Title: When Will You Learn?

Fandom: Labyrinth

Rating: PG-13

Parts: 10

Disclaimer: henson owns labyrinth, boy george and david bowie own

themselves and any lyrics used in this piece, bowie also owns all of his

incarnations

Summary: My attempt to play around with the different bowie universes..I

have no idea why I inserted myself into it, honestly. If I had the drive

I'd rewrite this because it ticks me off that not all of the loose ends

are tied up, and it's egotistical in some places, but it's a good example

of my early work and how I've grown.

            George O’Dowd, otherwise known as Boy George, sighed as he began to

change for the concert. He usually liked these reunion gigs, but lately

there had been some old tensions creeping back into the band. As much

as he wanted to forgive and forget, it was becoming harder. All ready

old emotions and fights were springing to the surface. The question now

was no longer "do you really want to hurt me, but could he stand this

performance? His only relief for that afternoon had been catching a

movie on a cable station at his hotel. Normally he didn’t go in for the

kiddie movies, but it did have David Bowie in it and it was actually

pretty good. Sighing again, he examined himself in a full length

mirror, smiling slightly at his close-cropped hair and stylish suit.

Things had definitely changed.

          "You know they’re not here to see us!!" But not that much. He

winced slightly at Mikey’s complaints from the hall. Why couldn’t they

just be reasonable for once? He was a musician, just like them! Bracing

himself, he headed out into the hall.

        "Well, look who finally decided to show up! Blimey, you take as

long to get ready as a woman!" George glared at his former lover before

answering, his voice actually composed. He wouldn’t break his hand this

time.

      "I remember that being your position in the old days." The look

on the Jon's face was priceless. George kept a straight face as he

walked away, waiting until Mike and Jon were out of hearing range

before letting loose with a cackling chortle. This was such a dumb

idea... how could he think everything would be all right? They had barely

remainded civil the last time... no, he was better off on his own... but

he

had to get through this concert, first. No way was he gonna let his

fans down. The singer rolled his eyes at the yelling going on

backstage, wishing Jon would just disappear. It would be good to get

through a performance without feeling intimidated by him. Smiling

slightly, he recalled a line from that movie he had watched earlier.

"Prob’bly won’t work... but one can always dream! I wish... I wish the

goblins would come and take you away, right now!" he muttered as his

eyes followed Jon as he headed for the stage. Nothing happened. "Oh,

well... the show must go on!" He plastered a smile on his face as he

reached the stage and addressed the audience. They went wild, but

something was wrong. Turning, he gaped at his band. Well, most of his

band. Roy was there, and so was Mikey... but Jon was gone.

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

            I jumped up from my seat in anticipation. "Will you stop that? It's

not even starting yet!!!" Poncho laughed from the seat next to me.

            "Sorry, I just can't believe I’m here! Can you imagine, a cool group

actually in Evansville for once!"

            "We know, but save your energy!" Kas kidded from my other side.

            "Sorry, I just want this thing to GET STARTED!!! Hmmm... .maybe I should

do an opener-" Poncho immediately clamped a hand over my mouth as I

launched into I'll Tumble 4 Ya.

             "How much caffeine have you -had-?"

            "How should I know... I'm this way naturally!" I laughed, but quieted as

the band took the stage. All of us were screaming now! I launched

myself out of my seat and went nuts as Boy George took the stage... man he

was so adorable! "WHO-HOO GO GEORGE!!!!" I frowned as the crowd hushed

suddenly.

            "What's going on?" I asked, climbing up onto my seat so that I could

see.

            "I don't know... oh my lord, Jon's gone!" Poncho practically shouted.

            "What? He left!?"

            "No, he disappeared!" Kas whispered, giving me a look. Poncho turned

to me and raised an eyebrow. They were the only two nonlistians who had

heard about my escapades with J.

            "Hey, don't look at me... I didn't do it! I might not like him, but I

wouldn't hurt that band!" I glanced up to where George was looking

around, really confused. He seemed to be a little irritated as well... an

emotion that was appearing equally on the other band members...

            "Oh good lord... he didn't."

            "He did." I spun around at the accented voice, but no one was there.

"Oh boy... look guys, I've gotta go try and talk to J... maybe I can sort

this out... you have fun and if anything should happen, don't worry! I'll

be fine!"

            "Yeah, but will he be?" Poncho asked me with a smirk, nodding to the

stage. Oy, the audience was starting to get impatient. I excused myself

from our row and quickly snuck backstage... it helps to know you're way

around an auditorium and a backstage area!       Avoiding the guards, I snuck

along until I began to hear voices... familiar ones.

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

            George was about ready to say something to his fans when a motion

offstage caught his eye. "I'll be right back!" he whispered to Mike and

Roy before jogging into the wings. "What the... David? Is that you?"

            "I should hope not!" Jareth scoffed. "I believe you made a wish... "

            "What? Is this some sort of joke?"

            "No joke, Mr. O'Dowd... you wished the drummer away... I took him. And I

can

give you your dreams... "

            "Oh, really?" Jareth flushed slightly at the singer's reply. He seemed

a little too eager for the goblin king's tastes.

            "Uh, yes, well-"

            "JARETH!!! Freeze!!!" George turned as a young American girl came

barrelling over to where they stood.

            "Hey how did you get-"

            "Never mind that! You've got a problem, buddy! Let me guess... you saw

"Labyrinth," right?"

            "Yeah, this afternoon, so?" This was getting annoying. He had a

concert to do! If anything, he wanted to get this business with this

Bowie look-alike taken care of...

            "So, I hate to tell you, but you really did wish your drummer away!

Hmm... you’re gonna need proof... J, do that thing with your balls."

            "Is that an offer?" the man replied, giving the girl a wicked grin to

which she responded with a huge blush and an angry look. George looked

from one to another with confusion... just what -was- going on here?

            "NO! Show him a crystal!" Sighing, the glam god in front of him

complied... Boy George caught his breath as a shimmering globe appeared

from nowhere.

            "Now forget about the drummer... "

            "Don't do it! He may have done some terrible things... but you're a great

band! Think of what your fans would think if they knew their Boy gave

into revenge!" That snapped him out of his reverie.

            "She's right... I can't... it's not that I don't appreciate what you're

trying to do... maybe we could talk later... " He smirked as Jareth's eyes

widened in shock. "But I can't do this... I need Jon back."

            "Very well... then I suggest you do your best to solve my labyrinth!"

            "Okay, J... but I'm helping him! Sarah had Hoggle, Mr. O'Dowd, here, has

me! And I think you might have a little explaining to do to those angry

fans... " Both Jareth and George glanced over to the stage, and the girl

sprung into action. Quickly, she pushed the goblin king out onto the

stage. "That should keep him busy" she said, smirking.... George didn't

have time to respond, though, because suddenly the landscape was

changing...

Ch. 2

            I grimaced as I realized we were standing on the hill outside the

labyrinth. I really did NOT feel like tackling it again... last time I had

practically gotten killed fighting off Emperors and monsters... but that

had had a great ending, so I couldn’t complain. "Well... we’d better get

going... "

            "What?" He looked at me with a positively dumbfounded expression.

Great, I simply hated having to review the rules... maybe I shouldn’t have

pushed J onto the stage. Sighing, I started to speak when I heard a

voice coming from the gate.

            "George? Is that you?" It sounded slightly familiar, but I was too

lost in thought to pay much attention.

            The singer walked from his place beside me until he reached the gates.

"David!!! What are you doing here!" I rolled my eyes, wondering which

one of his friends had been silly enough to wish someone away. Sitting

down on a rock, I waited until I would have to play tour guide.

            "Dear, don’t you think you should be helping them?"

            "Yeah, yeah, in a minute. Why did I even volunteer for this?"

            "Because for some odd reason you think the world of those

singers... don’t ask me why!" J muttered, rolling his eyes. "But... I

could

always give you –your- dreams... if you leave now." He sat close beside me

and flashed me a seductive smile. I felt my stomach start to float, but

then I realized what he had just said.

            "Those? Those singers?"

            "What, dear?" he leaned closer, lightly resting a gloved hand on my

leg, but something in his eyes conveyed that he hadn’t meant to say

that."

            "You said those... who’s the other one?!"

            "No one important, dear. Your outfit is adorable, by the way," he

added hastily, glancing down at my velvet black pants, silver blouse,

and platforms.

            "Who is it???!!!!" No way was he gonna distract me!

            "Who is what?" he asked. But his lips didn’t move. Frowning, I began

to wonder when J had taken up ventriloquism.

            "So you’re not David, huh? Interesting... " Jareth threw a look at George

before standing. I turned around and promptly fell off my seat in

surprise.

            "So that’s what you would do if you ever met David Bowie... I always

wondered," Jareth chuckled in amusement, eating up my position, which

at that moment was flat on my back with my platform-clad feet in the

air.

            "SHUT UP, MORON!!!" I blurted from where I was wedged behind the rock.

"I was startled, that’s all! Now help me up, please!"

            "Oh, I don’t know... you are on their side this time."

            "Their side?"

            "Of course... George wished his drummer away and Mr. Bowie here had an

uneasy reunion with Tony Defries... "

            "What?"

            "And now he has to solve the labyrinth to get him back. Will you stop

interrupting me? I have more instructions, you know!"

