Sarah and Buffy both stood gaping at their new surroundings in wonder and disbelief. There before them goblins of all shapes and sizes clattered around them. Sarah recognized the throne room immediately and wondered just what the Goblin King was planning to do with them. She especially feared what he would do to Buffy for her actions earlier.

            Buffy could not believe her eyes. One minute she was standing in Giles living room and the next she’s standing in a room full of nasty little creatures, what she assumes goblins, all around her. As one started to edge his small body towards her she glared its way, “Don’t even think about it.”

            The goblin smiled dumbly up towards her not at all afraid and continued his approach. His mouth drooled at the shiny object on her finger and wanted it.

            As the dumb creature lunged towards her, he found himself instantly propelled away as her booted foot made contact with its small body. As he hit the wall the others within the room laughed at the other goblins misfortune then continued on with what ever they were doing before. Buffy looked towards Sarah who just shrugged at her puzzled look.

            “Do you have any idea where we are?” Buffy asked, not sure she wanted to know.

            Before Sarah could answer her question, Jareth’s accented voice answered her question for her, “This, is my castle and you are in my throne room.”

            At the sound of their King’s voice all goblins stopped with their menial play and stared hopeful for a good show. Jareth ignored his subjects as he approached the two Slayers with hands held firmly behind his back. Looking at Sarah he held her with his eyes for a moment before focussing on the other woman before him. “It would be wise that you not act as you did earlier.”

            Buffy smirked at him not at all afraid of the man before her. She had gone against worse than him and his powers did not intimidate her in the slightest. Jareth did not allow her mannerism to anger him as he continued past the Slayer and sat comfortably within his throne.

            Sarah, not being one for patience, was the first to speak, “Jareth, why have you brought us here?”

            Jareth tried to hide the smile that wanted to escape his mask of indifference he usually wore by wanting to, as she put it, bait her a bit more, “Because I can.”

            The other goblins snickered knowing all too well that their King was toying with the two women. Jareth glared down at them causing them all to go silent. Sarah started towards Jareth but was stopped by Buffy as she put her hand to her shoulder.

            Jareth smiled inwardly seeing this. Buffy showed that she did not fear him but proved that she was in no way a fool. Sarah was no fool, to say the least, but was a bit less cautious towards the Goblin King. “Beware, just because you are the Slayer does not mean that you are in any way a match for me.”

            Sarah visibly paled, she had no idea that he had known and the tone in his voice towards them was not at all comforting. Buffy was a bit surprised herself, but did not let Jareth see it. She was sure that if she let him see her, in anyway, surprised or intimidated by him that he would most probably enjoy it.

            “How did you…” her question was cut off by Jareth’s voice.

            “Know,” he finished her question for her. Rising from his throne he approached her until he was only mere inches from her, “Why Sarah, there isn’t much that I don’t know when it concerns you.”

            Sarah wasn’t sure whether or not to be flattered or insulted as he reached up and gently caressed the side of her face. His mere touch made her tremble and she found that her eyes had locked with his.

            Buffy watched in fascination at how the two looked at each other. There was something there she had not seen before now, love. She had observed the Goblin King closely since first seeing him and though he showed cruelty towards them she couldn’t deny the fact that his actions thus far were not evil…mocking, cruel, flirtatious. But evil…no.

            In moments she felt that strange tingling sensation once again and the surrounding change within moments. The throne room was replaced by Giles living room and three shocked friends staring back at her in disbelief.  Willow, Xander, and Giles blinked from the sight of Sarah and Buffy just appearing out of no where.

            Willow smiled overjoyed to see that her friends were alright, “Buffy, Sarah. I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to see you two again!”

            Buffy smiled at her best friend, “Well we’re back and might I say there’s no place like home.”

            “I take it, it wasn’t a pleasant visit.” Xander added.

            Sarah still stood there not saying a word. She wasn’t sure what had just happened, first she wanted to hit the Goblin King into next week and then she wanted to fling herself in his arms and kiss him. Something happened between them the last couple of days and she wasn’t sure what to make of any of it.

            Buffy looked back at Sarah and placed her hand on her shoulder, “You ok?”

            Sarah blinked herself out of her shocked gaze and started towards the door, “I’ll be fine. I just need some time alone.” Sarah left before any could try to ask her any questions about their departure.

            Buffy watched the door close and then went in to join her friends, “She’ll be ok but I don’t think that it’s the Goblin King that we need to worry about.”

            Giles was shocked by this coming from the Slayer, “He kidnaps the both of you and you say that he’s not to worry about!”

