Terra recognized the long sloping hill, but as they climbed it, she couldn't help but feel like she was sinking. And with each step forward, she sank further. She cast a glance over her shoulder at Sarah labouring away behind her and Jareth. If karma was real, Sarah was Terra's karma. After all the horrible things she had done to Sarah, it was only natural that they would come back to haunt her. But she never could have imagined that it would be this bad.

Maybe it's better this way, she thought to herself, I can get along without my dream now. Who knows, maybe someone in need of a protector will come along in future.

Terra frowned. Optimism certainly didn't suit the moment.

Jareth and Terra reached the edge of the pool and Terra looked at the calm water. It was ironic that the thing that had brought her such joy so many years ago would now spell ruin for her. She gave Jareth a pleading look but he met it coldly.

He wasted no time in getting down to business, "I, Jareth, master to Terra, my faithful servant and protector, now release her from the oath she made."

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Terra felt Jareth's presence drift away. Funny, how someone standing so close to her in that moment could feel so far away.

It almost made her feel lonely again.

Tears stung at her eyes but she blinked them away, determined not to cry in front of the others. Jareth turned and started back down the hill.

"Well, Sarah, we have a long way to go," he said.

He looked back at Terra, still staring fixedly at the surface of the pool.

"Terra?" he said, "We're going now."

Terra turned slowly and nodded.

"I'm coming," she muttered.

A bright light caught her eye and she turned back quickly in time to see the pool light up like a giant white orb. Sarah and Jareth turned back too, staring in wonder as the solid surface of the illuminated water suddenly cracked like a mirror and began drifting upwards. Terra stared at it, beginning to comprehend what was happening. Everything she had encountered from her previous visit was happening in reverse. The light she had mistaken for stars were now returning from where they came, drifting further and further upward until they really did start to look like stars.

As Terra watched them glide away, a solitary tear slipped down her cheek.