            "Yeah, yeah, solve the labyrinth in thirteen hours or else they become

one of you-"

            "They wouldn’t, dear, they’re too old... but I’m sure I could make them

disappear from the music scene... of course that would mean their

histories would be erased and your heroes here would lose all their

status and glory... " My jaw dropped at that comment. This was serious!

He gave one final chuckle before he vanished. Or at least I was pretty

sure he had. All I could see was his boots disappear.

            "Amazing... " a soft, completely sexy voice murmured in awe. "I either

must be really tired... or had no clue that this all was real when I did

the movie."

            "It’s the second one!" I replied, trying to push myself up. I was

utterly relieved when the two singers decided not to leave me like that

and deigned to put me right side up. "Thanks," I replied simply,

brushing the dust off my clothes. "Argh... if my clothes got torn, J is

going to get one hell of a head injury!" I muttered, trying to see if

all was still in tact.

            "J, you mean Jareth?" George asked me.

            "Yeah... oh boy, this is gonna take a lot of explaining... "

            "Well, can it wait? We really should be getting started... " Bowie

interupted.

            "Right you are! Oh, I’m Selah, by the way... and yes you can trust me!

I’m not like Hoggle or anything... I’m a certified, loyal Boy George and

Bowie fan till I pass to the great beyond... which is why J probably is

letting me help you out. Shall we?" I asked, pointing to the gate.

            "Of course... how do we open them?" George asked, looking for a doorknob

or handle.

            "I’m not exactly sure... how about this?" I made the swishing movements

with my arms like Hoggle does in the movie, but nothing happened.

            "Well... that was interesting, love, but it didn’t seem to work," George

snickered. I rolled my eyes good-naturedly and tried to think. I

would’ve tried the Force, but J was probably ready with a legion of

ysalimiri, and I didn’t want to freak out the two men beside me more

than they already were.

            "Have you tried ‘open sesame?’?" David asked, grinning slightly.

Nothing happened.

            "Great... stupid gate!" I muttered, poising myself to deliver a kick to

the gate with a platformed foot. I did, and it swung open easily.

"Huh. Who would’ve thunk?" I mused, leading the way into the labyrinth

beyond...

Ch. 3

            I suppressed a sigh as I stepped into the labyrinth...this time it

actually looked like its old self. I had to admit it, it was

impressive. I smiled slightly as George gave a low awe-inspired

whistle. Impressive or not, though, it was still going to be hard to

solve.

            "Well, at the risk of sounding cliche, 'Would you go left or right?'"

I asked in my Hoggle voice. I couldn't help it, I resort to downright

goofiness when things get tough so that I don't start screaming...I

guess it's my Hawkeye Pierce complex. Fortunately, the two geniuses

beside me weren't offended, but amused.

            "I don't know...the right way looks shorter-"

            "But things aren't always what they seem in this place," I said,

interrupting George, who nodded in agreement.

            "But maybe Jareth's counting on us thinking that, so the right way

might really be right..." he continued.

            "Or maybe we're just thinking way too much..." I said, sighing. "Any

ideas?" I watched as a grinning Boy George dug into his pants pocket

and produced a coin.

            "Heads or tails?" Bowie shook his head at that.

            "No, we shouldn't leave this up to chance. We got into this mess by

being impulsive and although that can be a virtue, I doubt it's gonna

help us now. We'll go left," he said, his mind made up and headed down

the corridor. I noticed that even though he seemed pretty cool in this

situation, there was nervousness underneath the mask. Something was

bothering him. Shrugging, I followed. I just couldn't keep quiet for

long, though. I glanced back at George, who was poking at some eyeball

lichen before daring to speak.

            "Uh...Mr. Bowie, sir?"

            "David," he corrected, not turning around.

            "Right...David...I have to ask, why left?"

            He looked at me from over his shoulder and grinned. "Because I want to

see what's in this part of the labyrinth...the whole right side thing

has already been done." Figures. But there was something else...sensing

it wasn't exactly the right time, I let the issue drop.

            "Look for places in the wall that we can go through..." I advised,

running my hand along the sticky bricks, frowing at the residue that

came away on my hands. "Yech..." I smiled slightly at disgusted

muttering behind me, and spoke before anything could happen.

            "Don't even think it, back there...I don't care if you two are my

favorite singers...you wipe that stuff on my clothes and you will get

hurt!" Rolling my eyes, I dug into a pocket and produced a travel set

of tissues, taking one for myself and handing the rest to George.

            "Thanks, love...I wasn't going to-"

            "Yeah, yeah...just clearing things up before anything could happen," I

chuckled. "Any openings yet?"

            "Not a one...maybe this is the wrong way," David sighed, and even

though I could only see his back I could tell he was getting

frustrated.

            "Leave it to Jareth to always come up with new challenges," I sighed,

turning and kicking at a wall in frustration. "What the-" I managed to

yelp before I fell flat on my back, my foot going through a hole in the

wall. "Well what do ya know?! Found it!" I laughed, getting up and

walking through. Except only my bottom half made it...my top half

rammed into a wall that was very much still there. Whimpering slightly,

I realized I was once again on my back.

            "You know...I think the opening's only along the bottom half here..."

Bowie said quietly, inspecting the wall.

            "Why Holmes, however did you solve that puzzle?" I asked, rolling my

eyes.

            He grinned and extended a hand to help me up. "Elementary, my dear

Selah, elementary. Ladies first," he said, gesturing to the opening.

            I absolutely couldn't resist. So they were big-name singers and my

heroes...so what? It was still funny. "So I guess that means I'll be

following you two, huh?"

            "Very cute, now come on...we've gotta get moving!" George said in wry

amusement. Nodding, I got down on all fours and shuffled through,

trying not to get my pants dusty, but it really couldn't be avoided. As

we got up on the other side we looked at each other. All three of us

were now dusty, dirty, and just plain scruffy looking. I noted though,

that they managed to be incredibly good-looking even when they were

scruffy looking.

            "Goblin King or not, Jareth is gonna have one hell of a dry cleaning

bill to pay once we solve this thing," Bowie muttered, sighing at the

layer of dust that coated his stylish clothes.

            "Most definitely...okay, which way now?" I replied, looking at the

stone maze that lay ahead.

            "Wait a minute...if this is the different way than what Sarah took,

why does it look the same?" David asked, slightly edgey.

            "J probably has some reason for it...but it's not, trust me. There'll

probably be some surprises along the way."

            "Oh, good. I couldn't live without that!" George quipped. We started

on a path that looked pretty good. Even though I had been through this

before, I was still apprehensive. So, trying to take my mind off the

situation, I began to hum something, what I'm not really sure.

            "You're a singer?" Bowie asked instantly.

            "Yeah...trained classicly, though I mainly listen to your stuff and

showtunes...I guess it'd be more accurate to say I'm an all-around

performer." He nodded absently; none of us were interested in

discussing business. I watched in amusement as he produced a cigarrette

and handed another to George; it appeared that I wasn't the only one

who was nervous.

            Instinctively I walked ahead of the two singers. I have nothing

against people who want to smoke, and I'm not really allergic to it,

but it does really bother my airways. I guess I'm just sensitive to it,

but I've learned how to not let it effect me...mainly not to get

downwind of a smoker. However, it seemed that Jareth wasn't going to

let me get off that easy. I frowned as the wind changed, carrying the

smoke that was behind me up to where I was walking. Not wanting to

complain or offend either of them, I casually dropped back and started

walking by George's side.

            "So, how long do you think it's been so far?" he asked me, thankfully

still facing forward.

            "Looks like it's only been an hour," I replied after checking my

watch. The breeze that had been blowing away from me now headed in the

opposite direction. I cast a glare up into the sky; J was probably

laughing his tights off at this. "Look, I don't want to pry...but I

thought you and the band had all those issues resolved..." I said,

trying to make conversation as I ducked back behind the two and shifted

to walk between them. He gave me a questioning glance before replying.

            "It's okay...I thought we did, too, but I guess after doing gigs

together for a while everything resurfaces...still, I shouldn't have

been so ignorant..."

            "You didn't know all this was real; neither of you did! Heck, neither

did I until a few months ago!" I about screamed as the wind shifted

direction yet again and I shifted to Bowie's other side as casually as

I could. His gaze followed me and a slight, inquisitive smile played

across his lips.

            "What on earth are you doing? And how did you exactly come across all

this?"

            "Huh...uh, I'm just scoping out the area...can't be too carefull, ya

know! Anyway, I joined an email list that writes fanfiction dedicated

to Labyrinth and it turns out that it's real. Jareth has put me through

this on a few occasions...he's not that bad, really, but you have to

know how to deal with him...and no matter what he says we are *not* an

item!!" I added, rolling my eyes. At that statement, the wind shifted

again, and I immediately dropped back behind the two.

            "You mean you and Jareth..." George asked in amazement.

            "NO!!! He just seems to think that because he has a list dedicated to

his realm he has certain liberties regarding its members...and no,

whatever you're thinking get it out of your head! I've already told him

I won't go that far with any man until my wedding night, so let's end

the twenty questions thing, huh?" I ended in exasperation.

Unfortunately Jareth chose the moment that I paused to catch my breath

to shift the breeze again, and this time the smoke reached its

destination.