            Buffy shrugged, “I know it’s hard to swallow but I don’t think that he would do anything to hurt Sarah or her friends.” Buffy continued to tell them what had occurred and what she saw between the Goblin King and Sarah. “I think Sarah’s been keeping out some things about what happened between her and him.”

            Willow’s gaze was far and distant as she imagined the wonder it would be to visit a world full of magic, “Just like a fairy tale, a King in love with a Lady. So, what’s this guy like and all?”

            Xander looked over at his friend, “Willow, this guy stills babies and turns them into goblins and you want to know what he’s like.”

            Willows fantasy was shattered at that little reminder Xander supplied her with. Giles cleared his throat, “Is that all that happened? You were gone for hours.”

            “Hours,” Buffy questioned as she looked towards the clock that hung on the far wall. To her disbelief it was already almost dark, had they spent the whole day there. “That’s weird we were only there a few minutes.”

            The answer as to why it seemed so long to them and so short to Buffy suddenly came to mind, “Time must work differently there,” Giles answered.

            Buffy cut in, “Yeah, but didn’t Sarah say that she had been in the labyrinth for ten hours but had only been gone from her home in five.”

            “She did say that he had reordered time,” Giles added.

            Buffy sighed at the strangeness of the situation, “It’s bad enough to have to figure out prophecies, demons, and the occasional apocalypse, but now fairy tales.”

            Later that night after wanting to take a break from the usual nightly patrols at the cemetery Sarah and Buffy entered the local hang out of the Bronze. Sarah’s ears were assaulted by loud music as they entered the door and headed towards a table with Willow, Xander and Anya. Sitting at the small table Sarah watched as the band played some rather enjoyable yet loud music. Buffy had returned with two cokes in hand as she seated herself beside Sarah.

            Sarah was glad to see Buffy return with the drinks feeling very thirsty. Clubs were not exactly Sarah’s cup of tea but the place was starting to grow on her. They were surrounded by high school and college students laughing and dancing making Sarah long for a little normalcy within her life.

            A screech of the speakers and the screams of the patrons cut their moment for relaxation short. Looking to find the source of the disturbance Sarah saw the source of the commotion. At the corner of the stage a small goblin was pulling at the power cords of the instruments and another goblin was pouncing on one of the musicians. Both Buffy and Sarah headed straight for the stage through the retreating crowd that were quickly making their exits from the club.

            Sarah lunged for the goblin that was pulling on the musicians pant leg but missed as the goblin saw her coming for him. The gray goblin made for an exit trailing behind the other goblin that had just escaped Buffy’s attack. Buffy and Sarah followed both determined to find out where they were going and how they had gotten in.

            Buffy watched as they disappeared through a small hole in the floor of the club. Coming to the small opening Buffy saw that it was too small for the two of them to fit through, so she did the obvious. Punching through the wooden floor boards Buffy yanked at it pulling lose the floorboards making the opening large enough to climb through. Sarah watched with wonder at how strong she was then remembered that that was part of the package of being the Slayer and followed after.

            After seeing Buffy disappear through the whole Sarah stepped to the opening and without hesitation followed suit. Landing on her feet she noted the damp and unpleasant air around her with distaste. “Where are we?” she breathed trying not to smell the disturbing odder, mind you that she had smelled worse being the Bog of Eternal Stench.

            Buffy pulled out one of her wooden stakes, “It’s the sewers. Be careful vampires love it down here.”

            Sarah, taking note of her warning, took out her own wooden stake not really enjoying the fact that they were about to go exploring within a sewer. “Great, did I tell you how much I love Sunnydale?”

            Buffy smiled noting the heavy sarcasm in Sarah’s voice. “They went this way come on,” she whispered over her shoulder.

            Without further question Sarah followed Buffy deeper within the sewers hoping that she knew her way around. Sarah was starting to feel very uneasy the further they went, something was bothering her but she couldn’t put a finger on it. Sarah almost ran over Buffy when she had stopped just in front of her, back stiffening.

            The inhuman growl followed by someone knocking her into the wall beside her told her that vampires were here. Hitting off the vampire with a jab of her elbow Sarah delivered a turn kick as she turned to face her attacker. Glancing towards Buffy Sarah noted Buffy fighting off a couple of others. The vampire charged her bringing her back to the vampire at hand. As he reached for her she blocked his advancement with her left hand bringing her right fist in contact with his disfigured face. The vampire faltered back as the force of the impact took him by surprise. With the vampires arm still within hand Sarah flipped the creature on its back and continued with plunging the wooden stake into its heart. The vampire was dust in seconds allowing Sarah to go to Buffy’s aid but seeing that she didn’t need to.

