Okay, now that my demented personality that has no self-esteem at all is finished…(Squeals). This is the last chapter people! After this chapter is done and this story is finished I'm going to be grouchy about everything I didn't do that I wanted to do. Then my demented personality that has no self-esteem at all will come back and ruin everything…(sobs) Well, I guess you want me to stop babbling and get on with it.
Oh, and the quote was from The Network. And technically I think I messed up on the quote a little bit…but whatever…
On with the story!
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Pickles!
Disclaimer: Man, Déjà vu! I could have sworn I've done this before…like…fifteen times. Man. I don't own Labyrinth.
Sarah collapsed on her knees as she at last entered the Junk Yard. Almost there. And yet so far away. Tears entered her eyes but she brushed them away angrily. Could she do this? Could she deny the man she loved again? But if she didn't all she and Alice went through would be in vain, she would lose and so would her brother and friend. And that she couldn't allow.
"Oh god, what am I going to do?" she whispered. "Even when I knew he was lying to me I still love him. I'll always love him. But why?" she whined. "Oh, this is so un--" she cut herself off. "So not cool."
Struggling to her feet Sarah began walking once more heading towards the City's gates. "Well," she figured, "at least I don't have to worry about Humongous."
Alice smiled from her place next to Ganith. They were lying on one of the larger pillows next to the fire with Alice's back to Ganith's chest. Ganith's arm was draped lazily over her stomach as he leaned his head on his free one.
"How many hours do you think she has left?" Alice asked softly.
"I'm afraid less than three hours. She better step it up or…I don't know what will happen," sighed the fire lord unhappily.
"Sarah will win. She doesn't know how to loose. And when she does…I don't know what will happen."
"I do, she'll leave and the Labyrinth will utterly die, with Jareth along with it."
"And then Sarah will die of a broken heart," Alice groaned. "Man, life sucks."
"Yes, it appears people who love each other just can't seem to be together," Ganith replied softly taking his hand and toying with Alice's hair.
"Yeah…it appears so," she whispered back turning around to face him. "People are…kept apart." Alice's lips upturned in a small smile as she leaned closer to Ganith looking from his lips to his eyes to his lips once more.
"Well, I hope she hurries up," Ganith said abruptly standing up. He cleared his throat looking around. "So, when you go back home are you ready to tell your mother the truth about her boyfriend?"
"I already told you a hundred times, yes," Alice said agitated. She too stood up. "I'm going to go back to Hawaii and tell my mother everything. I'm going to stick up for my own fight, seeing as how no one else will," she grumbled casting him sidelong glances.
"Just because people want you to stick up for yourself and not depend on others does not mean they don't care about you." Alice turned around crossing her arms over her chest defiantly. She knew she was being childish but she almost kissed him and he turned away! She was humiliated. "Alice. Alice, look at me." The blonde turned her nose up. "Alice, please," he begged. Finally she turned around. "Alice, I care about you, I do."
"I know," she sighed. "It's just that…arr!" she growled throwing her hands up in frustration. "Being here, not knowing what Sarah is going through…it's horrible."
Ganith looked thoughtful for a few moments before sighing. "Come on let's go," he said holding out his hand for her.
"Where are we going?"
"We're going to the Castle and to see Toby and Jareth."
Jareth coughed on the excess amount of red and black glitter used that usually signified his cousin appearing. "Ganith you--"
Alice waved and smiled meekly at the Goblin King before her who was apparently shocked into silence at seeing her. "Hi," she squeaked.
"Alice? Oh gods, Alice are you okay? Did he harm you in anyway?" Alice, Ganith, and Toby blinked at Jareth's out show of emotion. "Er," he cleared his throat, "I mean, hey." A pause. "Ganith! Where have you been hiding her? I knew you took her, but I couldn't…you took her to your sanctuary huh?"
"Yup."
"It took me a while to realize this."
"Yup."
"Well…" he coughed. "Ganith you do realize that you scared Sarah terribly when she turned around and Alice wasn't there. She thought I took her. Like I would hurt a friend," he grumbled crossing him arms, very much like a child.
Alice's eyes shone at the mention that Jareth still considered her a friend. Ganith, on the other hand, looked put out. "You won't hurt a friend, but you'll hurt family? How rude."
"No, I won't hurt family, only the idiotic ones," Jareth smirked.
While Jareth and Ganith got into yet another fight Alice drew Toby away to talk privately to him. "Hey kiddo."
"Hi Alice," Toby said softly looking up at her as she bent over to place her hands on his shoulders.
"You alright kid?"
"Mm-hmm," Toby nodded.
"Good. Have you looked in at Sarah lately? Where is she? How much time does she have left?" Alice then noticed the rather large clock with daggers for hands. "Oh. Wait, that clock's wrong."
