A/N I do not own Labyrinth and write for fun. Please enjoy the story and thank you for feedback.

It's not fair but that's just the way it is. Things were not always what they seemed and you couldn't take anything for granted. She had learned in one night some important lessons. There was no prince charming, no knights on white chargers, no happy endings and no castle beyond the goblin city.

She starred up at the blank ceiling above her. In one night she had lost her childhood and shattered her dreams. And now lying on her bed she realised something else, she hated books. Books were to blame for everything

They were full of lies, full of empty promises, they would draw you in and then spit you out. Words where poison on a page. They made you believe there was so much more only to disappoint. She sighed deeply, yes books where to blame especially the little red one she held in her hand right now. This particular book she hated with a passion. This little book had ruined her life, robbed her of a childhood, took everything away. She had wanted to throw it away, even considered throwing it in the fire but she could never do it. That little red book that spoke of adventure and a handsome but cruel King. Its story haunted her in sleep and in the daylight hours and she wished, how she wished she had never, ever read that book. Because it was not real, none of it was real. And life now, without hope, without dreams was all too real.

She had to grow up and leave her hopes of magical places behind. They were just places in her mind that her imagination created and even that was beginning to fade.

A tear trickled down her cheek as she lay still facing the ceiling.

"It's not fair" she shouted but there was no one to hear.

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And in the castle beyond the goblin city stood the lone figure of a man. His blond hair blew around his face from a gentle wind. His eyes gazing out over the land before him while a crystal orb danced back and forth across his hand. The sound of laughter and voices floated up on the breeze from the ground below. The goblin city was a buzz with excitement for soon there was to be a grand ball at the castle and the finest of the fae would be in attendance. The King would be choosing a queen at last.

The figure dressed in tight black trousers and a white poet's shirt that hung low showing his chest and the sign of office that hung around his neck smiled, it had been a long time since his last ball. The time was now right to strengthen his kingdom. He felt content and happy something that he had not been for a long while.

As the goblins and other inhabitants hurried about their daily business in readiness for the great day three figures stood in the shadows together and watched. The old dwarf shook his head as he gazed at his two companions. This just felt all wrong.

"How can he forget like that" the dwarf asked

"My lady never calls us but we remember her" the small fox replied

"miss Sawah" the big monster said

"We all miss her" sighed the dwarf

The three fell silent once more and carried on watching the activities in the city. Something had to be done.

In the castle the King moved from the balcony and entered his throne room draping himself across his chair. He gazed at the crystal as it danced back and forth. He sighed, his subjects were happy, his will was strong and his kingdom was great. Yet, there was something, something he was forgetting, something that lingered at the edge of his mind. But before he could grasp the thought it had gone.

He lent back and closed his eyes. Behind his closed lids an image began to form an image of a young dark haired girl with emerald green eyes. This image appeared in his dreams night after night but he didn't know her although she seemed so familiar. He opened his eyes once more and surveyed the vast room before him. Once he had chosen his queen this haunting image would disappear he was sure of it.

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The three figures sat in the small thatched cottage. They had been there for some hours and none had yet plucked up the courage to initiate their chosen plan. They knew well that things where not as they seemed and people were taking things for granted. It was all wrong and they needed her to make it right again.

On the table in front of them lay a rectangular card encrusted with golden writing. It sparkled as the light flickered across it. Such an innocent looking thing but something that held power. Power to change things to how they should be or they hoped it would, the power to bring her back.

Hoggle slowly rose onto his feet and picked up the card. He could feel the eyes of his companions follow him as he walked towards a large mirror at the back of the room. He whispered a few words under his breath and waited. Time passed very slowly, he hoped she still had a bit of belief that's all he needed was just a small speck of belief. Then as though it had heard his thoughts the mirror image began to swirl and change and there before him gazing up into an empty ceiling was the one person who could make things how they should really be.

He took a deep breath to calm his nerves before calling her name.

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Sarah knew every crack in that ceiling, every mark and blemish. Most of her days at present resulted with her starring up at it. She felt so alone and totally lost. She raised her hand up still holding the little red book. Why couldn't things be different.

She dropped the book down onto the bed beside her before wiping the tears from her eyes with the back of her hand. Every time she closed her eyes his image filled her mind. Would he really look like that if he was real she thought? She mentally hit herself, don't be stupid Sarah, grow up. Even if he had been real why would someone like that want you.

"I wish it was all real" She whispered

Suddenly the silence of the room shattered as she heard someone call her name. As she sat up on her bed she glanced in the direction of her vanity mirror where the sound seemed to be coming from and there starring back at her was the leathered face of a small old man with white hair.

Sarah screamed and then promptly fainted.

"Well that could have gone better" Sighed Hoggle