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Chapter One

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Their celebration insulted and infuriated him. How dare his subjects fête his defeat by this mortal girl. A woman child hardly able to understand the dire ramifications of her deed, yet she heedlessly rejoiced his trouncing without a thought for the future; any future—her friends', her's, and especially not his. In his owl aspect, Jareth watched through Sarah's bedroom window as her group of ridiculously loyal friends cavorted; the gnashing of his beak unnoticed by the shortsighted fools...every last one.

From the precise moment her footsteps paced upon his kingdom's grounds, Jareth perceived a shuddering in the foundation's fabrics. Her immediate and profound effect on his world fascinated and alarmed him. This mortal, this girl: She was different than the previous challengers, and despite his best efforts to impede her (going so far as to offer himself to the stupid chit) he learned how very right his instincts proved. He should have left her banished in the oubliette, to starve and rot forevermore, to be forgotten, rules be damned.

He sensed her victory over his labyrinth—while not the first, but unlike the others previously—would bring about such lasting changes to the Underground beyond even his great magic to command and restore. And here she sang and danced with his treasonous subjects, blissful, unaware. The urge to rend the tender flesh from her bones with his beak and talons sliced through him; he must leave this place or continue suffering silent indignities.

With an aggravated shriek, he shoved off the stout tree limb with his powerful legs and took wing back to his castle, deciding a long flight through the Veil separating their worlds, rather than the shorter, faster teleportation, would dissipate his rage. With an added benefit of overseeing the damage to the Bridge wrought by the girl. Aboveground nocturnal creatures felt and hid from his predatory presence as he swooped over land, gaining altitude towards the full moon.

'How dare she; how dare she!'

Echoed in his mind, his wings pumping rhythmically against the cool night air; her face, that of an angel disguised an immature, spoiled being thoughtless of her actions rippling through his world. Even now Jareth felt the damage from the Improbable Room reverberating in his bones, the magic she razed built upon itself, compounding. And none save him comprehended how this unique, silly girl unmade what those before could not...The sight greeting him as he overflew the Bridge through the Veil chilled his immortal soul. The Bridge connecting the Underground to the Abroveground, the aorta of magic allowing both worlds to live in vitality...it was collapsing before his very eyes!

Releasing a heartbroken raptor cry, Jareth increased his speed as he observed the tendrils of ancient magic fray, their bright lights fading, spiraling apart faster than any being known to him might ever repair. He never thought this possible! Corrupted, degraded...yes, but complete destruction? And it all started from Sarah's leap in the Improbable Room-the nexus of the Bridge in the Underground, Jareth's duty to protect. Feeling the ripples' epicenter, he knew it was all because of her. Somehow her innate magic and belief allowed her loophole action to annihilate eons of fae magic. What was it about this girl that made her so special, so different from other mortals?

Perhaps he might save portions if he returned in time; any surviving part could be used to rebuild the Bridge allowing the necessary magic to flow again. Both worlds required magic to thrive. The Underground was steeped in magic as a desert was soaked in sun, thriving off mortal dreams and aspirations to renew it, however, the Aboveground owned no true origin of magic, only a nexus from which the Bridge attached, allowing magic to free flow between worlds; without such connection...Jareth trembled mentally at the thought of the Aboveground's possible plight without a source of magic, and increased his flight speed.

'Sarah, you willful, arrogant child, what have you done to us all?'

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DON'T OWN ANY OF LABYRINTH OR ITS CHARACTERS...*SNIFF*

A/N: Like I don't have enough to do right? But this story popped into my head and I just had to run with it. I've been wanting (REALLY WANTING) to write a Laby story that:

-Neither Jareth or Sarah start off even liking each other. (but this is ultimately J/S :o)

-Apocalyptic (cause I love me apocalyptic movies/stories)

I have no idea how long this will be, but I do already have the basic plot and ending in my head. Might go long, might be shorter. I'm rating it M cause with this topic it'll give me the most freedom. With my handmade jewelry biz craft fair season officially starting this Sat...I'm sure my updates will be farther between, but I'm not stopping so have faith!

I know this first chapter is a major tease, hehe, but I would love to hear what ya'll think of the concept so far.

Jinx

:o)