"Yeah, I know. It wasn't working in the beginning but then a few hours ago it did, but it started off at the beginning and now is a few hours late. Oh well," Toby sighed turning back to the blonde. He motioned to the ground beside him where he and Alice both sat down. "Anyways, Sarah has somewhere from an hour to two hours left. I don't really remember because last time Jareth checked it was when he went to check on her again. Alice, they almost kissed!" he hissed quietly.
"What?" she whispered.
"Yeah, they began dancing again and they were so close to kissing but then Sarah ran away. She just can't catch a break can she?"
"No, she really can't," Alice mused.
"What do you think will happen when she wins?"
"Well, Sarah seems so close to reveal her true feelings but then she hides from them keeping them to herself. At times she seems so close to realizing Jared's," she didn't want to say his real name for fear of drawing his attention, "true feelings but then she covers her eyes. Women, who can explain 'em?"
"Amen. Preach it sister," Toby sighed in dejection.
"I wonder what Sarah is doing now."
Kicking an old pail Sarah sat down next to the gates of the City. She reckoned she still had sometime over an hour to get to the Castle. So looking out at the Junk Yard, looking even more disgusting Junk-y than it used to, she began to think.
The Labyrinth. Or what used to be the Labyrinth. I caused this. Jareth said it was sad because I beat it. He also said—well technically Alice said it, but Jareth didn't deny it and if anything agreed to it—that the opening of the wall in the beginning of our journey was because I wanted it. You know, I bet I could have used this to my advantage…damn.
Okay, Jareth. Hot, incredibly sexy, and irresistible Goblin King. Not to mention an absolutely annoying, conceited, jerk! God, I love him. How I wish more than anything I could just jump into his arms and kiss him like mad! To dance in his arms 'til the sun fell down and Hell proverbially froze over…to just simply be in his arms, oh how I dream of being in his arms! But to sacrifice everything I have done, I just can't. Jareth can't love, it isn't possible! Even in this land where everything seems possible, nothing is what it seems. I take things for granted. But…
Sarah rubbed her head furiously trying to rearrange her thoughts.
If I take everything for granted, am I taking Jareth's feelings for granted? When he was Jared he seemed so caring. His eyes held no lies but smoldered with passion. I knew Jared was Jareth but I didn't want to believe it because this way we could be together. In his eyes I saw possibilities. And then he became the cruel Goblin King and his eyes held nothing. They were emotionless, except when he was purposely trying to get a rise out of me. I did the same thing to him, she let out a chuckle. But there were times, when we danced, when a hidden emotion tried breaking free of his hold. When he had an internal conflict…could he…?
Suddenly her eyes went wide as she let out a gasp her delicate fingers covering her mouth. "Oh my god." Sarah jumped up staring out at the desolate land she had destroyed. Just like two hearts she had destroyed in the process, hers and…
"Toby, I'm coming. Alice, I'm coming. Jareth, I'm coming," she whispered spinning around and slamming through the gates, which easily fell back. She walked through Humongous' Court and through the other opening before her entering the City. Sarah knew there were no goblins this time to hinder her path and slow her down but she still walked cautiously. She glanced around at the ruined buildings that were once homes to the darling little goblins and old fountains and stairs. There was a deathly quiet about that did nothing to calm Sarah's nerves. Looking up at the Castle she paused.
The Castle too was falling down and Sarah winced at the sight. The Labyrinth was depressed, as was its King. But Sarah would make sure the depression would be lifted and the very air would thrum with magic once more.
She smiled, a small sad smile, and continued on her way. She froze once more when she realized she was in the exact location where she had her three friends had stood when the goblins ambushed them. "Oh Hoggle, Didymus, Ludo, I'm sorry. But I vow to restore peace and magic. And love." And with that she ran. When she arrived at the Castle gates she paused only for a second before the doors open. She then walked slowly towards the stairs that would lead her to the Throne Room.
When she arrived she slowly ascended but stopped the moment she reached the top. Jareth was standing right in front of his throne fists on hips with a scowl on his face and his eyes angry. He wore the same black outfit he had worn when she had first met him. Toby and Alice were nowhere to be seen.
"Give me my brother, give me my friend."
"Not this old line again," Jareth groaned growling.
"Through dangers untold, and hardships unnumbered I have fought my way here to the Castle beyond the Goblin City to take back my brother whose wish you granted and friend who I still say you stole her," Sarah ever so slowly advanced.
Jareth looked confused. "What?"
"For my will is as strong as yours, and my old kingdom is as great…as yours used to be, but my love is stronger."
"Again…what?"
