Labyrinth- Jareth's Return

24. Peace at Last

Xerxes' eyes widened as his father came into view. Dracius stumbled back slightly as the dragon stepped closer. His mouth agape as he gazed up to the substantial beast before him. No.. it can't be! Dracius thought as the dragon hovered above.

Vulcan scanned his head around and caught his eye on Dracius. "You, are you not the dragon king? Why do you cower when faced with a dragon?" His voice deep it reverberated out of everyone's chest as he spoke.

Dracius gulped as he collected his composure standing up to face Vulcan. "I thought,"

"You thought, your father destroyed me? Well, that was not the case. It seems a lot of history was changed."

Xerxes pursed his lips and stood up, running up to stand before his father. Vulcan lowered his head to meet Xerxes and peered into his son's concerned eyes. "Father," Tears welled in Xerxes's eyes as Vulcan's gaze softened at the sight.

"Hush now ssson. This was her final trial." He hissed, his head turned around to grab an item that laid around his neck. As he turned back he laid a box before Xerxes feet. As Vulcan placed the wooden box on the ground, he opened the lid revealing a glowing dragon scale that pulsated in the box. Xerxes' eyes widened in excitement as he looked back up to his father with a wide grin.

"What is this?" Jareth asked as he held Sarah closer. Dracius stood up with pure disbelief as the glow from the box grew.

"That's.... The golden scale.." Dracius whispered as he looked on in shock. "There's a book in the castle I hid from my father... or King Tato about the golden scale. I thought it was a myth."

Vulcan raised an eye to Dracius as he watched him cautiously. Xerxes looked at Dracius with a smug look and chuckled to himself.

"The one thing you finally did right, dragon king." Xerxes scoffed as he looked away.

Dracius glared at the strange figure that stood beside the dragon, his face twitching in agitation from the ridicule.

"How dare you laugh at me!" Dracius growled as he clenched his fists. Xerxes crossed his arms and made a face mocking Dracius. "Or what, Dra-gon King." Xerxes made a face. "You gonna fry me up?"

Dracius pupils slitted at the man before him mocking his tone and went to take a step toward the strange figure. Xerxes smiled wide as his teeth began to sharpen, his eyes turning into dragon slits as he began to transform.

"Enough!" Vulcan bellowed before staring down toward Xerxes sharply. Xerxes switched back to his human form crossing his arms looking away like a stubborn teenager. "I was only going to set him straight, father." He mumbled. Dracius looked at the man in horror as he shifted back and became submissive to the dragon above. What the hell is he? Who is he? and.... Father? Dracius' face contorted in confusion as he looked to the ground rummaging through his thoughts.

Jareth rolled his eyes as he looked up to the dragon. "Excuse me," He yelled up to Vulcan, catching his eye. Vulcan peered down at the man and looked at Sarah in his arms still lying limp, his eyes squinted as a faint beat of light still pulsed within her body that only Vulcan could see.

"Not to interrupt this display but, What is it for? Can it help Sarah?" Jareth inquired as his once tear rimmed eyes began to dry at the hope of Sarah returning.

Xerxes looked to his father lowering his arms remembering the circumstances at hand. Vulcan nodded to his son as he looked toward the box. Xerxes pursed his lips into determination as he bent to grab the scale.

Dracius looked on in anger as he watched the strange man grab the scale. "Hey! What gives you the right to hold such an artifact!" Xerxes' eyes shifted as his voice deepened. "I have more right than you, Dragon king." Dracius fell to the ground as the voice pierced his ears, realizing who exactly was the man before him. "Xerxes?" He mumbled.