            "VERY FUNNY, JARETH!!!" I managed to get out before bending over in a

hacking, coughing fit.

            "He seems to have a differing opinion..." Bowie observed, coming back

to my side. "Are you all right?" I nodded, still coughing my lungs out

at the cigarrette that was in his hand, that was unfortunately next to

my face. "Sorry," he said hastily, getting it out of range. I caught my

breath and straightened up.

            "I'll live," I replied hoarsely, smiling in relief as both men

extinguished the offending items. My smile faded as I looked ahead,

though. The stone maze turned into bunches of possible paths into

places of the labyrinth I had never been before. "Oh boy," I muttered

uneasily.

            "Would this be one of those surprises you mentioned earlier?" George

asked softly.

            "I think so..."

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

            "Then you'd be thinking right, darling," Jareth murmured quietly,

chuckling at the lost expressions on the threesome's faces. "You'll

never figure this one out...and no one is going to help you. They are

all quite ignorant of your arrival..." The Goblin King turned his

attention to the cavorting goblins in the throne room, as well as the

two terrified men.

            "I can't believe Dave's coming after me...it's gotta be a trick...I

should've known not to trust him!" Defries muttered while going over

some paperwork. "He had no right to get rid of me!"

            "What on earth are we gonna do?" Jon said to no one in particular.

            "You are both going to SHUT UP and do something useful!" Jareth

commanded from his sprawled-out position on his throne, but shivered as

the drummer's gaze swept over him. "I meant useful for me..." he

corrected, standing abruptly. "You are going to tell me all you know

about managing and music so that when you disappear forever and your

'friends' become unknowns I will be able to take up where they left

off." All together it was quite a good plan. At least to him...the

other two men seemed to think it was hillarious.

            "YOU? Kiddo, I don't know what you're thinking, but the eighties were

over a long time ago...you'd need to revamp your image, and I don't

think fans would find you very user-friendly..." Tony laughed.

            "Besides, who'd wanna listen to songs about ruling goblins!!" Jon

added.

            "Oh, really...well, speaking of which..." Jareth stooped and grabbed a

goblin by the scruff of the neck and flung it over to where the two men

sat. "I could very easily turn you into something like him right now,

so I suggest you do as I say!!!!" So it was a lie...but he just *hated*

to be laughed at!

            "Uh...all right, sure...What was I thinking? You'd be perfect for

today's youth!!! Just think of how you handled George's crowd...Let's

get to work!" Tony changed his tone immediately, suddenly realizing

that this man was *nothing* like David Bowie. He was worse.

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

Ch. 4

            "Which way...which way?!" I moaned, trying to comprehend the variety

of choices.

            "Don't look at me, I just wished away my drummer in my ignorance!

You're the tour guide!" George said, smiling slightly as he walked over

beside me.

            "What we need is someone who knows the area," I muttered. My ears

perked up at someone making their way towards us, grumbling all the

way. A very familiar grumbling.... Peaking around the bend confirmed my

suspicions. "Hoggle!!!"

            "There's no way he'd help us out, though...Jareth probably made sure

of that," David pointed out. Inspiration chose that moment to strike my

skull. Turning, I offered him a grin. A very big grin. A very big

Cheshire Cat grin.

            "I think I have an idea..." I said slowly, rubbing my hands together

in anticipation.

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

            "Stupid faeries...I hate this job!!!" Hoggle muttered to himself as he

made his way towards the gates. He had had to get more spray from the

castle, and Jareth just didn't see fit to transport him there with

magic.

            "Hoggle!!!" a female voice cried, and his eyes widened at two figures

approaching.

            "Selah? Well hello!! Jareth hosting some get-together for the

listians?" He hoped it was that and not the other possibility, but the

man by her side just didn't look like any listian he'd seen. He didn't

look like any mortal man he'd seen, for that matter. "Uh...is Jareth

transporting someone in from Avon again?"

            "Nope...I'm helping George here get to the castle...you wouldn't

happen to know which path from here-"

            "No! I can't say!! I don't wanna get Jareth angry at me!!!" the dwarf

replied immediately. "It's not that I don't wanna help, but I don't

wanna end up in the Bog!" he added upon seeing the young woman's

hopefull expression fade. "He specifically told me not to help no one!"

            "But I'm a listian!"

            "There's another reason! If he knew I helped you after everything

you've pulled on him, he'd kill me! Sorry, but no help! I'm leaving!"

            "I wouldn't do that if I were you." Hoggle frowned at a terrifyingly

familiar voice.

            "Y-Your Majesty?" He turned, trying to find the owner, but the king

was nowhere to be seen. He was probably watching through a crystal,

though.

            "You'll tell them which path, Hoggle, or I'll suspend you head-first

into the Bog of Stench before you can blink!"

            "But, but-"

            "She is one of my followers, Heggle, and you'll help her out! I asked

her to bring me the other for makeup tips! Of course, I could always

make you a prince..." He didn't notice the two humans in front of him

trying to keep a straight face. All he heard was that threat.

            "NOT THE BOG OF STENCH!!!! All right, it's that way!" he shouted,

pointing to a path to their right. "Now I've gotta get back to my job!"

With that, Hoggle took off towards the gates as fast as his legs would

carry him.

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

            "Is he gone?" "Jareth" asked.

            "Yeah, you can come out now...and here I thought you'd never reprise

the role!" I laughed as Bowie came out of his hiding place behind one

of the walls in the stone maze.

            "Very impressive...Oscar-worthy!" George applauded. David merely

rolled his eyes good-naturedly before following us down the path Hoggle

had pointed out.

            "I hate to do that to him...Hoggle really is pretty nice..." I

remarked.

            "But there wasn't much of a choice," George said firmly. I nodded and

continued walking down the new path. Soon we came to Alph and Ralph.

            "Wait a minute..." I mused, wondering if we had taken a wrong turn.

            "Remember, nothing is what it seems," David said, coming up behind me.

            "Right...which one?" I interrupted as the doors began to tell the

riddle. "Look, we can't bother with this now! We'll just choose on our

own."

            "All right, suit yourself...but we have something else to tell you..."

one began.

            "A clue to what lies ahead!" continued the other.

            "What is it? And how do we know you're not lying?" George asked

warily.

            "Because, Jareth wants you to know this!" We waited as the guardians

of the doors cleared their throats. "Sometimes, the past comes back to

haunt you."

            "That's it?" Bowie asked, slightly disgusted.

            "No! Give us a minute! Knowledge is sometimes not enough...and to let

experience help you, you have to face the truth..."

            "Thank you, oh wise ones, now we really must be off," I said, trying

to get past. That had been disappointing...it wasn't exactly the

meaning of life, or the answer of why hot dogs and buns were sold in

different numbers.

            "Hang on, we're not done! Now...what was that other part?"

            "I dunno...uh...I think I forgot." Great, this was just peachy.

            "Oh, I got it now! You'll be fine as long as you let Ziggy be your

guide...or else, certain destruction awaits." They looked at each other

before adding, "Ooooooh!!!"

            "What in the world is that supposed to mean?" George blurted out.

"There's no Ziggy here...do you mean David?" Alph and Ralph remained

silent, occassionally moving their whiskers around as if in

contemplation.

            "Well, that was enlightening. Shall we?" David asked, rolling his

eyes.

            "Sure...let's try that one," I said, pointing to the door on the left.

Nodding, he swung it open, and jumped back as hundreds of reporters

struggled to get out. Cameras flashed in our faces and microphones were

jammed in front of us.

            "Mr. Bowie, how does it feel to be up against Jareth? Is it true he's

going to take your place when you lose!?"

            "Mr. O'Dowd, did you wish away your drummer because you had new

romantic entanglements?" The two singers were too shocked to utter a

reply.

            "NO COMMENT!!" I bellowed, swinging the door shut in the reporters'

faces. "Man, I thought you guys would be better at handling that by

now!" I added, laughing as I headed to the other door. They managed to

follow, too stunned to answer. 

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

            Jareth looked up into the crystal suspended in front of him,

temporarily ignoring the plans to launch "Jarethnet" that rested in

his lap. "They made it that far?! They shouldn't have made it past the

stone maze!" He could only guess what had happened. "Oh, Hedgewart!"

Gesturing he conjured a crystal and waited. Hoggle appeared before the

throne, flustered.

            "Now, Higgle, did you by chance help those three? After I had told you

not to help *anyone* through the labyrinth ever again!!"

            "But, but Your Majesty, you told me to."

            "WHAT?"

            "You told me to show Selah and her friend which path or else you'd

send me to the Bog!"

            Jareth was about to say something entirely different when he caught

Hoggle's words. "What about the other one?"

            "What other one? There were only two."

            "No, there weren't....Bowie." The word came out in a disgusted snarl.

            "Uh...you ain't gonna send me to the Bog, are ya?"

            The king looked up from his paperwork, his expression becoming

mock-sweet. "Oh, now I wouldn't do that, Heggle...I have something else

for you to do...go listen to them!!!" he bellowed, sending Hoggle

stumbling over to where the agent and the drummer sat, trying to outdo

each other with stories about both singers.

            "And then I got David the gig he needed, but did he thank me? Nooo, it

was just, 'I need more money, Tony!' and 'I need new platforms, Tony!'

No appreciation, whatsoever!"

