*This is not my own work and I do not take credit. Jim Henson and David Bowie were extraordinary people.*

*I wish to thank Dianne Bruechle for helping me beta and edit my story. She's the best.*

CHAPTER 1

When Sarah returned from the Labyrinth, she kept mostly to herself and became quiet. She never told the tale to anyone and refused to ever wish for anything again. Sarah was terrified to go back to the Underground, because Jareth frightened her so much. She wasn't sure she could put herself through that again and be able to get back. So it was easiest to never try it.

Sarah believed Jareth was handsome and all, but he wanted too much in exchange for her freedom only giving her material possessions through his final offer. She had spoken to her friends a few times and the mirror just never worked again. She wasn't sure but figured the Goblin King shut it down.

Sarah was walking out of the coffeehouse, as the door chime tinkled, with her favorite caramel latte. It was November and a cold biting gust of wind hit her while wearing her winter coat. It was a very cold sunny day walking back to work. It was a slow day in the Self Defense class she taught at the Dojo on Tuesday through Saturday in the town of Greenwich, Connecticut.

Sarah learned Krav Maga, All Season Survivalist Training, Archery and Shooting Marksmanship from age seventeen. Sarah was now twenty seven years old and completely trained in all four with completed certifications. Sarah learned Self Defense classes after she was attacked in a dirty alley at night in downtown New Haven, Connecticut eleven years ago. Her so-called girlfriend in highschool stranded her at a club not telling her that she left with some random guy. Sarah went to a dance club with her friend that night driving from Guilford, Connecticut to New Haven. She was told never to go to New Haven alone. She regretted that night and never spoke to the ex-girlfriend again. Her father collected her from the hospital the next day and he lectured her for days as well as her stepmother. Like she didn't feel bad enough.

After that night, Sarah swore she would never be vulnerable like she was back then again. So, she immersed herself in books studying Anglo-Saxon History and training herself physically and started teaching men and women self defense until it became her career of choice.

When Sarah got back from her break between classes, the guy that taught in the Dojo next door, Darryl the Doofus, asked her out everyday when their schedules crossed, mostly Tuesdays and Thursdays. Sarah always said no, but he wouldn't stop and it was always ticking her off. He wasn't a bad looking man, tall blonde hair, tight muscular body and blue eyes, it was just his skirt chasing and thinking he's God's gift to womankind. It grinds Sarah's gears that he's relentless in trying to wear her down. Even if she went out with him she would never sleep with a jerk like him. Sarah was not easy and he wanted easy, you could tell.

Darryl begged and said, "Come on, Sarah. Just go out with me once. If you hate it then I'll leave you be." He was like an over anxious puppy. She heard some women telling each other that he was a total player and only wanted sex, then Darryl would dump the woman. A hump and dumper. Sarah couldn't stand him and his acting so arrogantly. Like she would change her mind after the hundredth time of being annoyed.

Sarah rolled her eyes and said stoically, "No, Darryl. Leave me alone, damn it." She turned and walked out of the locker room into her classroom. He just stood there by the locker looking at her ass and fantasizing.

Sarah finished her day of teaching and went home to her upper flat above a small business insurance agency on Sound Beach Avenue. It was a nice two bedroom. She got out of her clothes and took a shower.

When she came out, she tossed her dirty clothes in the washing machine. She was towel drying her hair and not paying attention. She walked into her bedroom and dropped her towel on the bed and put on her panties, bra, sweatpants and long sleeve tshirt. Sarah was oblivious to the Goblin King standing there in the doorway of the second bedroom.

He was dressed in his tight black leggings, stacked heel boots and ruffled black shirt open to the stomach showing and his insignia reflected in the light. He watched every move Sarah made and leered at her naked body as she dressed. He was smirking and shifting from side to side for a better look at her. He liked the new and mature version of Sarah. He wanted to taste her beautiful skin. Her body was muscle tone and he cocked his head looking at the slope of her back bone as her buttocks were so plump and rounded perfectly. He desired her very much.

Jareth smoothly in his British accent said, "You sure have matured in the last thirteen years, Sarah mine."

Sarah sat on the bed tying her tennis shoes and froze. She was startled and looked up at him in total shock with her eyes big and her mouth open. She hurried up and quickly tied her shoes. She thought, 'Oh God, no. Not him again. I can't deal with this shit again. I've survived that damn maze. Wasn't that enough for a lifetime? Please God, no more.'

She was afraid of him but refused to show it. After everything she went through in the labyrinth maze, she wanted no part of that realm anymore. Sarah believed that her refusal of his offer probably made him mad at her. He had magic to his advantage over her. All she had was physical strength and agility. She knew she was vulnerable and she did not like that one damn bit.

Sarah stood up slowly and softly said in a small voice, "What the hell are you doing here?" She walked into the hallway skirting him, as not to touch him, and walked backwards into the living room. She never took her eyes off of him. She noticed he hadn't changed one bit.

