Disclaimer: I make no profit from this work.

Prologue: Once Upon a Time

Linda Williams was an actress; an artist of the stage. She prided herself on her ability to tell a story using her voice and body that would suspend reality for her captive audience. She had worked at her trade and honed her skill for years before making even a small dent in her career. The time spent sweating under stage lights, poring over scripts and the endless hours of practice, practice, practice had all culminated into a skill that had finally begun to blossom into a viable profession. Linda Williams was becoming the best at what she did because she had wanted it enough to sacrifice for it.

Her daughter Sarah, however, was born with raw talent; the likes of which is rarely seen in one so young. At the tender age of seven Sarah had woven fantastic stories as though she had lived them, effortlessly blending lifelike characters into their strange worlds. At first, Linda had been astounded that her little girl was destined to be a star. As time wore on, however, she couldn't help feeling like Sarah was a reminder of all the time she had lost by raising her little family that could have been spent chasing her dream.

In the beginning, Linda and little Sarah would go to the park behind the woods of their house to play as mother and daughters do. They would play pretend and hide and go seek and have picnics while her husband Robert worked long hours at his law firm. Eventually, though, those trips to the park would more often than not be opportunities for Linda to practice for her shows, or prepare for auditions. Sarah would play along, imitating the mother that she so adored in her glamor and beauty. Occasionally, though, Sarah would wander off by herself, as bored little girls are wont to do. Linda was embarrassed to admit it, but sometimes it would be a few hours before she would even notice the child was missing, and once she tracked down her wayward little girl, Sarah would have quite the story to tell.

"Mom, wait 'til I tell you what I saw!" Sarah said excitedly, running up the creek bed where she had been splashing moments earlier. Linda looked at the state of her pink pants and white shirt which were now sopping wet and stained with muck.

"Sarah, what have I told you about getting your clothes dirty and wandering off?" she snapped, grabbing her daughter by her upper arm and hauling her onto the sidewalk. "It will take a miracle to get those stains out and I don't like having to come and find you."

"But Mom, this time I saw a dragon! He was huge and white and breathed fire and had the biggest wings I've ever seen in my life," she said, dramatically swinging her arms outward for emphasis. Linda rolled her eyes as they set off back towards the house, clearly none of her motherly orders were going to get through to the excited girl until her story had been told.

"And the villagers were all standing around this big stage thing where the dragon had these big chains around his neck and feet and stuff. I think he was in trouble because the castle on top of the hill had some pretty big chunks missing," she eyed her mother slyly out of the corner of her eye. "You know, like dragon size chunks. The dragon looked really mad and I was kind of scared because he started sending smoke out of his nose like in Sleeping Beauty but I could smell the smoke from all the way in the back! Anyway, so the villagers told the dragon that he was banished, whatever that means—oh! And this really old guy came up and—"

"Enough, Sarah," Linda said sharply. "That's a very nice story, but it doesn't change the fact that you left again, and I told you that next time there would be consequences." Linda took a breath, ready to let Sarah have it.

Just then, a familiar vehicle pulled into the driveway and Sarah bolted from her mother's side. "Daddy's home!" As soon as the door opened, the dark haired little girl began chattering away. Robert, who was in the middle of a large corporate merger case, was not equipped to spend extra energy on his little one and sent a weary look towards his wife. Linda shrugged and followed them inside, arms firmly crossed.

Robert sat down on the couch and tried his best to be an attentive listener. "Where was your mother when all of this was happening Sare-bear?" he interjected when his daughter had paused for breath.

"She was practicing and I didn't want to bother her, so I went by myself."

Sarah was only seven, and didn't quite understand why that would make her father stand up and go to the kitchen, so she simply shrugged and began to act out her adventure with her dolls, ignoring the sounds of shouting that began to escalate from the kitchen.

"For Chrissakes, Linda! How long was she gone this time? Did you even notice?"

"She's fine Robert, and it's not like you're ever home to share the burden! You have your work and I have mine. I can't be expected to play babysitter and sit by the wayside for the rest of my life!"

"Fine then, if you don't want to be a mother, hire a babysitter for all I care! She'd probably be a hell of a lot safer and twice as happy."

"How dare you Robert? I am a perfectly good mother! At least I actually spend some time with her!

