a hand. "I can act all Goblin King-y." She walked to the mirror and looked over her outfit before shaking her head. "Not Goblin King-y enough." She pulled up her fire and tapped her clothing, giggling as it tickled and changed. She turned to Jareth and pulled up a green tinted crystal. "How's that?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Very nice. Now hurry up and greet him. And remember-"
"No cheating." She gave him a quick kiss. "See ya later. Have fun. Don't kill Jason."
His eyes narrowed. "Why would I-"
She grinned and vanished. The labyrinth appeared around her and she ran a hand down the mossy walls. "Hello again!" she chirped.
Hello Sarah. With a yelp she fell over her feet and landed on the ground. Rolling over she found the spirit woman looking highly amused despite the fact she had no mouth. It's been awhile.
"It has." She stood and rubbed her face. "I would've come sooner had I known that was the greeting I'd receive."
The woman laughed and floated around her. New attire?
"I'm the Goblin Queen for the day."
Oh?
"Yup! Jareth's got important… stuff… to do."
Ah. She nodded. It sounds very important.
"Yeah. I figure I'll spend a few minutes tormenting the kid then offer to have a picnic with him. If he says no I shall demand it."
Oh yeah, cause that'll work, she rolled her eyes.
"It will for I am amazing."
Indeed you are my dear.
"Oh hey! Have you seen Mally around?"
Malandra? Indeed. She has been inhabiting the Labyrinth. She tells me she enjoys the peace and quiet away from certain mortal-turned-fae.
"Oh dear. Whoever could it be I wonder? I shall have to appropriately punish them for causing dear Mally mental harm."
The spirit snorted. The list is long indeed.
"I know, right!"
Laughing, the spirit motioned towards the bend. Our young runner is approaching. I suggest you get ready.
"Thanks." She looked around then took a seat on the bench, crossing her left leg over her right, hands behind her propping her up. Not even forty seconds later a young man skidded around the corner, racing her way then skidded to a stop as he spotted her.
"Who are you?" he snarled. She raised an eyebrow looking him over; short curly brown hair, bright hazel eyes, a torn black tee-shirt and jeans.
With a smirk, she lifted her chin. "Why, I am the Goblin Queen. Have you not heard of me?"
"No. Only of a Goblin King." He looked her up and down. "Are you his wife?"
She bristled. "No!"
He held his hands up and took a step back. "Kay! Kay…"
She settled back down, jaw set angrily. "I'm here to offer-"
"Me my dreams in return for my brother. Sorry Queenie but I'd rather like him back now."
She wrinkled her nose. "You want a sniveling little brother instead of your most fantastic dreams?"
"I do. Return him."
"Sorry." She leaned back on the bench, twirling the flames around a gloved hand. "No can do. See, we have rules here and they are that no one goes home till the clock stops a-tickin'." She motioned towards the wall where the clock sat. "And suffice to say, the clock is still a-tickin'." He jerked then spun on his heel, moving to run away. She laughed. "Oh dear me. Have I distracted you? So sorry ol' chap."
He sent her a dark look then raced off. She grinned. "Oh and watch out-" With a yell he shot down a chute and towards the hidden forest below. "-for that hole. Damn tricky thing it is."
You know, she glanced back at the spirit as she drifted up beside her. It was really amusing to watch you run the Labyrinth.
Sarah scowled at her. "Maybe for the outside parties. I do not recall this amusement."
It's also quite entertaining to watch you rule the Labyrinth.
Her eyebrows rose in surprise. "Rule the Labyrinth? I'm quite certain the Labyrinth rules itself."
Well it does, but it reads your thoughts on the runner and devises their torment. Sarah frowned, confused. The spirit turned to the wall and placed a hand upon it. The Labyrinth says that you feel this runner is very dedicated to getting his brother back. He seems brave but also cocky. You want him to face more difficult trials to see if he truly wants his brother back or if he just doesn't want to get caught.
Her jaw dropped. She had been thinking that… "Wow…"
Precisely. The spirit cocked her head and even though she had no mouth, Sarah knew she was smiling. You are informing the Labyrinth of what you want done subconsciously. You won't be able to feel its presence in your brain. Only Jareth can do that.
Sarah nodded and sent a mental hug to the Labyrinth for allowing her safe-ish passage through the fierys. She was surprised when she felt a mental squeeze back but didn't tell the spirit.
Come. Jareth said I was to show you the points to greet our visitor while he was away. Sarah nodded and took the ghostly hand, floating through the walls and ground to the next point.
