Broken Glass

Disclaimer: Jareth, Sarah, Toby, and the Labyrinth and a lot of other things do not belong to me. I am making no money off this, I do it for my sanity. The story itself is mine, as are any original characters.

This story is dedicated to all dreamers, to all who hope, and to all who walk on the shards of shattered existence with little
complaint.

Part 1/3

I hate it all. That's all I can think about. I can't stand it. For years, it's been this way. Life isn't worth it anymore. Not since
him. Not since the Labyrinth.

Years ago, I saved my brother from the goblin king, Jareth. But once I came home, I realized something; once you go through
an adventure like that, life is boring. I want to return, it's all I want. But I can't seem to. I hate these people I must interact
with, these people with no imagination, no sense of adventure. All I want is to go home, to the Labyrinth.

I'm stuck going home to see my family. I love my little brother Toby. Partially because he's a sweet kid, partially because he
reminds me of the Labyrinth. But it's pouring, and driving in the rain isn't easy for me. The crystal droplets pounding down
from the heavens remind me of spinning crystal balls. But-- oh god!! Turn! Swerve! Nonononono the glass the blood oh
shiiiiit!!!!!!!

Blackness.

I'm floating. What happened? I can't seem to remember. I was somewhere..... first off.... who am I? Sarah. I am Sarah. There's
light now, brighter and brighter.....

Who is he? I know him, seeing him I want to cry with joy. I'm in a beautiful ballroom. It's empty, except for him. I glance
down. I'm wearing an elegant silver dress. I look back at him, he's approaching me. Jareth! That's who he is! Faint memories
taunt me, just out of reach. Goblins..... creatures..... a book..... all these images whip past.

He reaches out a hand. "Sarah." That one word, in a voice smooth a melted chocolate, sends shivers up my spine. More
memories taunt me. I grab at them desparately. I know who I am and who he is.... well, sort of.

He takes my hands. I am wary but do not resist. "It has been a long time, Sarah. I know you are confused. But dance with me,
perhaps that will clear your thoughts."

Music begins to play softly. He takes me in his arms, and we dance. My mind is racing, trying to remember. Finally, I give in
and blank out my mind, concentrating only on the gentle swaying of the dance.

"Jareth...." I begin to speak. "You know me, and I you.... but I'm so confused. Tell me; who am I?"

He chuckles, which confuses me. "To do so could bring harm to you."

I stiffen in his arms and look at him with a hint of coldness. "I need to know. Who am I?!"

He sighs. "Fine. Look up."

My head turns up and I stare at the skylight, showing the glittering stars above, and a full moon. The shimmering moonlight
pricks a memory in the back of my mind. A few begin to swirl around in my head. I file them away with the others I have
recovered.

Jareth steps back for a moment. Holding out a hand, a crystal suddenly appears. I stare into it, fascinated. I see something that
startles me. I see my dreams. They swarm me. Memories of my life surface. The Labyrinth. Hoggle. Didymus. Ludo. Toby.
The whole adventure comes forth. My mother. My step-mother. My college professors. My ex-friends. My mind is swimming
in these thoughts, but I am driven back to reality by two things. The first, Jareth's hand on my arm. The second, a sharp pain in
my feet. I look at Jareth, mixing the thoughts of my old view with this new light I see him in. Though we've barely spoken to
each other, I sense something different about him. Something different about this ballroom.

I turn my attention to the pain. I look down, and my jaw drops with shock. The bottom hem of my dress is stained with scarlet
blood.  The floor.... I hadn't noticed it. It's covered with broken glass, like a hundred crystals had fallen onto the floor and
shattered. I feel them painfully dig into my feet. Blood trickling down.

Jareth sees my pain. "I told you so."

I look at him, my mouth still open in shock, the sight of blood in my mine, my feet hurting as I attempt to shift my weight.
"What.. what is this?!"

"Glass." He states, perfectly calm.

"Why?!"

He shrugs. "Your memories... your life, even. All like crystals, thrown to the wind. All come back and bring you unbearable
pain. We are not in a normal place, Sarah. Here, mind and thought are physical. This is a realm of infinite beauty, but it still
has its pain."

I stare at him, and watch as he tosses the crystal in his hand up into the air. I see in crash to the ground, breaking. As I watch
it, something in my mind snaps, and I feel memories flowing into me.
 
 
Part 2/3

A flash of memory. The dancer. The music box. Hitting it, watching it fall to the floor and shatter. Feeling glass hit me, seeing
a little blood seeping into the carpet.

Flash. A voice behind me, yelling at me. Telling me that I needed to pay attention, stop living in fantasy realms. No, I can't
listen to him, he'll never understand. Anger drives me, I punch the mirror beside him. Pain shoots up my arm, shards fly. I
hear his shout of concern and surprise. Tears trickle down my cheeks, there's only pain. The salty tears sting the new cuts on
my face from the flying glass.

