Hello my loyal readers! :D I'm so sorry it's been so long since I updated...I really am...i can't believe i neglected it for this long...please forgive me? ;_; I feel horrid about it...but as always, read and review please! ;D Yes, there is a massive twist to Ceylon's character at the end of this one.

Jareth had left her to sleep again at her request, but Sarah had far too much on her mind to sleep now. She pulled her hair into a low ponytail and changed into her "adventure" outfit. Leather pants, white shirt with her corset, and boots that almost reached her knee but had very little (if any) heel to them. The fire had gone out some time ago, but Sarah had refused anyone to come into her room for the time being, Dangle included. Leaning against the stone balcony Sarah watched as the sun was just beginning to peak over the horizon. Her brain was working as quickly as it could to think of what to do.

She sighed. Going down to breakfast was the last thing that she wanted right now. People, fancy and haughty people nonetheless, were something she was planning on avoiding for the remainder of their stay. Blinking she watched as the sung rose and all the shadows were receding;she paused. The shadows were receding to the sunlight, as they always did whenever night ended. Shadows had a weakness, the light. Sarah had done quite a bit of studying ever she'd caught word of the darkness spreading over Jareth's kingdom, and the more she saw it was bothering him, the more serious she realized it was.

Ceylon was connected to whatever the darkness was that was spreading. Sarah had overheard Jareth talking to Ryfe about Ceylon and how he had an impassable power. Jareth couldn't beat him if he tried, he had to find out whatever it was that was the darkness' weakness if he ever wanted to be able to fight off Ceylon, should he decide to come again.

She strolled away for the balcony and began rummaging through every drawer or shelf she had access to, looking for anything that could tell her more about the darkness that was threatening his kingdom.

Nothing, nothing,…still nothing! Sarah thought to herself after sufficiently slamming every door she could find.

"Geez this is frustrating," she sighed and glanced at the closet when a thought came to her.

"This closet is supposed to give me anything I ask for…," she mumbled to herself then figured it would be worth a shot and walked in front of it, holding onto the dark, beautifully crafted handles.

"Give me something about the history of the darkness," Sarah tried, nothing better to ask for came across her mind. There was a small thud and she quickly opened the doors. There was an envelope sitting on the floor of it. She picked it up hesitantly, unsure of what it was she was about to read, but with a deep breath opened it quickly.

Sarah,

You're a very clever girl to think of looking in the closet for your answer.

Unfortunately, I happened to take all of that information with me the last time we met.

If you really want to save Jareth's precious kingdom, looks like you're going to need to find me to help you out.

Follow where the shadows disappear, until you find the place where they don't stop.

Ceylon

Sarah grit her teeth angrily, but she didn't have a choice it seemed. Jareth wouldn't tell her anything about it, much less allow her to help in anything. With the way Ceylon had left things, keeping Sarah safe under lock and key was his most pressing idea. She glanced outside and noticed the sun was just about to peak over the horizon and shed the shadows away for good. There was hardly any time for her to get ready without alerting Jareth. She was scrambling around like a blind monkey until she stopped and laughed at herself, before walking back over to the dresser.

"I need a bag with everything to survive in it for months, but lightweight." It was a long shot, but hey, wasn't most everything here enchanted anyway? There was a larger rumble and a small thud again. To her delight as she opened the doors a leather bag was there and though it didn't look like it was overflowing, once she peeked inside it would be plenty.

"Now to get out," she walked back over to the balcony and glanced down at the ground. It was a bit higher than she would have liked to jump off of. She whistled instead and waited a few moments. There was a familiar whinny in the distance and she glanced around behind her to make sure she wasn't going to forget anything.

"Oh," she thought and carefully reached around to unclasp the necklace around her.

"Can't have him knowing where I've run off to," she said and set it carefully on the wood nightstand next to the bed, Sky came into sight and whinnied. She gave a sad glance behind her then hurriedly jumped off the balcony, landing on his back with ease.

"Time to follow the shadows," she whispered and pointed Sky to the west, ready to take off at a full gallop.

Sky could feel the energy running through Sarah and he pranced in the sky lightly, eager to be off. Sarah counted her breaths and she watched the sun, in a few moments would be over the hill and causing the shadows to be gone.

"This is it," she whispered and within a heartbeat urged Sky into the fastest gallop he could handle while flying, chasing the shadows of the morning.

Sarah's breath caught in her throat as they flew, slicing through wind like a knife through warm butter; easy and smooth with little or no trace of it ever being cut. The Labyrinth was shifting beneath them as they surged onward to follow the receeding shadows, until they could receed no more.