            Buffy stood waiting for Sarah to join her, “Nice, now that we’re warmed up lets see what we can find.”

            Continuing onward Sarah and Buffy were greeted by a faint glow from up ahead. Looking to each other they ran cautiously towards the light. As they entered the small room Sarah and Buffy scanned the area for more vampires and the source of the light they had seen.

            Sarah was now in front of Buffy but came to a complete stop when she saw the source of the light. Before her in the ground of the damp cold room lay a crack with the image of something eerily familiar. She barely could believe her eyes but it would explain the goblins in Sunnydale. “So, that’s how they’ve been getting here.”

            Buffy saw what Sarah was looking at, “What the?” coming closer to the image before her she lightly kicked a small pebble with the toe of her foot towards the image and watched as the pebble went through and landed on the ground within the image. Looking back at Sarah she had guessed as to what it was before them, “I think this might be some kind of gateway between our world and this one.”

            “It’s the Underground,” Sarah stated mater of factly, “Come on lets go.”

            Buffy grabbed Sarah’s arm before she could continue, “Wait, we don’t know if this gateway or whatever this is closes once we’re on the other side. We can’t just go charging.”

            Sarah knew that Buffy was right but she couldn’t shake the feeling that she needed to go through that portal. Without further warning Sarah jumped into the large gap within the ground and fell. In seconds she landed on the other side but lost her balance and rolled down the short hill. Buffy followed not too long after but not losing her balance like Sarah had.

            Buffy stood at the top of the hill looking at the sight before her in bewilderment. A large maze stretched out as far as the eye could see in every direction, the large castle standing proudly at the maze center. Drawing her eyes away from the sight before her Buffy came to Sarah’s side, “We aren’t where I think we are, are we?”

            Sarah dusted off her blue jeans and shirt and looked out at the all too familiar scene of the labyrinth, “It’s the Labyrinth.”

            Buffy gapped slightly up at Sarah in disbelief, “You made it through that place in less than ten hours!”

            Sarah smiled at Buffy in her reaction to her accomplishment, “Yep,” she answered as she looked back to where they had entered the portal. To her horror the portal started to close, “Oh crap!” Sarah started towards the portal with Buffy not too far behind her but just as they reached it the opening closed completely.

            Buffy’s eyes stared at the place where only moments ago laid the doorway back to her world and then she slowly turned her eyes towards Sarah. Sarah looked back to Buffy and noted the not too pleased expression on her face. “I told you not to go in, but NO what do you go and do?”

            Sarah grimaced at the glare she was receiving from Buffy, “It’s not as bad as it looks.”

            “OH, really! Do pray tell.”

            Sarah just rolled her eyes and made her way towards the labyrinth gate. Passing the all too familiar fountain where she had first met Hoggle Sarah was disappointed when she didn’t see him there. As she wondered where he could be Buffy trailed just behind her.

            Buffy’s anger subsided as she caught up with her new friend Sarah, noting to herself that when she first started out as the Slayer she had made many mistakes in the beginning. “Sorry, about being all snappy back there.”

            Sarah looked back to Buffy relieved that she wasn’t still angry with her, “You had every right to be upset with me. I just had to go through,” Sarah looked down to herself in thought, “I can’t explain it but…I had a feeling and just acted on it.” She looked at Buffy hoping that she would understand, though she didn’t understand it herself.

            Buffy understood all to well what Sarah meant, “Believe me I understand you perfectly. You know its kind of nice to have another Slayer around again to talk to. Don’t get me wrong Willow and the others are great and everything but they just could never really know what it’s like to be the Slayer.”

            Glad that Buffy understood, Sarah looked worriedly to the labyrinth gates ahead of them. Something was wrong, she couldn’t put a finger on it but something felt really wrong. As they reached the gates they opened on their own accord, allowing entrance into its maze. Without giving it much thought Sarah continued on entering the gates with a bewildered Buffy trailing behind. When the doors shut with a loud boom both Buffy and Sarah jumped from the sudden loud noise.

            Buffy looked one way and then the other seeing a long dank corridor that seemed to stretch for eternity. “Oh, I’m just getting the warm and fuzzy’s about this place,” Buffy stated sarcastically.

            Sarah smiled remembering how she felt when she had first entered the labyrinth four years ago, “Things aren’t always what they seem in this place. Come on.”

