Willow blinked her eyes as she tried to focus them on the screen before her. She had spent the past several hours searching the Internet for something about the Underground but came up with nothing.

The room of Giles house was eerily quite as the Scooby Gang emerged themselves within finding some way of getting to the Underground without having to wish someone away. Even Anya was helping as she sat beside Xander and scanned the book in front of her. Buffy and Riley were out patrolling keeping the vampire population under control whilst they searched for some kind of way of getting to Giles and Sarah.

Deciding that searching the Internet was a dead end Willow stood from her chair stretching her cramped legs. Walking over to her friends she sat beside Xander with a humph.

Xander looked up from the large volume as he heard Willow slump down beside him, “No luck with the web search, huh.”

Willow shook her red head of hair, “Nope, I’ve looked under any reference that I could come up with and came up with nothing that would help.”

Anya looked up from the book that she had in hand, “Well of coarse you’re not going to find anything on the Internet about that place. It’s even a secret from the demon world. Well mostly.”

Willow looked skeptically to Anya, “What do you mean mostly?”

Exhaling Anya closed the book in hand crossing her arms over her now closed book, “This place that you guys talked about is known only as a myth to them, a really old myth. Since it’s not of this world none of them would really care about that place. Come to think of it it’s a wonder that that book Sarah told you guys about even existed.”

“What do you mean?” Willow asked.

“Out of all the books you’ve read have you ever run across any called the Labyrinth?”

Willow scrunched her brow at that as she sat back on her heals, “Come to think of it, when I tried to do a search for that book I found nothing. It’s as if it never existed. I even did a search on the author and found no such person.”

Xander looked to Willow, “Willow I doubt that every author or book is on the internet."

Willow sighed rubbing the back of her sore neck, “I don’t know. If I could just find a spell to open a doorway to another world maybe I could use that to open one to this Labyrinth.”

Before Anya could comment Buffy followed by Riley barged in the door. Buffy looked to her group of friends, “Find anything?”

Willow rose from the floor, “No, nothing. If only…”

Willow was interrupted as Anya loudly cleared her throat, “Um, we were discussing something before you rudely interrupted.”

Placing hand on hip Buffy hotly replied, “Well, excuse me! By all means please continue.”

“Ok, before Buffy barged in I was about to suggest that we might try a crossing spell. It should be able to open up a doorway to this Labyrinth place.”

Xander looked to his girlfriend, “You couldn’t have mentioned this earlier.”

Anya pouted, “Well, we were looking for information about this Underground place not a certain spell!”

Buffy looked to Willow, “Do you think it will work?”

“I don’t see how it would hurt to try. Anya, do you know this crossing spell?”

Anya shrugged, “Not by memory but it should be in one of these books somewhere.”

Buffy smiled, “Great, but lets continue this tomorrow. I don’t think that we’ll do Giles or Sarah any good if we’re all exhausted by the time we get there.”

Riley circled his arms around Buffy from behind, “She’s right. You guys have been hitting the books since this morning.”

As no one disagreed they separated shortly after and headed to their designated homes to get some sleep. The next day was sure to be a full one and they needed as much rest as possible.

 The fire crackled in the small fireplace as it warmed the figure that sat motionless in front of it. The small figure sat solemnly on a small stool as the light from the warm fire danced about his large emotionless face. His small hands sat linked together on his lap as he stared into the flames neither really seeing nor acknowledging its heated dance.

He sat alone within the small hut, his body present but his mind huddled in a dark corner of his subconscious. Sir Didymus had left him within the small hut promising his return once he had reached the Goblin castle for assistance. The promise of his friend was unheard, as Hoggle remained trapped within his own subconscious. He never noticed as magic shimmered about him and he was now sitting on his stool within some unknown surroundings. The soft fragrance and warm colors of the garden remained unnoticed to Hoggle’s still form.

Sarah slowly approached her friend fearing the worst, as he did not look up when she had called his name. Kneeling down on her knees she took Hoggle’s hands in hers looking for some sign of her friend within his eyes. Cold blue orbs stared blankly not registering her presence before him. He looked the same as she had seen him in her dream long ago. How long had he been in this condition and was she too late?

