Guest: exactly! There's no need to be so awful and terrible and jealous! Some people don't understand that. And think of it, someone will always be smarter, more beautiful, kinder, or hardworking than we are. Most of us decide to just be better people as much as we can but the "Irenes" all feel like dragging others down. She thinks Sarah outshines her daughters because she does, but it didn't have to be that way. Anastasia and Drizella could've supported each other and Sarah not have these petty and abusive fights. We are stronger together than against each other which will be Irene's downfall! Also I can't stop laughing imagining Kuzco and the shoulder angel and devil idea! I love that movie so much and I need to watch it again.

Little China Girl: LOL I also want to slap her. Sarah is just a sensitive bean (though I enjoyed having her sass back at Irene at times).

WhiteLunaNight: Thank you so much for your sweet compliments! I hope you will check out my other stories if you haven't already! And as a rule, I will ALWAYS make my stories end happy, so you will see a happy ending soon enough!


Toby Williams was taken back to his home from his neighbor after a fun day of playing. He was surprised to see regal horses with a strange symbol draped over them and knights sitting on them.

"Ah, it seems that the Goblin Kingdom has visited your home! Most likely to see if your two sisters will be one of the ones that had captured the king's attention." Earl Ryan said to him.

Toby gave him a strange look. "I have three sisters."

"Sure you do." The Earl said absently. "Well, have a good day Toby." And he left.

Toby didn't really get to see as many knights when he went to the ball that day so he was naturally curious and amazed. He felt drawn to a certain one and tugged on his sleeve. "Excuse me sir?"

Amusement and endearment seemed to roll over the man. "You realize that not all of us are male, yes? The King does employ female knights."

Why did the voice sound so familiar to him? Toby tried to look at the knight but he was covered in too much armor. "Are you here to find the mystery lady?"

"We are, my boy."

Toby scrunched his nose at the knight. That deep and silky voice…

Toby peaked into the house and saw Anastasia and Drizella trying on the shoe with his mother next to them.

No sign of Sarah.

Toby felt a rising panic in him. "I have to go. See you later, Sir knight!"

The knight chuckled deeply and gave the boy a salute.

Toby entered in through the back as quietly as he could. Being only 3 years old, he was seen as a child though he was much, much more intelligent than a normal child was. He slipped past the gaze of his mother and two sisters. Not that it was hard, Irene wasn't paying attention to him anyway.

As quickly and as quietly as he could, he tiptoed upstairs to the attic. Reaching the door, he gave a soft knock. "Sarah?"


Sarah felt her head spin. She saw images flash by, all included Jareth. Some had him kissing her. Some had them back in the market. Some in various places in the castle. She was too exhausted to deal with reality. The pain in her arm was searing deeply into her.

If she could live in her dream world, she'd like that. After her Labyrinth adventure, she knew that she wanted something real. But reality was really not looking well for her at the moment.

"Sarah?"

She even imagined she heard Toby's voice. But as much as she loved her brother, she wanted to dream of Jareth.

"Sarah?" Toby's voice was a little louder. Honestly, can it just stop so she can day dream?

"Sarah!"

Sarah bolted up and faced the door. Her mouth felt dry and her face worn from all the crying. "Toby?"

"Sarah, you have to try the shoe on! I know you're her! I know the king loves you!" Toby said in a strangled voice, half whisper and half yelling.

"I can't get out." She breathed out sadly. "I was locked in." She was careful with her words, not saying anything about her stepmother or stepsisters in front of Toby. She wanted to be a good example for him. Plus, she was scared of him getting hurt by them if he was defiant.

"I will save you." He promised her. "You should be happy, Sarah. Not sad."

Sarah cried and bit her knuckles. She was so grateful to have Toby with her. Even if the cost was running a labyrinth and almost losing him forever. "Toby, please don't endanger yourself."

But Toby had already run off.


"You sure there isn't anyone else, ma'am?" The captain asked her.

"There is no other maiden living here." Irene said with poise and dignity. "Thank you for trying to put the shoe on my daughters."

"Well good day, ma'am." He was relieved to be going. He was so, so sick of the entitlement the two girls felt and how the stepmother had been so insistent that the shoe would fit when it was much too tight for them. Drizella nearly broke it too.