Jareth smirked and had a twinkle in his eye saying, "Can't an old friend come visit you, Sarah?" He advanced slowly, stalking her. She knew he was up to something more than a visit, but what?

Sarah was on complete high alert and suspiciously said, "After thirteen years, pardon me if it seems odd."

Jareth sauntered across the room as Sarah receded changing direction not to be cornered. He smoothly spoke, "True, true. After thirteen years the labyrinth's protection ban has been lifted. I know now, I can come and go as I please to see you or bring you back, when there is a wish-away, of course."

Sarah walked around her living room chair and cautiously declared, "I don't want to go to the Underground and I have a life as a teacher up here in the Aboveground. I like my job and where I live."

Jareth condescendingly responded, "Sarah, Sarah. It doesn't matter anymore. Your time is up and I am going to take you back whether you come willingly or not. There is no debating and defying me about it because you know I'll get what I want anyway. I would prefer you willingly cooperate though."

Sarah eyed him cautiously. She said diplomatically, "Please understand that I am not wanting to leave my life. I finally like my career and where I live now. It's taken a longtime to get here, after my family was killed in an automobile accident five years ago. I had a hard time with the grief and pain of it all and I just now got my life and mental health to a stable point in my life."

Jareth spoke with pity in his voice, "Sorry to hear about your family. Toby was a lively little chap. He would still be alive had you just listened to me. Sarah, there is no debating, you are coming with me now."

Sarah was pissed and answered him, "It's just like you to say something like that to me after all this time has passed. Did you rehearse it so you could be as hurtful as you could possibly be? Throwing that in my face is a nasty and cold hearted thing to do." He lunged at her and she avoided him. He growled at her.

Jareth spoke snidely, "You are just as cruel, my beauty. When I catch you, you'll find out how cruel I am." Sarah dodge him around the couch.

Sarah put her hand on the bookcase tipped it over and flung open her front door. She took off running down the stairwell in the back of the building and across an open lot. It was cold as hell at twenty degrees outside, but she had adrenaline running through her veins and she wasn't going to slow down. She heard the footsteps running behind her and made herself speed up. Jareth jumped and tackled her from behind. Sarah did a faceplant into the frosty cold dead grass. Jareth was sitting on her, so she did a defensive move to roll him off her back and elbowed him straight into the chest. She kicked him in the thigh and ran.

She dodged and weaved between cars then cutting around corners of buildings. Sarah ran down an alley and ducked down behind a dumpster and a crate against an old brick building. Sarah tucked into a tiny ball under a tarp that smelled of turpentine, trying to steady her breathing so as not to make a sound.

Jareth looked in a crystal when she disappeared and it was dark. He was trying to zoom in on sound with his superior hearing but didn't detect anything.

He said out loud with a sneer, "I'll find you Sarah and drag you back to the castle whether you want to go or not. You can't get away from me." He was bitter and very angry at being put out by chasing her. "It was unfortunate that we never got to know each other. It could have been different, but you chose to ignore me and never made a wish, nor even thinking one whit about me."

He muttered, passing by her, "I should never have given her the gift of wishes." Sarah shivered and thought, 'That was an odd thing to say. When did he give me anything?'

Jareth cast a location spell and the dumpster parted and the tarp came flying off. Sarah stood up and jumped over the crate and tried to flee, but Jareth grabbed her by the waist from behind and they both instantly vanished.

—--

They reappeared in the throne room in the round pit. She fought like crazy even though she was very dizzy. Sarah struggled with him and punched him in the face and stomach, while kneeing him in the crotch. Jareth went down hard releasing her. She bolted for the castle doors that she remembered and flew out the double doors. Sarah ran as fast as she could into the little housing area weaving in between buildings. She remembered where the labyrinth entrance was and the city gate just happened to be open. She entered the junkyard and was moving quickly through the maze of pathways of junk.

Jareth was enraged that she hit him so quickly and as many times. He appeared in front of her in the junkyard and she turned sharply down a different path and ran right into him again. He grabbed her and they materialized in the locked dungeon cell. He was outside of the cell and she was inside inside the cell. She ran at the door shaking and rattling it hoping to open it and growled in frustration at him. Sarah swiped through the bars to grab him by the shirt. Jareth had stepped back smirking and thinking how beautiful she was acting like a wild animal.

Sarah snarled and shouted, "You bastard! How dare you! You have no right to make me leave my home! I hate you!" She rattled the door again.

Jareth evilly chuckled, "Perhaps a little time relaxing in here will take the fire down in you. Tomorrow, I'll teach you to curb that tongue of yours and teach you to not put your hands on your sovereign again."

Sarah yelled. "You're no king of mine! You manipulative son of a bitch! I despise you for this!"

He chuckled saying, "Oh my beauty I shall enjoy you education on how to behave like a civilized member of my kingdom." He chuckled again and vanished.

