Disclaimer: I do not own Labyrinth, I merely enjoy the story.

Fooled Heart

Chapter One: Wished Away

Sarah stood over the sink, humming to herself as she scrubbed a pan with a worn dish cloth. Toby sat at the table in the corner of the kitchen, eating the last of his macaroni and cheese and doodling on a big sketch pad that filled almost the entire table.

The kitchen was small, but bright and clean. The walls were a pale peach color and the counters a light cream. The appliances were dated, but functioned fine. Drawings littered the fridge along with several photos of Toby and Sarah through the years. A small table with two chairs was tucked in the corner near the window, giving a great view of the street below.

Five years have passed since the ordeal in the Labyrinth. Sarah was now living on her own in a tiny apartment just outside of New York City. It was early June, Sarah's college classes were over, and Toby had come to visit for the summer.

"Sarah, what song is that?" Toby asked, placing his fork in the bowl in front of him. "You hum it all the time."

Sarah dropped the pan back into the dishwater and turned to Toby as she wiped stray hairs out of her face with the back of her forearm, careful not to get dishwater on her face. "It's just something someone sang to me once. I've forgotten the words," she said to him. "Done eating, kiddo?"

"Yup! Can I go watch TV now?" Toby said, hopping out of his chair.

"Sure thing, Tobe-ster. I'll finish up in here," Sarah said, grabbing his bowel and fork off the table. Toby ran into the small living room and sat on the sofa, turning on the TV. The kitchen looked right into the living room, giving a perfect view of the sofa and the small television on a short stand. The furnishings were nothing special, just a hand-me-down couch from Sarah's aunt and several garage sale finds.

Sarah dumped the bowl and fork into the sink and wiped her hands on the front of her kitchen apron. She opened a blue plastic box and began picking up Toby's crayons and pencils. She clicked the lid shut and placed the box on top of the fridge. She went back to the table to pick up the sketch pad and gasped.

Tiny goblins. Each one of the pictures was a goblin, a few of them Sarah recognizing. She quickly closed the sketchbook and tucked it in the space between the fridge and the counter. He remembers, Sarah thought to herself. She took a quick glance into the living room and saw Toby curled up on the couch watching the small television set. She smiled to herself and went back to the dishes.

She scrubbed the pan again, rinsed, and set to dry. She wiped the cheese-coated bowl clean, the fork, and drained the sink as she rinsed them and set them with the other dishes to dry. She cleaned out the food trap and stuck the contents in the silver garbage can on the other side of the fridge. Sarah went back to sink and set the food trap back in the sink, tilting it slightly to let the water through as she rinsed the sink out. She looked at the reflection in the window above the sink to watch Toby as she finished up.

She held her breath and turned around. She could have sworn there were two goblins peeking around the doorway, but it was nothing out of the ordinary. She closed her eyes and shook her head, turning back to the sink. She shut off the water and went in the living room, taking her place beside her brother.

"Did you see them too, Sarah?" Toby asked, looking up at his sister.

Sarah looked at him, surprised. "What do you mean Toby?"

"The goblins in the kitchen. Did you see them too?" Toby said, sitting up. "They were watching you do the dishes."

Sarah couldn't breathe. What reason did they have to be here now? She has already defeated the Labyrinth. She shouldn't have to worry about them now.

"I don't know what you are talking about Toby. Goblins are not real," Sarah said, trying to make herself believe what she was saying.

"Sure they are! They're all over your apartment. They've been here for a while!" Toby said. He slid off the couch and crawled over to one of the end tables. "They're hiding all over the place!" he said as he opened the cabinet in the side table. There was a small squeak and a rustling as a small creature ran out and down the hall into the bathroom.

"Toby…" Sarah said, tucking her feet under her. What's happening? How long has this been going on? Did he send them?

"Sarah, what happened to the Goblin King when the girl in the story got her brother back?" Toby asked as he closed the cabinet and jumped back up on the couch.

"I don't know Toby," Sarah said quietly, "There was nothing written after that." What did happen to the Goblin King?

"Sarah, what happened to the Goblin King after you won?" Toby asked.

Sarah looked at her younger brother. "What do you mean, Toby?"

"You still talk to some of the creatures from there. What happened to the Goblin King?" Toby asked, kneeling on the couch to look at his sister.

"Toby…" Sarah paused.

"What happened?" Toby repeated.

"I don't know, Toby. I don't know." Sarah said. There was a moment of silence. "How do you know about it?"

"I dream about it all the time, Sarah! About the goblins, and the king, and how you came to save me!" Toby said, excitement in his voice. "I want to go back, Sarah! It was so much fun!"

"No you don't, Toby."

"But I do, Sarah! It's so boring here! Let's have some fun!" Toby said, his excitement increasing. "How do we go back, Sarah?"

"I don't know, Toby," Sarah said.

"If you wish me away again, can we go back?" Toby asked.

"No!" Sarah said quickly. "We can't go back Toby."

"Why not, Sarah? I want to dance with the King and the goblins again! Let's have an adventure!"

"No, Toby. "

Lightning flashed outside the window, quickly followed by a loud clap of thunder.

"I want to go to the Underground, Sarah!" Toby shouted. "What happens if I wish you away? Will we go back?"

"No, Toby, don't!" Sarah said, tears welling in her eyes.

"Why not, Sarah? I know you want to see your friends again!"

"I speak with them all the time." Sarah stated quietly, holding in her fear.

"The song you hum all the time…he sang it to you, didn't he?" Toby asked.

"That's enough, Toby."

"The Goblin King wrote it for you. He sang to me, too."

"That's enough Toby!" Sarah repeated.

"All it takes is a few words, Sarah, and we can go back!" Toby said, excited. Lightning flashed outside.

"No, Toby!"

"I wish-" Sarah placed her hands over Toby's mouth.

"That's enough, Toby. I don't want to go back," Sarah said, removing her hands from his mouth. She stood up and walked toward her bedroom.

"I wish the Goblin King would come take me away right now!" Toby shouted.

"No, Toby!"

Another bolt of lightning struck. The window in the living room flew open and the familiar white owl flew in. In a brief moment, the Goblin King stood before them.