            "Yeah, well one time George got me in a fight and smashed my hand

right before we had to go on!" Hoggle looked at the two who were now

delighted to have a captive audience.

            "I think I just found something worse than the Bog..." he muttered,

covering his ears.

            Jareth settled himself back on his throne and conjured a crystal,

looking at the three figures who had just passed beyond the door.

"Well, you've made it this far...but it's much harder from here...much

harder..." He smiled in contentment. He hadn't expected Bowie reprising

his role, or rather, his weak imitation of himself, but it was no

matter. Soon he would get to meet a lot of other "old friends" face to

face. Yes, it would be quite a reunion. He chuckled, immensely pleased

with himself. But he frowned as no one paid attention.

            "Well, laugh!" he shouted to his minions. But they weren't listening

They were too busy running for the hills in horror at the detailed

stories Jon and Tony began to compare as to which singer had had the

most "conquests" in their careers. Jareth covered his face with a

gloved hand. They had better either solve the maze soon or be

entertaining while trying, because he couldn't stand it much longer!

Sighing, he straightened slightly as he shifted papers to the plans for

choosing a recording label.

Ch. 5

            I blinked in surprise at what was on the other side of the doorway. I

had expected more maze in many extremely confusing forms. Oubliettes,

Bogs, cities, and strange creatures should have been waiting for us.

            "I don’t get it... what’s all this?" George said, echoing my mental

surprise. "There’s not even a maze here! Just... some city." I nodded

silently, glancing up at all the buildings. It wasn’t exactly like New

York or anything... in fact, it seemed to be more like a large town. But I

did notice something... there was a sense of total desperation. I turned

in surprise at a shuffling sound... and just stared at the sight of

middle-aged women with empty eyes going about their business as if it

really didn’t matter. Silence radiated down the streets... everything

seemed to be waiting...

            All three of us jumped in surprise at the sound of a young boy running

down the street, chasing a ball. My attention was torn from that sight

as I noticed the reactions of the women... many of them stopped cold, as

if just noticing the sound of his laughter for the first time.

            "What the-" My tongue was silenced as a shrill scream pierced through

the air. I watched along with my companions in utter horror as a girl

in her mid-twenties rushed madly down the street to the little boy, and

promptly delt him a blow that knocked him to the street. Crying, he

turned, not comprehending her actions. She moved in to strike again

when a large, burly man pulled her back, yelling for the child to go

home. Nodding, he did. In the back of my mind I vaguely discovered that

this was all so familiar... right down to the shade of the man’s skin. The

man dragged the raging woman away from the boy, and as the scene ended,

I looked off to the side and drew in a shaky breath.

            "It’s not worth it!!!!!!!! Give him closure... IT’S NOT WORTH IT!!!!" Her

screams echoed long after they had disappeared.

            "What is this place?" Bowie asked quietly, pointing over to a group of

 glammed-up kids hanging in an alley. Upon seeing that they were being

watched, they promptly stopped their business of stealing clothes from

an unlocked car and ran down the street. Their expressions were just as

dead as everyone else’s.

            "Oh good lord... it couldn’t be... " I murmured softly.

            "What?" George asked, before turning to a television in a store

window. A newscaster was breaking down in tears as he announced that

earth had only five years before it met destruction.

            "We’re in... "

            "It’s the scenario for Ziggy Stardust," Bowie finished for me,

slightly paler than usual. "Did we take a wrong turn or something?"

            "No... I think J’s playing mind games... we’re still in the labyrinth...

but

it’s much more psychological now. What do we do?" I asked, turning to

the two men.

            "Might as well get through it... we’ll just waste time standing

around... besides... Dave and I lived through this age... it won’t be too

hard!"

            "Don’t say it!" I blurted out.

            "What?"

            "The phrase of doom... the phrase Sarah said before things got harder."

Taking the hint, the others kept quiet. "Alph and Ralph said to let

Ziggy be our guide and we’d be fine... where would he be?" I asked,

shivering at the total loneliness of the town. Glancing down another

alley, I stopped and caught my breath.

            "What is it?" David asked, coming up beside me.

            "Look... " his gaze followed my pointing finger, and even he was

surprised to come face to face with himself. Except it wasn’t himself.

It was Ziggy. He was lounging up against a telephone booth, contentedly

puffing on a cigarrette, looking exactly as he did throughout Bowie’s

portrayal... bright red hair, screwed-up eyes and screwed-down hairdo,

glittery clothes, red platforms, and guitar at the ready.

            "Let me handle this... " Bowie muttered, affecting a swagger as he moved

towards his younger version. "We’re lookin’ for a guide through this

part of the labyrinth... you interested?"

            "I have my own things to do, man... but, yeah, why not... your face looks

like one I can trust. I’ve got connections all through this area... but

we’ve gotta hurry... I’ve gotta deliver the messages for the infinites,

y’know."

            "Yeah... I’m familiar with it all," the singer managed, his voice

sounding slightly raspy. Even he wasn’t used to meeting up with his

character like this... he had beaten him once, but then they had been one.

Now, he had no way of knowing what the other was thinking. Ziggy gave

him a measured glance before flashing a leering grin and coming towards

us.

            "He’s agreed to help us out," Bowie stated, joining the group once

more.

            "Great... uh, that’s George and I’m Selah... thanks for the help." I

shivered slightly as his gaze seemed to see all of me and even into my

soul all at once... something wasn’t quite right here. Ziggy had always

seemed so non-threatening to me... not quite cartoony, but definitely

amusing. But there was something calculated, almost reptilian that was

behind the makeup. Suddenly, it was gone, and he seemed harmless once

more.

            "Pleasure. Don’t worry bout all this... things have been crazy since the

news."

            "Is the world really dying?" George asked, intrigued.

            "Sure... it’s in all the papers. Natural resources running out."

            "But that wouldn’t kill the earth... maybe put some strain on it but-" I

stopped as David flashed me a look that told me to keep quiet. He knew

the character much better than I did. "Uh... so, where are the Spiders?" I

asked, hoping it was a harmless enough question.

            "Aw, they’re whining as usual... they’re somewhere round here... we

finished

a gig earlier today... I tell ya, it’s real sweet... I’m here to preach

the

coming of the infinites, and all the kids hail me like some sort of

god. I’m their salvation." I tried not to balk at his show of ego... if he

only knew what awaited him!

            "Right... what the-"Apparently, the Boy shared my slight disgust, but was

distracted by a sudden commotion. Turning my head, I tried to keep an

apathetic expression on my face as I took in the sight of kids getting

high and making a racket along one of the streets.

            Ziggy chuckled lightly at my expression. "Don’t worry about them. They

won’t bother you as long as I’m around." He flashed his teeth and waved

to the bunch of dudes that had noticed us. Cheering upon noticing their

hero, they let us pass, but not before one had noticed George. There

was no chance of him being degrated for the obvious with these

people... but still, they found something to shout about.

            "Hey, what are you doing with Ziggy?"

            "Yeah, I’ve heard you’re music... you can’t write decent stuff... who’re

you

to call yourself a musician!!!?" I grimaced at the singer’s reaction.

            "Don’t pound em... you know you’re great! You’re a lot better than any of

them... they’re just playing off your fears... ignore em!" I suggested,

trying not to make it seem like he couldn’t defend himself.

            "I know... come on, let’s speed this thing up," he said, his voice

slightly bitter.

            Walking along, I noticed that the street began to curve, and we were

led through various alleys... so the maze continued, after all. The

general feel of the city changed... it took on a more non-realistic

feeling, not so hard-edged. Almost playful, if you could call stuff

that dealt with heavy subject matter playful.

            "Where are we?" I asked, slightly suspicious.

            "There’s no real name for it... same place, different feel," Ziggy said,

looking like we were the least interesting company he could have been

stuck with. I glanced back at Bowie... he was taking this all rather well.

He seemed to be fighting some sort of internal battle, though, and I

flashed him a supportive smile. Either he didn’t notice, or he chose

not to respond. I shrugged and turned my attention back to our guide.

            "So, if you’re not from around here, where did ya get those clothes?

It’s a little bland, but you’re on the right track!"

            Blushing slightly, mostly from insult, I replied calmly. "I’m just not

into the all of the glam stuff... where I come from I have to worry about

decency, but I love your style." He nodded, apparently satisfied with

my reply, and turned his attention to a lone figure walking down the

street.

            "Who’s that?" I asked.

            "Take a closer look... you’ll recognize him if you know you’re Bowie,"

George whispered in quiet amazement.

            "Aladdin Sane?" At that, the figure turned towards us, but his

expression didn’t change. He seemed to be in his own little world, but

as we passed on by, I noticed that he attracted lots of others to

him... it was almost as if people on the streets were drawn toward him,

but he remained separated from them no matter how close they got. He

looked at them with amusement and partial contempt before continuing on

his merry way. I cringed as a member of his "fan club" shouted out,

"Hey, who’s the freak?! You trying to be like one of us?" He definitely

meant George. I practically had to hold him back this time. We both

calmed down at the sight of Bowie. He was incredibly introverted, as if

trying to comprehend everything. It was like only Bowie or Ziggy could

have control at one time. Briefly I wondered why Ziggy would be the

only one to lead us safely through if he was causing this much of an

unneeded impact. Still, there was a lot I didn’t understand, so I kept

quiet and continued walking.

