Disclaimer: Would I really be writing "fanfiction" if I owned the characters?

Last Time:

Standing, he opened his mouth to bid her good night then remembered Alan's offer. "I almost forgot. Alan wanted to know if you'd like the Three Musketeers to spend an afternoon with you."

She swallowed roughly, regaining her control before she smiled weakly. "I don't think I can, Jareth."

"Alan will understand. Don't worry."

"Thanks."

He kissed her temple. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Until then." He vanished, the empty tray, cups and table leaving with him. She sighed heavily, looking out the doors to the night sky. "Tonight's the last night," she said darkly. "Then no more. You can't haunt me anymore Karen. You've cause me more harm by not shooting me than you ever could have if you'd killed me. So that's it. No more."

Standing, she strode to her bed and slid under the covers. "So that's it. You can haunt my dreams for the last time tonight. Tomorrow is a new day and a new Sarah."

Nothing replied and she took that as a good sign. Smiling, she held out a hand, imagining…imagining… pop! She peeked an eye open and smiled, finding Hippo, Jareth's stuffed owl, lying there. Snuggling close to the feathery fuzzed stuffed animal, she quickly fell to sleep.

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Chapter 29 (May 4th)

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Morning found her and Jareth in an argument over her use of magic and the custody of Hippo. She declared that it was only a little bit of magic and that since she'd actually been the one to buy Hippo, she should be able to snuggle him if she so pleased. He argued that 'only a little bit of magic' could destroy her weakened core and that she'd given him Hippo as a present and had therefore given up rights to the stuffed animal. Their argument ended with the compromise that she wouldn't use magic for the next few days and that if she really needed a stuffed animal to sleep with, he would go and buy her one.

This was followed by breakfast and a brief kiss before Jareth went to work on 'oh-dear-goddess-more-paperwork?' and Sarah lounged in her chaise in the sunlight drifting into her room from the balcony. She'd just stood up to go pour herself a glass of water when her door snapped open.

She turned and smiled. "Valdis! How are youuuuuu..." Her voice trailed off in surprise when the panther raced for her, wrapping arms around her neck. "Val?" The girl didn't respond. Sarah cautiously wrapped her arms around Valdis, hugging her back just as tightly.

She glanced up when a flash of blond alerted her to someone else's presence. She found Raniero standing in the doorway looking flustered. Upon spotting Valdis and Sarah, he sighed in relief, nodded to Sarah and vanished. Sarah felt a grin curl at her lips and Valdis stiffened.

"What are you smiling about?" she asked cautiously, pulling away to glower at her.

"Nothing. Prince Charming was just here to check on you." Valdis blinked in confusion. "Nero." She flushed. "Ah ha!" Sarah grinned. "Aw. So cute!"

"Shut up Sarah!" Her eyes narrowed in fury. "What did you tell Jason? He knew Nero before they met!"

"Nothing of dire consequence." She laughed then cocked her head. "So… what's wrong?"

Valdis' jaw clenched and she looked away. "Can we sit on the balcony?"

Nodding, Sarah stood stiffly and headed for the balcony, gladly leaning on the offered arm, taking a seat beside the panther who twitched nervously. The brunette said nothing, staring at the sky, waiting for Valdis to open up.

"Beck's dead."

Choking, Sarah turned to her quickly. "I thought her injuries weren't that serious!"

"I killed her."

Sarah's response was a dropped jaw and a dead brain.

Valdis swallowed. "I… I killed her Sarah. I killed her because she was about to kill me." Her jaw trembled and she pulled her legs up to her chest. "She was my friend, a sister and I…"

Sarah pulled her into a tight hug. "I'm so sorry Val," she murmured as the panther cried into her shoulder. She didn't know how long they were sitting there but the chiming of a clock made Valdis sit up straight, wiping at her eyes. "Val?"

"Hm?"

"Why was Beck trying to kill you?"

Valdis frowned. "Did Jareth not tell you yet?"

Sarah sighed. "No. He's not told me much. I think he's trying to keep me in the dark." She wrung her hands nervously. "And I… uh… I'm sorry for yelling at you before the battle. I know Jareth tells people not to tell me things and I shouldn't pressure them but it makes me so mad not knowing something that everyone else does! I'm a part of this as much as anyone else!"

"You are." Her tail twitched a few times as she stared at the clouds. "I don't care if I'm not supposed to tell you. Beck was turned into a zombie."