"Let them return to the Aboveground where they belong, and…pucker up baby!" Sarah barely had time to think quickly, Screw Romance, I only have a few minutes left, before sprinting across the room, jumping over the crater in the floor, and throwing her arms around Jareth's neck bringing his lips crashing down onto hers as she let out all her passion, want, and love that she had been suppressing for four years. It only took a moment for the Goblin King to return it giving his all over to the mortal girl who was currently running her fingers through his hair. They both felt a surge of energy spread throughout their body, beginning at around their abdomens, and strengthening as it swelled within them. Finally the dam holding it back burst and the energy swept through them and out them spreading from their centre point throughout the Labyrinth and beyond. Where their lips met a kind of static electricity sparked but they ignored it reveling in the moment where all their longing was laid bare and they no longer hid behind masks of hate and vengeance. Finally they slowly pulled apart looking deeply into each other's eyes their souls laid bare.
"Well, that was touching," Ganith's voice drifted into their conscious. "Don't you say so Hoggle?"
"It was disgusting, that what it was," a gruff voice answered moodily.
Sarah spun around to see the room, previously empty of all life except the failing Goblin King (and herself of course), which was now jammed pack with creatures and the two people she had rushed to save…and was that…Gary? She looked down and standing next to Gary, or whatever the hell his real name was, was Hoggle looking almost exactly the same as he had when she first met him. He no longer looked worn and weary but as healthy as he was when she first laid eyes upon him. He scowled up at her hoping never to see her kiss that rat called Jareth again. Sarah, meanwhile, stood frozen with wide eyes and an open mouth. Until…
"HOGGLE!" she screeched tearing away from Jareth and rushing over to her long lost friend. Hoggle's face brightened and he smiled as he ran towards her as well calling her name happily. They met in an embrace Sarah lifting him off his feet in a hug and spinning him around.
"Dost thou forget your loyal knight?" a small voice asked sadly.
Sarah let go of Hoggle placing his feet back on the ground to spin around to see Sir Didymus atop of Ambrosious near the stairway leading into the throne room. "Didymus!" She looked next to him to the towering orange giant. "Ludo!"
"Sawah…friend!"
"My Lady!"
Soon Sarah was surrounded by her three friends, and Ambrosious who was currently trying to lick her face, as she sat on the ground completely confused but happy. Around them were countless goblins spilling into the stairs and Fieries hanging from the ceiling with Alph, Ralph, Tim and Jim guarding the entrance to the room of stairs which looked like they came out from a picture Sarah had in her room. There was also an assortment of other creatures, some she had seen before and others she hadn't, in the room and, along with the goblins, spilling into others. She also saw Toby and Alice standing next to Gary-what's-his-name. She stood up and rushed over to Toby pulling him into a fierce hug that squeezed the air out of him.
"Sarah…can't…breathe…" he gasped.
"Oh, sorry," she grinned. She turned to Alice and pulled her into a hug as well. "Alice, where the hell have you been?"
"With Ganith."
"Who?"
"Jareth's cousin."
"Gary?"
"No, Ganith."
"Who?"
Alice sighed. "Him," she said pointing to Ganith. "You've met him at the ball, he's Jareth's cousin, you know him as Gary, but his real name is Ganith."
"Everyone else at the party?"
"They were an illusion."
"Jareth?"
"A complete moronic asshole."
"Hey!" Jareth said.
"Well it's true," everyone else said.
"Gee, thanks," he muttered.
"But you're my complete moronic asshole," Sarah smiled putting her arm around his waist and kissing his cheek. "And I love you," she sighed happy to be able to announce it.
"And I you," he replied drawing her into an embrace and claiming her lips for his own.
"Okay, dudes, you gotta stop doing that in front of me!" Toby exclaimed.
Sarah saw, off in a corner, a certain blue figure that caught her eye. Walking over she pulled out a tiny red scarf from her pocket. "Mr. Worm, I think this belongs to you," she smiled softly.
"Aye, right it is!" he exclaimed. "Young Sarah, would you like to meet the Missus now?"
"Of course I would!"
A dark green worm came forward smiling sweetly. "Greetings dear," she spoke softly her accent not as prominent as her husband's. "Would you like to come down for a nice cup of tea sometime dearie?"
"I would love it."
"Sarah," Toby said softly. "It's time to go home."
Everyone's face fell. Jareth looked downright brokenhearted. Sarah nodded to her little brother. "It is time for you and Alice to go home." Jareth's head shot up. "And I do mean home Alice, you must return to your mother."
"I know. I am ready."
"Good. Now Jareth, give me some crystals with open magic. You know, so that I can them do what I want." There was a moment's pause. "Now Jareth!" Jareth quickly summoned forth five crystals. "And something to put them in please," she rolled her eyes. Jareth handed her a satchel with the five crystals within. "Thank you." Putting the satchel over her head she grabbed the arms of Alice and Toby taking one crystal out. "Say goodbye," she instructed.
"Bye!" Toby waved with his free hand.
"Ganith!" Alice called out.
"Goodbye my Water Goddess," he whispered giving her a chaste kiss on the lips.
