One:

Runaway

An eerie silence suspended itself over the graveyard, which was enveloped in darkness as night fell over the countryside of Coolsville. Beneath one of the graves that dotted the grim cemetery, the entrance to the Goblin King's liar awaited anyone who was brave or foolish enough to tread under its great, looming shadow.

The liar itself was a mighty castle. It had many glowing windows which shown with an eerie, green hue that lighted the ground. The dark fortress was particularly lively that evening, for the goblin horde was having a very raucous party down in the castle's deepest depths.

Princess Willow wasn't enjoying the festivities one bit. She was pacing up and down on a windowsill. Being a prisoner in her own room, she was trapped while the rest of the faerie kingdom was allowed to have all the fun in the world.

"Dear, why are you pacing so?"

Willow jumped at the voice. She didn't turn around to see who had spoken because she knew it was her father. His voice was menacingly deep and booming and instantly recognizable.

"Go away, Daddy!" she ordered sternly, not really feeling as hard as she sounded. Her father only seemed a little hurt.

"Now, dear, I'm doing this for your own good. You did get your powers taken away, after all," he said, his voice low.

Angry at being pestered, Willow swerved to face her father. He was standing over her, watching her like a hawk as he gripped his powerful goblin scepter in one of his claws.

"Well, maybe I wouldn't run away if I had two parents to look after me!" she shot back, knowing good and well she had hit one of her father's sore spots. His face turned to stone.

"What happened with your mother wasn't my fault! She was just… different…now, stay in here a while longer and I'll have somebody come up later to look in on you. Not another word about your mother!" he roared and stomped out the door, which he slammed. Willow felt her wings wilt. She hated to fight with her father. She truly did love him…he just made her so mad sometimes!

Stifling a frustrated scream with one of her tiny hands, Willow leaned against the windowpane, feeling exhausted. She needed fresh air, adventure! She needed to see Scooby and Shaggy again!

Lowering her hand away from her flushed, pretty face, Willow smiled. Thinking of Scooby and Shaggy always brightened her day. She had never forgotten how the odd pair had saved her from the evil Krudsky. She was truly grateful that her father had allowed them to keep their memories of the night at the carnival, where she had been captured by that awful magician…

Willow shivered. Her mood was bleak once more. Krudsky had been a mad, phony conjurer who had kidnapped her for her powers. Her father had been so furious when he learned of her capture…

Groaning, Willow put her face in her hands. She had too much time to think. She had to get out of here. She wasn't afraid of that crazy, old Krudsky! Scooby and Shaggy had completely humiliated him before her father had him imprisoned. He would never be able to show his face in public ever again!

Sadly, her father didn't understand that. He was determined to keep her safe by locking her up for the rest of eternity. If only she could persuade him.

Her mind made up, Willow launched into flight and began to dart about the room. She would find a way out of this prison.

His throne starting to feel warm, the Goblin King shifted in his seat. His slanted eyes followed the eccentric movements of the dancing goblins below him. The party was far from over.

Facing a crowded pit, the King curled his lips in a snarl. He absolutely despised parties. If it was up to him, there would be no celebrations whatsoever. His subjects, however, wanted parties. And his king had to keep his subjects happy, even if they were a bunch of pesky minions.

One of those minions, who had been dancing in the pit, flew up to his ruler's position and asked, "Why don't you dance with us, your Highness?"

The King lowered his head wearily. "You know I don't do parties, Glob," he grumbled, watching the smaller goblin flap his miniature, dark wings elatedly. He was struggling to keep his plump body afloat.

"I can't dance! Now, go! Tend to Princess Willow!" the King roared. Glob flinched.

"Is s-something wrong with your d-daughter, sire?" he stammered, his entire body trembling. The King growled deep in his throat.

"She's perfectly fine! I just want you to keep an eye on her. Take Glum, if you must!" he snapped. Glob grinned, showing his pointy teeth.

"Oh, good," he said to himself before flapping away. The King groaned.

No more parties. I'm getting too old for them, he thought, closing his eyes. The night, which was endless in his kingdom, went on.

Willow gasped. Someone had just knocked on her door.

"Princess! Is everything all right? Princess?"

Willow smiled. It was Glob and Glum, she knew. They followed her father around a lot. She wouldn't be surprised if he had sent them up here to look after her.

