Title: Beauty

Series: Book of Kings

rating: PG-13

fandom: labyrinth

parts: 13 and epilogue

DISCLAIMER: I don't own labyrinth or Jareth or any of

that fun stuff. The character of Katya and all other original characters

are mine

Summary: how jareth got to be goblin king, and who takes over when his

reign is over; told in jareth's pov, slightly twisted with plot points

from velvet goldmine, but doesn't stick to that plot and is not a

crossover

**************************************

            Beauty. Such a simple word, yet filled with

complexities. It can make one's career, it can destroy

a life. It can lead to attraction, it can lead to

revulsion. It is a mask, a lie, yet it can hold

truths. It can bring comfort, yet it can bring so much

pain. For some it's a blessing, for others a curse. In

some cases it is ephemeral, lasting only a blink of

the universe's eye. In mine, it's forever. In my long

lifespan, I've lived to see both sides of the coin,

both images in the mirror. It is something that I will

remember forever.

            Even when I was young I knew that there was something

different about me. Not an absurdity, really, but more

of a quirk. All Fae have a tendancy towards beauty,

but in my case it went even further than most. I wore

only the clothes that I thought would suit me, painted

my face whereas most thought it was a scandalous

thing, a man, painting his face. And it didn't help

that I was prince of the realm, either. My parents

were less than thrilled of my tastes, but humored me,

probably because I was not in line for the throne.

With four older brothers, there was no hope for me

becoming the Fae king, though I got into many a brawl

with them for being told that I could be the first

fairy queen of our family.

            My family was good, though they couldn't understand

why I allowed my hair to grow below my ears, and why I

continually decorated myself. My parents were kind,

though, and either understood that they needed to let

the issue be, or thought that I would grow out of it.

I managed to gain the upper hand, though, as I grew

older. Although my brothers were not bad looking, I

found that females were more attracted to my feral,

mysterious look, something that I used to my advantage

over my brothers as often as possible, if only for

amusement. Really, it wasn't until Katya that I found

myself in a real relationship.

            Katya was...unlike anything I had seen at that point.

We met at a ball given by one of the neighboring

kingdoms. I remember it quite clearly. I had been

dancing with girl after girl, grinning at my siblings

over the bobbing heads. The entire room was moving

with the swish of skirts, the vibrations of music, and

the air of mystery and intrigue, something that I felt

very much at home in. I remember, I was dancing with

somebody when suddenly I heard the most musical

laughter and saw a small hand thrusting up above the

crowd to wave at someone across the room. Almost

immediately my partner was dismissed and I began to

follow that hand, that laugh...although the crowd was

elbow to elbow, nothing could prevent me from getting

through. The room seemed to swirl as I followed the

shimmer of the silver glove until finally its owner

erupted into an empty corner of the room. She was

unlike anything I had ever seen. Red hair, golden

eyes, perfect skin...yet her attitude struck me even

harder.

            "Dahling!" she laughed suddenly. "So good to see

you!" Before I could blink she had grabbed a gentleman

a few people away from me and pulled him into a heated

kiss which he returned with stunned passion and humor.

She was definitely outspoken, a trait I found

tantilizing. She was also coy, and humorous, and had

the same strange something that I had always had.

Needless to say, I trailed her all evening. Even so,

when she finally turned round and noticed me, I

stopped breathing for a moment. Those eyes...she

seemed surprised for a moment before that calculating

aura shimmered around her again, and the next thing I

knew, we were dancing.

            Three months later we were married.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

            It wasn't long before I began to want more. My

parents, pleased that I had finally seemed to grow up

a bit, gave us a house within their kingdom. It wasn't

that I resented them, or my brothers, but I felt a

burning need to...express myself. Magic had always

been a trait among the Fae, my family especially, and

I was quite talented. Katya, naturally, found the

easiest way for me to get noticed: to compete in the

Trials of Tasks.

            The Trials was much like combat, except it used magic

and there was usually no bloodshed. There were

different levels, depending on how talented the

combatant was. The basic premise was that each

competitor was given a task to perform and a certain

amount of time to do it, and whoever did theirs or

managed to foil the progress of their foe won, earning

gold and other wealth as well as status. There were

also very small matches held for no reward at all,

except for bets, at the local gathering places,

usually among the younger citizens. So, at the age of

nineteen, I entered in my first competition. It isn't

worth recalling, only that I won, though only because

my opponent was almost totally incopetent.

Nevertheless, it did provide me with help. Soon after

the match, Katya and I were sitting at a table in the

tavern it had been hosted at when a middle-aged,

dignified man approached us.

            "You are quite talented..." he said, his voice

genteel and smooth, like polished wood.

            "Thank you," I replied casually.

            "You have a ways to go, though...you need a trainer,"

he said, taking a seat that Katya had pulled out for

him.

            "Do you know anyone?" she asked, glancing sideways at

me, her hair floating over her bare shoulder as she

did so. She always did like to tease me.

            "As it so happens, I am a Mystrl," he said and it

took me a moment to believe my luck. Mystrls were

those who had competed for as long as they could, and

in their latter years trained new competitors,

teaching them spells that would be sure to work,

coaching and grooming them until, hopefully, they were

unbeatable.

            "And as it so happens, I'm looking for one," I

replied, grinning, but he didn't start at all. I was

used to people at least blinking when I showed my

rather unusual smile, but I was impressed. He returned

the smile and continued talking.

            "Xeran," he said, stretching out a hand.

            "Jareth, and this is Katya," I replied, taking it,

and before long, we were discussing business.

************************************************************

            Weeks later, after careful planning and training, I

entered my first real competition, an affair down by

the river of a neighboring kingdom. I paced back and

forth as I watched the progress, Katya at my side,

babbling incessantly, trying to calm my nerves, I

suppose.

            "Dahling, really, you're ready! With Xeran you have

it in the bag! I mean, look at them!" she laughed,

pointing out some of the competition. "You'll

definitely make it past the first round!" she added,

smoothing the skirt on her gown. I was placed in the

middle of the first round of the event, but it wasn't

soon enough for my tastes.

            "I just wish I could get on with it!" I grumbled, not

pausing in my pacing.

            "Will you relax? Everything will be fine!" She was

interrupted as the next competitors were called. "Oh,

that's you, dahling! Good luck!" she squealed before

kissing me soundly and hurrying into the watching

crowd.

