Sarah braced herself against the leafless tree. She let her backpack fall to her side. She was utterly exhausted. Wiping the sweat from her brow she looked onward to Jareth's castle. Either it had looked a certain way when she had to complete the labyrinth, or it had changed in the last five years. The sky was no longer yellow orange, but clear, almost like her sky back home. The castle gleamed far more largely than she remembered against the backdrop of her past.

How was she going to navigate the labyrinth? It was large before her. The bricks looked clean and the outer edge was bustling with activity. The castle looked frighteningly far away.

What am I doing here. She turned her back to the castle and looked out over the rest of the land. The sky was bright and the earth was green. She looked again at her leafless tree. It hadn't grown since Jareth had showed her the labyrinth all those years ago. Must be dead. She removed her hand from its bark noticing it left black smudges on her skin. She smelled it, and it smelled sweet.

Part of her wanted to cry, part of her wanted to laugh with pure joy. She had made it to the labyrinth on her own. She didn't need Jareth, did she? She paused a moment contemplating. Why exactly did she come back? She groaned and put her head in her hands. That's really something you should have figured out before you got here. She looked at the castle. I want my mask. She smiled. That was a good enough reason for her. Last she saw it, she had left it in her guest room

Slowly, her vision traveled back to the castle. She slid her messenger bag to the ground chastising herself for not getting into costume earlier. But in case she killed herself jumping out of a two story window; she didn't want people to find her dressed in ridiculous clothes.

She opened the pack and rummaged through the costume pieces. She pulled her hair under a bald cap and checked it in her compact. She fixed some strays then adjusted her black pixie bob wig. She smiled she already looked different. She tousled the hair a little bit so the bangs didn't frame her face the same way her old bangs did. She quickly dabbed on some tan make up on her hands, neck, and cheeks before coloring her lips with matte brown lipstick. She put black all around her eyes and deep purple in the creases right above her cheeks. She ran her hand down the bark of the tree and then placed the sweet sap on her chin and arms to make herself look more dirty. Next, she pulled on an eye patch that was made for acting. It was actually see through although looking at it no one could tell. Last, she pulled out a brown cloak and swung it around her shoulders. It was flimsy, but Karen had bought it for her at some yard-sale. She felt bad this was her first time wearing it.

After checking her transformation in her compact, Sarah slid all her makeup back into the pack and slung it over her shoulder. She pulled the hood up on her cloak and wandered down the hill.

As she neared the bottom of the hill after forty minutes of careful maneuvering, she noticed a little market was set up at the labyrinth's entrance. It was like a small town alluring what looked to be out-of-towners. She continued down until she joined the throng of creatures like her mixing with goblins. She furrowed her brows together. When did this become a tourist's attraction?

The little markets were small stalls. Goblins sat in the stalls yelling their various wares. The people Sarah was behind laughed and pointed and fondled an assortment of goods Sarah had never seen before. Her arms tightened on her bag as she continued through the small market.

"Get yer souvenirs 'ere!" A goblin called after her. She smiled at him, but continued to the entrance.

"Hey, lady. I got an assortment of eye patches if you're interested." She turned to the stall nearest her. She looked back at the entrance to the labyrinth, but went to see the merchant anyway. She needed to make sure she was blending in.

She narrowed her eyes at the goblin. "I know you." She said quietly noting his mirroring eye patch. "I traded some seasoning for a mask and cloak. Remember?"

The goblin smiled, "You look quite different lady Sarah. You know Master Jareth almost killed me that day. Can't forget a day like that."

Sarah giggled. "Well, the mask was lovely." She lifted up her eye-patch and put a finger to her lips.

"Your secret is safe with me." He laughed and motioned for her to come to the other side of the stall. He grabbed her backpack and shoved an assortment of small items into it. "Come on, I'm not selling anything anyway. Damn visitors are good for nothing."

"Why are they here?" Sarah scrunched her forehead and lifted the now very heavy sack. She followed the goblin into the labyrinth. "Where are we going?" She asked looking down either direction.

"To my house. Don't worry, I know the shortcut." The goblin winked with his one eye, or blinked, Sarah wasn't sure. "They're here for the celebration, ya know."

They walked a little ways until the goblin put his hand on the wall. A wooden door appeared before them. He pulled it toward them and stepped inside. Sarah had to duck down to follow him since the door was so small. She made it to the other side, she was surprised at how large the living room she found herself in was.

"Have a seat." Said the Goblin as he left the room.

Sarah did as she was told sitting in a chair near a window. She was all ready in Goblin City, but it was different. There were flowers and decorations everywhere from what she could see out the window. There were streamers from house to house and lights floating along the streets even though it was midday. This was very, very strange.

Sarah turned back around and saw a very old and small human-like man before her. "Oh, hello" she gasped surprised.

"Don't fret, it is me child. My name is Henry." He took the chair next to hers and took a drink from a chipped teacup.

"You're the goblin? The merchant?" She asked.

"Well, as you can see, I am not a goblin. I pretend to be. It makes things easier to live in the city." He smiled at her as if awaiting her further questions.

"Tell me your story." Sarah sighed beyond curious, but not sure where to begin with questions.

"Well, let's see." The man tapped his chin. "Where to begin." He was quiet a minute before looking back at her.

He cleared his throat. "Well, I was the last person to solve the labyrinth, that is, before you." He smiled at her. "That was a long time ago. I've lost track of the years—it has been centuries, I believe. I had stupidly wished my son away in a moment of weakness, but without him, my country would have collapsed. I was both stupid and naïve." He gave a sad smile. "Somehow, I beat Jareth, and he was not a happy man. I was free to go. So, my son and I went back home. Yet, after seeing everything the Underground had to offer, I couldn't stay away. I became obsessed with getting back here.