Sarah's eyes widened and she leaned away from Valdis. "Val… did you get bitten?"

"Wha…" She rolled her eyes. "No. Not that kind of zombie."

"Zombie?" Both turned to Raniero who'd been walking towards them, Haimon at his side. The blond's eyes narrowed. "Who?"

Valdis frowned. "There's this thing called knocking, Haimon."

"Who says I didn't knock?" Both girls sent him a look. "Fine. I didn't knock."

"Who was a zombie?" Raniero growled. All eyes turned to him in surprise.

"Beck," Valdis said uneasily. "She was attacked on the way to Goblin Castle. She must have died during the night and was brought back."

"Wait, you said it wasn't that kind of zombie," Sarah interrupted.

"It's not the viral zombie. It's a voodoo zombie," Haimon explained when Valdis shot her an exasperated look but didn't explain. "Basically, viral zombies are caused by a virus that kills the creature and brings them back to life as a mindless drone out for blood. Voodoo zombies are killed then brought back basically under mind control with no hope of being saved. There is no cure and they are entirely under the witch doctor's orders, kind of like a flesh and blood puppet."

"So Beck was murdered then sent to attack Valdis?" Sarah asked.

"Yes." He glanced at the blue panther who was staring at her knees. "The only way to rescue her would be to kill her."

"Why wasn't I told about this earlier?" Raniero snarled. Everyone turned to him in surprise, not used to the anger in his voice. "I lost soldiers today! Any one of them could be transformed and no one would know until they were attacked!"

"We didn't want to cause a panic," Haimon explained. "And Jareth has a spell working over his lands that prevents zombies from entering."

Sarah cocked her head. "If he has the spell, then how did Beck become a zombie?"

There was silence for a long moment, everyone staring at each other.

Valdis frowned at Sarah. "That's unsettling. Would the spell not be working then?"

"One would assume. We should ask him."

"He won't be happy with you," Haimon told Valdis. "You were supposed to keep it quiet."

"I don't care. Sarah's as much a part of this war as anyone. She deserves to know." She glanced at Raniero. "You too, General." He looked surprised. "I don't know why your aunt didn't inform you immediately of this but believe me, we will have words."

He nodded and dipped his head in respect. "Thank you m'lady."

Haimon rolled his eyes. "Oh. Now you want to play leader." He was quickly and effectively silenced with a fist to the ribcage.

As he collapsed onto the ground, a bright red Valdis snarling at him, Sarah held out a hand to Raniero. "Help me up, yeah?" He grabbed her hands and tugged, seemingly effortless, and she flew to her feet. She smiled her thanks then grinned wickedly, hands on her hips. "Now, let's go find my dark knight."

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Jareth let out a grumble as he rubbed his forehead, cursing paperwork. Oh how he hated it so.

"JAR-RETH!" Rolling his eyes, he sighed heavily through his nose and looked up as Sarah marched into the room, three panthers following behind her. She crossed her arms and cocked her hip to the side. "Why didn't you tell us about the zombies?"

"Why aren't you in bed-wait. What?" He blinked in surprise then shot Valdis a look. The panther ignored him, eyes focused on a shiny silver ring dangling from a coat thrown over a chair casting light beams around the room as it swung. He frowned. "I did not want to incite a panic," he remarked easily.

"Why wasn't the zombie barrier working?"

He lifted an eyebrow. "What?"

"The one to keep out zombies? Beck turned into one when she was here."

"What?"

Sarah sighed. "You're becoming redundant, darling."

"Rebecca turned into a zombie?"

"That's what I said-"

He was on his feet immediately, boots clicking as he brushed past them, through the doorway and down the hallway. Sarah blinked then raced after him, the panthers following quickly.

"Jareth?" she asked when they reached a room she'd never noticed before. It was made completely of gray stones, smooth walls and floors, only a simple circle engraved in the center of the floor.

He spun and pointed at her. "Stay. Do not cross the threshold."

She nodded sharply, taking an extra step back as a precaution.

Moving across the room, he stood in the center and held a gloved hand over the center of the circle engraved in the floor. The entire room brightened so fast Sarah threw an arm over her eyes, blinking away spots when it died down. Her jaw dropped when she could finally see again, Jareth in the center of the room, eyes shut, a thin streak of lightning connecting his palm to the stone engraving, the entire room pulsing bright silver. The pulsing slowly died down. When the last one faded from sight, his eyes snapped open and he broke into vicious cursing.

