Karen could sense something was happening to Sarah even before she was summoned to her step daughter's side. Grabbing Robert's hand, she ran to Jareth's study, dodging sleeping goblins and talkative servants. As she entered the room she stared in shock. Marissa and Seline were guiding Sarah's magic, feeding into it, making it stronger. Sarah was accepting Jareth's bond before the year's time. She shouldn't have been able to, and Karen was confused.

"What are you doing?" Karen whispered, almost to herself. "The law clearly says she cannot accept him for a year."

"No, sister, the law only says she has a year to decide. If you'd stayed around longer and paid attention to your lessons instead of running off to marry the human, you would know this," Marissa said, eyes still closed as she circled Sarah.

"If she decides before the year is up, she must remain here as Presumptive Queen," Karen reminded them. That had been the real reason Karen had pushed for Sarah to take the full year. She had wanted Sarah to have her time with her father, unhindered by Avian laws and obligations.

"She is aware," Seline said calmly.

"But she's a child," Karen said and Seline glared.

"We've just gotten your husband to cease that nonsense. Must we reprimand you as well? Come, join with us and help Sarah's magic come to fruition. Then she must go back to the Labyrinth and claim her king and kingdom."

"You mean she'd live here forever - she'd never go back to our own world?" Robert asked. Seline shook her head.

"If there was a wished away child, she could go to bring him back here. But this choice is Sarah's to make. She has a chance to choose her destiny. Not all of us have that luxury."

"She has a life to continue in her father's world," Karen said, surprised at herself for taking Robert's side, now when it was all happening. This was no longer an argument in theory and Karen found herself not wanting Sarah to give up the human side of her existence so easily.

"She has a life in all worlds, Karen. Come - help us save all our worlds. She is the presumptive Queen, she is stronger when we are all beside her in word and deed."

"Then we'll stay here too," Robert said. Karen looked at him in silence. "My home is where my family is happiest. Karen, you are happier here. I've seen it on your face since we've gotten here. And I won't take that away from you." He glanced at his daughter. "Or from Sarah."

Sarah opened her eyes. "Please Karen, I have to do this. Not just for Jareth, but for all of us. And I can't do it without you."

Karen saw Sarah, levitating off of the floor, filled with peace and power. Yes, she was presumptive Queen. And they needed her now more than ever.

JSJSJS

Jareth felt something change, something important. Sarah was gone. A feeling of dread overtook him - she couldn't be dead, could she? The Labyrinth would not have touched her, not in the middle of a Challenge. No, this was different. He glanced over to where he knew Devlin watched him and shuddered. A wave of nausea hit him and he almost fell to his knees.

"Tiring, oh mighty king?" Devlin's voice shocked him out of his misery and he glared at the vampire. Jareth stood at his full height and watched as a shimmering mist started to swirl in the sky, coming closer. It was beautiful and yet - out of place somehow. It came closer to them but did not touch them.

"Tired of watching you breathe, Devlin," Jareth huffed, trying to figure out why he felt so exhausted. Without his magic, he was already weakened, but this was something more - something he'd never felt. He didn't like it.

If Sarah was not in the Labyrinth, had they all lost? How could he win if she could not be claimed? As he was pondering this, Sarah appeared with Marissa at one side, Seline on the other. Karen was behind Sarah, smiling softly, as if she was prepared for something spectacular.

Devlin raised his hand and went to grab Sarah. "The girl is mine, the Goblin King dies. You are all my witnesses." He was stunned when his hand went through Sarah and she raised her hand to push him fiercely into the ground.

"I belong to no one and to everyone," Sarah said, remembering the words Marissa had told her to say. "I am protector of the Labyrinth and protector of my king. I choose Jareth as my love, my mate, and my king for all of time."

Devlin growled, pulling one of his enchanted knives from his clothes. Throwing it, he watched in satisfaction as the blade struck Sarah and she fell to the ground.

"No," Jareth cried, running to her side. He was pushed back by an invisible force. The Labyrinth. The mist in the sky was the Labyrinth's soul, watching patiently for events to play out as they would.