            Taking a deep breath, I strode out to the marked

area, feeling the eyes on me. Of course, that had been

anticipated, since I had insisted on wearing my

shortest tunic and my tightest pair of leggings in an

attempt to divert the competition. Xeran wasn't

thrilled with the tactic, but there was no arguing

with my young, stubborn mind.

            The official, an older, bearded man whose hair was

graying slightly, stood between me and my opponent, a

young, dark-haired boy that looked only to be a little

older than myself. I took a deep breath, and waited

for the challenge.

            "You will each summon a bird using your minds and

your magic...go!" As soon as the word was given I

concentrated on altering my vocal cords slightly

before whistling into the treetops, using my powers to

up the volume. Almost immediately, a songbird erupted

from the trees to fly forward and light on my arm.

Confident with my success, I grinned out at the crowd

and sneered at my opponent, who calmly waited. My ears

almost shattered as he let loose with heart-stopping

screech and in the next instant, a hawk came

barrelling down from the clouds, straight at my

songbird. Of course, my fowl took off into the sky

while the hawk perched on its summoner's shoulder, who

was immediately passed on to the next level.

            I stormed into the tent glaring daggers at Xeran.

"You said there was no way I could lose!!"

            "So it was a miscalculation...everything we needed

was there...maybe it was lacking something in the

presentation-"

            "That's right, love, I'm so proud of you! You should

have seen me, I was simply beaming, and next time

something like that won't surprise you! You were

wonderful!"

            "I lost!" I bellowed, pushing my way out in disgust,

storming across the clearing where the advanced

competitions were taking place.

            "Create a musical piece!" was the order and I stopped

dead in my tracks as the opponents responded. The one,

a short, blond woman, immediately waved her hands and

there came a string, piano, and trumpet piece wafting

through the night air. The other, a tall, lean, man

with honey-colored hair smirked, raised his arm, and

*attacked.* He jumped forward, right in his opponent's

face, and with both hands drew a sound that I had

never heard before. It was like a stringed instrument,

but...with fire...and the piano was like a roaring

stream...his music grew in volume until the limbs of

the trees began to shake and his opponent had to cover

her ears, along with half the people in the crowd. The

man leered at the girl and the crowd began to yell and

scream for him to get away, that he had disgraced the

competition. He responded with the most lurid hand

gesture I knew of, and at his fingertip's will a loud,

animalistic screaming arrived into the air to fight

with the other sounds he had conjured. Added to it

was the fact that he was only wearing leggings, and he

stalked the battling area like a caged beast, his eyes

daring the crowd for him to go further, because he had

no problem with it. For a moment I thought he would

jump into the masses, and then he did, as soon as he

was declared the winner.

            Every member of that crowd despised him, screaming

and yelling so loud it was as if mass chaos had

erupted in the clearing. They hated him, and he was

incredibly different and mind-numbing, you could

barely take him in.

            It was beautiful.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

            Much to Xeran's dismay, at my next competition I

employed many of the wild competitor's boldness into

my battle plan. The challenge was to create something

of beauty, something that I prided myself in knowing

much about. As my opponent created a statue of a stag

out of magic and air, I flicked my hand in the ancient

power that every member of my family had. A shimmering

sphere appeared at the end of my fingertips. This was

where Xeran had wanted me to stop. Something in me,

though, cried out to take the upper hand. Slowly, I

let it dance down my wrist and back, from hand to

hand, until it was moving so fast my opponent just

stared. Then I let go, and it hung in midair. I smiled

my suavest grin and backed away and nodded. At my

command, lilting, addicting music wafted through the

trees, charming the ears as much as the crystal

charmed the eyes. I flicked my wrist again and again,

until the whole area was filled with crystals, each

holding a different vision of beauty, most of them

sexual and erotic, depending on what the audience

member's preference was. My opponent was transfixed

and halted work mid-statue. I was declared the winner,

though I didn't dispose of the crystals like I was

told. Smirking, I strode off to where Xeran and Katya

stood, him with a look of contained horror on his

features, she laughing in utmost glee.

            "That was very good, son, you've got a style all your

own," a strange voice said suddenly and I turned to

regard a man I had never seen.

            "Thank you," I said, taking in his appearance. He

wore an emerald poet's blouse, black leggings, jet

black cape and a large saphire ring. His hair was

brown, streaked with red, and he had a large nose

with a waxy-looking mustache crowning it's tip.

            "The name's Ujiah. You could go places...earn

prestige...if you had the right mystrl."

            "Excuse me, Sir, but I happen to be his mystrl!"

Xeran sputtered as he came forward.

            "Oh, well don't get me wrong...you're a talented boy

now...but I could make you the best," he practically

purred, looking at me from underneath bushy eyebrows.

I took a moment to contemplate what that could

mean...True, Xeran had told me to take things

slowly...but the *best.* They options and consequences

were endless.

            Five days later I had won my next competition and

Xeran was left behind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

            They say success changes everything. Whoever they is

is right. Before I knew it I was entering competitions

every day, and soon I had arrived at the highest level

that was possible to attain.

            I remember that final competition well. The winner

would receive his or her own kingdom and would be

declared honorary ruler of that land. My opponent and

I were led out to a barren clearing by a forest that

was spotted with a few houses here and there. We were

told that this was our kingdom, provided we could

complete our task. I felt my stomach tighten at that

announcement...even if I won, I'd be in charge of

worthless land! Me, a king's son! Ujiah must've caught

my train of thought because he raised an eyebrow and

whispered, "Things aren't always what they seem

Jareth. Remember that." Nodding, I took my position

and waited for the command.

            "You will design a means of protection for this

territory. Begin." Immediately my opponent gathered

his magic and a wall began to rise out of the dirt.

Biting my lip, I tried to think of something,

but...nothing would come. No inspiration, no ideas.

*Come on, Jareth, think of something! Use your

opponent to your advantage...twist it around, do

something!" My mind spun, my block like the walls of

a maze that I just couldn't break out of-

            And then it came to me.

            Calming myself, I let my eyes drift closed and raised

my hands, calling on every ounce of magic in me. I

could feel the competition's wall, and I immediately

began focusing my energy on different sections,

breaking the bricks apart to form openings. My eyes

opened slightly to see him glaring at me, then

continue. I frowned as stones began to raise from the

dust at his will, then let my hands steal them away

from him and place them in areas that I desired. He

tried hedges, I made them mine. He tried a deep lake,

I made it a quaint pool. He tried forests, I made the

path disappear and the trees wind so that a traveller

would get lost no matter where they turned. He tried

to make trenches, I covered them with stone tiles and

made an underground tunnel system. He tried large

gates in the very center, I made another set,

enclosing them so that the city was in the complete

middle. And then I channeled every bit of energy and

created a large wall along the outside of the entire

work of art and secured it with heavy iron gates that

would only be opened on a magical command. When I

opened my eyes, it was born.