"Jareth?" Sarah asked hesitantly.

He snarled at her. "That's how they got in!"

She frowned. "What?"

"They flooded the zombie barrier! Goddess damn it all! I'm not explaining it twice! Come on!" Storming from the room, he turned to panther-Valdis. "Find your brother. Tell him we're having a meeting in fifteen minutes. He needs to be there." Her eyebrows rose in surprise but she nodded and flew from the room, Haimon and Raniero transforming as well and running after her.

Sarah frowned and reached a hand out, grabbing his hand. He slowed and turned to look at her then sighed and squeezed her hand. "I'm sorry I scared you… I just realized how much of this could have been avoided if we'd just taken precautions."

"What are you talking about?"

"I'll explain during the meeting. It's far too much to explain at once. Basically, the enemy knows how the barrier works and can use it to their advantage." He scowled. "The Labyrinth and I are in for several long nights of work."

The presence Sarah associated with the Labyrinth squeezed around them and she smiled faintly.

"I never did thank you for rescuing Bella," she remarked softly.

"I'm sorry?" Jareth asked.

"The Labyrinth. I called upon its aid during the battle when Bellezza was in danger. It rescued her and helped me get to them in time before it warned you of the battle."

"Oh." He cocked his head. "I don't know if we've ever discussed this, but it is odd that the Labyrinth and you have developed such a deep magical bond."

She made a face. "You're just jealous cause it likes me better." The presence was obviously laughing because they could feel the immense joy radiating from the walls.

"Hey Jareth?" They turned as one and found Honou looking at the walls oddly as he walked towards them. "This might sound strange… but I think the castle is happy."

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Sarah frowned lightly, looking around the crowded council table. Alan and Kira were in debate over something with Taka and Honou. Washi was talking with Aidan and Toroku, Ryuu listening in. Jason and Ikkakujuu were laughing over something, Haimon nearby and smirking. Valdis was sitting beside Sarah scowling at the world, Raniero between her and Azrael, Aidan beyond Az. Jareth suddenly stalked into the room, Glorificus following close behind. Jareth slid into his chair, Glorificus sitting beside him.

"Thanks for getting here so fast," Jareth remarked. "I know you all don't want to be away for too long so here it is. The enemy understands the barrier." No one really reacted. Sarah knew it was because they were as confused as she was. "Valdis," Jareth began. "Your dream. You said you saw Beck attacking you as a zombie?" She nodded cautiously. "The Duke of Sunray was found as a zombie only a short time ago. As I put the pieces together, I realize how elaborate their plan was." He rubbed his forehead.

"They attacked the Duke, knew that I would put the spell into effect. Once the spell was up, they aimed for someone who frequented my lands and would come to me with information. They sent Valdis the dream causing her to tell her brother who had been told of the zombie sighting. You five left your homes to come here and were attacked. Beck was nearly killed, but she was still alive when she passed the barriers. Now on the inside, they had eyes and ears once she died. They used the barrier to get in. It looks for zombies and keeps them out. They proved they weren't zombies and could slip in, only in small groups at a time."

Sarah sat straighter, recalling her internal questions on why only a few small groups were attacking at a time.

"When Beck arrived here, I instantly called a meeting. This drew me and the other members away from Goblin Castle. They attacked. When the Labyrinth realized what was happening, it flooded my mind. When it did that, the zombie wards flickered, allowing… a gap, for lack of a better word. This gap let Beck transform into a zombie and get loose." He stared at the speechless council. "Don't you understand? This was a test. They attacked us to test the wards, test our reactions, test if it could be done! Now they know it can be done!" He threw his arm out towards the field. "Guess how many dead we still have left out there!"

Horror was beginning to seep into their faces.

"Oh goddess." Ikkakujuu lifted her hands to her face. "Jareth. Last week one of our young herdsmen went… well, crazy, for lack of a better term. We thought it was simply a fever of the mind or some such illness but… he was careful with all of his attacks. There was no inner fury. If there was a zombie outbreak… he may have been a casualty."

"Perhaps. There are ways to check." He motioned towards Glorificus. "Father knows more about this than I."

Glorificus took this as his cue and stood but before he could do anything, the doors snapped open, Clarica panting. "Sarah!"

"Clarica," Honou began sharply. "You can't be in here."

He was ignored as the pale faced, sickly green haired woman ran towards Sarah, wrapping her hands around the brunette's wrist and tugging sharply towards the door. "Hurry! Hurry! Something's wrong with Carmen!"