            Following Sarah’s lead Buffy followed not at all crazy about being in a giant maze. Noticing that it was starting to get dark Buffy took out her wooden stake and watched Sarah doing the same. “I hope you remember your way around this place,” Buffy asked as the walkway around them was starting to get darker from the approaching night.

            Sarah let her fingers glide across the wall’s surface being careful not to touch the strange creatures that grew within the walls. Buffy watched Sarah and did the same but came to a screeching halt when her hand brushed up against the strange eyes that stared out at her, “Ewe, that’s disgusting!”

            Sarah turned to see what Buffy was complaining about and saw the beady eyes swirling about and hissing from Buffy’s brief contact with them. “I know, try to ignore them, they’re harmless.”

            Whipping her hands on her black pants Buffy mumbled something and continued after Sarah. She was starting to hate the place more and more as time went by. “Not to be rude but where are all the turns. I thought that this was supposed to be a maze or something.”

            Sarah smiled as she remembered the small blue worm that had pointed her in the right direction, or did he? She always wondered about that worm. Feeling an opening Sarah passed through the opening in the wall beside her and disappeared from Buffy’s sight.

            Buffy’s eyes widened when she saw Sarah disappear, “Sarah! Oh, just great.”

            Just as she had said this Sarah reached out for Buffy pulling her in with her. Buffy yelped then took a double take when she saw that they were in another passage way but instead of a never ending hallway she saw walkways and openings. Sarah laughed as she pulled Buffy along, she had forgotten how much she loved this place, “Remember, don’t take anything for granted.”

            “What are you a giant fortune cookie all the sudden?”

            “No, its just what I remember I learned about this place when I was last here. I just hope we’re wrong about the vampires being here and all.”

            Buffy caught up with Sarah and walked by her side, “I hate to bust your bubble but with the reception we received before coming here, I think it’s a definite yes on the question of vampires.”

            Turning another corner Sarah and Buffy were met with a dead end. Starting to make their way back they were hit with yet another dead end. Buffy looked over to Sarah who had turned around and watched as Sarah’s face turned almost dark. Turning to see what was up Buffy saw two doors and in front of those doors sat two shields toppled carelessly against the doors.

            Looking from the scene before them and to Sarah, Buffy was starting to get worried by the change of dark anger to that of pain, “What…what’s wrong?”

            Sarah felt sick to her stomach as she ignored Buffy’s query and edged herself towards the two shields where she knew Alph and Ralph should be. The gnawing feeling that they had been a victim of the labyrinths new inhabitants made her heart ache. She fought against the tears that threatened to escape as she noticed a dark red stain underneath the shields. She felt her stomach ache and twist at the realization that they were most probably dead. “Alph and Ralph. Oh Buffy they didn’t deserve this!”

            Buffy saw the dark red stain edged into the cement below the shields and knew that it had to be blood, “I’m sorry Sarah,” was all that she could manage to say. She knew that no words could help the pain that she knew Sarah must have been feeling.

            Sarah’s grief was turned quickly to anger as she straightened, “They’ll pay for this. I promise, they’ll pay for this.”

            Lightly placing her hand on Sarah’s shoulder Buffy tried her best to council her friend, “Sarah, I need you to concentrate on the problem at hand. Don’t let your anger cloud your judgement.”

            Sarah looked to Buffy knowing that she was right and wiped her tears away with the back of her hand, “OK, if I remember correctly they said the doors were the only way out of this part of the labyrinth.”

            Buffy looked over the door in front of them, “So which one did you choose?”

            Sarah remembered choosing the door on the right and falling into an oubliette and there was no Hoggle around to help her out of one either, so she chose the door on the left. Buffy followed closely behind not wanting to chance them getting separated. As they opened the door and walked through they were greeted by a large forest.

            Remembering the strange orange creatures called the fieries she wasn’t sure that being in this place was such a good idea, “If you start hearing music and singing run for it.”

            “Why?” Buffy asked.

            “Trust me, unless you want to see some creatures try to take off your body parts you don’t want to run into these guys.” Sarah quickened her pace as they headed deeper into the thick forest of the fieries. For some reason there was something darker about the forest, cold and unnerving.

Buffy’s eyes scanned the forest around them as she kept up her pace with Sarah. She was definitely sharing Sarah’s erg to get out of the forest as quickly as possible. Something about the place made her extremely uncomfortable. The surroundings looked almost just like any other forest she had ever seen besides the strange dark shimmering substance that tainted the trees and earth around them. Buffy’s heart involuntarily sank as she heard the faint boom of a drum.