            The labyrinth.

            Before I knew it, I was being announced the winner. A

grin of relief and delight lit my features, I had

finally arrived, finally found my place! And then the

judge lifted her hand, and the impossible happened. It

was as if a curtain was lifted and a village that had

been there all along appeared. Small houses sat

around a grand fountain, and people that were the most

perfect I had seen came out to greet us. Strange and

fantastic creatures drifted from the forests, hairy

gentle beasts and manic creatures that could take off

their limbs. Fairies filled the air.

            "Welcome to your kingdom, King Jareth," Ujiah said,

slapping me on the back. I looked to Katya, my queen,

and we both grinned like children and rushed to

explore the entire place. Things were absolutely

perfect.

            If only they could stay that way.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

            The first few weeks were bliss. All was prosperous,

things were lovely, and life was grand. Then it came

to my attention that I had to take a student. Becoming

a minstrl would make me the youngest to do so, which

would keep my popularity high. Katya was under the

impression that I would take her under my wing, that I

owed her. Katya was many things, but talented in the

art of magic...she was not. She might of well have

been a mortal, for all the good being of Fae blood did

her.

            Finally, it came to the point where I couldn't wait

any longer, I had to take a student. I paced in the

throne room of the castle at the town's center,

letting my eyes rest on all the lovely tapestries and

statues that had been made in my honor. I had to think

of someone that would be worthy of me. Someone that

possessed real talent and wouldn't mind seeing my side

of things, working the way I did. Then a name that I

barely knew flashed through the mist of my mind and I

smiled.

            "Yes?" Ujiah asked, raising a bushy brow.

            "Bring me Dyllian Ranyx," I said softly and his eyes

grew wide.

            "But he's rumored to be crazy!"

            "I don't care! He is who I want as my student. He

hasn't achieved top level yet and I want him to! Bring

him here so that I might train him!" I found myself

ordering. I hadn't thought that I would be capable to

be a ruler. I suppose we all surprise ourselves

sometimes. I thought back to when I had last seen

Dyllian, at the music festival so long ago when he had

mocked the crowd that had despised him, taunted them,

even jumped into their midst. He was the only one

worthy enough to be my student. And I told myself that

that was all, no matter what intrigueing force seemed

to pull me in his general direction.

            One week later I found myself with Katya in a nearby

tavern, with only Ujiah along as security. Immediately

I could feel the presence of Dyllian, and headed to a

table in the back. Katya raised an eyebrow as we came

face to face with the promising Fae, who was at the

moment staring with glazed eyes at the ceiling, a

female companion in his lap.

            "Sir, this is King Jareth," Ujiah said, determined

that I should be treated like royalty wherever I went.

He had even gone so far as to add to the population by

hiring a following for me, which I didn't mind too

much. Katya and I had lose terms on our marriage, and

many of the members of my village spent nights at the

castle for various reasons.

            "Huh, oh, right," the man muttered, trying to pull

himself up into a sitting position. I started almost

imperceptibly as his eyes locked onto mine. I didn't

care whether they were comprehending or not - they

seemed to pull me into their aqua-steel depths and

hold me there.

            "It's a pleasure!" I managed, feeling much like the

unsure young man I had been when I had first seen this

phenomenon.

            "Right...sorry bout this...I used to be on strictly

liquor until I discovered this," he slurred, holding

out a small purse filled with some sort of golden

powder. "Now this keeps me company," he said, grinning

slightly and I shivered despite myself. His eyes

lowered then came back up to my face and I completely

forgot their were others in the room when he said,

"But maybe you can keep me company," and fell back

into his stupor.

            The next meeting was more successful. It took place

inside the labyrinth as Ujiah, Dyllian, and I walked

along, saying hello to the fox knight sunning himself

by the still pool, admiring the villagers as they went

about their business, enjoying the day.

            "So, what we would like is to make a business venture

with King Jareth undertaking your training," Ujiah

said finally after a long-winded explanation that

neither Dyllian and I were paying the slightest bit of

attention to. He cast a confused look at me and I

grinned.

            "I want to take you as my first student as a mystrl,"

I explained.

            "Oh, right! That's fine," he said, nodding as we

passed by the double-ended guards in front of two

doors that both led to oubliettes, one much deeper

than the other.

            "So will you let me help you? What all do you need?"

I asked, ignoring Ujiah's grimace.

            "Everything," my new student sighed, shaking his head

before giving me a grin that I thought for sure had

stopped my heart. "Everything."

            That afternoon the training began.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

            Responsibility is the killer of joy, I suppose, but

it never goes away. I found myself attending to issues

of the kingdom, political things, things that I never

dreamt that I would be doing, even a few months

before. And through it all I taught my student, with

Ujiah's help. Ever since the decision to take him as

my pupil Katya had been more than upset, saying I had

changed, and I suppose I had. We were together, yes,

but more often than not there were other people with

us. In order to relax I also began partaking of

Yllium, the golden powder which Dyllian had introduced

me to. It projected the user into a dreamlike state of

choice, that could only be dispersed after the powder

wore off or the user found a conscious desire to

leave the hallucination behind. I never found such a

reason, and neither had Dyllian.

            Throughout everything I tried to deal with this new

emotion that had surfaced every time I was around my

pupil. At first I thought it was the Yllium, but soon

discovered that it must be me. I had never felt it

before...not with any of the lovers I had entertained

or even with Katya. It scared me to think of what it

was, and I didn't want to face it, though I knew I

would sometime. Things like that never could be

avoided for long. I dreamt of him, found myself

watching him even when I wasn't instructing him, went

with him to every competition and even accompanied him

throughout the kingdom that he had made his home. I

even felt a pang of envy any time a villager whose

mind was bent on entertainment went near him. Why? Why

had this suddenly happened to me? Control was what I

sought. Control and beauty. He had the beauty, but for

once I felt my control slipping and I wasn't sure if I

liked it or not.

            I came home one night, after a long day of political

meetings, and threw myself into the entertainment for

the evening, a group that had decided to come and

pleasure their returning king. But I couldn't focus.

At all. All I knew was that Dyllian was somewhere in

the room and he wasn't with me. When I was finished

with the young woman that probably would have been

enjoyable had I been focused, I noticed blue-grey eyes

moving stealthily across the room, calling, beckoning.