For a moment, Willow debated on whether or not she should answer the two clumsy goblins. They had gotten her into trouble on numerous occasions. Yet, if she let them in, she could distract them and escape. This whole thing could play out in her favor!

Confident, Willow cried, "I'm fine! Come on in!" Instantly the door swung open

"Oh, it's good to see you, princess! Your father is very worried," Glob said, flapping up to her.

"Yes, something is deeply troubling him," Glum confirmed.

Willow, feigning surprise, questioned, "What's wrong with father? He has been acting rather upset lately."

Glob said, "He says he can't dance."

Glum added, "No wonder! Look how big he is!"

Willow smirked. She really missed hanging out with these guys. "Poor father. He never could dance. Mother always said so," she reminisced, noticing that the gullible expressions on Glum's and Glob's faces had turned solemn at the mention of her mother.

"Maybe you shouldn't talk about your mother much. The King doesn't like it," Glob grunted. Glum nodded in agreement. Willow just shook her head sadly.

"I know, I know. But I just miss my mother so…say, can you keep a secret?" she whispered. Glob and Glum looked at each other and grinned.

"Yeah, sure we can," they both said in unison.

Trying to keep her face straight, Willow bent down between the two goblins, acted like she was going to whisper into their pointy ears, and took off. She flew across the doorway as Glum and Glob shouted after her.

Freedom! She thought jovially. This flight was going to be a blast!

His library brightened by the glow of a jack o' lantern, Mr. Gibbles straightened his glasses on his nose and smiled.

"Have you discovered something, master?" Jack asked, peeking over the crystal globe that Mr. Gibbles had been hunched over for hours. The old man beamed.

"It's nothing spectacular, my friend, but I think we have a visitor at our door," he guessed. Jack lifted his glowing eyes in surprise. His master's senses had been heightened since his time as a rabbit, and Jack was fascinated by Mr. Gibbles' ability to pinpoint a presence before it was even among them.

"I wonder who it could be?" the pumpkin asked. Mr. Gibbles shrugged.

"Here, we will see…" he trailed off and turned toward the door. "Come on in!" The door creaked open.

"Sir, its Princess Willow!" Jack gasped in alarm. Mr. Gibbles nodded wearily.

"Unfortunately, that appears to be the case…Dear, why are you here? Your father will boil us alive if he finds out you're here!" he cried.

Jack bounced up and down on the table. "He'll put out my candle!"

Willow looked at the pumpkin as he spoke. She bit her lip nervously and said, "I'm sorry…but you really must hide me! Take me somewhere else! Glob and Glum are after me!"

Gibbles grimaced. "Oh, my…this is a dire predicament for you, Princess." He hopped to the back of the room, his rabbit habit tickling Princess Willow.

"I would be grateful for your help, sir," she giggled.

"Hey, don't worry about it, Princess! Gibbles and I are glad to help you out at any time!" Jack told her.

"Yes, Jack is absolutely right! Here, Willow, come and look at this! Show me were you want to go!" Gibbles coached Willow over behind his shoulder, where she hovered for a bit.

"That's the mirror that Krudsky stole!" Willow exclaimed, remembering that Krudsky had stolen precious items form Mr. Gibbles' magic shop when he had kidnapped her. The madman had used the mirror to contact her father.

"Yes, I had it restored. It can also act as a magical vehicle for transportation," Gibbles explained, turning the mirror on with a wave of his hands. Willow gaped at the enchanted looking glass, awestruck.

"Could it take me to Scooby and Shaggy? That's who I really want to see," she said hopefully. Gibbles raised his bushy eyebrows.

"Those two goons? You want to see them?" he asked in disbelief. Willow nodded firmly.

"Yes, take me to them, please!" she pleaded, giving Gibbles her best pitiful look. Jack laughed.

"Let her go, master! We'll keep the king under control somehow! Come on, please?" he begged with Princess Willow. Gibbles sighed.

"Oh, very well. I can't say no to you two. Get going, Willow, we'll look out for you!" he promised, pointing at the mirror. Willow grinned as a swirling vortex appeared behind the glass.

"Thank you both so much!" she cried, blowing a kiss to Gibbles and Jack as she plunged into the mirror.

Just as the princess vanished, Glum and Glob appeared in the room.