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As the teen stumbled into the fountain area, the spirit held onto Sarah's shoulder keeping her invisible. He made it into the middle of the stone room, staring at the fountain that was nearly the size of a small gymnasium before looking around the door less room. He sighed heavily and sat down against the stone rim on the fountain, leaning his head back on its smooth surface. The spirit released Sarah who walked over and put a hand on her hip. "Tired already?"
The boy weakly opened an eye before scoffing. "Never."
She chuckled and took a seat a few feet down from where his head rested and looked up at the sky. "It's getting near dark you know."
"Hadn't noticed."
"Hm…" She rolled a crystal around her palm. "Why'd you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Wish him away."
He let out a humorless laugh. "I don't know… I was being selfish. My parents make me babysit all the time, every night it seems, and I just… I didn't care for half a second. Half a second too long I suppose for the words came to mind and I spoke them." He let out a groan, getting to his feet. "How long do I have?"
"Eight hours." She watched him carefully then leaned back and ran her fingers over the water. A sprite poked her head up. "Good evening my lady," she murmured. The sprite giggled. "Would you do me an invaluable favor?" She motioned towards the end of the pond. "The door. Open it?"
The sprite glanced between her and the boy before nodding and disappearing. He looked at her, then spun quickly as the rock wall on the end of the pond lifted, a door standing there.
"Where does it lead?" he asked.
She shrugged. "It leads wherever the leader wants it to lead. If you want your brother it shall lead you to him. If you want this just to end, a fine end you'll find. If you want to go back home and forget, well off you go." As he walked over and moved a hand to the knob, she reappeared beside him, leaning against the door. "But a warning I must tell. This doorway leads to what you truly want. If your mind is screaming babe but your heart is screaming home, you will end up at home with no child. You must be sure of what you want before entering or else all is lost."
He stared at her then at the door before taking a deep breath and turning back to her. "I want… my brother back."
"Do you truly?" she asked dryly, examining her nails. "Many say that but even fewer want it."
He shot her a dark look. "I. Want. Him. Back."
A slow smile curved on her lips and she pulled the clock out of thin air. "You've eight hours and three minutes left. I suggest you hurry." He grabbed the doorknob and threw the door open, running down the tunnel. She nodded after him and turned back to the sprite who was watching. She smiled warmly. "Thank you for your help."
The blue sprite giggled and nodded, disappearing beneath the water. The door shook as it sucked back into the ground and Sarah turned to the spirit who was clapping silently. "Thank you." She mocked a bow. "Where is the next spot?"
There isn't one. The castle is your next destination. She cocked her head. This one is strong and fast. He'll make it to the castle. You must make sure to keep calm so he does not win.
Sarah nodded then wiggled her fingers in a 'goodbye' before she disappeared from the pond and reappeared in the throne room. The goblins all looked over quickly and she crossed her arms. "Where's the baby?" They motioned to the throne where the baby lay, asleep. She walked over and picked him up, taking a seat in Jareth's throne. "Your brother is coming for you," she whispered. "Just you wait and see. He'll be here."
She smiled as the baby's lips curved as though he knew what she was saying. Thanks Labyrinth. This boy seems to really care… kinda like I did once upon a time. She felt the mental squeeze again and sat back to wait.
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Sarah's eyes flickered to the clock. There was only two minutes left. She shifted nervously, not knowing what might happen should the boy actually make it… Jareth said there was no way but… but she'd made it. Jareth would kill her if he made it and shouldn't have!
The clock ticked a minute closer and she heard a yelp, turning to find him climbing up the bridge around the various goblins running about. He nearly fell on his face but turned, huffing and puffing towards the castle. She inhaled sharply and stepped into the shadows, gnawing on her bottom lip in worry. The clock ticked closer with every step he took. He looked up and spotted the castle, pausing for a heartbeat to smile in victory.
Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!
He sank to his knees three feet from the castle doors, pale and horrified. "No…" he whispered. "No… I'm so sorry Ian…"
Sarah smiled then pulled up her Goblin Queen face and reappeared before him. He spotted the boots and bristled, then slowly looked up, eyes meeting her own. She smirked. "Such a pity…"
He snarled. "Fine! I lost your game! Now what happens?"
"Well, your brother becomes a goblin and you go back aboveground and get to tell your parents all about your fun time down here."
He looked at the ground then swallowed. "What can I do? Will you send him back and keep me here?"
"You'd do that for your brother?" she asked with a soft sneer, heart jumping about happily. "Sell yourself to the devil to give your brother wings?"
"Yes."
"Hm… well… there is one thing you could do."
"Name it!" he cried, looking up as she put her hands on her knees, leaning down.