            I followed.

            We were in a room, his chambers, to be exact. I had

always picked the place with my lovers. This was new,

this was going to be different and we both knew it. I

had had men before, but he was unlike anything I had

ever known.

            "You've been watching me...following me..." he said,

his accented voice that was so different than mine but

so enjoyable to listen to captivating me. "And I've

led you here because I'm tired of waiting..."

            "Dyllian, I..." I managed, trying to find my voice.

            "You don't have to say it...I know...I've always

known," he whispered.

            The rest of the night was light touches, furious

kisses, passion unlike anything I'd ever known before.

My body was sated, my soul was complete. For the first

time in my entire life, I knew what it was to be in

love and completely happy.

            We awoke the next morning to see Katya fleeing out

the door, bitterness masked by calm humor and the hope

that it was a passing fancy of mine.

            It wasn't.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

            Time passed slowly, minutes into hours into days into

weeks into months. I suppose my personality had

changed somewhat - I had gained more territory and was

becoming more of a political figure than anyone had

ever thought. People came from far and wide to travel

the labyrinth and see the wonders that it contained. I

saw Katya less and less and didn't really care too

much. It might have been the Yllium or my relationship

with Dyllian that finally broke her patience, but I

think it was that I just didn't care to see her

anymore. One of us had grown, and I didn't think it

was her. In recollection I suppose I was cold and

calloused about the matter, but on the flip side she

never cared to see anything clearly.

            I remember the last time I saw her very clearly. I

had been entertaining a young woman who had travelled

through the maze in record time. The next day, instead

of being awakened by sweet kisses and touches, I was

charmed from sleep by banging on my chamber door.

            In her usual flamboyant style, Katya strode into the

chambers and stood by the foot of my bed, her gaze

accusatory. It wasn't that she necessarily minded what

had taken place...she was furious to be left out of my

group's experiences and travels.

            "I'm leaving, Jareth," she said simply, her face a

mask of cold emotion.

            "If you can find your way out," I muttered, rolling

my eyes as sleep slowly was pushed from my foggy mind.

            "That's enough, Jareth! I've had enough...it's

obvious you don't need me any more..."

            "Yes, it is. So leave," I muttered as the woman by my

side rolled over. Imagine my surprise when my wife,

one of the people that I thought I knew best, began to

cry like a child.

            "How dare you!!! You...arrogant bastard!!! After I

helped you get to where you are..."

            "Darling, you did little more than play cheerleader,"

I sighed, reaching for a bag of Yllium powder that lay

on the bedside table.

            "Fine..." she growled, her eyes smoldering. "But just

you remember how cocky you feel now when something

like this happens to you!" she shrieked before heading

towards the door, her foot catching on the rug and

causing her to fall. I suppose it wasn't brilliant of

me to laugh, but I did, and she turned back once to

glare at me with hurt eyes before leaving my castle

and my life forever.

            Weeks passed and I thought little about the incident

except for how much freedom it seemed to give me.

Dyllian and I toured the kingdoms, eating up reactions

to our new relationship, especially those of my

family. They were tolerant enough, as they always

were, but there seemed to be the hidden reaction of

"someday everything will come full circle" lurking

behind their eyes. I ignored it, as I did most

everything important.

            Dyllian won contest after contest, then suddenly

plateaued, an occurrence that upset Ujiah as much as

it did me. One spring day we happened to be in the

courtyard for a training session that was watched by a

group of my followers from the village. I winced as

Dyllian followed command after command, just barely

completing some actions and missing more by the

moment.

            "Jareth...we've got to let him go...he's dragging you

down," Ujiah whispered as he pulled me aside as

Dyllian had a screaming fit because he couldn't get a

pitcher of water to freeze on command.

            "We can't...he's come so far...I can't abandon him

now!" I protested, but it did little to convince my

mystrl and advisor.

            "Jareth...do you want to be known for being the

youngest mystrl, for being one of the most successful,

and producing this?" he asked, pointing to my pupil as

he beat a willow branch chair against the stone path

of the courtyard. I winced and walked closer to the

spectacle, knowing that the crossroads had been

reached.

            "Um, just a moment..." I managed, my mind whirling,

my mouth feeling dry. Dyllian paused and glanced up to

me. I looked over to Ujiah who nodded strongly. "It's

over," I whispered before turning to my crowd.

            "What? WHAT?" Dyllian roared as Ujiah babbled some

explanation. "No, I want to hear it from him, from

HIM!" he said, taking off after me, but in the

suddeness of my situation I transformed into the first

thing I thought of, an owl, and headed for the castle.

            Moments after I had seated myself on the throne,

Dyllian charged inside, his eyes blazing. "You can't

treat people like this Jareth! You can't throw them

away when they don't please you anymore! We're not

puppets or toys...we can fight back."

            "What can you do? You can't even freeze water

anymore!" I chuckled and his eyes narrowed.

            "I can do plenty, and I know where to hit," he

growled, reaching out both arms, his head tilting back

as sparks flew.

*******************************************************

            I groaned as I lifted my head off the floor. The

first thing I saw was the tip of a boot, Dyllian's

boot. As I groaned and sat up he bent over me,

smirking.

            "And now you will get your just reward, Jareth," he

growled, looking most pleased with himself.

            "What are you talking about?" I asked, shaking my

head.

            "Turn into an owl. Tour your labyrinth." Giving him a

wary look, I did as I was told and flew out the

window.

            It was hideous. Darkness had covered the land, clean

ponds had turned to grime, the sweet pool was now an

odious bog, the paths were covered with thorns and

decaying trees, the oubliettes filled with strange

things, and the walls covered with slimy ooze. I

nearly fell from the sky as I saw that all my

beautiful followers who had been hand-picked according

to their appearance and allegence, were now hideous

creatures. Goblins. In stunned silence I flew to the

courtyard to find Ujiah, only to see that he had been

turned into a gnarled, limping dwarf who wasn't fit to

bear the name of the man that had once taught me. His

true personality, that of a coward that liked pretty

things, shone through, though, and he hurried into the

labyrinth to escape my rage at having been brought

this far only to be bested by my student.

            After what seemed like forever I landed in the throne

room once more, where Dyllian was waiting.

            "Do you like it, Jareth? Do you like your new home?