And then Sarah dropped the crystal and they disappeared.
Sarah stood in her room with Alice and Toby on each of her arms. She knelt down to face Toby placing both hands on his shoulders. "Toby, you know how much I love you. You remember things that you normally shouldn't, but I guess some of the magic Underground got to you and that is why you have always been a little bit more advanced than most children. You knew I loved him, didn't you?" Toby nodded. "Then you know why I must go back. That place, the Labyrinth…it looks like that because of me. Everyone disappeared because of me. But they'll back, if you look out the window I bet the Labyrinth is in full bloom like it used to be. And Jareth…Jareth loves me. He always has. I was just too stupid to realize it. But now we have the chance to living happily ever after, just like our bed time stories. My fairy tale is coming to a close, and my Prince Charming, even though he isn't a prince…and he isn't all that charming at times…I'm no longer the Damsel in Distress."
"You were never the Damsel in Distress," Alice snorted. "Please, you are the one that saved your 'prince' by admitting your love. You are the Prince Charming in this story and Jareth in the Princess locked up in a tower. You tamed the Dragon, you scaled the Tower, and you rescued your Princess. Come on, you know you love calling Jareth a Princess," Alice smirked evilly.
Sarah couldn't help but agree with this logic…she did enjoy calling Jareth a Princess. "Then I guess it's time for me to ride off into the sunset on my loyal steed," she announced producing a crystal from the pouch. "But first…" She handed the crystal to Toby and gave another one to Alice. "Take this. Keep these safe. If you ever need me just touch them and call my name. I'll come back for you." She stood up and looked around her room. "I don't need anything from here anymore. You guys…you guys deal with it. My vanity…I think it still holds some magic. The book," she didn't have to say which one, "is in my bag over there. If you ever need me…"
"We'll call," Toby whispered a few silent tears welling up. "But what about mom and dad?"
"Try to explain it to them. Give them the book to read. Tell them I said 'Ha-ha, told you so'," she smirked. She took another crystal out preparing to go back to the Underground and the man she loved.
"What about school, and the play?" Alice blurted out.
"The play? Hmmm." A malevolent gleam entered her eyes. "I know just what to do with the play. Watch for me. Call for me. I'll answer." And with that she dropped the crystal and left behind a pile of glitter.
"Amateur," Alice scoffed. "Think she'll get better?"
"Are you kidding? That's my sister! If she doesn't become the best at Glitter she'll kill whoever's before her," he laughed only halfway sure he was joking.
When Sarah appeared she nearly choked on laugher. "Don't look so glum honey-bunch," she cooed playfully.
Jareth shot up from where he was slumped in his thrown with a frown on his face. Now he stood with his hands holding Sarah's upper arms a look of disbelief in his eyes and face. "You're back?"
"Of course I'm back," she said brow furrowing in confusion. "You didn't--…oh, Jareth!" she cried wrapping her arms around his neck. "You though I wasn't coming back didn't you?" She chuckled. "Nothing could keep me away from you now. You're stuck with me for life buddy."
"And I wouldn't have it any other way," he smiled kissing her briefly on her forehead.
"Jareth, or should I say Jared…we have unfinished business Aboveground." She stared into his eyes, brilliant blue orbs with one pupil larger than the other, before smiling wickedly. "Of, course we also have unfinished business down here too."
"Like getting married, that's what," a suave voice announced.
"Ganith, get out of my bloody throne!" Jareth yelled looking about ready to strangle his cousin.
"Yipes!" the fire lord shrieked, rather girly I might add.
"So, you're Ganith. And you're really Jareth's cousin. And you really helped in getting me to forget about my beloved baby brother so that he would wish himself away and I would have to traverse this bloody Labyrinth again all the while spazzing out because Jareth tricked me again, hmmm?"
Ganith gulped. "Er…I'll leave you two alone now…bye!" she yelled his voice hanging in the air even after he left.
"My, he left fast," Jareth commented.
"What can I say?" Sarah smiled innocently.
"Yes."
"Excuse me?" Sarah asked confused.
"Say 'yes'. Say you'll marry me," his smooth voice pleaded next to her ear. "Say you'll be my Queen."
"Queen?" Her eyes went wide. "I don't know how to be Queen."
"You've my Queen since the moment I set my Immortal eyes on you."
"Jareth…"
"What do you say my love?"
Sarah opened her mouth to say something, but then thought better of it with a smirk on her face. Reaching into the pouch with the last crystal she pulled it out whispering something before throwing it above their heads where it blew apart in a flash of light. When Jareth's sight was no longer impaired by black splotches he looked above her head where a large, bright neon sign flashed. It read:
YES!
"Sarah, you sure do have a way with words," the Goblin King smirked before claiming her lips as his own in a world shattering kiss that left all others behind.
THE BEGINNING
Beware of the Sequal…