            Sighing slightly at the monotany of it all, I almost missed when the

large town suddenly gave way to a metropolis. Shuddering at the fog

that seemed to cover the light with a mere whim, I glanced through the

dark streets littered with trash. The alleys were not

deserted... something was there, watching, waiting for the right moment.

            "Look." David’s simple statement startled me; he hadn’t spoken in

ages. I glanced up at the crudely-made sign that was leaning over the

street. In faded, filthy letters it read: Welcome to Hunger City.

            Gulping, I followed our guide, but pressed a little bit closer to

George. I really didn’t want to become prey to what I now –knew- was

lurking in the shadows. He seemed to share the same sentiment, but was

slightly more relaxed than I was. He had, after all, grown up with

these albums. But listening to them and living them were two different

things. Glancing back at Bowie, I wondered if he even noticed where we

were; he seemed entirely lost in thought. Shivering, I glanced ahead at

our guide, who seemed as relaxed as a tourist in Florida. He was even

casually whistling! Ziggy gave me a sidelong glance and for a moment I

caught some other intent in his weird eyes. But then it was gone.

******

Ch. 6

            We walked in silence for a time and my thoughts started coming up with

lots of fun possibilities as to what could be in the alleys. Swallowing

hard, I managed to keep walking when my ears perked up at a soft

shuffling behind us.

            "W-what was that?" I managed to get out, frowning at the tremble in my

voice.

            "Aw, it’s nothing... come on, keep going," Ziggy insisted, ushering us

past another series of alleyways. I had to look twice when I thought I

saw him nodding to something in one, but I could have been mistaken...

            The sound got louder; we were definitely being followed. Out of

instinct, my footsteps started to quicken and I about screamed when I

felt a hand grab my arm.

            "Play it calm... we’re here, nothing’s gonna happen. But you’ll encourage

them if you run." Bowie’s eyes were hard as stone and his face was

grim. Nodding weakly, I slowed my pace. We all turned as a lone figure

on the top of a tall building gave a whoop and jumped to the street, or

rather, grabbed a rope and slid to the concrete beside us.

            "Halloween Jack... " George muttered, his voice raspy. The man merely

gave a sneer of a smile in response. Like all of Bowie’s characters, he

was drop-dead gorgeous, and I couldn’t help but notice. I didn’t even

realize it when I took a step or two closer to him.

            "Uh... Selah, get back here. Now." Bowie’s warning didn’t even register.

For some reason, I was too entranced.

            "Let her go... nothin’ll happen to her." For some reason, Ziggy’s

casualness should have set off warning bells in my head, but they must

not have been working at the moment. I followed Jack, not noticing as

he backed away slightly from the group, until I was right in front of

the opening of a dark, dismal alley. It was only then that I heard the

muffled noises of what was lurking in its shadows. Turning my head

ever-so-slightly, I paled as I saw the forms of others in the fog... no

features were visible except their eyes, which had plenty of intent in

them. Without thinking, I did the obvious. I ran like heck, the song

playing over and over in my head... without warning I tripped over a

garbage can and continued fleeing as I heard sounds of a chase right

behind me. I managed to crawl over the junk in the streets ...

            "Crawling down the alley on your hands and knees... I’m sure you’re not

protected for it’s plain to see.." I looked over at the rest of my

group at the other side of the street, motioning for me to run like

hell and get back over there. Panicking, I tried to obey, but my body

just wasn’t obeying fast enough for my tastes. Ziggy, merely stared,

his icy gaze meeting mine and he gave almost an amused smirk at my

situation. Struggling to my feet, I continued to run, trying to block

out what was behind me.

            "The diamond dogs are poachers and they hide behind trees... hunt you to

the ground they will, mannequins with kill appeal... " I looked up at

Ziggy as I dashed across the street, and was terribly unnerved to find

him singing quietly to himself... but I knew the song well enough to

figure out the words.

            "Here they come... I’ll keep a friend serene, Here they come... oh baby

come

unto me, Here they come... well she’s come been and gone. Stay out of the

garden, baby, you’ll catch your death in the fog... young girl they call

them the diamond dogs... " As the fog surrounded me, blocking my view of

the others, I gave a frantic scream upon seeing the leering faces

surround me before the ground underneath me gave way... "

***

            "What the hell are you doing? Do something, she’ll be killed!!!"

George yelled in exasperation to a calm Ziggy as Selah struggled to get

across the street to where they waited

            "She’ll be fine... look, she’s going into an oubliette; they won’t get

her there." The Boy turned to see the guide give a slight look of

disgust, as if he had really wanted her to be taken out... instinctively

he rushed to the pit and thrust a hand down right as the ground

swallowed the girl.

            "Grab on!" He clenched his teeth as he caught her arm and her fall was

broken.

            "I can’t hang on... "

            The singer glanced back at a sound in the fog... the Diamond Dogs were

closing in... he yelped in surprise as the ground beneath his feet

vanished and he, too, was suddenly falling into the oubliette.

            Jareth grimaced as he watched the events unfolding; he had wanted the

threesome separated, not hurt! Especially not his listian... something was

up, and he doubted it was something he had control over... he would just

have to wait it out. Which would be hard enough, he realized as he

glanced over at his two prisoners who were attempting to teach the

goblins how to play drums... why on earth did the goblins have to kidnap

the drum set as well as the drummer??!!!

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

            Bowie turned and stared at Ziggy, his face glowering slightly. "What

are you doing?"

            "I’m supposed to be your guide... not theirs... come with me. They’ll

find

their way, trust me." There wasn’t much else he could do, but

still... Something told him, though, that he had to follow the singer from

Mars. Nodding silently, he turned away from the oubliette and followed

his creation down the street.

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

            "Who’s there?" I asked weakly upon hearing signs of life that weren’t

my own. If it was one of the protopunk gang members that inhabited the

city, I was doomed. 

            "It’s me," Boy George replied, and I relaxed immensely. He flicked his

lighter and provided at least a little bit of light.

            "Good... what just happened back there?"

            "I’m not sure... but I don’t trust that Ziggy. He’s not like the

character, really... there’s something really cruel hidden there... "

            "And now David’s alone with him," I finished, not liking the way that

sounded at all.

            "He’ll be all right... since when is Jareth this interested in messing

with the mind, though?"

            "I think he just started this... to distract us and to get us split

up... but I think his idea has taken on a life of it’s own... between the

character’s messing with Bowie’s head and throwing comments at you... " He

nodded and I began to look for a board. Finally, after a lot of looking

around, I found what I needed and set it against the wall. Upon opening

the door, we walked into a dark, dank series of caverns that seemed

much more terrifying than the ones Sarah had navigated with Hoggle.

            "I hope I can figure this out," I sighed, squinting in the blackness.

            "So do I, love, so do I... what's that?"

            "What?"

            "Listen... " Sure enough, when I strained my ears I could hear the sound

of light footsteps somewhere in our vicinity. Turning slightly, I

managed not to scream in surprise as a tall figure came into view.

George held up his lighter and we both caught our breath when we saw

who had joined us.

            The Thin White Duke. 

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

Ch. 7

            David quietly followed Ziggy to places unkown. He didn’t like this, he

didn’t like it at all... something wasn’t quite right about the character.

Maybe it was just because he didn’t expect his performances to suddenly

come to life... but there was something else. Something that didn’t sit

well with him...

            "Are you sure this is the right way?" he finally asked.

            "Of course! Why would I lead you in another direction? Come on... " There

was something so purposeful, so insisting about the way he said it,

though. The singer reluctantly followed, not missing the glance Ziggy

gave him. Cold and calculated... then suddenly humorous, regular

Ziggy... "Through here," he said abruptly, pointing to a building. Bowie

complied, and stopped short as they entered. It was some sort of

eighties dance club, he realized, judging from the inhabitants’ attire

and the music. Flashing lights danced over the room, highlighting

various bodies moving in time to the music. Vaguely, he heard songs

from "Let’s Dance" blaring out of the speakers. He turned to face Ziggy

as the character gave an indignant snort.

            "Disgusting, isn’t it? Look at them... going crazy over cheap popular

music... no conflict in it at all... I can’t believe you lowered your

standards to writing this junk." It was true that David didn’t exactly

love what had happened after that album, but that was life. Besides, he

had more than made up for it with his most recent albums.

            "After you destroyed me your work went downhill... you’re nothing without

me!!! When you’re dead and gone, I’ll still be around... when people hear

your name, I’m the one they think of... you did a horrible thing when you

killed me off, Mr. Bowie... and now you’re going to pay." Bowie’s eyes

widened in horror as Ziggy took on a cruel look... this was definitely

–not- the way the character was supposed to be!

            "What’s going on here... you’re not Ziggy!"

            "Maybe not... but I’m a part of him... I’m all the feelings of anger and

resentment and depression that you’ve experienced in your career... I’ve

almost taken over many times... but now I’ll finally succeed. You see,

David... I can live within you. I have before, and I will again. I was the

one that almost succeeded in banishing David Jones during the Ziggy

period, and now I’ll banish him and Bowie." The coldness in his eyes

was overwhelming as he backed David out of the club and into the

street.

            "I still don’t understand... the weird creatures said I’d be all right if

I followed Ziggy!"

            "They’re right... unfortunately for you, I’m not Ziggy. Not really.