This is the way it's always been...hideousness masked

by pretty lies...there are a few bits of true beauty

here...I left the fairies untouched, and occassionally

your followers may turn back to dance at one of those

balls you like so much...but you'll never have

everything back. You can't treat feelings like

garbage, oh mighty Goblin King," he scoffed, bowing

low. "Because my feelings were genuine I'll give you a

few reprieves..." He went to a window and tossed his

bag of Yllium powder into a courtyard, where it hit

the soil and immediately grew into a peach tree.

            "It will give you a way of forgetting if you need

it..." he murmured, the anger in his eyes subsiding

for a moment. "I will also give you a ways of seeing

others..." he murmured, producing a red leather-bound

book entitled "The Labyrinth." "When a child calls for

you to take away a sibling, you must turn them into a

goblin if the older sibling does not navigate your

creation in thirteen hours," he said softly, turning

to look at me. "And I'll leave you the way you

are...your soul is hideous enough; I'll leave your

outer beauty. Enjoy this forever, Jareth."

            "I presume you enjoy seeing me this way," I yelled as

he started to leave. For a moment I saw the man I had

fallen in love with.

            "No...I can only hope that someday you know how Katya

and I feel, though...how you treated us...how it feels

to be cherished then discarded. If that happens I'll

know I did the right thing," he said, then turned, and

was gone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    For years I stayed in the labyrinth, never daring to leave it's

protection. I had my magic to keep track of the outside kingdoms, and it

did little to raise the dark cloud which hovered over me all the time.

I grew impatient and irritable, more than I already was, and those that

were my subjects became constantly afraid of my ever-changing moods.

Stupid as they really were, all they could do was obey my commands to

laugh, mislead a mortal opponent, or take a baby. For anything else they

were worthless.

            I longed for companionship, for even a passing glance of Dyllian and

at times even of Katya. Not so much of Katya, though...that seemed to

be a desire that only seized me in moments of complete desperation. My

family had disowned me when they found out what had happened...it seemed

there were limits to even their tolerance. When things got particularly

bleak I wandered through my labyrinth, changing it to make it even harder,

for when it was harder, more mortals lost in the game.

            Not that anyone ever won.

            That was the one bright spot of my new life...the brief contact I

had with mortals who foolishly wished their siblings away. I saw all

sorts of challengers...smart, foolish, beautiful, not so beautiful,

temperamental, patient, brave, cowardly, but none of their traits ever

led them to the castle.

            Of course, I saw to that.

            Whether it was by having the transformed Ujiah, now known as Hoggle

(I had originally named him Hobble due to his limp, but he just could

never get it right) befriend them and lead them back to the beginning,

or frightening them or drugging them with Yllium peaches, I always had

my way, in one context or another.

            And they never beat me.

    I have to admit that it gave me a short thrill of joy to see their

faces as the clock chimed thirteen, the momentary power that was given me

as I watched the cute faces of their siblings morph into the hideousness

of goblins. One part of me was horrified that I could do such a thing;

I legitimized it by telling myself that I didn't have a choice. The other

part got a sadistic rush of pleasure upon knowing that it was I that

inflicted such pain on a sibling, that they would know my power before

their memories were tampered with and they went back to their little lives.

    During that time I think I truly lost myself to the darkness. I

ruled my labyrinth with an iron fist and pity the fool who got in my way.

I always won against mortal opponents no matter what methods I used, no

matter what hellish nightmares it gave them once they had lost and been

returned to their houses, their rooms. I used them in the way that I saw

fit, just like I used their drippy little babies as servants. I became the

evil, goblin king.

    I didn't enjoy it, mind you. Part of me was always screaming in

horror, part of my soul was always crying about how my life had changed,

about the evils that I was committing. There was always a small, tiny

portion that suffered so greatly every time I threatened a subject, every

time I used and then beat an opponent, every time I turned a baby into a goblin.

    The other three-fourths loved it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    The day when it happened was not unlike any other. I woke up, got out

of bed, and received a call. Not that it was different from any other call...

    They were always the imaginative type, those that relished in fantasy

and were tired of their boring realm. They always thought themselves to be

downtrod and mistreated, though in truth I would have traded places with

them in an instant. Maybe that's why I was so intensely fond of seeing them

lose, of seeing their spirits completely crushed.

    Or maybe I'm just a sick bastard.

    Anyway, she was really no different than anyone else I'd 'rescued.'

And yet she was. I remember watching her in the park, seeing her perform. Her

mortal acting was points below the Fae theatres that I had attended, but for

some reason, I was transfixed. She reminded me of...of Katya with her whining

and yet there was Dyllian in her, too. That spark in those big brown eyes...

that impish smile when she looked in the mirror while telling her brother

that twisted story. And maybe she reminded me of myself, too. Feeling completely

lost and alone, needing something, but not knowing what, so turning to any

means to find it.

    But I wasn't about to let her know that. I never showed my soft spots

anymore. Instead, I played my part to the hilt as I had countless times before.

She seemed truly scared at first, but then she adapted completely into her role,

jumped right into my land and grabbed it by its throat.

    I'll admit that I was surprised.

    The first hour I was intrigued.

    The second hour I was a bit perturbed by her progress.

    The third hour I was not pleased at how she was swaying my subjects'

loyalty to her side.

    The fourth hour I was completely absorbed by her progress and nearly

forgot to feed the child.

    The fifth hour I was mesmirized and used my magic to listen in on her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Years passed again, this time it felt much slower. There was simply

nothing to do...as the mortal realm progressed many stopped believing in

magic. My visitors grew to the special few who still believed...a pity

that I wasn't what they had hoped for once they arrived...Unfortunately

my mood was not that of a tired, defeated monarch looking for company,

but more of a tyrant looking to sink his teeth in someone's flesh.

    And the loneliness remained.

    It was like a dark blotch in the corner of my vision that would

never quite go away...sometimes it was easy to ignore, but I always knew it

was there, and that it was growing. Soon, it would engulf me, perhaps drive

me completely insane. Or perhaps I only hoped it would. The dreams came,

then, dreams that maybe Dyllian would finally take pity on me and see fit

to reverse the curse, to finally bring light back into my life.

    Or at least break the awful monotomy.

    During these times I rarely got out of bed unless it was needed,

though I forced myself to still walk the paths of the labyrinth to keep

my rule supreme. My subjects started to be terrified of me, even plot against me.

    Those plots didn't get very far.

