The Goblin Queen:

Introduction:

Daylight fades beyond the hills, as the bell begins to ring. The labyrinth closes one last time, and to the tale of a being, begins with who, begins with why, as begins to play a lullaby, and the last whisper, the last word on the wind, tells a completely different story of sort, no more wasting time, for behind you, up near, you shall spy, but a daffodil, the flower of purity, of love and truth and you shall find what you most seeketh. Go forth now and prosper.

Chapter One: Bubbles, not the

bubbles!

Toby entered the musty smelling book shop, inhaling the rich scent of ink pressed onto the soft pages of hundreds of books. It's been a familiar setting for him, ever since his parent's died in an automobile accident three years back. His older sister Sarah, a self proclaimed fantasy writer, became his legal guardian and took him to live with her at her bookstore she owned.

Not that living with her was bad. Toby enjoyed being around his older sister who had been his role model as a child. It was just that, well…her stories were amazing and magical to him as a kid, but now they were just that…stories. The way Sarah talked though; it seemed as if she actually believed she knew the characters in her most famous book, Labyrinth. She would speak of how she saved Ludo and all about the worm who invited her to tea.

Toby sighed before pulling out his permission form. A magician was coming to his school and he had to have permission to watch. It was supposed to be really entertaining. "Sarah!" he called into the book filled office in the back of the store. No answer rang back. Toby frowned. "She's probably writing a new novel on how Didymus saved them all from the Goblin King." He shook his head irritated.

"Sarah! I'm home!" Toby called, searching for her among the piles of books stacked on her desk. "Hey Toby! You want to read the next chapter of my new book?" Sarah came from around the corner, whipping ink stained hands onto her pants. Toby quickly shook his head. "No! I mean…no thank you. I just needed to ask you to sign something." He stated casually. "Oh," Sarah said absentmindedly, her mind still on the goblin king. "Perfect," Toby thought. "It's for a magic show! The guy is really cool! He can do the most amazing magic tricks with bubbles and…"

Sarah looked up sharply. "Bubbles? Did you say he did tricks with bubbles?" Toby nodded slowly, wondering what was going on now. Bubbles are completely harmless. No sharp edges or anything. "You can't go." Sarah turned away, obviously thinking the topic was closed. But no, Toby had missed to many things because of her weird fantasy fears. "Why not! You are so lame! You ruin everything for me! I never get to do anything because of you!" he exclaimed angrily.

Sarah looked back at him calmly. "Toby," she said slowly, "There are some things you just do not understand. This is one of them. Please I do not want you to go to that magic show!" Toby scowled furiously. "It's because of that stupid book isn't it? The LABYRINTH! The labyrinth isn't even real Sarah! You're crazy! None of it is real!" "You don't know what you're talking about!" Sarah exclaimed, a horrified look on her face.

"It's not real!" Toby yelled again. "There is no goblin king! If there was…I… I'd say this…" a look of fear flashed across Sarah's face. "No Toby! Don't do it!" "I wish the goblins would come take you away…" he turned to storm away and as an afterthought said, "Right now!"

Suddenly, a wind picks up out of nowhere. Toby turns to find Sarah has completely disappeared. Where she had stood is a single white owl. Who turns quickly into a man. "Who are you?" Toby asked. "Jareth, King of the goblins!" he pulled out a crystal ball. "It has been quite a while, Sarah." He said looking into it. Toby looked closer and gasped. "Sarah! What are you doing to her?" "Taking her away of course." Jareth replied smoothly. "Isn't that what you wanted?" Toby suddenly felt light headed. What had he done?

"I didn't mean it! I'll take her back, please!" Toby exclaimed. Jareth laughed. "I did what you asked, but I will not bend to your every will. Go, have fun. Be a regular boy, isn't that what you wanted?" Toby's heart is filled with longing. Yes that is exactly what he wanted. To be normal and not have Sarah scaring off his friends or not letting him wander away.

"I want my sister back, please." He said, maybe a tad to hesitant. Jareth grinned, and it was quite creepy. "She is at my castle now. Where she will be prepared to become my bride." He turned to leave. "Enjoy life as a normal boy, Toby. Forget about your sister."

"NO!" Toby screamed and ran after the Goblin King, only to find himself falling. "Ouff!" he hits the ground hard, the air whooshing out of him. "You have thirteen hours until your sister and I wed. Then it will be too late because she will be trapped here forever!" Jareth's voice seems to echo even when he is long gone, leaving Toby completely alone.