"WAAAAAAIT!"

Everyone turned around to see Toby. He frantically ran to the captain and tugged on his hand. "Please, you still haven't met my sister!"

Irene laughed. "You're home from your playdate early! This is my son, Toby." Irene said. "I apologize for his outburst. Toby my child, your sisters already had their chances."

Toby yanked himself away from Irene's grip. "They're not my real sisters. They don't even like me!"

"Toby! That is such a rude thing to say!" Anastasia put her hands on her hips. "Apologize!"

"How dare you embarrass us?" Drizella glared at him.

"Now now girls, he's just a child." Irene tried to keep them calm. "Toby, please go to your room."

"NO!" Toby hid behind the captain. "Sisters love you and take care of you. They will run a labyrinth to save you!"

"Such nonsense. Please Toby." Irene was so exhausted. It seemed that Sarah had too much of an influence on the boy. She would have to remedy that.

"Sarah is my sister, give her the shoe! The king, he loves her!" Toby started to cry. "But what no one knew! He fell in love with her before!" Snot started to drip from his nose and he started to wail even louder.

Irene shook her head. "I'm so dreadfully sorry, he's a child and it's his nap time. I'm sure you understand-"

"HALT!"

Everyone turned to see one of the knights dismount his horse and walked into the house. Once in, he waved his hand and his armor materialized away. In front of them was a man with the messiest hair and painted, upward eyebrows and a brown coat on him regally. His pants were black slacks with boots on them and he had his hand on his hip where his ceremonial sword was. He unclasped his cape and handed it to the captain, who tried to not look annoyed at being his personal coat hanger.

"Your Majesty." All three ladies swooped low into a curtsey.

Jareth held his hand out to Toby. "Child, come here."

Toby felt no fear from this man and his authoritative voice. He also recognized him as the knight he had met earlier.

Jareth got on one knee, to Toby's level. "You say you have another sister. Where is she?"

"Sarah. In the attic with no key. She's crying. She loves you." Toby rubbed his eyes sleepily.

Jareth gave a nod, still unsmiling but his eyes sparkled in gratefulness for Toby. He had known this was Sarah's house the moment he saw the stepmother and stepsisters and had waited for them to bring her out. Apparently they would not, even with Toby's insistence. He stood up tall and loomed over them like the terrifying king that he was.

All three ladies stepped backwards.

"I asked for every eligible maiden that was at the ball. Don't try to defy me." His eyes were dangerous and cruel, threatening and unforgiving.

Irene still had the gall to refuse him. "This is my home that you are intruding. Toby is a boy with a large amount of imagination and some manners that are sadly missing from him. Leave my home."

"Who are you to tell a king what to do?" Jareth snarled at her. He knew his arrogance was showing by pulling out the I-am-the-king card but he couldn't help it.

"You are not my king though. Or have you forgotten that you are not my sovereign?" Irene hissed back.

"He's not, but I am." A feminine voice joined them.

Dressed in clothes of a knight, Princess Celeste took off her helmet and stood side by side with the Goblin King.

Irene stared in shock, not remembering to bow.

"Well?" Jareth barked. "Bow to your princess!"

Irene sent him a death glare but sank down to a curtsey as she should.

Celeste used magic to wave away the rest of her armor. Dressed in chainmail and riding pants, she snapped her fingers. A few more knights came by her side and it was clear that they were Estellan knights. "Knights, make sure that these three ladies stay put while we conclude our business."

They bowed to her. "Yes Your Highness."

Jareth made to go upstairs to the attic, but Celeste, put a hand on his shoulder. "Let me fetch her for you, my friend." Celeste knew that if Sarah was crying, she probably would want to look strong for Jareth first even if he was the first person she wanted to see.

Jareth hesitated but gave a nod. "Thank you. I will be waiting in the sitting room."

He motioned to Toby. "Would you like to go and see some knights?"

Toby nodded. "Yes please!" And just like that, when he realized that Sarah would be alright, he trotted off to chatter with the knights.

Celeste gave the three women one last glare and held a hand out. "The key?"