"What did you do?" Sarah was leaning in close to him. Listening to his story, full of wonder.

"I worked very hard to fake my own death. Through disguise I found a man to replace me and I came here." He gave a satisfactory nod.

"How though?" Sarah scrunched her face. "How did you get back?" Sarah stopped herself from asking about Henry's son, why he had left him back in the normal world.

Henry's bushy eyebrows came together. "You and I, much to Jareth's dismay, have the ability to travel back and forth." He gave a sigh. "We just have to want with all of our being, without a doubt, to return." His eyes locked with Sarah's. "It would have been easier if we had lost. He takes the memories of those that lose, and he erases the existence of the child he steals. It is as if the child never lived where we come from. Often times, the child will probably get a better life here anyway, even if he or she does become a goblin."

Sarah cocked her head. "So, in a way, you and I, we are cursed."

Henry nodded. "We will probably always want this one over our other world." He gave a wry smile. "I don't even remember my world much anymore. I don't miss it at all."

"What about your son?" Sarah blurted immediately regretting it.

Henry sighed. "It is a long story." They were silent as Sarah mulled over what he had just told her. "So, Sarah now that you have returned to the Underground, what are you planning on doing."

She looked back out the window. "Honestly, I don't know." Her eyes found his again. "I wanted to come back, obviously, I don't know why. I hate Jareth—" She sneered his name. "But I love this place. I feel like I belong here."

Henry became grave, his eyes serious. "If you plan on staying, there are a few things you should know. Close the curtains."

Sarah did as she was told. She walked around the room tugging on the rope tied around the fabric of every window and pulled it down. The room grew dim. Henry clapped his hands twice and candles lining the walls lit up. Sarah was reminded of the Clapper from back home. She returned to her seat.

Henry started speaking after taking another drink. "The entire Underground thinks you are dead Sarah."

Sarah gave a diminutive smile. "I'm not surprised. Jareth tried to kill me right before I left—however long ago that was."

"Well, Enyo claims she killed you. She assured the Underground she held your dead body in her arms sucking the life out of you."

"My, that's graphic." Sarah mumbled. Suddenly her face changed. "Right before I left, I had a very strange out of body experience. My whole body hurt and I was sure I was going to die, but I wasn't even near Enyo." She looked back up, perplexed. "Why would she want to kill me anyway."

"I suppose Jareth didn't let you in on his politics, did he?" Henry asked.

Sarah shook her head.

"The Underground is unstable these days—it has been, for a while. Enyo has slowly been gaining control of all the Kingdoms. Jareth has many allies, but as soon as his Kingdom is under Enyo's control, they will fold. She will be our new ruler, and she will be heartless."

Sarah was suddenly angry. She remembered the woman from the ball and her violet trail. "Jareth wouldn't do that." Sarah explained. "He wouldn't just hand control to that woman would he? He's planning to fight, isn't he?"

Henry shook his head. "He is trying to gain control of Enyo and stop her in her tracks. But, no, he is not fighting."

"Then how is he planning on stopping her?"

"They are getting married."

Sarah was gazing at the castle from Henry's roof. He had told her staying undercover would be a good idea, but after she heard him snoring she sneaked out. Quietly, she followed the spiral staircase and made her way to the top of the short tower. It was level with all the houses in goblin city, but she could still see the castle. The castle was lit up, and she thought she could make out figures walking along the corridors here and there either patrolling or goofing off as goblins do.

She found what she thought might be Jareth's room. It was high above her and dark. There was a figure leaning out over the balcony, but the figure was only darkness. She was glad she had decided to leave her costume on because if it was him, she didn't want him to see the tears that were forming in her eyes.

Married, she thought. What happened? She still didn't understand the time difference between her world and the Underground. She had spent one week in her world, how much time had passed. Surely not enough for Jareth to decide he needed to get married.

Plus, she was confused about her fake death. Henry had explained that Enyo had probably been tricked into thinking she was killing Sarah.

"She must have killed someone, though." Henry had observed. "She wouldn't go saying things like that without being certain. Maybe Jareth protected you."

Sarah's eyes fell from the castle. "Sure." She mumbled. "Protecting me." She wiped the new tears from her face on her sleeve and took in all the wedding decorations around goblin city. Even Henry had a banner twisting around his tower. It made her want to gag.

"Maybe, I don't belong here." She said at last. She noticed an owl high in the sky as she pulled her hood over her head. She watched it fly toward the castle and disappear near one of the spires. She made her way back inside.

She laid down on the bed Henry had made for her out of bed straw. It was not as comfortable as the bed's Jareth had, but she made due and soon fell asleep.

Sarah woke up feeling gross. She wanted a shower and knew she wasn't going to get one. She joined Henry at his breakfast bar where he offered her some rotten looking fruit—she didn't mind.

"Have you decided if you are going to stay?" Asked Henry as he began to put on his own goblin attire. Sarah picked up the mask he had and was jealous of its details. He had looked like an actual goblin when he wore it. The eye moved, the nostrils flared, even the skin on his forehead had life. "It is enchanted." He answered her unasked question.

She smiled. "Jareth has something that belongs to me. As stupid as it may be—life risking and what not—I want it back. I came all this way, I'm not going to stop now."

"And what has he stolen this time?"

"Well, he didn't really steal it." Sarah said defensively and immediately chastising herself. "I left it in my room. It was the mask I traded seasoning for."

"That's it?" The old man shrugged and gave a measured look. He was wearing his entire get up apart from the mask that still lay on the counter. "I have plenty I can give you another."

She smiled sadly.

"I see," said the man. "Well, let's figure out a way to get you in that castle."

An: So, I did some fanart for all of you from a scene in Chapter 14. The link is in my profile. Please take a look at it when you get the chance and leave a review telling me what you think! Thank you!