Flash. Rain, clouds, all fitting to my mood. Depressed, but determined not to let them get to me. Driving, a sudden swerve.
The windshield, shards of glass everywhere, blood in my eyes, it hurts it hurts it hurts make it stop
makeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstop....

Then I'm back, his two eyes staring into mine. The contrast of blue and a hazel color that defies definition. My own darker
eyes glimmering with the unshed tears that blur my vision.

"Make it stop...." My voice is hoarse, my throat clogged with tears.

His arms tighten around me. "Believe in me. Love me, fear me, do as I say....  I will be your slave, forever. I'll make it all go
away."

"Yes..." My ragged voice croaks. "Just don't make me be alone anymore.... Let me be me. Let me live!"

"You are a queen of dreams. Everything and anything for you. But one more thing you must give me." His smooth voice
breaths in my ear.

I glance downward. Blood trailing on the floor. The glass shards digging into my feet, the pain unbearable. I look back into
his eyes. What was that flare of emotion? Power? Lust? Perhaps.... love? My heart jumps at such a possibilty. I am still
infected with my teenage dreams. He is still so charming, truly a king. And it is as if I can see the sincerity in his
soul."Anything...."

He leans towards me, a lock of his hair falling over his eye. My heart stops for a moment. His lips gently brush mine. Then
they travel to my neck, trailing light kisses up to my ear, and he whispers in a voice so soft I can barely hear it. "I need your
memories."

My brain went into shock for a moment. My memories? For an instant, my life flashes before me, crystal clear, then vanishes,
leaving only the muddled sense I have had while in this ball. "You can't have them!" I push back out of his arms. He grabs my
wrists, digging in sharply.

"Sarah..." His voice is sharp, but behind it I sensed something..... something like worry, tenderness... I have no time to think
of  it, because just then he leans in close. "I suppose it must be this way then.... but since you will not let me be your savior,
let me at least do this for you." I almost scream from the pain of the glass. My feet are sticky, drenched in the crimson liquid.
Jareth closes in, his lips capturing mine. A kiss so strong I forget the pain, and I am drownding in ecstasy.

No pain. All there is in the universe is me and him. We meld together. For an instant, we are each other. I feel his desires, his
hurts, his dreams. He wishes to control me, he desires power.... but he also loves me, craves my heart and for it is willing to
make the sacrifice and give me what he can of his. And I know that he knows I love him. We draw apart. As I stare into those
eyes, I see something I hadn't expected.

Tears. Fear and regret. I watch him, nervous. The words 'savior' and 'at least I can do this for you' come to my mind. I feel a
bit weaker.

Then I am hit with a blast of memories.

Flash. Everything is coming together. I was in a car accident. The nurses.... I overheard them..... they said I probably wouldn't
survive the surgery. Then I was at the ball. All the memories are pouring into my head, all I want is for Jareth to make it go
away, but now I realize that he can't because these memories are the trigger and now I will go...

There is no pain, but I still feel the life slowly draining from me. The room is darkening, but his face is still clear. I focus on
it, as if I can stare at it forever and and avoid my destiny.

"You will not let me save you," Jareth murmurs, his hand lightly touching my face, "but perhaps it is for the best. I can do
something more for you. I can save your soul." He pulls out a crystal. And slowly, I feel my spirit pulled towards it. I am
getting sleepy, only seeing the glowing ball. I feel one last kiss planted on my forehead, and hear his words. "I love you,
Sarah. But now, you will always be with me, and never alone, though I don't know if it will be a blessing or a curse."

"I love you too...." I force the words past my lips that struggle to draw air. These last words, only a pale echo of the true
emotion in my heart. Somehow, I know he knows.  Slowly, it all fades away, and I am alone in blackness.

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Toby's head jerks up as he hears a buzzing he has dreaded. His ten-year-old face has tears streaking down it. "Sarah..." His
father hugs him close as they stare at the moniter with the flat line and high-pitched whine. Nurses rush in, but the two do not
move, their eyes drifting to the pale body of the young woman in the hospital bed, who, despite her appearance, wears a
smile on her face. A secretive smile, like one who's heart is aflame with a passion that is only for her knowledge. As is she
knows the world is hers, but will give it up so easily, because she knows it will always be there. Despite all that has
happened, with the final words audible to none on Earth, Sarah could die with a smile.
 

Part 3/3

Haunting melodies, the soft hum of low piano notes. Gentle vibrations, a clarinet's soft sound. A flute, the eerie chords
echoing out the eternity. I am, or am I? The feeling of dew on my feet, my toes digging into the soil, grass tickling my feet.
What about the blood? What blood? The thought is in my mind, yet I know not where it is from. Silvery light, the full moon. A
gentle white fire of the heavens, it reflects in the eyes I stare into. His eyes, I know not who 'he' is. Two eyes, so beautifully
contrasting in color, now they shift. I know who's they are now, they are mine, no longer a stranger to me.