Sarah felt her heart go cold and picked up her pace, shoes smacking the stone as she charged ahead of Clarica and to the paddock. Carmen was whinnying furiously, kicking at anything that got too close to him. The barn hands looked helpless and Scarab was keeping her distance but kept calling for him.

"Carmen!" Sarah shouted, panic lacing her speech. "Carmen! What the hell is wrong with you?" She climbed onto the fence to jump into the paddock but screamed and fell back as he charged, body slamming into the fence she was just sitting on.

"GET AWAY FROM ME!" he screamed in fury, ears flat against his neck. "YOU FILTHY TWO-LEGGER!" Her breath caught in hurt. "WHY CAN'T YOU HUMANS JUST LEAVE US THE HELL ALONE?"

"What happened to you?" she asked, cursing the fact that she was close to crying as Clarica helped her to her feet. He whinnied in fury and slammed his body against the fence again, smacking his head against the posts. "No! Stop it!" she cried when he started bleeding. He snapped at her hands and she drew them back quickly. Wounded fury rose in her and she felt her hands clench tightly.

"CARMEN!" she shouted, her voice echoing in the field and her head. "KNOCK YOUR CRAP OFF!" He spun around to face her again and she swiftly backhanded him. His head swung to the side and he snorted, backing up quickly in shock, just staring at her.

There was absolutely no noise. Even the wind seemed to still, human and horse staring at each other.

"Sarah?" Carmen blinked a few times and looked around. "What's going on?"

She pointed a finger at him sharply. "Don't you DARE give me that crap!" she snarled. "I'll beat you with your own face if you even start…" Her voice trailed off as something bright red materialized on the top of the white blaze on his forehead.

"I'm pretty sure it's physically impossible to beat me with my own face," Carmen's dull voice was almost muted to her as all her attention was focused on the bug thing clinging to his forehead. "What the hell are you staring at?"

"C'mere." He took a few cautious steps forward, bending his face close to hers.

"If you rip my face off-" She magically created gloves and a glass container. "Sarah?"

"Hush." Quick as lightning, she snagged the bug, slammed it into the container and sealed it. The bug let out a screech that nearly made her ears bleed. Carmen wasn't so lucky, letting out a scream of pain and backing away quickly, shaking his head frantically.

"What is that?" Cleo yelled, hands clasped over her ears.

"I don't know!" Sarah shouted back in panic. "Make it stop!"

"Make the container sound proof!" one of the stable hands cried.

She quickly did so and everyone let out sighs of relief, Carmen panting in pain. "Help Carmen. I'm taking this to Jareth." Clarica quickly followed the brunette back to the castle.

"What is that thing?"

"I dunno. We'll ask Jareth. He'll probably know."

"Was that why Carmen was acting strange?"

Sarah sent her a dull look. "What part of 'I don't know' don't you get?"

"The 'don't' part."

"Ah. Well then that's okay." Clarica laughed. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"Honou had to go to this meeting. I asked if I could tag along to say hello." She shrugged. "I missed you guys."

"I'd hug you if I weren't holding this glass container with an evil bug in it."

"… you can keep the hugging to yourself until you wash your hands. Thoroughly." Clarica looked at her with a raised eyebrow when Sarah cackled longer than usual. "That wasn't that funny. What are you happy about?"

"I get to interrupt his meeting," she chirped. "It's fun to see the look of 'oh dear goddess I should never have brought you down here' that pops up on his face when I annoy him."

Clarica laughed. "You are a horrible person."

"I know." Reaching the room, she kicked open the doors and swung her free hand into the air. "Hello everyone! It is I, the great Sarah Williams, here to bring you a present!" She slammed the container with the bug onto the table, resting both hands on it. "Now, someone is going to tell me immediately what the hell this thing is, why the hell it was on my horse's forehead, and who the hell I'm going to kill for it."

There was immediate silence, all eyes focused on the bug. After a long pause, Kira slowly raised a hand.

"Yes! Kira!"

"Er… well… what is it?"

"That's what I was asking you-"

"It's an Iracundia." All eyes turned to Ryuu. "There have not been many in existence." He sent Sarah a weary look. "Must you to attract all manner of ancient beast?"

"It's a curse," she said dismissively, waving a hand. "So why was it on Carmen's forehead?"

"Is that why he was freaking out?" Alan asked, leaning forward to examine the creature.