The shouting continued, as it usually did, and Sarah decided to look out the window at the pretty owl she saw sitting in the tree outside her house. She usually saw it outside her window at night. It was a very good listener and it never yelled at her or anyone else. In fact, sometimes she saw it when she was about to go to the Other Places. "Stay here. If Mom looks for me you can tell her I'll be right back," she would say.

Linda stomped out of the kitchen, eyes bright and face red. "Sarah, go to your room and get ready for bed. Dinner will be ready soon." Without another word, Sarah did as she was told. She knew that look and knew better than to try anything other than absolute obedience when her mother had that look on her face. As she trudged up the stairs to her princess themed bedroom she idly wondered if she would find herself in one of the Other Places tonight while she slept. She might be able to tell her friends about the dragon she saw. They were good listeners too, just like the owl outside her window.

Dinner was a tense, silent affair. They had chicken and steamed vegetables and Sarah felt very grown up for not complaining once that she hated broccoli. She even ate a couple of pieces, hoping her parents would notice how good she was being. The little girl couldn't help but think that it was her fault that her parents never smiled at each other anymore and tried to be extra good. She hoped that they would see how hard she was trying to behave and that they would decide to try extra hard to be nice to each other, too. They never did.

That night, after she was all tucked into bed, she looked at her closet door and grinned. There, quicker than a thought, had appeared a glowing, shimmering curtain of sorts where her door used to be. She snuck out of bed quietly and with a flourish, drew back the curtain and scampered into the Other Place, more than ready to be anywhere but in her unhappy household at that moment. The owl was nowhere to be seen.

The book had promised that the Goblin King had given the girl certain powers. It had never foretold that she had possessed great powers in her own right, which seems strange, considering it was these powers that had drawn his attention to the girl in the first place. For one and only one, the book was more than a trap, it had been a prophecy. Ellie had, unfortunately, not been that girl.

"Goblin King," Ellie cried out, sinking against the rough wall of the Labyrinth at her back. "I give up! It's impossible," she whined. She was not having fun anymore; she was tired, hungry, and ready for this little game to be over.

Suddenly he was there before her, faster than a blink of an eye, haughty smirk firmly in place. The Goblin King was dressed in tight black breeches with matching boots and a white loose shirt that billowed in the wind. The look was completed with a green leather vest and pendant hanging around his neck. His grin was wicked. "You're no match for me, Ellie," he affirmed, gloved fists on his hips.

Ellie trembled before the frightening king. She wasn't brave, wasn't a heroine, she was just a scared, lonely girl. "I know," she confessed, chancing a look up at the imposing figure. "B-but I want to be. Teach me," she pleaded. "Show me what to do, I can be whatever you need me to be!" she added desperately.

Jareth scoffed. "Why would I do that? You've lost, and you have nothing to offer me."

Ellie smiled shyly, "Because you love me. The book said, 'What no one knew was that the King of the Goblins had fallen in love with the girl and had given her certain powers,'" she quoted dreamily. Dark, hopeful eyes looked up at him from beneath dark lashes that were trying their best to be alluring.

Jareth stared at the shy, gangly, plain girl in front of him in disbelief, his mouth quirking on one side in an attempt to conceal his humor. Ellie perked up, certain she had spoken a truth that he had never meant her to know. Then he started to laugh, a harsh, cruel barking laugh that the goblins, who had been slowly trickling from various hiding places to watch, joined in immediately. Tears began to fill Ellie's eyes; the humiliation, the heartbreak, the leering faces, the rejection. It was almost more than she could bear. She wasn't good enough for her parents, wasn't pretty enough for the boys at school, and now she wasn't enough for the Goblin King that the book had promised would love her if she called.

"Ellie," the Goblin King had finally stifled his mirth to address her, "you didn't think the story was about you, did you?" he asked cruelly. He stepped forward and took her chin in his hand. The leather was soft and cool against her skin. She tried not to let her hot tears fall, avoiding his gaze. "It's the perfect lure for lonely girls who would do anything for love. Lonely girls like you, Ellie." He wiped a tear with his gloved thumb. "Don't be too upset, dear. Countless others have fallen into the same trap."