Sarah was infuriated and flounced down on a bench. She was looking around and there were rusty racks and chains with manicals attached. It was a truly medieval torture dungeon. Sarah was terrified and wondered how many people were tortured inside here. She wouldn't show it to him or anyone here how scared she really was. She refused to show any kind of fear. Her training told her that fear was her biggest enemy and one of the things Jareth desired and asked her for, way back during his final offer. She laid down shivering on the cold bench and watched the cell door, trying to think of something to help her situation.

—--

The Goblin King was sitting on his throne frowning. He was thinking about everything that happened. He was furious that she punched him, kneed him and kicked him. He didn't expect her to be that skilled at fighting in any way. He was surprised by her quick moves to get him off her back when she was face down pinned by him. Jareth also couldn't believe her getting away from him so many times. He had underestimated her fighting and evasion skills.

Jareth let his anger and bitterness rule him. He started wondering just how much she knew in defense. Perhaps, he could subdue her and break her will, but how deeply ingrained is her training? He hated to scar her body, but he could heal her and do it as many times as he wanted to break her of this violence she displayed. Then she would be more tame, pliable and compliant.

—--Day 2

Sarah was lying there for hours thinking about everything he said and did. She wondered what Jareth meant when he said he gave her the gift of wishes. She sat up and thought, 'I'll give it a shot.' Sarah said out loud softly, "I 'wish' to be in the safest place in the Goblin Kingdom away from Jareth."

Sarah disappeared and reappeared in a dark stone room. A green glowing mist was rising up like vapors from a stone well in the center of the floor. The stone gray walls were slick coated with mold and moss. It smelled like very old mildew.

An echoing disembodied female voice spoke, "My champion, you have returned to me."

Sarah looked around and asked, "Who are you?"

The voice said, "I am the Labyrinth, I am the ancient one and I am the magic of this realm. I am called Gaia. You have used your magic, now we can communicate with each other. The magic has bonded to your being."

Sarah said, "Gaia, Jareth has taken me from my life Aboveground. He has kidnapped and imprisoned me in the castle dungeon to stay there until morning, then punish me for fighting back. The wish brought me here when I wished to go to a safer place. Can you send me home?" Sarah was hopeful.

Gaia spoke, sounding sadly, "I cannot send you back this time, my champion, nobody can now. You must stay here forever as a human. Because this is your second time coming here, you have been changed this time. You will die if you go back as a human. The first time you were protected under different circumstances and laws as a runner, but now you have been exposed to the raw magic of this realm. It prohibits you from leaving. My king was not supposed to take you without your fealty. Did you swear fealty to him?"

Sarah angrily stated, "Of course not."

Gaia said, "He seems to forget that you are an Aboveground human but a titled Lady in this realm. I will be your guardian now and help you. I am sorry this has been done to you, my champion."

Sarah wanted to cry because her life as she knew it has been lost forever due to Jareth ripping her from her world. She would never forgive him for that.

Sarah asked curiously, "Gaia, can I wish for my belongings from my life up there?"

Gaia said, "Yes, but only once, because your existence will be eliminated afterwards."

Sarah paused and thought of everything she would need here from her home. She said, "I 'wish' for my tent, jewelry, toothbrush, toothpaste, 3 bars of soap, my bug out bag, black backpack, big black duffle bag full of my underwear, bras, socks, two towels, three washcloths, six long sleeve tshirts and three pair of jeans and my survival bag." Everything materialized in front of her on the floor all in black or dark green. She said, "I 'wish' for a long black hooded winter cloak, black lined leather gloves and black leather winter boots."

They materialized in front of her. Sarah put on the boots, gloves and cloak and put a belt on that she hung her hunting knife on, sheathed her gun and a thin rope with a retractable grappling hook. She shoved her toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, sneakers and jewelry in her duffle bag. Sarah tied her tent to her backpack and put her duffle bag across her body on one side. Sarah put her survival bag and bug out bag on the other side of her body to free up her hands. She put her backpack on under her cloak.

Sarah said, "I 'wish' my baggage was light, nobody could see where I am magically and I and my gear would be invisible to all creatures and beings, but Gaia." Sarah had thought of times over the years that she was being watched and thought she was crazy, maybe not so crazy now.

Gaia giggled and said, "You are a smart one my champion. You must beware of all centaurs and ogres. They enslave humans and some fae are using that as a way to make money off the slave trade. The ogres and centaurs kingdoms are in the south. You must travel north to the Unicorn Kingdom, my champion. Be safe in your travels, wherever they may lead you and watch your wording when you wish, my champion."

Sarah said softly, "Thank you, Gaia, for everything. How do I get out of here into the maze?" Gaia told her.

Sarah walked cautiously out of the catacombs into the maze. Sarah threw her grappling hook up on top of the wall and pulled herself up with her gear. She stood up and put her hook on her belt while looking around. Sarah pulled out her compass and found north and followed the wall keeping in that direction.