    The only reason I spared the lives of Hoggle, Didymus, and Ludo was

because I knew they were precious to Sarah...she still called on them even

though she was becoming quite the woman - I still spied on her through my

crystals from time to time - and I just couldn't bear to upset her. Hoggle

still assured me from time to time that this was a phase, that every ruler

had dark times, that it would all be all right in the end. After such

assurances I usually beat him with my riding crop. Once in a long while I

would partake of a Yllium peach and attend a fantasy ball...they weren't as

sparklingly fresh as the real thing, but they would do. At least it would

get me away from my dirty, vile subjects for awhile. For just a short while

I could be the almighty monarch attending a ball, surrounded by beauty and

wealth, no matter how fake it was. And so I kept myself busy.

    And I pondered.

    I pondered Dyllian's last words quite frequently, the bit about my

outer beauty disguising a hideous soul. Was he right? Was I really such a

monster? Could I ever be helped, ever be turned back? Did I even want to?

    For her, yes. And for him. True, I never saw Dyllian much anymore,

but I thought about him often, sometimes fondly, sometimes with quite a bit

of anger and resentment. But I always comforted myself with the fact that he

was nothing without me, that he was probably dead by now, or in a gutter,

drunk out of his skull, babbling.

    And then the invitation came.

    It was to attend the coronation of a new king. He had earned his land

through the Trials of Tasks and all mystrls were invited. Apparently he had

secured a bride for himself, as well, because the coronation doubled as an

engagement ball. I would go, if only to get out of the labyrinth for a bit.

I didn't know if I would be well-recevied. Many had probably thought me dead,

others merely hoped it so. But after being a recluse for so long, it was

finally time to show my face.

    After all, I wouldn't have missed seeing Dyllian for the world.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    When the day of Dyllian's coronation finally arrived I dressed myself

in all my Fae splendor, relieved that it was still presentable after spending

all those years in the wardrobe. Quickly I turned myself into an owl and flew

to the new kingdom, quite a distance from mine, but not so far that I had to

stop and rest.

    The look on the others' faces when I transformed to my real self was

priceless.

    Many backed away, pretending that they either didn't know me or didn't see

me. I adopted my formal manner and set to work dusting off my most regal manners.

The coronation went smoothly. Dyllian had secured a good kingdom for himself. It

was filled with happy people, lively villages, fertile land, and flowering gardens.

Protecting the entire thing was a crystalline vine wall that would grow back no

matter how many times it was cut. Part of me was so proud of him attaining such

status and fortune that I thought I'd explode with joy.

    The other part of me wanted to rip his heart out.

    I could only watch as the rights were spoken, as the crown was placed on his

head, as his people bowed before him. That was me, once, so long ago, before

everything went wrong, before it turned full circle. I only hoped it would

do the same for him, though somehow I knew it wasn't to be.

    And yet I still loved him.

    He had grown more handsome, even more beautiful, though in an older, mature

way, and I could tell the pettiness and imaturity of youth had fallen from his

shoulders like a cloak too short to wear anymore. Now, he carried himself well,

and I could see how he had grown as a person when I looked into those stormy grey eyes.

    Then they spied me.

    Those orbs that were the color of a cloudy sky focused on me and I started

at their intensity. He seemed surprised to see me, or maybe he was surprised that

I was still in the realm of the living. A thousand emotions flashed through those

eyes: wariness, fear, anger, bitter sadness, joy, and love, all at once exploded

in the fireworks that were the twinkle of his eyes. The rest of his face was a

mask, but those eyes...they were alive and aware and full of emotion. Yet he was

hiding something...or maybe he was just determined not to get hurt.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

      I did my part as a friend; I went to the wedding, I plastered a false smile on

my face, I even managed to dance with the bride when Dyllian offered. Somehow I didn't

cry when I held her again, when all the memories from that one ballroom fantasy came

flooding back into my mind.

      "Sarah..." She looked up at me suddenly, like a frightened animal and my heart

ached to see her react to me in such a way. It was never supposed to be like this...

none of it was..."You don't have to be afraid of me, Sarah...I won't bother you now..."

I murmured and she played her part, like she always had, and nodded, though I was

not certain if she believed me. At that moment it struck me like a bolt of lightning.

I had always seen myself at the center of things, as the hero, the dashing rescuer...

it never occured to me that I would be forced to play the part of the villain.

      "I know..." she murmured at last, still not daring to look up in my eyes.

"Dyllian trusts you, and I trust my husband..."

      If there was a word that could induce vomiting by dredging up old feelings,

"husband" was it. I finished the dance, paid my respects to my old friend and one-time

lover, and headed for the solitude of my castle.

      What happens to a villain when he has been defeated? Does he just fade away?

I wish it were so. Does he die in a ball of fire or throw himself off the highest cliff?

Were it that simple...For my position was now woven into the fabric of magic itself,

and that contract could not be broken. Unless I found another to take my place, I

would be stuck here for all eternity. There were others like me, I supposed, those

who were emotionally defeated yet forced to remain in their stations to contemplate

the bad deal they got for all time. Was there any other way out?

      Days past and I sat in my window, not moving, barely breathing, just thinking.

Through my magic I could sense that the book had changed hands...at least Dyllian and

Sarah had thought enough of me to leave me my sense of purpose, however horrible it

was. One day, I just couldn't take it anymore. What influence could I have over this

other world? What good could I do? My destiny could be nothing good, that was for sure...

      Things might have stayed like that to this day if it hadn't been for that book

and for Him.

      That day I was still there, on the windowsill. Maybe I had only been there a

few days, maybe a hundred years, I wasn't for sure. I had been watching the labyrinth

and its inhabitants, pondering its fate and mine. Then the call came.

      Truthfully, my entire being said to ignore it. Just let it go, maybe you'll

spontaneously combust and that will end it. But I knew better...fate wouldn't be

that kind. So like I had a thousand times or more, I followed the call to where

it led me.

      For once, I was surprised. The windowsill I lighted was actually part of a

stained glass window featuring two brightly colored...creatures, almost men but

not quite, up above and on the bottom panel two gentlemen controlling them. /Odd/

I thought, frowning as much as a beak would allow. /Be a pity to break it...magic

entrance this time, I suppose.../ Harnessing my will, I suddenly appeared in the

center of the room, accompanied by the usual gold dust and mystical music. Upon

inspection, the place seemed to be deserted. Movement in one corner of the room

caught my eye and I turned toward it, and was quite surprised by what I saw.

      Not a young girl this time...not a girl at all. Not even a young child,

but a man. From what I could tell he was in his forties, judging by the beard and

lines on the face. But his eyes...nowhere in Fae realm had I seen eyes that danced

with such life since I had met Dyllian. Those lively eyes were trained with utmost

concentration on a book...an all too familiar red book. For some reason, I just

stood there, like stone. Minutes, hours went by before the last page was turned

and he finally got up with a groaned sigh.