"Remember." He blinked in confusion. "If you promise to never ever forget what you once nearly lost then you shall get your brother back. That is your punishment and your gift for running the Labyrinth. It deemed you worthy and spoke the words to send you here." She held up her hand, flames flickering in it. "If you promise to never forget and always treasure the second chance, I will send you both back."
He smiled brightly and nodded. "I promise."
"Good." She held out the hand with the flames and he looked uneasy. He looked at her but she stayed stoic. After a moment he inhaled slowly then grabbed her hand. The flames wrapped around his wrist and he yelped, eyes shutting to withhold the pain only… there was no pain. His eyes slowly opened and he found himself back in his living room. "Ian?" he called. "Ian!" He raced up to his brother's room and threw open the door, nearly falling over the crib. Ian was curled up, sleeping happily. He sighed in relief. "Thank you…"
Sarah smiled, peeking around the corner before squeezing an invisible hand, the spirit sending her straight to her room in the Labyrinth. She changed out of the emerald dress and elbow length cream colored gloves, throwing the knee high black boots into her closet and pulling on a sweater and jeans.
Making her way to the library, she found it empty for once and curled up in a chair by the fireplace with a good book. Halfway through it, she heard a faint scream. Looking around in confusion, she frowned.
"SARAH!" She turned as Jareth stormed into the room. "Why the HELL didn't you tell me what Jason was planning?!"
She blinked in false innocence. "Why, whatever do you mean dearest?"
He snarled. "YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I MEAN!"
Her traitorous lips twitched in glee. "I must admit I have no idea what you're on about Jareth." His gloved hands squeaked as they fisted and he growled deep in his throat. "Alright! Before you kill me, Jason told me last night that I had to distract you for an hour so that he could dye all of your gloves bright pink but then you said you had a meeting so I thought he wouldn't have a chance but…" She glanced at his hand and a giggled bubbled up. "Apparently he did."
He sighed heavily and rubbed his forehead. "Why did I allow you two to meet?"
"Dunno. You're stupid."
He grunted and waved a hand, lifting her out of her chair with a squawk, sitting in her seat and lowering her to sit in his lap. He wrapped one arm around her waist and held up the other, the glove back to being black (she knew he was just playing it up!). A crystal appeared in his palm. "Touch it."
"Why?"
"Because I want to see how you did today."
"Oh!" She grinned. "You're going to be very happy! I acted very Goblin King-ish." She tapped a pointed finger to it and they watched her interactions from the moment she entered the Labyrinth to when the spirit sent her back to her room.
"So how'd I do?"
"You could very easily put me out of a job," he murmured and she giggled. "I think you did brilliantly… especially when you quoted me."
"Such a pity," she sighed. He poked her and she yelped. "You jerk!" He just laughed. "Oh… there was a moment I thought he'd make it to the castle… what would've happened if he'd made it?"
"He couldn't. The castle doesn't allow the Labyrinth runners within since the last one got here and destroyed it." She flushed. "Magic takes hold when the runner gets close and sends a jolt to the chimes, automatically making them go off. The runner usually falls to the ground, thinking they've lost when they actually could've made it." He grinned wickedly. "It's a brilliant psychological factor."
"But what if they've ten minutes left but they're three seconds from the door."
"The Labyrinth keeps them in its clutches until the appropriate time then releases them with only enough time to get to the bridge where the chimes take over. It's all very complicated but very ingenious."
"Then how'd I get here?"
He scowled. "The Labyrinth likes you."
"Yay!" She hugged the mental apparition, still unsure if it was her imagination or the actual Labyrinth. When it squeezed her back a little tighter and Jareth sent her a funny look, she knew it couldn't just be her imagination. "So! How was your day?"
He grunted and leaned back into the chair. "Woke up. Dealt with Kira and you after you pranked her. Dealt with the runner. Asked you to step in. Went to a boring 'rip your eyeballs out of your skull for amusement' meeting. Found that Jason had turned all of my gloves pink. Tried to hunt him down. He vanished. Hunted you down. Watched what you did. You asked me what I did."
She laughed. "Very good."
"So…" He glanced at her. "Would you be willing to do that again?"
"Yes! It was fun!" She grinned. "You'd really let me be the Goblin Queen again?" She held her chin high. "I am the very picture of royalty."
He lifted an eyebrow. "Oh are you?"
"Yup!" She grinned at him and he sighed. "You should know better than to argue."
"I do know better. That's why I'm not arguing." She let out a loud laugh.
"Sarah?"
The brunette turned then grinned widely. "Eden!" she shouted as she raced for the pale skinned woman. She smiled and drew her into a hug.
"Sorry to interrupt," the unicorn said, dipping her head in greeting to Jareth who waved a hand.