            "But you need me... I’m the one that created you!" Ziggy gave an amused

laugh before turning serious again.

            "For some reason your characters seem to take on a life of their

own... even to the point where they begin to control you... I thought

you’d

remember that. It’s of no importance, though, because it’s too late."

At those words the pavement around him split open with a thunderous

crack, and then he was falling at break-neck speed into an oubliette.

            "Good-bye, Mr. Bowie... now you’ll never escape and when your former

manager fades away, so will you." The alien gave the singer one final

sneer before disappearing into the night.

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

            The Duke’s eyes blazed with a remoteness and ruthlessness all their

own in the flicker of George’s lighter. I backed away slightly, knowing

this was probably one of the cruelest of the Bowie characters... Bowie had

even admitted the fact, himself. Swallowing hard, I slowly started to

resume walking through the tunnel, but he got ahead of me, blocking my

way.

            "You’re not going anywhere... " he said quietly, his voice like steel. I

glanced over at George who had paled slightly... I suppose the Duke does

have that affect on people who have broken his clutches...they never

expect to see him again. I, however, was totally ignorant of what he

could do. He is one of my favorite Bowie characters, probably just

because he is so dangerous... there is something entirely seductive about

the duke, yet one mustn’t come too close. That thought didn’t even

register, though, as his gaze met mine... there was something so

completely captivating about him, and the title track on Station to

Station is so artsy and well-done... surely he couldn’t be that bad...

            "You’ve been travelling so long, why don’t you rest... see all that I can

offer you... " His voice was as mesmerizing as his eyes. Slowly I left

George’s side and the security of the lighter’s flame to come closer to

the Duke. Even though he didn’t smile I knew that he was pleased... I

could almost hear the music pulsing from the caverns... "Here are we, one

magical moment such is the stuff of where dreams are woven... Bending

sound, dredging the ocean, lost in my circle... " Slowly he reached out a

pale hand to me...

*********

            Jareth narrowed his eyes at the scene that was taking place in the

tunnel... that WASN’T supposed to happen... Ziggy was to have led them on

the

wrong path, they’d be late, end of story... but suddenly the characters

had taken control. The king flicked his hand to conjur a crystal so he

could move to the caverns, but none came. Frowning, he tried again... it

was either the stress of the situation or Ziggy was more charismatic

than he had thought... Looking into the globe again, he frowned... she was

on

her own for the moment. He knew she had sense in her, but that Duke was

incredibly sly and seductive... he only hoped she could resist.

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

            Totally lost in the Duke’s presence, I began to extend a hand to touch

his.

            "Don’t... leave her alone!" I knew there was someone else beside me, but

at the moment, I couldn’t for the life of me remember who it was. The

Duke’s eyes flashed with triumph, and suddenly hesitant, I paused.

            "Don’t be afraid... I think you’ll enjoy the possibilities... ’Once there

were mountains on mountains and once there were sunbirds to soar with

and once I could never be down... ’" He didn’t seem that bad... I resumed

moving my outstretched hand.

            "Have you sought fortune, evasive and shy? Drink to the men who

protect you and I... Drink drink drain your glass, raise your glass

high... "

            "Don’t do it... get away from him, you don’t know what he’s capable of...

"

the person, whoever it was, beside me said, but it didn’t register. A

cloud had covered my rational thoughts and all I could focus on was the

Thin White Duke. His eyes sparkled and his face was intense as his

fingertips brushed mine... I smiled slightly; his touch was pure

electricity. Suddenly, though, his lips turned down in a sneer and he

grabbed my wrist, squeezing painfully. Pleasure, electricity, and a

hundred other feelings flooded my senses, overwhelming me, and suddenly

everything was darkness...

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

            George looked on in horror as his guide crumpled to the ground at the

Duke’s touch. "You... you will not have her... she can’t handle you... "

            "I don’t intend on having her... only delaying you. She will wake up

unharmed, a little worse for wear, and will heed your warning the next

time. I could have done much worse. Now, what about you?" George backed

up slightly as the Duke advanced.

            "What?"

            "You left me a long time ago, but I never knew why... didn’t you like

what I gave you?"

            "You almost ruined me!!!"

            He snorted in indignation. "What are all those other things you have?

Family? They turned against you, as did your friends... your band was

jealous of you... no love worked out... with me you gained fame, fortune,

and

more... no, I did you a favor... I showed you everything, gave you

everything... and then you left. I do not like it when people leave my

grasp."

            "You have no control over me anymore... leave me be!"

            "As you wish... but not without a reminder of what you left behind... "

Without warning he reached out and caught the singer’s hand in a tight

grip, sending jolts of his magic coursing through his veins. The Duke

watched in satisfaction as he gave into his control and fell next to

the girl. Giving them a final glance, he turned and continued walking

down the caverns, humming to himself. "It’s not the side-effects of the

cocaine... I’m thinking that it must be love... it’s too late to be

hateful... it’s too late to be late again... it’s too late to be

hateful... the

European cannon is here... it’s too late... "

**********

            Jareth watched in horror at what happened with the Duke... this was

turning ugly... only Bowie could defeat his own creations, and he had lost

track of where he was. Maybe he could do something, though... he waved his

hand, conjuring two crystals... satisfied that his magic wasn’t

interrupted this time. They trembled and took to the air, floating down

to the labyrinth, and down to the tunnels... if they had to have

hallucinations, he at least would have some control over them... and that

would also delay there progress... Now all he had to do was to get Bowie

to join them...

            He glanced over at the goblins pounding away on the drum set, the two

prisoners looking on in mild amusement. Well, all he had to do was that

and figure out some way to drown out all the blasted noise!

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

Ch. 8

            Bowie sat up, grunting at the pain that shot through his muscles... it

had been a long fall, indeed. Looking up, he could just barely see

light, but no Ziggy. –Probably is long-gone by now, anyway... - he mused,

standing slowly. Briefly he wondered what the clue had been referring

to, then, if it didn’t mean the sick version of his character that had

betrayed him. "Well, it really doesn’t matter down here," he sighed,

feeling along the walls for a board or door. Nothing. In frustration he

kicked at a wall of the oubliette, succeeding only in stubbing his toe.

As his foot began to throb he let loose a stream of expletives,

wondering how he was going to get out of this situation.

            "I knew you’d never be able to really succeed without me! You’re just

a failure without me guiding ya and doing everything for ya!" He paled

at the voice. A familiar voice. A familiar voice that now affected him

the way high pitched sounds affected dogs. It couldn’t be... Jareth could

be cruel, but this was just evil! "So, what do you plan to do, now?!"

Turning, he backed away in horror as he made out the form of his

ex-wife in the shadows.

            "A-Angie?"

            "Yes it’s me, who’d you expect!? Somebody has to save your skin,

though I don’t know why it should be me! You never did make me into a

famous singer... and you took my son away from me!" Her eyes were blazing

with fury and her features were haughty. The possibility of wishing her

away to castle crossed his mind, but he doubted Jareth would take her.

There are some limits of what one can stand, after all!

            "Now you’ve gone and sucked me into your fantasies... you’re as messed up

as you were when we were married! Now it’s up to me to save you

again!!! Maybe this would make a good third book... " Bowie nervously

wrung his hands, not knowing how to handle the situation. Out of habit,

he dived into his pocket for a cigarrette. Lighting it and breathing in

the relaxing substances, he sighed softly. Until he noticed that the

smoke smelled faintly of peaches. He moved to take it out of his mouth

when everything started swirling faster and faster in a dizzying

dance... he vaguely heard Angie complaining about something before he

noticed the crystal coming down into the oubliette... Jareth must have

found him, after all. His gaze fixed on the sphere, trying to identify

what was inside, and suddenly, everything was dancing. It wasn't that

bad, really...it took him away from the screeching voice of the woman

beside him.

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

            I was at some sort of concert... looking around, I noticed tons of people

jumping up and down, dancing to the music blaring from the stage. I

didn’t recognize any of them, although a short way away there were two

men that looked vaguely familiar. Turning my focus to the singer, my

jaw dropped. He was incredible... extremely good-looking with his long

blond hair and wild dress, and oh, how he could sing!! I started to

move with the crowd, loving every second, wanting to spend as much time

as possible there in front of the stage. My eyes widened as the singer

noticed me and bent over to gently take my hand, planting a light kiss

on my knuckles. I watched in amazement, totally captivated by his

smile. Soon, the driving beat changed to a slow, lilting melody and he

sang something that sounded vaguely familiar... after that piece he jumped

into a song called "Underground." Underground... where had I heard that

before? As he crooned the opening, my eyes widened slightly as my

memory slowly returned... Underground... that was the theme from

Labyrinth!!!

Labyrinth... Oh, good lord I still had to help Bowie and George solve the

maze!!! Glancing to my side I saw that the familiar-looking figures

were, in fact, David and the Boy.

            "Hey... Hey!!! We’ve gotta get out of here!!!" I bellowed, but my voice

was lost in the cheering. I glanced up to where Jareth was singing and

he gave me a satisfied grin before turning away. Not knowing how else

to get their attention, I vaulted up onto the stage, dodging the

security guards. Pushing Jareth aside, I belted out something I hoped

would get their attention.