      When our eyes locked, we merely stared at each other, not sure how to proceed.

In truth, I hadn't felt that he had wished anything away at all...this was getting

stranger by the minute.

      "You're Jareth." Not a question, not the usual whimpering plea. Just an observation.

      "I am. Who are you and why have you summoned me?" I asked, for once in my life,

shocked into being rational.

      "I was wondering what you were like...what your whole story was...I must have

wished hard enough for it to happen," he replied, as if it were the most normal

thing in the world for him.

      "Wondering about me? You mean you have no child to wish away, no chores or

everyday hassles that you want to escape? Are you certain?"

      "I don't need a genie," he said, smiling slightly from behind the beard and

I got the strange feeling that this was the father I should have had.

      "Then what do you wish to know?" I asked, and took a seat in the chair he

motioned to. We talked long into the night about my past, about his career, about

our worlds and all of their possibilities. For the first time I was able to open

up to another person, tell them the whole story of my life. It was an unbelievable

catharsis, one that I had badly needed.

      When our discussion was winding down, he breathed a heavy sigh of one who

had just eaten a large meal. "Amazing...you're almost the perfect tragic hero...

I want to tell your story, Jareth."

      "People don't want to hear my story...they want the fairy tale..."

      "Let me tell them...I can afford to..." he pressed and for the first time

in perhaps a decade I laughed.

      "From what you have told me about your previous works and your businesses,

the story of my life would hardly be fitting for a children's show or movie..."

He grinned at that comment and admitted it was true.

      "But I can take this..." he said, holding up the red book, "and I can put

the truth in it...show you for what you really are, not the regular villain..."

It was so ridiculous, that I found myself actually wanting to see it happen.

      "All right...make your movie...do your project...it won't make you a multi-

millionare, but thank you for the sentiment, friend," I remarked, getting to my feet.

      "Jareth...what would you want in exchange for your generosity?"

      I stopped, turned, and gave a sad smile. "You cannot give me anything that

would benefit me, friend. I have already lost all my heart's desires...All I want

now, is out."

      "So be it," he whispered and I stared hard at this simple man. In those

three words he seemed to possess more power than I could ever know.

      "What do you mean?" I asked.

      "I'll only have influence here for so long...being inventive has a price...

sooner or later others are bound to catch up with you, or the newness wears off

and you become forgotten...But you, you hold so much in your position and you

don't even see it...from your position I could watch over my children and wife...

I could guide them in company decisions but let them run things...I could have

the magic of the new while still have influence on the old...You want someone

to change places with you? I'll do it."

      For the first time in my life I felt the taste of freedom. Something told

me I could trust this stranger...it was something in those extraordinary eyes...

He had done all he knew he could do in this life...but there were other ways...

      "Agreed," I whispered. "Though it cannot be right away...these transitions

take time...You make your film...and then you'll have four years after it opens...

one year for each of your children, four years to get your life in order before

the exchange will take place. Your time here will be done, and you will be the

only one who knows of this...you cannot tell anyone lest it interfere with the

magic." He nodded solemnly and I had to smile. "You don't know how much this

means to me..." I managed, just getting the words out before I flew back into

the night.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

      Never had four years seemed such an eternity. Never had I waited for a day to

come with so much anticipation, though I had to admit that there was a part of me

that expected him to forget or to change his mind. From my crystals I watched my

savior go about his business, make his movie that, as I had predicted, didn't get the

reception it deserved. There were some that it influenced, though...the select group

of true dreamers among the human species...and here I thought they had died out. If

I had wanted to, I could have seduced and controlled each and every one of them.

If I had wanted to, I could have kept the games going and had more babies for the

labyrinth's population. But I just didn't feel up to it anymore...it was far more

entertaining to look into their minds and let their own concepts and stories of my

realm keep me busy until my days in this land were up.

      I tried to clean the place up as much as I could, but I knew nothing would

ever match the beauty of what the labyrinth once was. No matter how clean the city

was, it was still inhabited by goblins. No matter how mysterious the forests looked,

it still was overrun with the fireys. No matter how much I tried to clean the pond,

it was still a disgusting bog. But they were all a part of my realm...and for the

first time since they had been given to me, I began to feel quiet pride in them.

They had served their purposes well and put up with me far more than they had to...

they deserved someone who could do something with them, who wasn't as afraid of life

as I was. For that truly was my problem...I had never really learned how I fit into

the scheme of things and how I could contribute...I never knew how to live.

********************************************

      Finally, the time came. Without needing to see him, I knew that we still had

an agreement. So, it was his time to leave his life in the mortal realm. I couldn't

take him in a dazzling flash...too many people would try to ruin the magic of this

world as they had the human one...I also couldn't bring myself to do it harshly by

a fire or shooting...not to such a gentle, brilliant creature. I admit that it was

a bit of a puzzle deciding how he should make the transition...but the magic knew.

Of their own accord, my fingertips brought the crystal to life, the one that would

change everything. It lifted off my hand so eagerly and I watched as it took the

direct path to the mortal realm.

      He was in the studio, working late, as he had for so many years. For the

first time I saw the weariness that those brilliant eyes masked. He was growing older

and in the hectic pace of modern times, society was unforgiving to age. The crystal

that held everything wafted to him, hung in the air over his head. Those eyes whose

sparks had kindled the flames of thousands of stories spotted it instantly, and

for a moment, a soft smile of rememberance graced his lips. I wondered what he was

thinking...I could have read his mind, easily, but with this one, I kept my distance.

It was only right. With that same strange, thoughtful smile, he reached up a hand

and clasped the smooth orb that was offered him. His thumb traced light patterns

over it, and those eyes sparkled even more, as if they were being offered the

greatest gift...

******************************************************

It's a crystal, nothing more, but if you turn it this way and look into it,

it will show you your dreams...

*******************************************************

      I watched. I watched as he began to cough, and shrugged it off when

questioned about it. He knew what it was, though. Oh yes, he knew. He knew that

it wasn't an innocent cold, that it was so much more...

      The doctors had never seen anything like it. They wouldn't have, of course,

unless they were Fae. By the time he arrived in their care they were too late.

Soon the diagnoses of doctors turned into the visits by family members, the

murmuring outside his door. There would be deals left almost completed for them

to finish, there were projects still not realized, there was so much that he

hadn't accomplished...