"Yes," Ryuu answered when no one else did. "The Iracundia are beasts that attach themselves into the mind of a creature and increase the rage of the individual."

"Lemme guess, once attached they are invisible?"

"Indeed. Usually whoever has been attached to the Iracundia attacks others and, in an effort to stop the individual, they are killed to save the rest."

"Like my herdsman?" Ikkakujuu asked softly.

"You said his attacks were careful and precise?" Washi rubbed his chin. "I'd say that points to zombie rather than all-out rage." Ryuu nodded his agreement.

Sarah lifted her hand. "Uh, back to my horse please." Many eyes rolled in annoyance.

"So Carmen was most likely targeted so that we would end up killing him and hurting Sarah?" Honou asked.

"Most likely."

Sarah cocked her head. "Huh. I think today has marked the most I've ever heard you say, Ryuu."

Jareth sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Is that the look?" Clarica asked, pointing to Jareth.

"Yup. That's the look. So what are we doing with Ira?"

"The ira," Glorificus corrected. "And I will take it back to the High City. We have sorcerers there that can put the beast back to sleep and send it back to wherever it came from."

"Goody. I'm gonna go check on Carmen-oh! Tell your sorcerers not to … not to not?" Clarica shrugged at her. "Okay then, tell them not to not un-sound proof it unless they want bleeding ears." More than a few people looked confused at that. "Don't let noise out of container."

"Indeed."

She pushed the container towards Glorificus who wrinkled his nose, glaring at the frantic bug inside. "Well I'm gonna go check on my poor baby Carmen. Catch y'all later!" She waved and left quickly, Clarica following her with a wide grin. "See. That is how to properly annoy a Goblin King."

"Well you've had far more practice than I."

Sarah laughed and wrapped her arms around the neon-haired girl. "I missed you Rica."

"And I missed you too-OH DEAR LORD! Let go of me you bug infested little girl!"

"I didn't even touch the bug with my bare hands!"

"Ew! Ew! Ew!"

"Clarica! You used to be a servant, damn it! A little bug shouldn't bother you!"

"That wasn't a little bug, Sarah! That was huge bug!"

"Ira was not a huge bug!"

"It was a huge bug! And it's called an iracundia!"

"Ira the bug. Whateve."

"Iracundia!"

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To all Heal Me, Hurt Me Readers and Reviewers,

This chapter seems really short… huh. Maybe it was because there were a lot of paragraphs instead of speaking? I dunno. Next chapter's almost done. Should be up soon.

That was a HORRIBLE beginning to an author's note D: I'm sorry! Let's see… how bout I tell you a joke instead. One of my friends at school always has the GREATEST jokes ever! Seriously. They're so stupid but I laugh for twenty minutes afterwards. I love stupid jokes.

Here goes:

What did the mother buffalo say as her child left for school?

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BI-SON!

Hahahaha! Get it? Bye-son but they are buffalo so they're bison! Hahaha!

No seriously. I'm still laughing.

If you've got a horrendous joke, please leave it in a review cause I'm having an icky day and I need to laugh more.

Also, check out Behind the Scenes. It's gonna be a collection of one-shots about the characters in the story starting with Reishka!

Till next time,

Kadasa Mori

Next Chapter Preview: Chapter 30 (really 80)

"Sarah!" Jason waved as he hurried to catch up with her. "Hey! So are you over your Nosocomephobia?"

"Noso-whatta?"

"Fear of hospitals."

"Oh. Yes. For now." She twisted her fingers nervously. "I, uh… I'm sorry for freaking out on you."

"Pshhh." He waved a hand. "No worries. If we'd have known, I woulda commandeered Kara to help me kidnap you from Sakura's evil grasp." Sarah laughed and he swung an arm around her shoulders. "Besides, it's completely understandable to fear hospitals. They are creepy and all whiteness. Yucky."

"Yeah. They're not fun."

"I'd suppose not. I mean, every time I know of you being in the hospital, someone's died or-" He choked softly and she paused, trying to figure out what he was freaking out over as her mind went over the conversation. Like a flash, her mind pinpointed on what he must know to make such an assumption and she felt a spark of anger.

"You-" She bit her tongue to keep from lashing out. "How. Do. You. Know."

He winced and pulled away, hands up in surrender. "I… Jareth told us-"

"Us?" she shrieked angrily. "How many people know?"

"Alan and me! That's it! I swear!"