A cool breeze, it drifts around me, carrying me away. It chills my skin, my bones, my soul, yet makes me feel like a light
phantom of the night, carrying dreams to the heavens. Not my words, whose are they? She, I haven't met her, but their hers,
why do I have her words? Not just those, the other words too, the words thst brought me to the Dream I love.... Words, there
are always words.

Wispy memories, a light mist, I'm dredging through with heavy feet, but a light heart. Yet despite the lack of vision, my senses
are sharp, it's a beautiful mist, I'm on a hillside watching the sun rise and set in delicate unison, an unbroken balance. Wait,
no, this isn't right, where am I, what am I, who am I......

I awake. At least, I think I do. I'm floating, surrounded by hazy, shimmering light. I can't feel my body, all I can feel is my
consciousness stretching out over a vast plane, images of it beginning to take shape, new senses sparking. It begins to lighten,
as I feel another mind brush against mine. It feels like a tingle of electricty, but I just *know* what it is. I hear a soft voice in
my mind.

"Sarah...." A soft, musical alto voice. "Welcome...."

"Who are you?" My mind whispers, frightened. The last thing I remember was whispering to Jareth...... I remember it all
now. And I know I can never forget the anguished look on Jareth's face. Am I dead? Is this the afterlife? But he said
something about saving my soul....

Laughter. "You're not dead. I am Kryssa. I am the Labyrinth."

"Who...?" My mind is confused. She is the Labyrinth?? Suddenly, I receive a message, not in words, but pictures,
experiences, memories. The words, it hits me now, they were her words. All the words, all the words I ever said. But what
words? It doesn't matter, for now I see the memories around me. Kryssa's memories. Suddenly, I am somewhere else. I am
floating among them, seeing who she is. A young woman with a sweet smile, and eyes that sparkle with life. Chestnut brown
hair framing a soft, rosy-cheeked face. I see her, screaming at people, crying, her face no longer soft and friendly but
terrifying.

I am surrounded by crystals, floating, each one a memory, a thought. A crystal containing a little girl sitting below a tree, with
a picture book. Her giggles are like a bird's light chirp on a spring morning.

A child dressed in black, hiding in the shadows, looking frightened. Another crystal, a shy teenager girl, Kryssa, blushing as a
boy smiles at her. I see her singing as she walks down a dirt road. She falters as a deer runs past. A thousand moments, all
layed out before me. It would be overwhelming, if I was back in a human body. Now, I am Thought, able to process it all.

But I also see her dreams, so strong they're tangible. A crystal containing a beautiful marble castle on a cliff overlooking a
stormy sea, with a soft rain washing away the harshness of the cliffs. A unicorn gallops through a field, it's eyes afire with
magick. A girl, Kryssa yet different, dressed as a princess. Hundreds of dreams, everywhere, but one catches my eye. Kryssa
stands before a man, recognizable as Jareth, the goblin king. She repeats the words I know so well. "I have fought my way to
the castle beyond the goblin city...."

All the crystals vanish but one, one spinning crystal. I stare at its depths. I see her screaming again, but this time in fear. She's
trapped in a buiding, its burning, the flames are enveloping it so fast, she's hoping and praying.... no.....

I see her, dying. A death deserved by none. Her screams of agony would make tears drip down my face if I still had eyes. But
at the last minute, she cracks open her eyes, and sees a crystal beside her. I see her close her eyes, and energy streaming from
her to the crystal.

I see her stand before Jareth, healed of the burns that covered her body, no blood coating her. I see him talking to her. She
cannot remember how she got there. The castle looks so different. Weaker, like it's not really there, as if its phasing in and
out,  the colors so soft and weak.  I see him give her a choice: memories or existence. My heart beats faster as I see her
crying, not wanting to die, but not wanting to lose herself. But he will not kill her. I see her body crumple to the ground, her
spirit flying like a ethereal dove, encasing the kingdom of goblins. It strengthens, builds itself up. I watch the kingdom
reforged, expanding. New areas, new buildings and forests and land popping up out of wasteland. The Labyrinth appears.
Colors strengthen, the land solidifies. It's huge and grand now, a beautiful place, like the one I fell in love with. I now
understand. Her dreams were so strong, and lasting till death, that they breached the barrier between this world and the one I
once belonged to. They created and strengthened the Labyrinth, and the dreams from those like her on Earth could now also
power the Labyrinth. Like my dreams did. We all shape it in our hopes, dreams, our fantasies.