Irene hesitated but after seeing the angry fire in the princess's eyes, she gave her the key from her shirt pocket. Giving a nod, she headed upstairs.


Sarah was busy trying to bandage up her wound. It cut pretty deeply and she winced at the broken glass that she had to pick out as well. She looked a mess and felt a mess.

It had been a while since she had seen Toby and now she was getting worried. Was he alright? She loved Jareth and wanted to see him but she wasn't going to put Toby on the line. She had sworn to love and protect him and she would give up Jareth if she had to.

She couldn't even open her windows, damn it. They had been barged shut from Drizella making a mess and destroying them, leaving Sarah to nail the spaces shut with wooden boards.

She heard the door start to unlock. Nervously, she shrank back to protect herself against her stepmother.

She was not expecting to see her princess.

Sarah paused for a second before lowering herself down. "Princess Celeste."

What was she doing here?

Celeste knelt down at her level. "Sarah, is it?"

Sarah nodded.

"It's alright, please. Come downstairs and meet the King."

Sarah wanted to, but she felt too shy. Too broken. Too sad. "Thank you, for all that you've done, but I'm not sure how I can present myself to him like this."

Celeste put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Did you worry about that when you met him in the markets two years ago? You can present to him in any way you can. Let me tell you, I have known King Jareth since childhood. I have never, and I mean never seen him with such longing or adoration in his eyes as he had for you."

Sarah shirked away from the touch. "You are a beautiful princess. You have experience and would rule the kingdom well. I am just some servant girl. I have my own inherent worth, I know, but it's not enough for a king."

"Sarah." Celeste wanted to say more, but she felt that this should be something between her and Jareth. "Listen to me. Go and face your inner demons once more, whatever they are. But nothing will hurt you. As your princess, I promise you that. I ask you to go down and chat with him just as you are."

She tried to have some humor. "And besides, I could command you but I'd rather not."

Sarah laughed a little. "Alright. But just, I got hurt and I-"

Celeste took her arm gently, seeing the cloth covering over her. Sarah hissed when Celeste moved it away but the princess waved a hand over, using magic to close the wound. It still looked nasty and it was still painful but it was no longer bleeding.

"I'm no healer, but I hope that helped." The princess said sweetly.

Sarah gave her another curtsey. "You are too kind to me, Your Highness. Estella will have a wonderful ruler one day."

Celeste gave a playful curtsey back. "And I hope that I can see you take your side as his queen one day in the Goblin Kingdom. Forgive me if I am getting ahead of myself."

Celeste walked with Sarah downstairs. Sarah felt nervous but knowing that she was so loved by some people and had others who would protect her fueled her.

She didn't see her stepmother or stepsisters, or even Toby. She took one look at herself in the mirror. Messy hair, blotched face and dried tears. She did not look attractive.

But she was still beautiful. And she would appear to Jareth just as she was.

"He's in the sitting room." The princess gestured. "I will wait outside, your brother is admiring the horses and the knights with loads of questions."

Sarah gave a nod to her. "Thank you again."

The princess gave a nod.

Sarah took a deep breath and opened the door.


Cliff hanger! MWAHAHAH!

I feel like having Jareth show up in person made it more romantic and also, he would keep the shoe safe by his side so for her to break that one would seem a little weird in case anyone was wondering.

As for Toby being super smart for being 3, I've totally met kids that smart (I worked in a preschool). But if it seems off, imagine he's older or something to satisfy yourself lol.

If you were wondering why the heck I made Jareth and Sarah wait two years after the labyrinth to meet again, it's because of Toby. I wanted him to play a bigger part in here and in a few chapters from now, Sarah will say why she thinks that having the two year break may have been better for them even if it sucked.

How do you guys like Celeste? I thought having her be there was a good addition, to get Sarah ready for Jareth. Plus I think it can show her friendship with both of them as she's already friends with Jareth. She isn't jealous either and we need more those kinds of friendships!

Typical Jareth, using his captain as a coat hanger (LOL) and he's so smug with having Celeste tell Irene what to do! Then again I would too. Jeez Irene you got some nerve trying to argue with the goblin king!

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