            Don’t put your head on my shoulder

            Sink me in a river of tears

            This could be the best place yet

            But you must overcome your fears

            In time it could have been so much more

            Time is precious, I know

            In time it could have been so much more

            The time has nothing to show...

Just as I got the last line out, Jareth came up and regained the

microphone, but it was too late. David and George had already snapped

out of their haze. Jumping off the stage and into the crowd, I pushed

through the bodies that seemed impossible to get around. Finally,

finally I reached their side by the edge of the stage.

            "We’ve gotta get out of here!!" Bowie yelled.

            "I know... but we need something to break through the crystal!" I

replied.

            "How bout this?" George asked, pointing to an amp. A very large amp.

Nodding, I raced to his side. It took all three of us to lift it, and

it took a few seconds for us to gain momentum. Racing to the edge of

the sphere, we heaved the amplifier through it’s wall, shattering the

hallucination. Groupies, musical instruments, and other equipment fell

with us, down into places unknown...

***********

            I groaned and sat up, aching everywhere at once. Man, I was stupid! I

shook the cobwebs out of my brain, making a mental note to NEVER get

near the Thin White Duke again. I turned slightly as Bowie and George

regained consciousness, both looking how I felt.

            "How did you get here, Dave?" George asked, blinking slightly.

            "That so-called Ziggy dropped me in an oubliette; he plans to take my

place... anyway, Angie to paid me a visit, and when I went to smoke,

bam! Everything changed."

            "Huh... and I thought we only had to watch out for the Duke’s chemicals,"

I remarked, explaining the previous incident. "I can’t believe I was so

dumb!"

            "It’s not your fault... things like that can be quite persuasive, trust

me," Bowie replied quietly and George nodded his agreement. "Where are

we?" Looking up, I noticed that we were in front of some sort of

palace, but it didn’t look like anything from the Goblin City. It was

really macabre, almost shrine-like... looking closer I noticed that it was

composted of skeletons...

            Shivering, I turned to my two companions. "What is this place? It

looks familiar, but I don’t remember what it is... "

            "I don’t recall ever seeing a place like this... " Bowie murmured,

standing and walking towards it.

            "Do you think it’s safe?" I ventured.

            "I don’t know, but we might as well find out." He paused as a soft

noise drifted by. "Did you hear that?"

            "Yeah... it sounded like... like crying almost... " I stood and followed

Bowie,

as did George. Slowly we approached the palace, entering with the

utmost care. It was quite dark, and the skeletons and other fibers

glistened in what little light was let in. Slowly we made our way

along, following the cries.

            "Did you see that?" I asked, pointing to a corner.

            "See what?" George asked.

            "Those eyes... I think there might be another person in here!"

            "Or an animal... "

            "No, these eyes were like a human’s, I’m sure of it!" With a renewed

sense of purpose I continued to climb to the next level, the singers

right on my heels. As we approached the top, the crying got louder. I

stopped in amazement as we reached the top... there was a structure that

could almost be called an alter, constructed of glass-like beads...

            I turned at the sound of tiny wail-like cries, expecting to see a

child or something. My breath stopped as I looked at the glass-like

arachnid... it was small, obviously just a baby, and beautiful. This place

wasn’t a palace... it was a web.

            "Why are you crying?" I asked, not coming too close. Spiders are not

my favorite thing, and this thing was much bigger than regular house

spiders.

            "We cry because our mother has left us... it gets dark and there is no

one to protect us... we are all alone." At that, an entire group of baby

spiders came into view.

            I gulped, not wanting to become a permanent addition to the web...

            "We have already eaten, you have nothing to fear... will you stay with

us?" it asked hopefully, it’s eyes penetrating my soul.

            "We have to do something... what, I don’t remember-"

            "Perhaps you were coming to help us?" I felt myself melting at it’s

voice... it was kind of cute in a way... and all alone...

            "Maybe that’s it... " I murmured, looking back at George and David, who

just shrugged. It perked up slightly, and we all turned as a few babies

let out new cries.

            "But what about Mummy?" Their cries sang of primal needs and fears...

"Gone, gone the water's all gone

Mummy come back 'cause the water's all gone

Stay low on the ground,

fire can drive you, savage and afraid

Spitting the dawn,

come come come along before the animals awake

Run, run, we've been moving all night, rivers to the left.

If your mother don't love you then the riverbed might

Gone, gone, the water's all gone

Mummy come back 'cause the water's all gone"

At the pleas for water, my eyes widened. I knew what this was! My

friend Kassie loves this song, as do I, and had spent loads of time

analyzing it. Shaking the amnesia away, I knelt down and faced the

spider once more.

            "Look, we can’t stay... we have to save some people at the castle... but

don’t worry, you’ll survive... ’you’ve promise in your lovin’ eye,’" I

quoted, smiling softly. "You’ll make it." It merely shed a single tear

from a beautiful blue eye before giving something akin to a sigh.

            "We shall see... if you have things to do, then you must hurry.

Time is short."

            "We know... and thank you. I’m sorry we cannot stay," I replied, standing

up and starting to leave.

            "Wait, you dropped this," the spider said, coming up beside me. I

accepted the small crumpled piece of paper from it; it was probably

just some note that had fallen out of my pocket. Taking our leave, we

exited in silence, too intent on listening to the tiny cries that

echoed when the wind blew through the Glass Spider’s web. Fate could be

so cruel sometimes.

            Sighing, I smoothed the paper out and glanced down at it. A grin

formed on my face as I read... I couldn’t believe I had been that stupid!

            "Guys, I think I’ve just figured out our clue... we need to stick

together, no matter what! That’s why we got in so much trouble... we got

separated."

            "But what about Ziggy?" George asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.

            Blushing slightly, I explained. "They meant me... my nickname on the

labyrinth lists is Ziggy... it’s my calling card, so to speak. I guess

they meant that with my knowledge of the labyrinth I can safely guide

you through... of course, it didn’t help much since we didn’t figure it

out until now!" I had a feeling there was something else to it, but I

wasn’t sure... shrugging, I offered a smile to the two singers.

            "Well, we’ve got to get going... we still have to reach the goblin city!"

            "Right, let’s move it!" Bowie replied, flashing a grin in my

direction. I returned it and paused only to give a fleeting glance back

to the spider’s web before following the others.

Ch. 9

            Walking away from the glass spider’s web, we finally came to the

entrance to the goblin city. It looked exactly the same... no changes at

all.

            "Well, maybe their influence didn’t reach this area," I said,

shrugging.

            "Or maybe they’re just biding their time... " George muttered. The gates

easily creaked open, and there were no monster robots waiting for us.

Slowly, we began to make our way through the city. George stopped

momentarily, cocking an ear to the wind.

            "Did you hear that?"

            "Hear what?" I asked. The streets were completely silent.

            "I guess it’s nothing... " He frowned slightly and resumed walking.

            "So, who are we actually confronting? Jareth has seemed to have taken

a hands-off approach," Bowie stated, staring straight ahead. I could

tell he had had some really hard experiences that day.

            "I don’t think so... he doesn’t seem to have control over them... and I

don’t think it’s really your characters that are being represented... I

think you’re confronting yourself."

            "What?"

            "Well, think about it... they’re different somehow... Ziggy is your wild

side... and all those feelings of despair and anger... Aladdin Sane could

represent your need for privacy and your aloofness... Halloween Jack could

be your fears of what humanity will become... sort of a primal being...

the

Duke obviously is former addictions and such... and the spiders... the

need

for someone to help you get through. By turning them down and helping

them to see they needed to face things on their own, I think we faced

them... but the others...

            "We’ve been running from. So you think they’re waiting?"

            "Of course... there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be."

            "But why all this targeting of David? I wished someone away, too... I

expected things to be a lot harder," Boy George said, frowning again.

"Are you sure you don’t hear that?"

            "What?"

            "I guess it’s just the wind... " He paused after finishing the sentence.

Looking ahead, I could see why. We had reached the castle. Swallowing,

even though my mouth was completely dry, I followed the two superstars

into the building and through the throne room.

            "Well... I guess this is it... thanks for everything, Selah," George

started.

            "No, it’s not it... "

            "But you can’t come with us! We have to go it alone, remember?" Bowie

reminded me.

            "Just because that’s the way it’s done in one story doesn’t mean

that’s the only way... look, the clue said that Ziggy had to be your guide

through the entire journey. I’m Ziggy... luckily I found a note from my

friend Poncho, otherwise I would have never thought of that. I’ve got

to go with you, and I don’t want to hear any arguments!!!" I stared

directly into Bowie’s eyes, daring him to say no.

            "Well, if you insist!" he chuckled, finally, and I wondered if he was

slightly relieved. "Ready?"

            "I don’t think we’ll ever be ready for this!" George commented. "But

now’s as good a time as any."

            "Right! Let’s go!" I turned and followed the two up the staircase,

wondering exactly what we would find at its top.

****

            The Escher room was still in tact, just as confusing and imposing as

ever. I glanced over at O’Dowd and Bowie, noticing that they were

experiencing the same vertigo I was.

            "DAVID!!! GEORGE?!!?" I turned towards the frantic cries, smirking

slightly at the panic on Jon and Tony’s faces. Hmmph. That’s what they

got for behaving like that. Still, I knew we had to rescue them. Morals

and all that stuff. My eyes widened as I noticed that they were slowly

fading away, becoming paler by each passing minute. Without needing any

other motivation, we each took a separate direction, our feet flying

over the stairs as we tried in vain to reach the two prisoners.