"Sky, the Labyrinth is shifting like nothing I've ever seen before," she said near his ear as they hurtled on. He twitched his ear in acknowledgment of what she had said. The sandstone was changing places all over the Labyrinth, the pattern becoming more intricate than anything she'd ever witnessed. Her heart beat in her ears, blood pounding in her head making it difficult to focus. But, she could trust Sky. He knew where she wanted to go and was loyal enough to her to take her without hesitation.

The shadows stopped suddenly in the distnce, coming to form a ghostly, black line along the hills. An army prepared for battle, the resemblance was stunning. Sky slowed his pace some, breathing more quickly after the hard run he had just been put through. His coat was dampened slightly as she pet him, giving silent thanks for his speed.

Twisted to look behind at the fading Goblin Castle, a tear slipped down Sarah's eye. Did she really know what she was getting herself into? Was she really strong enough to face whatever was threatening his kingdom? Would she finally be able to prove herself worthy of living here, in the most enchanted kingdom she'd ever heard of, with the man, no, the Goblin King, who had given everything to make sure she was safe and always with him?

She did not know. There was courage burning in her heart, and there was the longing to help bring his kingdom back into balance, no matter the cost. She turned back around, determination set in her face.

No, she wouldn't back down from this. She had already decided what she was going to do, and now she needed to find the strength within herself to go through with it. Sarah's hand absently reached up to her neck, her face falling a bit when she remember she had needed to leave the necklace behind so he couldn't find her. His heart would break when he finds it, worry and fear, all the emotions he had banished for years would either surge forward in a massive attempt to find her, or fall apart and crumble in on himself, as he had before. It was a risk, but it was a necessary risk.

Sarah glanced down to see the darkness just ahead, and reined in Sky to land. Her feet had barely touched the ground when she had already pulled off her bag and had her sword in hand-she had remembered to ask the Labyrinth for it before leaving, knowing it would be key to whatever she was about to go through with.

"You can leave now Sky, go back to the castle, don't speak a word to Jareth," Sarah ordered suddenly. His eyes widened and he softly prodded her with his muzzle as if to say,

You can't stay here on your own

"I have to Sky. It's just what must be done. Now go!" she yelled, throwing her arm up in an effort to scare him away. He didn't flinch but dropped his head sadly and turned away. She sighed. Inside of herself she didn't really want to see him leave. He glanced at her, worried as he saw the darkness slowly inching forward. He's eyes almost fiery as he took off, Sarah knew Jareth would learn where she was the instant he returned to the palace, so it was a race against time now.

She focused on the task ahead of her. The black, swirling wall almost seemed to gain in height as she stood there before it. Her hand trembled, but tightened around the sword she carried at her side.

"Ceylon!" she roared into the now hissing wall before her.

"You wanted me here! Now what!?"

Nothing happened. The wall was still inching forward, slowly but moving nonetheless. Irritation grew inside of her, had he dragged her all this way for her to see the evil working its way to her precious love?

Before she could yell again, there was a figure moving amongst the shadows toward her. Goosebumps rose over her skin, and she held her sword ready to fight, it's shape created to fit her palm. It neared closer and closer, she squinted to see something startling appear.

"But…but you can't be," her voice shook and she froze. An evil hiss responds, the shadows grow more restless. Sarah, uncertain of what to do and frozen in fear watches in horror.

"Oh but Sarah, it's what I've always been," the voice said, its tone unnervingly smooth as velvet yet laced with a deadly poison.

Her heart stuttered, her breath came out in short gasps as she tried to make sense of the person in front of her.

"But…everything you've been working for..." her voice trailed off as his lips curled into a devilish smile.

"Welcome to the truth my Precious," he said and reached out his pale, shapely hand.

Unsure of what was overcoming her senses, she felt at ease and calmly reached out to take his, her dear sweet love's hand. She could see his perfect smile, his disheveled hair, his mismatched eyes, and even the darkness dancing around his entire figure. She could not resist though, her legs moved, all of their own accord. Was she breathing? She couldn't tell. Breath nor heartbeat, she could feel none of them.

His dark smile widened and his eyes shifted into a serpent's as her hand fell in his. The dark, evil person flicked his eyes above her head, meeting the gaze of another who also stood there, dumbfounded, but hand tense and ready to attack.

Without another thought, the ghostly, demonic Jareth led his prey into the darkness, and before the Goblin King could rush forward to stop her, the ghostly swirls of black, the army threatening to be unleashed swallowed them whole.

Darkness had swallowed his love.

She'd been blinded by its tricks.

And now he was left, the Goblin King,

To watch as the darkness consumed his dearest into oblivion.