Ellie sniffled, "But I love you," she protested miserably.

He tilted his head to the side and stuck out his bottom lip into a mocking pout. "I know, you were meant to," he said sympathetically, "but it doesn't matter." He seemed to consider her for a moment before speaking once more. "However, I am not without compassion. I will offer you a boon. You have failed the Labyrinth and as such I am entitled to keep that which was taken. I offer you the choice on whom to send back. Either you or your sister may return home, but not both."

Ellie's heart soared. This was a test to prove her love to him. Of course he couldn't just tell her that he wanted her to be his Queen, she needed to be punished for losing first. Now he was offering her a chance to stay with him. He did love her.

"Yes, yes, yes! I'll stay here with you," she cried, hastily wiping the last of her tears from her reddened cheeks. "Send her back, I'll stay."

Jareth nodded, "Very well." He conjured a crystal between his hands and tossed it at her.

Ellie looked into the clear glass in her hands intently. In its depths, she could see her bossy big sister waking up from her bed as if she hadn't been wished away to the Goblin King. "Emily. Oh, Em," she breathed, stroking the side of the crystal, feeling the beginning of heartache as she realized she may never see her sister again. No matter their differences, they were still family. She wondered if her parents would miss her. Probably not; after all, no one had ever seemed to care before. Maybe they would finally appreciate her, now that it was too late. She smiled a little at the thought.

"She is safe Above, as promised. Now," Jareth said, holding out his hand, "take my hand and we shall be on our way."

Ellie looked up at the Goblin King. This was her future, to spend her happily ever after with the man of her dreams. She grinned, "You don't have to pretend anymore. I know that you were lying to punish me. Did I pass?"

Jareth looked dumbfounded. "Pardon? Pass what, exactly?" he inquired politely. He had dealt with foolish girls before, but he had to admit, this one was delusional. Perhaps he had made a mistake in allowing her to take her sister's place.

"The test. I chose to stay with you, to prove that I love you," she supplied, finally taking his outstretched hand and twining their fingers.

Jareth shook his head. "Ellie, I'm afraid there was no test. You merely agreed to take your sister's place as my subject. Make no mistake, I do not love you," he said firmly, making sure that she would understand this time.

"Why not?" she demanded, the tears returning as her fragile hope was shattered for the second time.

Jareth regarded her seriously. "You won't like the answer."

Ellie slumped her shoulders, defeated. "You're probably right," she sighed. "I suppose you're going to make me a goblin now?" she asked.

Jareth snorted; as if those stupid, smelly little cretins needed help with their population. "Certainly not. You will join the rest of my wished away children. I have appointed a guardian to look after them, and now you as well until have need of my charges. Are you ready to join them?" He squeezed her hand lightly.

Ellie nodded dumbly, her head still bowed. She had the feeling of everything being pressed together tightly and quite painfully. The feeling lasted for one excruciating moment and Ellie whimpered as she squeezed the Goblin King's hand tightly. Then it was gone as soon as it had come, and all of a sudden, the smell of flowers permeated the air. Ellie's head shot up and she regretted it, squinting against the harsh brightness of all the colors of this new world. She buried her face in the Goblin King's shoulder as a brief respite, trying to ignore the way he leaned away from her touch, letting go of her hand.

Taking a deep breath, Ellie turned to face her strange new home. The air was too sweet, the sounds too shrill, and it was much too crowded. There wasn't a lot that she liked here, to be honest, especially with her heart breaking more with each passing moment.

She turned to him with wide eyes, "Will you ever come back for me?" The fear was beginning to set in, not only was she a lost, lonely little girl, but now she was going to be abandoned and alone. It wasn't fair.

In a brief display of tenderness, Jareth reached out to stroke the side of her face with the backs of his knuckles. "You won't need me, sweet. A few weeks here and you'll forget about everything else. You'll be alright, Ellie," he assured her with half a grin.

She didn't believe him in the slightest but decided not to push her luck any further, changing the subject instead. "Where are we, anyway?"

"Welcome to Munchkinland, my dear, in the merry old land of Oz," came an unfamiliar voice behind them. "Goblin King, how kind of you to bring her to us."

