It's Only Forever

Two Paths of Fate

 "Ugh, Ambrosias, stop shaking so much!" Serboa shouted gruffly.

After the fiasco, Sarah and Jareth both decided that Serboa should just ride Ambrosias for the remainder of their journey. The change allowed Sarah to stretch her arms out, and worry less about knocking him off her shoulders. In any case, considering how good Sir Didymus was for Ambrosias, they both figured that Serboa would give him the same needed discipline, if not more.

However, it also made Sarah wonder what they were going to do after they got Sir Didymus back. Albeit Serboa wouldn't need a ride forever, because he would heal eventually, but after all he had gone through at their side she felt like he deserved to ride as much as he so desired once everything was over.... Only, what she was thinking through would contradict her original plans for leaving the Labyrinth behind.

"I have another wish to make considering our deal," Sarah said nonchalantly, brushing up alongside Jareth while Serboa continued yelling obscenities in the background.

The Goblin King instantly looked back at her with heavy suspicion, "What?"

"Once we defeat Jocelyn, and get your throne back... I want my dog Merlin here."

His eyes widened slightly, evidently surprised that she asked for something so simple. In response, he looked thoughtful, "He's that important to you?"

She nodded, misty-eyed, "I've had him for a long time... and my stepmother hardly tolerates him, so I worry about how she might treat him if I leave him there. Anyways, you were obviously spying on me for the past three years, so you should have noticed how good he is at calming Ambrosias down. Besides, I think he would also be a wonderful steed for our impatient friend here." Sarah gestured a hand toward Serboa, who was still snapping at the frightful dog.

Jareth's eyes traveled from the goblin and dog duo back up to Sarah, his eyes searching her gaze for a long moment before he finally replied. "... I suppose I could allow it."

Sarah snorted, "And I suppose you thought I was going to ask for something else, huh?"

He didn't answer, turning his head to face forward and leaving them in silence for a few minutes as they walked through the empty caves. There were no more false alarms as far as they could see, and Autumn bounced around the group energetically.

Sarah broke the silence with something that had been bugging her thoughts since they came across the woman that had stolen the Labyrinth from under Jareth's nose. "Jocelyn let it slip that one of the only powers you still have is with your crystals."

Jareth nodded wordlessly, still not turning to look at her.

"But that can't be completely true, can it?" she asked dubiously, causing him to look over at her in such a way that she could only assume she was right. "More than just what you can see in them, I mean. You turned a crystal ball into a snake before my eyes, and that in turn became a goblin when I dropped it. Your crystals are illusions of your creations, which also explains what you did to me when I ate that peach."

Jareth stopped in his tracks, the glitter in his eyes indecipherable as even Sarah stopped walking to turn herself completely toward him. He still said nothing, but she had the sense that she was onto him.

"So I'm right. The Labyrinth isn't what gave you your powers, your abilities are just naturally so complex. The only thing the Labyrinth can do is perhaps amplify your powers. Otherwise your abilities should be natural, right?"

A roguish smile crossed the fae's lips, one that threw Sarah off so much that she felt her cheeks burning heavily. It was such a smile that showcased his brilliant arrogance, and reminded her just how attractive he was. 'No... I can't be thinking this...! Can I...?'