“Oh Hoggle! Please, its me Sarah.” Still no response she placed her hand to his cheek, “Can you hear me?”

Sarah looked up as she felt a hand on her shoulder seeing Jareth looking down to her. Standing she stepped back allowing him to examine Hoggle’s condition.

Jareth frowned as he saw Hoggle’s current state. He had never really liked the dwarf but felt that he did not deserve the fate that he was being dealt. The dwarf was in shock and had mentally buried himself within his own mind. If they were not able to get him to emerge from his mental state soon he knew that it would be too late for the dwarf. Sitting down on his heals Jareth conjured one of his crystals raising it up before Hoggle’s emotionless face.

Images danced about the small crystal blending in within one another shifting and blurring. Jareth concentrated fully on the task at hand barely recognizing Hoggle shifting slightly as he tried to mentally reach out for him. Hoggle returned to his motionless self as Jareth slumped slightly from his failure to reach him. Hoggle’s fear and hatred of the Goblin King caused his mind to run away from his attempts leaving only one other option. Part of him did not want to take the risk but he knew that Sarah would never forgive him if he did not at least give her the option.

Sarah watched as the crystal was filled with blurred and confusing images. When she saw Hoggle shift in his seat she became more hopeful but her hope faded as she saw Jareth slump slightly and stand. When he turned to face her heart literally sank. She was too afraid to ask.

“Sarah, there is nothing more that I can do for him.”

Sarah shook her head not believing her ears, “There has to be something.” She could tell that there was something, something that he was adamant to reveal. “There is isn’t there?”

Jareth approached Sarah taking both of her hands in his, “It is very dangerous but it is the only other option that we have to take.”

Sarah brightened at the news, “What? I don’t care how dangerous it is.”

“Sarah, the danger would be to you. Are you willing to risk your own mind to save his?” he feared her answer but knew what it would be.

Sarah did not hesitate to answer, “Yes. What do I have to do?”

Jareth looked to her for a long moment before he answered, “You’ll have to try and go into his mind. He’s hidden himself deep within his own subconscious. Sarah, this will not be easy. There is a chance that you can get lost within his mind and never be able find your way out.”

Sarah looked past Jareth to her friends still form a lump forming within her throat as the price of if she failed fully sank in. Could she do this? Remembering the soft assurance of the Labyrinth earlier that day Sarah straightened squaring her shoulders as she looked back to Jareth. “I have to take that chance. I can do this.” Her last sentence was not just for Jareth but for herself.

It was so dark, so cold and empty as he slumped in a corner of the black room. All he could do was sit as the voices echoed about his ears, mocking and cruel.

 “Well, if it isn’t you and uh where are you going? Oh come, come, come Hogbrain I’m surprised at you losing your head over a girl! You don’t think that a girl could like a repulsive scab like you, do you?”

Hoggle was about to answer to Jareth’s comment, “Well she said we was…”

“What, bosom companions…friends?” Jareth’s harsh fraises blended together as the words hit hard at his heart.

Sarah’s voice then came, he could remember the look in her eyes when she had spoken her words, “This taste strange. Hoggle, what have you done?”

His own voice echoes around him once again, “Hoggle is Hoggle’s friend! Damn you Jareth and damn me too.”

Hoggle held his hands over his ears trying to block out the voices but not succeeding. He rocked his body back and forth as he tried to ignore the pain in his heart that the words brought about. The darkness started to fade as an image of Jonathan Novay with fangs drawn as he held a struggling elfin woman in his arms. The sound of a heartbeat echoed through the room slowing with each beat until it was barely audible. Navea Dalula lay limp within Jonathan’s arms as he lifts her off of the ground and carries her in his arms.

About to turn and walk away the vampire stops, turning his attention towards Hoggle, “You could have saved her you know. Why didn’t you? She’s dead because you’re a coward. A useless stupid coward, you’re no use to anyone. Useless!” Body in hand he tilted his head back laughing cruelly at the dwarf before him fading away the laughter still rung about Hoggle’s ears.