"Eden?" Kara asked in confusion as she followed the pale skinned woman into the room, Kira and Jason on her heels. "That's Kaku, Sarah."
"Didja hit your head?" Kira asked sadly. "I've had that happen before."
"Only because Jareth dropped you on your head," Kara said, rolling her eyes, Jason snorting.
Sarah sent them a dull look. "No I didn't hit my head. I've renamed Kaku as Eden because she's as peaceful as I hope the Garden of Eden is."
Kira and Kara glanced at each other then snorted. "Let me guess. You were trying to say something and it got jumbled up and you came up with Eden."
"Yup!" Sarah replied proudly. "I love it!"
Edenorog sighed heavily. "I do wish I could return to the forest now."
Kira laughed. "No go Lady Eden!" She hooked an arm around Edenorog's arm. "You're stuck here now."
"Come! Come! Sit with us!" Sarah chirped, leading them all over to the couches and dropping into Jareth's lap again, the blond scowling at her. She grinned and blew him a kiss.
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An hour later, Toroku and Alan had joined them, everyone but Kara and Sarah complaining about the meeting. Jason was retelling (very dramatically) his point of view. "And then I wanted to pull my teeth out and use them as bullets to kill the speaker so that the dull droning voice would stop! But it will never stop! It will forever ring in my ears! Forever haunt me!" Kara rolled her eyes and sent Eden a 'see what I have to deal with' look. The unicorn politely laughed behind her hand. "Forever and ever and ever and ever and-"
"I want a pet dinosaur." Everyone paused in what they were doing, a confused feeling shared between them before all eyes turned to Sarah who was looking out the window. Once she realized there was no noise behind her, she turned to look. "What?"
"What's wrong with you?" Kira asked in confusion.
"A lot apparently," Jareth said, rolling his eyes. "Why'd I bring you here again?"
"Cause I'm cool," she remarked darkly and turned to look back outside with a pout.
"What kind of dinosaur?" Edenorog asked.
"A t-rex." She smiled. "They are adorable. Or a velociraptor. But they're smart and wouldn't wanna be pets. So a tyrannosaurus rex." She turned to Jareth. "Jareth? Can I have a pet t-rex?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I said so." He turned a page in his book. "And because it would eat my goblins."
"I would train him not too!"
"No." When she didn't say anything else he looked up. She had her hands up like claws.
She blinked then clawed at him. "Rawr."
It took all of his willpower not to smile or burst into laughter like everyone else in the room did.
He inhaled and saw her eyes light up in 'oh! He's going to agree!'
"No."
"Damn it Jareth!"
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To all Heal Me, Hurt Me Readers and Reviewers,
Merry Christmas! :D What? No it must be your imagination that it's been months since I've updated! Yup! Definitely your imagination! (awkward laugh) Yeah….
Okay so here's a random thought. Watching Peter Pan II: Return to Neverland, right, and I was thinking that the lost boys are just boys who never wanna grow up. I was like, I wonder if they can remember their lives back in the real world? Then I started thinking, maybe Peter saves them from bad life situations.
Then I totally went OMG! PETER PAN IS LIKE A KID VERSION OF JARETH!!!
No seriously! Think about it! Jareth takes kids who aren't wanted aboveground and turns 'em into goblins so they don't hafta grow up. He also makes people grow up, which is the opposite of Peter who makes em stay kids. Peter's the kid Goblin King and Jareth's the adult Lost Boy.
Also. They both wear leggings.
This had absolutely NOTHING to do with this story but I still felt it needed to be said.
Kadasa Mori
Next Chapter Preview: Chapter 23 (really 73)
Walking along the beach, shoes dangling from one hand, Sarah smiled. "Thanks for today Jareth."
"No problem. It was getting quite tedious today…"
"It's been tedious for awhile now."
"Well… yes." He rubbed his face. "The war preparations are taking too long. Things are so disorganized. It's difficult to figure out who and what goes where in order to defend each nation as a whole."
"So ask for help."
"Each country must defend itself according to law and reason. It's hard to reason for each country."
"So ask for help."
He sighed irritably. "There is no more help."
"I can help. Just tell me what to do."
"No. I don't want you-"
She stopped dead, face growing angry. "Don't want me what? Fighting? Protecting? The Underground is my home, Jareth, and I will do anything to protect it! I'm as worthy as a natural born so start treating me like one!" She turned and stomped off angrily. He glanced around making sure the beach was deserted before reappearing in front of her.
"Sarah… it's not that I don't think of you as unworthy. I just don't want you to get hurt!"
She threw her arms in the air. "I've already gotten hurt! That part is over! Now I want to help!"
He stared at her then sighed. "You can't-"
"Augh! You stupid fae!"