      ...little did they know that he would go on to accomplish more than they

ever dreamed.

      After everything had been realized, after the visits, the doctors frowning

over his chart, after everyone had exited his hospital room for the night, I entered.

      "So you finally decided to show up...I was beginning to wonder if you were

going to follow through," he chuckled, his voice so hoarse. No one could guess that

this was a voice who had been able to be anything, that was modest at singing, but

was so much more gifted than an angel's...

      "I did...are you ready? Do you still wish to do this?" I asked, and it became

very hard for me to look at him, look at his pale skin and his even paler beard,

at those eyes that barely glimmered as he lay limply in the bed.

      "What's said is said..." he whispered and I nearly choked. He was too good...

too good, indeed.

      I nodded, then produced a crystal. Slowly I offered it to him and with a

trembling hand, he clasped its other side. In one brilliant moment, the color

flooded back into his face, I could see his voice being soothed by healing energy,

and his eyes began to pulse with life. I began to feel tired...the magic was

changing hands.../So this is what it feels like to be mortal/ I thought distantly.

/I can't say that I care for it much.../ I had the distinct sensation of feeling

faint, and when I stumbled he jumped up and caught me in his arms. Not the arms

of an invalid anymore, but of a more-than-healthy man.

      It was at that point when the methodic beeping of his life support turned

into one flat, incessant tone.

      He was clearly startled, and when he turned back he looked into his own eyes,

glazed eyes, eyes that would never again see a sunny day.

      "How?"

      "You're dead, Jim...in this world, you're gone...it's time for you to start

your new life..." I mumbled, trying to remember how to magically transport someone.

At that moment the door slammed open and an army of doctors entered, horrified....

With a sad, yet hopeful cast in his eyes, Jim Henson strengthened his grip on me

and waved his hand, leaving behind only a shimmering sparkle of magic.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Epilogue

      I'm afraid that my friend Jareth cannot finish this account of his life...

he is no longer with us here in the Underground. I will attempt to do justice to this

account by writing what I witnessed, though I cannot tell if it will have much

meaning for the reader.

      We arrived in the palace throne room, and I was surprised to see that it

looked exactly as I had envisioned it. Whether he had changed his realm to fit my

vision of it or whether my vision was really his whispering me the truth through

my dreams, I didn't know. Even in its dingy state, it was amazing, though that

wasn't the half of it. I could feel his powers coursing through my veins...could

smell the opportunities...I knew I would never be able to directly know my family

anymore, that I would remain cut off from the world I loved so much to some

extent, but there was so much possibility in what I was offered that I couldn't

turn it down. And, to be truthful, I felt sorry for Jareth...he had suffered so

much more than he needed to...

      I turned to see him not sitting in his throne, but crumbling into it. He

looked so pale...so tired...so ancient that I had to admit that I was startled.

I knew that if I had any questions, I would need to ask them quickly.

      "Will I need instruction in magic?" I asked and he forced a smile.

      "Flick your wrist, you get a crystal - what it contains is up to you," he

murmured and I had to smile. One of the realm's specialists on magic, and it all

came down to that. "Use it wisely...don't do what I did..." he sighed and I nodded.

With some effort, Jareth pushed himself out of his chair and went to the window.

I followed and upon getting there I could see the entire labyrinth, every wall

and brick, every oubliette and trick, every strange thing and creature.

      "They're yours now...to cherish or abuse...they're yours..." he murmured

and I shook my head. He had received such a great gift and to see it as a

hindrance..."As for me, I need to get out of this place...If it hasn't driven

me to madness by now, it will soon. I'm sorry I cannot be here with you, but

I have faith that you will be a wise ruler..." He turned to face me and I

found myself embracing him. If only he would have given his life another chance...

he had been horrid and wonderful from what I knew of him, and I would miss him.

With a ghost of a smile he pulled away and concentrated on his fingertips until

I thought that his brow would stay furrowed. After what seemed like a miniature

eternity a frail crystal appeared in his hand.

      "My last," he breathed as he petted it fondly with his fingertips. Slowly,

he clasped one end and began to pull until the orb stretched long on that side,

and then it pressed it with his fingertips until it tapered into a point. With

a muffled sigh, he took one last look out into the labyrinth, into the sunset

as it kissed those oozing walls, into the forests where hundreds of eyes

watched, into the bog where the air hung rancid, into the dark pits where

tunnels lay hidden. Then, with one swift movement, he drove the shard into

his heart and hit the floor.

      I had no love for death, even if it was necessary...I didn't know if

there was an afterlife in this world or not...but as I watched the light drain

from those mismatched eyes, a fond smile trailed over his lips before they

stiffened, before the eyes closed forever, I realized that I had never seen

someone so ready to die, so willing.

      The first thing I did as ruler was have a funeral pyre errected in the

center of the city and amazingly enough, all of the creatures that lived within

the walls of the maze attended. As the flames licked at Jareth's body, I gently

added the book that I had kept all those years onto the bonfire. Let his curse

stay his...let his story be his own. This was a new age, and though he had been

so helpful to me, it was time to move on. That night the entire labyrinth

mourned...Ludo howled pitifully, Hoggle and the goblins mumbled and whimpered,

and Didymus gave speech after speech about the fallen king. But with the first

rays of morning, we all knew that it was a new day, and things were going to change.

      After that I spent days exploring the labyrinth, finding every hidden inch

of it, meeting every creature. I wondered what it had been like originally,

thought of the beauty Jareth had told me about, then wondered why he hadn't seen

the beauty that still was here. Each goblin had their endearing qualities...they

were quite loyal and once you explained things to them correctly, they worked

extremely hard. I found that it was the same with most of the residents in the

labyrinth...Motivation was the key.

      But this isn't my story, but that of the first king of the Underground.

He was a good man, despite his history, and he had a good heart, but never

learned to truly use it. He was potential personified, but sadly he never

grew beyond that. If only he had looked to see the inner picture, the whole

picture instead of searching for outer beauty and immediate gratification...

He looked upon the changed labyrinth and saw ugliness and despair...I can

only see imagination and opportunity. The same with his magic. He grew to

loathe it, whereas I continue to enjoy it to this day and use it to look

in on family and friends and the dreamers of the mortal world. If there

is one thing that his story can teach us, it is the age-old truth that

beauty really is in the eye of the beholder.

So ends the book of King Jareth, first volume in the Kings of the Underground.

May his story continue to inspire others, and may he always rest in peace.

King James Henson,

Second Ruler of the Underground and Labyrinth