Hoggle’s head hung low in sham excepting his words as the truth. Tears bordered the edge of his large eyes until they silently fell down his wrinkly face.  “Oh, I am useless,” he admonished to himself in defeat.

Sarah knelt down in front of Hoggle as she readied herself for the journey she was about to take into his mind. Jareth had explained to her how to proceed but it was mainly up to her. She felt Jareth’s gaze as he stood behind her in waiting. His presence gave her confidence as she closed her eyes trying to reach out with her mind.

Silence surrounded her, the only sound being her own breathing as she let her own thoughts leave her mind and concentrated on the friend before her. Nothing, she opened her eyes to look at her friend when she blinked stepping back in surprise.

She could see him huddled in a dark corner covering his ears as it seemed that he was struggling with something she could not see. Slowly she proceeded forwards not sure of what she was supposed to do. An image flashed before her causing her to step back once again. The image was of her younger self, facing Hoggle’s slumped form.

 The sixteen year old Sarah stepped forward making Hoggle look up from his bent head, “Hoggle, how could you? You were my friend and you betrayed me.”

The real Sarah hurried forwards, shocked at hearing her own voice saying those words, “No Hoggle, don’t listen to her! That’s not me.”

Hoggle looked to the younger Sarah with mouth gaped open as if hit by her words. It was as if he did not hear the real Sarah at all, only the younger Sarah. “I…I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”

The fake Sarah shook her head from side to side, “How can you stand there and ask me that? Hoggle, I trusted you and you lied to me. Gave me that peach that you knew was drugged by Jareth. You’re a no good coward and I could care less whether or not you were ever even born.”

The real Sarah ran forwards kneeling in front of her friend, the look on his face broke her heart, “Hoggle, Hoggle, that isn’t me. I forgave you remember. You saved me and the others from that machine that guarded the entrance to the Goblin City. HOGGLE!”

Hoggle flinched as he looked to the real Sarah seeing her for the first time, “Sarah, is that you?”

Sarah smiled to her friend, “Yes it’s me, the real me. That other Sarah isn’t real.”

Hoggle shook his head as he stepped back from her, “NO! I don’t deserve your forgiveness. I am no friend, I’m useless.”

“No you’re not useless. I would never have made it as far as I did through the Labyrinth if it wasn’t for you. You’re one of my best friends. Don’t do this to yourself.”

Hoggle hung his head in sham, “She’s dead. I…could have saved her if I wasn’t such a coward. I wanted to help but I couldn’t…to scared to move.”

Sarah placed her hands on his shoulders, “Hoggle, look at me,” she waited for his eyes to meet hers, “There was nothing that you could have done. If you had tried to save her you would be dead and no one would be any better off. You are not useless nor a coward. I need you Hoggle. I need your friendship. Don’t give up on yourself. You did not kill her, he did. I know I saw what happened and if you had come out of your hiding place you would be dead too. Don’t let him make you another one of his victims. Please.”

Hoggle stood quietly for a long time making Sarah fear the worst. Tears threatened to escape from her eyes as she silently prayed that she did not fail her friend. Looking down away from Hoggle she tried to be strong but couldn’t help the feeling that she had failed.

As his hands gently lay on hers making her look up with hope in her eyes. Hoggle smiled to his friend, “Thank you.”

Sarah felt herself being pulled away as blackness surrounded her she felt herself falling back. Her eyes closed warily but as she opened them once again she found herself leaning back in Jareth’s arms. Light headed she tried to stand but was unable too. Looking towards Hoggle she was rewarded with Hoggle’s shocked yet happy expression.

Hoggle wasn’t sure what to think as he awoke to see Jareth, the Goblin King, the being that he feared and hated holding Sarah lovingly in his arms. At the moment more concerned for his friend he stood from where he sat approaching Sarah, “Are…are you alright?”

Sarah laughed as she heard him speaking to her, she was so overjoyed to see that he was okay, “I am now that you are… Just tired.”

Jareth picked Sarah’s limp body in his arms as if she were a mere feather, “It took a lot out of you. You need to rest for a while.”

Sarah didn’t bother to argue, as she was too exhausted to do so. Leaning her head against his shoulder she closed her eyes allowing sleep to take her into its blissful embrace.