Sarah’s quick strides turned into a heavy run as she heard the faint boom of a drum and the hum of music. To her ears it did not sound like the carefree tune she remembered but darker. As a blur of orange streaked in front of her run she came to a grinding halt.

Sarah had stopped so suddenly that Buffy almost practically ran over her. Stopping herself from colliding into Sarah she looked around them trying to catch her breath, “What is it?” she whispered to her friend.

Before Sarah could inform Buffy half a dozen fieries sprang from the surrounding brush their eyes a fierce red with teeth bared. Sarah and Buffy now stood back to back as they were surrounded by the vampire fieries.

They danced about them barely restraining their drool as they circled their intended meal. “Hey, looky yummy’s.”

“Umm hum, you take the arms I’ll take the legs.”

Sarah tightened her grip on her stake making herself ready for the fight that was coming. There were almost half a dozen of the vampire like creatures making her wonder if the two of them would be able to handle so many. Before she could think more on the matter two of the creatures lunged forwards. With a straight kick she managed to kick one of them away as the other scratched her arm making her hiss in pain as she drove the stake into the creature’s heart, well she had hoped that it was where his heart was. The fierie screamed before disintegrating into dust. The one that she had kicked away was running around trying to gather up his body parts that separated as it fell to the ground.

Buffy dodged one as it leapt towards her head and knocked it to the side as she kicked off the other that was trying to grab hold of her leg. As a sidekick literally knocked its head off she plunged the wooden stake into its heart and drew her attention back towards the others that were attacking the two of them.

Sarah held her scratched arm as it stung, the blood that the feirie had drawn was making her the sole attention of the other fieries as they caught the scent of her blood. Ducking she barely was able to dodge one as it leapt towards her wound. Luckily Buffy was right about the quick healing as the wound on Sarah’s arms had already closed. Releasing her arm she dodged another attack bringing her stake into another of the fieries heart.

The fieries mad attack was starting to desipate as their numbers were starting to dwindle. Realizing that they were out matched they started to scatter as they tried to flee the impending doom of being the next slain. Buffy and Sarah had lost count at how many that they had dusted by the time that the attack was over. The adrenaline caused by the fight made Sarah shake as the full impact of what had just happened sunk in.

Buffy had fought quit a few demons in her time but the ones that they had just faced were in her list of the weirdest. She had seen humans as vampires but this was a different breed of vampire. Not only were they extremely blood thirsty but the way that their body parts would fly off and then reattach made them all the more hard to slay. Looking to Sarah she noted her trembling, “You all right?”

Sarah looked to Buffy sadness deep within her eyes, “We have to stop this. They’re destroying the pure magic within this place… Buffy, I think I know why I’ve been having these dreams.”

Buffy arched her brow, she thought that they had already came to a decision with that one, “Yeah, I know. I mean it’s quit obvious. The vampires from our world crossed over to this one and are infecting this place.”

Sarah shook her head as she continued forward, “Yes, but I think that there is more. I mean, from what Sir Didimous and Hoggle told me a while back, I’m the only person to ever defeat the Labyrinth. Maybe I’m connected to this place some how. Maybe that door that we came through was opened for me, that’s why it’s now closed.”

“Ok, I’ll go along with this. If you’re the reason why the doorway to this world was opened, why now and not four years ago after you won?”

Sarah thought hard about that one, “I don’t know. It’s just that…Buffy have you ever felt as if you belonged, that this is where you’re supposed to be?”

Buffy thought about that knowing that being a slayer made it hard to fit in, but with her friends and boyfriend things did feel right. Like she was where she was supposed to be, “Well, yeah. I think that I do.”

Sarah continued, “Well, four years ago when I went through this labyrinth, when I think about it, that’s how I felt about this place. When I had confronted Jareth at the end a part of me wanted to stay and regretted having to say the words but I had too, for Toby’s sake” there was a pause, “Buffy can I tell you something?”

Buffy smiled reassuringly towards Sarah, “Okay, I’m all ears.”

“I don’t want to go back. I feel like this is where I’m supposed to be, this is where I want to stay.” As she confided this to Buffy, she was in actuality realizing it at the same time. It wasn’t just her attraction to the Goblin King but it was this place, this world. Full of magic and dreams she wanted to stay, to protect it from the evils that were threatening this place. It felt like more of a home here than any other place she had ever been.

Buffy understood what she was saying and was slightly pained at the thought of being the only slayer in Sunnydale. She was just starting to get use to the idea of having another Slayer around.

As they continued their way onward they never noticed the figure hidden deep within the shadows watching them. Eyes flashed with anger as the being quickly retreated to his master.