*********

            David winced as he nearly fell over a step... this was much harder than

in the movie! Looking over at Tony, he changed course, trying a new

path.

            "David! Over here!" Funny, that seemed to be coming from directly

behind...

            Bowie stopped in his tracks and turned around slowly. Ziggy stood

there, only a few feet in front of him, his mouth turned in a twisted

combination of a grin and a smirk. That definitely wasn’t the right

Ziggy... not the character at all... maybe Selah was right...

            "I warned you... we’re taking you’re place and there’s nothing you can do

about it... " Without warning, Bowie turned to escape and nearly ran into

the Thin White Duke. He couldn't run any more; none of them could.

Looking around, he became slightly more alarmed as he noticed that

Selah was cornered by Halloween Jack and George was being blocked by

Aladdin Sane.

            "Why? Why are you turning against me now?"

            "We’ve been neglected long enough, David... whether we’re your characters

or not, it doesn’t matter... but we’re not. We’re the demons, the feelings

you thought you banished, but now we’re taking over."

            Smiling cruelly, Ziggy began to sing. "Spaceboy, you’re sleepy, no

your silhouette is so stationary... you’re released but your custody

calls... and I want to be free."

            Aladdin Sane took up the tune, getting in George’s face, scoffing at

him with the lyrics. "Don’t you want to be free? Do you like girls or

boys? It’s confusing these days... "

"But moondust will cover you, cover you... " the Duke continued, his face

like stone.

Suddenly, the entire cast of characters took up the tune in one

horrific chorus, coming closer all the while. "This chaos is killing

me... so bye bye love, yeah bye bye love, bye bye love, yeah bye bye

love... " Bowie gulped, taking into account that he was being pressed

closer and closer to the edge. He doubted he would be suspended like

Sarah was in the movie if he fell. "This chaos is killing me... Moondust

will cover you... This chaos is killing me... Moondust will cover you... "

Ziggy

continued his pursuit, giving a satisfied smirk as he watched his

creator near the edge... the chorus continued, becoming more intense with

each repetition... "Yeah bye bye love... Moondust will cover you... "

He paled as he felt his heels brush against part stone and part space.

How did this happen? How did his characters, no, his feelings get so

out of control? It was like he had never seen these beings before in

his life...

            "It’s ironic I suppose," Ziggy hissed, coming within a millimeter of

his face. "You being killed by the ones you thought you knew the most... "

            "I don’t know you... not anymore... "

            "What?" Maybe if he could just keep him talking... stall a little...

            "It’s like the song goes... ’Your embrace it was all that I feared...

that

whirling room, we trade by vendu... steely resolve is falling from me...

my

poor soul all bruised passivity... All your regrets ride rough-shod over

me. I’m so glad that we’re strangers when we meet... I’m so thankful that

we’re strangers when we meet... ’"

**********

            George frowned as the characters by him and Selah turned their

attention away and moved towards Bowie. He was who they were after... it

was too late to get rid of Selah; they had made it to the castle.

Now... he frowned as he watched Bowie coming closer and closer to the

drop... wanting to cry out, but his voice seemed to be bottled inside him.

Glancing down he spotted Jon, or rather, a pale ghost of who Jon was.

No matter how angry he got, he was still responsible. He would save the

drummer. He turned to run when disembodied voices started their

screaming... they had been whispering slightly in the city, but now their

mocking was at full force.

            "You’ll never be a real musician!!!!"

            "What kind of a man are you???!!!"

            "You’re fat... they should call you Boy Gorge!!!"

            "You’re nothing but a junkie... you’re no role model!!!!!!"

            He only heard them, could only hear them. Out of the corner of his eye

he saw Selah gesturing, but couldn’t hear her frantic cries.

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

            I watched in horror as both musicians were pushed to the edge... one

physically and one mentally. There had to be something I could do!!!

George didn’t seem to hear me, though, and there was no way I could

reach David in time...

            "Here, use these!!" I turned in astonishment as Jareth tossed me two

crystals. Nodding at his urgent look, I hurled one at each singer. One

burst and exploded in magic above George, and suddenly he could hear

me. The other distracted the Bowie clones enough so I could get a word

in.

            "SAY IT!!!"

            "What?"

            "SAY THE WORDS... YOU KNOW THEM, SAY IT!!!!!!!!"

**********

Bowie grimaced as the characters turned back to him, menace in their

eyes. "No more tricks... " Ziggy hissed, and the others nodded.

            "You’re right. No more tricks. You are nothing... I did beat you long

ago... but that was never a guarantee that you were gone for good. I’m

better because of all of you, but I won’t dwell on any of you. You know

what this means... " He watched their eyes widen in realization and horror

before he finished his sentence.

***********

            George almost screamed as the voices started up again. Selah’s words,

though, echoed through his brain. "Wait! I’m beyond all this... so I was

an addict, I’m over it! So what if I’m different... I can’t change who I

am, I’m still a person. You have no right to judge me... in fact...

***********

"You have no power over me." Spoken simultaneously in the moment of

epithany and strength, they changed everything.

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

Ch. 10

            I blinked the fog out of my head, wondering what was going on. After

the words had been spoken chaos had erupted. Screams of characters

echoed through the room, the very steps I had been standing on gave

way. I had been falling, yet staying in one place. Throughout my

plummeting music reached my ears, an anthem of vindication that could

have summed up the entire journey. "The vacuum created by the arrival

of freedom and the possibilities it seems to offer... it's got nothing to

do with you if one can grap it... it's got nothing to do with you if one

can grasp it. A series of shocks - sneakers fall apart, Earth keeps on

rolling, witnesses falling. It's got nothing to do with you if one can

grasp it, yea yea yea, up the hill backwards... It'll be alright."

            Standing up, or maybe I was already standing, I looked around in

confusion at the bustling backstage. Turning slightly, I was relieved

to find George and David at my side... along with Jareth.

            "But I don't understand... why didn't they have to face you?"

            "Darling, they did... although you now know I am much more, I happen to

be classified as one of David's menagerie of characters."

            "But you're still here!"

            "Because at the same time I'm my own persona... just as the others are.

He faced his demons, George faced his. The characters and hardships are

still there, but they faced the parts of themselves they were running

from all this time."

            "And Jon and Tony?"

            He shrugged. "The drummer is onstage waiting and Mr. Defries is back

where he came from... and good riddance. Even I could tell that he was

going to be taking advantage of my impending stardom... "

            "Oh, right, sorry it didn't work out."

            "No matter, there will be other opportunities. And, by the way, that

-woman- that was in the oubliette is returned as well, thankfully." I

grinned as he shuddered. "None of them will remember what happened."

            "Good, that makes things a lot easier," George said, nodding.

            "Yeah... now don't you have a concert to do? You'd better get going,"

David said, smiling. Everything seemed slightly bittersweet, reality

was closing in.

            "Aw, come on! It's not like this was the worst thing in the world! It

was actually kind of fun," I smirked at their expressions. "Don't get

all sad and introspective, that would ruin this thing! We did it... we

beat them back for now... if things get hard, fine, deal with them then,

but for today, we won." The two singers nodded.

            "You're right... and thank you," George said, grabbing me in a hug.

            "Yeah, we do owe you," Bowie added.

            "No you don't, it was my obligation as a fan. But... if you want to do me

a favor... you could always tour hear with the Ziggy rebirth in 2002... ."

I

said, grinning mischeviously at Bowie.

            "Well... we'll see... maybe I can work something out!" he laughed.

            "Well then, if you three are quite done with all this I'll be going,"

Jareth said, rolling his eyes. Man, some people could be such downers.

            "Right, thanks for all you're help, J... "

            "I couldn't let those freaks take over my labyrinth! They would ruin

my greatness!" Same old Jareth... I rolled my eyes and hugged him lightly.

            "I'll see ya later, all right?" I whispered.

            "You can count on it... till then... " I watched as he transformed into

an

owl and flew out a back door.

            "He always did know how to make entrances and exits," I remarked,

smiling.

********

            Music swelled up and I grinned at Bowie, who was standing backstage

with me during George's concert. He was amazing... in top form and just

electric. And Jon didn't seem to have any memories, just a feeling of

confusion and a big headache... that meant he was too tired to squabble

any more. So, the band played on...

            "Thank you... I'd like to dedicate this next number to two really good

friends who were there when I needed them most... I think you'll recognize

this... " I grinned at George's introduction and at the familiar melody.

It really had been an amazing journey... something all of us needed to go

through. It had made the two singers stronger and had given me

something to think about. I turned my attention back to O'Dowd as he

started to sing. "I, I will be king. And you, you will be queen. Though

nothing will drive them away... We can beat them just for one day. We can

be Heroes just for one day... .Though nothing will keep us together we

could steal time just for one day. We can be Heroes for ever and ever,

what d'you say... I, I wish you could swim like the dolphins, like

dolphins can swim. Though nothing, though nothing will keep us

together, we can beat them for ever and ever, Oh we can be Heroes just

for one day. I, I will be king and you, you will be queen. Though

nothing can drive them away, we can be Heroes just for one day... We can

be us just for one day.