"I was born years ago," her voice says, seeming emotionless. Yet I wonder what lays behind it. "I died at 16. I have been
here forever, and will be here forever more. But it is a good existence. I have my children in the Labyrinth to watch over. I
have Jareth to keep me company. perhaps he led you to believe he was in charge, but it is the Labyrinth that truly has control,
not the king. I have a world of dreamers to speak to in their imaginations. But now.... you're here. So I am no longer alone.
For despite all them, I was alone. Sarah.... will you be my friend?"

I had seen all her memories. I know her now, but will never truly know her. I cannot imagine how it would be to be so alone,
yet have so great a purpose. I guess I will find out. My mind reaches out, and draws hers into a 'hug', a gesture more powerful
than a physical one, a closeness of consciousness. No longer will either of us be alone. "Yes....." Together, we will be the
Labyrinth. I know Kryssa will teach me all I need to know.

I know this too. I was her child once, a  dreamer. I was a part of the Labyrinth, I always have been. Because I was her child,
and I will always be, but now I am her, too. And my children will be those like me, those who long for a land where magick
is at one's fingertips.

I feel something. Stretching out my mind, I look over the Labyrinth, till I find it. Jareth sits on his throne, staring into a crystal
ball. He watches over his Labyrinth, Kryssa's Labyrinth. His face has its normal arrogant look, but his eyes convey a much
different emotion. I get a flicker of instinct pushing me. Reaching out with a tendril of thought, I change the crystal ball's
image to one of my physical body. Jareth jumps, surprised. My image smiles.

"Sarah?" He is hesitant. I mentally laugh.

"Jareth," my voice is firm, but with a hint of humor, "I know why you made me this, and you are not blamed. This may even
be for the best, it's certainly going to be an adventure. And this way I will always be a part of you."  I knew he thought I could
be happy with this purpose, this existence, rather than death. And I am, I just need him to know I will always be here,
watcing, guiding, and grateful....

He smiles a little. "My dear Sarah, you will always be in my heart. It seems now you are the master."

I laugh. "Nay, I do have great power, but never totally over you! But Kryssa and I will not hesitate to have a little fun
sometimes."

The look on his face made me laugh harder. I knew he was glad that I had not left him.

                                            *        *        *        *        *        *        *        *        *        *

There is no way for me to describe how it is to be the Labyrinth. My consciousness is intertwined with Kryssa's. It is spread
across the Underground, in everything and everyone here. I am able to communicate with Jareth easily, and sense anything
going on here. It will never be boring, Kryssa assures me. We also are in the Earth realm. We are in the mind and hearts of
readers and dreamers. We listen to their minds, and help them weave dreams and stories, fantasies and help them visualize it
all. We whisper to poets who have lost their inspiration, show glimpses of truth to believers. Kryssa and I.... we don't just
see things visually. We see every level.

I watch my family weaken with my death. I see all the pain in the world, the effects it has on everyone, on the very fabric of
reality. But we also see every hope, every dream, every moment of happiness. But despite all this coming from the Earth
realm, our home is the Labyrinth, our children its creatures, our main concern its welfare. For Jareth is a father to his
kingdom, but the kingdom itself is the mother.

Somewhere..... I still dance with him. Though the shards of broken glass, the fragile crystal that had been my life, cut into my
feet, when I was with him the pain became the last thing in my mind. Somewhere, somehow, I will always dance with him.
But for now, me and Kryssa have work to do. We have dreamers to whisper to, enchantments to lay. We have imaginations to
spark with the beauty that is us, the life that is the Underground. I could never have been and actress, a singer, a writer, and
anything in Earth's reality. Now, I am home to others like me, a shelter for hearts that soar, for dreamers who dance beyond
the limits of time and space. Others who never truly grew up. Even if they are not here in the physical sense, their hearts
belonge in the Labyrinth, and at night we often lead them here in their dreams, so when they awake fragments of the beauty
will perhaps remain with them.

Sometimes, I wish I had accepted Jareth's offer. To be a queen and a slave, and everything else to him, to forget my past. But
with the wisdom I now have as the Labyrinth, I know without my memories I would not have been truly happy. It all would
have been a fragile illusion. I know Jareth more than I ever thought possible, since I am now a part of him. He would not
have loved the me I would become without my memories. I would no longer be Sarah. I do not want to know what he would
do without the me of dreams he knew. The stubborn me, the childish yet mature me. I shudder to think what he would have
done if he had tired of the me he would have had.

Still, somedays I remember what it was like to be flesh and blood. To be real, to be 'normal', or as close to it as I was. I miss
it sometimes, when the pain gets to me. The pain of considering the children I could have raised, places I could of gone,
friends I could have made. The pain of thinking, of being overwhelmed by my duties, by the children I guide with Kryssa,
who is leading me in the ways of being the Labyrinth. But that crystal existence I once had was shattered. Now I am more,
and overall, I am happy. Though not body, though not with Jareth, I am more. I am what I always truly wanted in my heart.
Now I am not the Dreamer, but the Dream.