"She must give herself to me," the Labyrinth whispered. "Her life is forfeit."

"You cannot let her die, she is your Queen," Jareth yelled. "How dare you allow this?"

"Silence, Jareth," Seline called out. "Let the girl perish."

Devlin grinned wildly until he felt something pulling at his clothes, then his skin. Something like a buzzing noise filled his head and tiny teeth ripped at him, tearing his flesh. He swatted at invisible attackers, spinning around to fight what he could not see. Like a phoenix, Sarah was rising again and the Labyrinth's voice rang out clear and strong.

"Let the girl perish and the Queen take her place. Sarah's powers are now her own." The voice paused. "And your powers, Lord Devlin are mine."

Sarah's hand raised and a strong wind circled Devlin, even as the invisible foes continued to consume him. He cried out in anger, how could this happen?

"Your darkness cannot destroy a pure heart. Sarah has always been so, and that is why your plan could not work," Seline mocked. "Everyone you killed had some darkness in their souls. But never Sarah. She is Presumptive Queen and ruler of my son's heart. You sir, will never live to see another nightfall."

"Argh, no - this cannot be," Devlin screamed as his body was overtaken by magical defenses. With a last cry, he laughed.

"Rialta is lost to Seth and to you. I still win," he cried.

"And that is where you are wrong," Marissa said calmly. "But you won't live to find out why."

With that, the Lordos was fully consumed by the darkness in his own heart and disappeared out of existence.

Sarah slumped to the ground and instantly, Jareth was at her side, kissing her gently, checking for injury. She laughed and hugged him.

"I'm fine, Jareth, just a little dizzy."

"You chose me before the year was up, do you know what that means?" Jareth was thrilled and worried at the same time. Would she be angry that she had to stay with him? He searched her face for any trace of regret but she simply smiled and kissed him chastely.

"I chose this world because it needs me. You need me. I can still visit Earth when there is a wished away child."

"And your family? Your father?"

"Dad, Karen, and Toby are all the family I really have. Mom was an only child and we've never really spent time with her relatives. I'm not losing anything by staying here."

"And we're all staying here," Karen added to Jareth's astonishment. "You're gaining a family, complete with in laws."

"Robert?" Jareth asked.

"He's the one who decided. So - it's decided," Sarah smiled. "All you have to do is agree to keep courting me. That is, unless you'd rather go back and kiss Eliza again?"

His answer was to kiss her gently and magic them all out of the Labyrinth and into their new lives.

JSJS

Later that night Sarah walked the silent hallways to Seline's study. The queen was working on her duties and did not hear the girl enter.

"Your majesty?"

"Sarah, I thought you'd come see me."

Sarah came in and sat near the large fireplace, staring into the flames. "Rialta."

"Ah, yes. You are worried for her?"

"Well, I'm not sure what happened to her. We left the Labyrinth and I haven't seen her since."

"She's been busy, my dear. Once Devlin was destroyed, her path changed."

"She's in the Fade?" Sarah asked, confused. Seline shook her head.

"No, dear one. She is not fully alive, nor dead. She cannot come to this world or the Fade. She must remain where she is, but she will not be alone."

"The others that Devlin attacked are with her?"

"Aye, and they need a queen. She will be that for them. Her realm is the dream world that we all enter into each night." Sarah frowned.

"But what of Prince Seth? He's dead." She saw Seline wince and felt terrible. "I mean," she stammered.

"I understand. Seth is indeed dead and cannot come to our world or the in between. Except in dreams. Rialta is queen there now and can visit the Fade and our realm. With her power restored, she can help those in the Fade contact us through dreams. They will be together forever, in a fashion. It is not ideal, but they will make it work."

"Does Jenata know any of this?" The queen smiled.

"They are explaining to her now in her dreams." She sighed, closing her ledger book and staring at Sarah. "Will you be happy here, Sarah?"

"I really think I will be, I already am." She yawned.

"Go to bed, Sarah, this will all still be here in the morning." Sarah smiled.

"And so will I," Sarah grinned. "So will I."