The woman wearing a dress soaked in glitter, bringing out the rich bronze shine in her luscious locks. She was everything Ellie had imagined angels were supposed to look like when they had been described to her in Sunday school, and this one had a magic wand.

"Glinda, may I introduce you to Ellie," Jareth said smoothly, "Ellie, this is Glinda, the witch of the North." Duties complete, the Goblin King left without another word, though this went unnoticed by Ellie, who was still staring at Glinda in all her glory.

"Wow," Ellie whispered. Glinda smiled indulgently at the stunned girl before her.

"And now, my dear, sweet girl, you have nothing more to worry about. All of your dreams will become reality, you need only to let go of your past." It was said in such a soothing tone that Ellie almost missed the fact that Glinda was getting closer, invading both Ellie's personal space and her thoughts.

Ellie turned to her companion, only to find an empty space. But of course there was an empty space. Small flecks of magic dust floated lazily through the air beside her, sparking memories of a wild haired man.

Cold dread washed over her. She had forgotten about him in less than a minute, what else would she forget if given the chance? What was this place, and how on Earth was she going to get away? She took one last look at Glinda who had by that point finished her spell and had already turned away from Ellie to lead her into the strange new world. Ellie didn't care. She buried her face in her hands and began to weep bitterly; cursing the day she had ever heard of the Goblin King.

Sarah Williams had always had very vivid dreams. When she was younger, before her parents' bitter divorce, she had sworn that her dreams had been real. The fantastic places she had been and the strange things that she had seen had never seemed to be like the normal dreams her friends always told her about.

For example, instead of dreaming that she had come to school in her pajamas, like Katie Greggs had told her about one morning in second grade, Sarah had dreamed about playing in the forests with leprechauns, tricking the hapless townsfolk until morning. Katie hadn't known what leprechauns were, and Sarah had confessed that she didn't either, but that was what the funny little men had told her they were.

It was a sad thing, in all honesty, to watch that spark suffocate under the weight of sadness that had enveloped Sarah after her parents split. Linda had never explicitly told Sarah that it had been her fault, but neither had the budding starlet assured her only daughter that she was blameless, which was practically a spitting accusation in Sarah's young mind. Deep in her heart, Sarah had believed that her trips to the Other Places had torn her family apart.

There was only one thing to do in the face of such crushing guilt. She abandoned everything she had ever known about the Other Places; the strange friends she had made, the things she had seen, and the paths that would take her there. She willfully blocked away all if the powers that had made her special until there was nothing left for her to forget. No longer was she tempted away by glittering doors of light. Like most neglected things, as she ignored them, they in turn stopped appearing to her.

The adventurous, excitable, fearless Sarah that had explored the Other Places with such vigor before had grown into a more cautious, realistic girl; an ordinary teen. She had made the meticulous distinction between reality and fantasy along the strict lines of dramatic acting. She could allow herself to believe in the magic if she knew in the back of her mind that it would never be more than simple belief.

But the owl, clever, cunning bird that he was, never forgot about little Sarah. Despite all of the ways she had changed after her parents divorced; becoming dramatic, petulant and spoiled, the owl had seen her potential and her power. For the owl was not really an owl, but was in fact a King. A King who could see the endless possibilities of possessing such powers that the little girl had bandied about with such ease. He had seen it and oh how he coveted it.

So he plotted, biding his time for when the spoiled girl would make a mistake that he could capitalize on.

One day, the spoiled girl who forgot her secrets made a wish. The King answered. The young woman turned heroine saved the day and returned home with her prize, no worse for the wear. The King was furious, but still he wanted. And he had never been very good at asking for things, so still he plotted.

What the girl-turned-Champion couldn't have known was that this was only the beginning of their story. What the King-turned-fool couldn't have known was that his decision to pursue the girl would turn his world upside down. What neither of them knew was how far another, forgotten girl would go to be noticed.

But what no one knew was that the Goblin King had fallen in love with the girl and had given her certain powers.

A/N: Hello dear readers. I have returned and I intend to finish what I started with this little tale. I hope you enjoy it. Thus far, I have the first few chapters written and ready to go. I am in the market for a beta, so if you are at all interested, please send me a message!

As always, reviews are love. The next chapter should be up within a week or two. Let me know what you thought!

~Chaotic-Masterpiece