A/N: Ah yes, My first Labyrinth fiction! I have for all my life had a huge crush on David Bowie and now have decided to finally get around to writing a Labyrinth fan fiction. Ah yes, any way. Please if you don't like what/how I am writing this story; tell me in a kind civilized way.

Oh, and I don't own any of the characters. (And sadly so!)

"You're not alone, not forsaken, but you've got a brand new hope"

-20 Minute Loop

His mind was restless, the complexity and endless crevasses of his brain was filled to its capacity. His eyes lost the luster and intimidation they once had. In his ageing years of ruling his kingdom of the goblins, he had hardly realized how old he had become. And this troubled his deeply. Derek, king of the goblins, ruler and overseer of his labyrinth, a dying man.

His frame was waning, not at all the once well toned one of his youth. His once full head of black hair was now streaked with silver and gray. Wrinkles made his face no better then the goblins, and this vain aspect along with the rest continued to nag him.

Magic had been good to him. His years stretched longer then any mortal's should. Most of them had been spent in his prime; he was the equivalent of being in his mid thirties during most of his life he supposed. Sitting in his throne, Derek had been thinking for the better half of the day about these things, and in doing so had not realized that it was noon time, and he had yet to eat that day.

The room was as always, filled with about a few dozen or so goblins, much less then normal truthfully. But it was a warm spring day, Derek assumed many of his subjects were wandering about in the junkyard outside the city, or cleaning out their own homes ridding themselves of the winter filth that had accumulated. The underground was much like its less magical counterpart subject to cold. However, he called out to no one in particular; just who happened to stumble into action first that he was hungry and desired food. A few of the closer goblins complied and scurried off into the kitchens.

Derek had tried to avoid it in his head, the subject that was nagging him...he needed to find a successor. He needed to find someone who could take his place as king of the Goblins after his time had finally come to pass. But in doing so meant he would have to travel to Earth, expending much of his energy. He had debated simply sending a goblin up, but it would not only be a little conspicuous, but Derek so much would rather seeing the one he was looking for first hand.

It was not going to be a blind search either, and he was certainly not going to simply go above to look at every soul, but to simplify things turned once again to the magic of his crystals. They were guided by his feelings, making its paths much like Derek would have himself. They would do the primary searching.

He brought one of his gloved hands up to his eyes and rubbed them with an excessive amount of pressure. It helped though, the pressure seemed to push away some of the stress. Letting his eyes come back into focus, he overlooked the room. It was, like most of his subject's homes, less then pleasant to look at.

"This must be done soon." Derek muttered and propped him self up. "Goblins!" His voice suddenly bellowed. "Send out the word, by exactly three o'clock today, I would like every one to meet here. Do not be late, no excuses."

"Jareth! Would you be as so kind as to please pay attention to the lesson for once?" The yelling had done little to stir the young boy from his thought. The short fat teacher sighed angrily and slapped his ruler onto the desk. Jareth jumped finally and blinked looking at his teacher.

"I'm sorry Mr. Lexor, it won't happen again." Jareth spat out almost like it was a written response programmed inside him. The truth was however very little kids were paying attention in the first place. Spring had finally given them its first warm day and the England countryside was calling to every young person to come and enjoy its richness. Jareth just so happened to be the only one caught.

As soon as Mr. Lexor had turned back to the front of the class and to the black board, the 17 year old boy tuned out again.

'Math, what am I ever going to use it for when I'm older.' Jareth hated the sciences and mathematics. He just didn't have the mind for such things. It was too set in stone, too repetitive. The hours seemed to drag by when he was in these sorts of lessons. It was history that fascinated him. He enjoyed hearing his teacher recant tales about battles and war. The world had been such a bloody place to live throughout human existence and this intrigued him. Human existence and how they spent it.

Along with his passion for history, Jareth loved to sing. It was a little known past time to his class mates, but he would often break into song when he would be performing chores at home or when he walked home from school on days like this. Looking outside just made his heart ache to sing again, it cleared his mind.

After about thirty more minutes of blathering from his teacher, the bell to freedom finally rang to let out school. Jareth gathered his things slowly, wanting to let the others leave before him giving him the space he required to sing. He had for a long time wanted to write his own lyrics, but he soon found that he didn't have the skill for it. So it turned that he stuck to tunes he knew already.

It really was a beautiful day. It was silent save the sounds of the low humming spring crickets and the wind pushing its way through the afternoon fields. He was in no hurry to get home having been assigned a rather lengthy bit of homework from his math teacher. He mentally thanked Mr. Lexor for that and then added a rather rude comment about his mother. Jareth decided he would much rather be outside, and found a nice plot of grass to sit down inside.

The throne room was now squirming with various goblins. Derek sat in front of them all, still yet to speak. Instead he just sat there, his eyes intently focused on them all. Even the dwarf Hoggle had come to hear the announcement. He had been a member of the city for a while. The lure of riches and material possessions had brought him there. Derek was often generous with rewards for favors.

Derek sighed deeply and propped himself up. "Quiet!" Only one word from him was needed to stop the chatter. They all now stood attentive waiting for him to talk. Some was out of respect for their king, but mostly they silenced to quickly out of fear.

"Goblins, my loyal goblins..." He looked them all over. "I know that many of you have spent your whole life with me as your king, and some of you are just beginning. But as I know you have been noticing, from the gossip you all chatter to each other all the time, that I have become old. My time left is indeed, short. This is why I have had you all come so I could officially announce I will be searching for a successor."

He became silent; his subjects remained so as well not knowing what kind of reaction would be appropriate. In their minds a successor meant two things, the chance for a freer, more loving king...or the dreaded other, where the king could become crueler then they could ever have imagined. It was true that they did hold a close bond with Derek, but no relationship with a Goblin King came without fear.

"I will begin my search as soon as I am able. That is all." He was simply in no mood for a long speech. What he had said was simply going to have to do. The chattering among the goblins soon picked up again discussing what they had just heard. Their voices were inaudible, but at the same time Derek did not care to hear what they were saying.

There was so much work to be done, and so little time. As he saw it, he had perhaps two more years to find some one to take the throne, show them the ways of magic, and to become a King so mighty, no goblin could say his name without a twinge of fear. It indeed would be a challenge of a lifetime.

A/N: Wow, first off, sorry for a really short first chapter. I know it was pretty slow but I wanted to set up the idea of the story. More is to come in my next chapter! It will pick up very quickly though, trust me ;) hope you drop a review my way, and as always, hope you enjoyed.