Okay, when I first started on this site, I told myself that I would only work on one story at a time. That epically failed. Why do I keep having so many ideas? Ugh... well, anyway, I hope you people like this.

Disclaimer: Labyrinth and all characters therein belong to Jim Henson.

"Miley, give it back," Kayla shouted, snatching at her sister. The ten-year-old deftly skipped out of the way and ran up the stairs, cackling maniacly. Kayla groaned. She hated this game. She hated being left alone with her demon sister, whose only goal in life was apparently to annoy her. She hated being interrupted when she was reading. And she especially hated when people stole her stuff.

Miley knew she hated those things. That's why she did them. She couldn't resist the thrill of the chase that she knew would ensue when she stole Kayla's book, right out of her hands, and sprinted away. She couldn't resist rubbing it in her face that Kayla couldn't do anything to her without getting in trouble. So that's what she did, every time their parents went out. And Kayla would not endure it any longer.

Screw the consequences, she thought with a growl. This was the third time in one month that Miley had taken her book. It wasn't even a big book, but she'd never been able to finish it, because every time she picked it up to read, Miley was there to stop her.

Kayla bounded up the stairs, and Miley flashed her a taunting grin, before giggling and running down the hall. Kayla growled and took off after her, quickly catching up. But Miley was agile, and as soon as she saw Kalya at her heels, she turned around, duck under her, and started running the other direction.

Kalya made a grab for the little brat, but she missed. Miley was giggling uncontrollably as she ran back down the stairs and into the kitchen. Kayla followed, unable to do anything else.

Miley darted into the dining room, and behind the dinner table, waving the book gleefully above her head. Kayla tried to follow, but whenever she made a move in one direction, Miley would shift to keep the table between them at all times.

"Miley! I'm serious, I'll tell mom!"

Miley just grinned. "She won't believe you."

Kayla groaned. She was right, their parents never seemed to believe her accusations. There was never any proof. She made a half-hearted lunge across the table, but Miley danced out of the way.

"Just give it back!"

Miley screwed up her face, pretending to think, before finally grinning and shaking her head. "Nah, where's the fun in that? If you want it so much, come and get it!"

Kayla huffed. She glared at her sister, then at the book she was casually fanning herself with. It was a little red book her grandmother had given her for her birthday. A fantasy tale called The Labyrinth, about a goblin king and his goblin subjects. She had an idea.

"If you don't give me that book back, I'll call upon the goblin king to come and take you away."

Miley just laughed. "What, you expect me to believe that crap? I'm not stupid."

Kayla raised an eyebrow. "You don't think it's real? What are you willing to bet? I will wish you away, you know."

Miley took on an expression of mock fright. "Oh, no, anything but that!" she cried sarcastically. "I'm not that gullible, you know. Maybe that would work if I was six."

Kayla just smiled. "Okay then. You'd bet your life on that?" she asked. She knew if she could keep this up long enough, Miley would start to believe her.

Miley nodded slowly, as if talking to a child. "Yeah. In fact, why don't you wish me away right now? I wanna see this 'goblin king' of yours! Oh, wait, he doesn't exist."

Kayla gave a sad shake of her head. "You asked for it. I wish..." she started. Miley gave her an incredulous look.

"Go on," she said expectantly. Kayla sighed. Maybe this wasn't going to work after all.

"Are you sure you want me to?"

Miley nodded, smirking. She knew she'd won. Kayla rolled her eyes.

"I wish the goblins would come and take you away!" she exclaimed reluctantly. Miley scoffed.

"Really? That's it?"

"I wasn't finished yet. I wish the goblins would come and take you away...right now," she added, somewhat pathetically. Miley burst out laughing.

"That's the stupidest thing I've ever-"

The lights went out.

"What just happened?" Miley asked, eyes wide, though Kayla could barely see her in the darkness. Kayla swallowed.

"I don't know..." It couldn't have anything to do with what she'd just said...could it? She shook the idea out of her head - it was ridiculous. Just a coincidence. Then she heard a rustling noise from under the table.

"Miley?" she asked. "Is that you?"

"Um...no," she replied slowly, backing away from the table. A thump sounded from the corner, and something that sounded suspiciousy like a snicker came from behind her. She shrieked, but it was cut short, and suddenly the kitchen was silent.

"Miley?" Kayla called. She could no longer hear her sister's breathing, or see her silhouette in the faint light that filtered in from the kitchen window. She felt her heart thumping rapidly in her chest, and a tap on the window made her jump.

She whipped around to look out the window, and saw a barn owl tapping insistently at the glass. Suddenly the window burst open, and it flew in, swooping toward her. She ducked, and covered her head with her hands.

A deep chuckle from behind her made her heart skip a beat, and she looked up. Standing behind her was the weirdest looking man she had ever seen. He had a wild shock of blonde hair that somehow stuck up from his head in a fluffy mullet, and, paired with the blue and brown eye makeup, and black leather outfit, he looked like some sort of scene '80s rock star. She blinked.

"What...how did you...? Who are you?" she stuttered. He grinned.

"You know very well who I am, Kayla," he said. His voice was smooth and light.

"How do you know my name? I don't..." A thought struck her. "Oh, hell no," she breathed. "You can't be...goblin king?"

He gave a deep bow, grinning all the while. "At your service."

Kayla shook her head. "But...you're not real! It's a story!"

"I assure you, I am very real."

Kayla suddenly realized something. "What did you do with my sister?"

He cocked his head. "I did exactly what you asked me to do. You wish her away, yes?"

"I didn't think you'd actually take her!"

"Well then, there's the problem. You should have thought."

"But I didn't know you were real!"

"Nevertheless, you said the words. You wished her away. Do not blame me."

"Well, can I have her back?"

"I'm afraid what's said is said."

"There must be some way."

The goblin king suddenly pulled a crystal ball from thin air. "Hm...perhaps there is. But do you really want your sister back? This ball is an ordinary crystal, but if you turn it this way, it can show you your dreams. Wouldn't you like that?"

Kayla stared at him suspiciously.

"Of course, this gift isn't for ordinary girls who take care of annoying children. Trust me. Forget your sister. You can have anything, anything you want."

"I don't think you understand. I'm not asking because I want my sister back. I'm asking because my parents would kill me if anything happened to her. Now, what do I have to do?"

The goblin king raised one sculpted eyebrow and smiled. Suddenly, they were no longer standing in the kitchen, but on a rocky hill underneath a burnt orange sky. At the bottom of the hill was a wall, and that wall was the beginning of a labyrinth that stretched on for miles. In the center of the labyrinth sat a city, and a great castle jutted out over the surroundings.

Kayla stared in wonder as the book she'd been reading came to life. The goblin king stood beside her.

"You must complete my Labyrinth in thirteen hours or less, or your dear little sister becomes one of my goblins forever. The clock starts...now," he said. A thirteen hour clock face appeared on a nearby tree, and the second hand started ticking. Before she could say another word, the goblin king disappeared in a swirl of glitter, and Kayla was left alone of the hilltop.

With a sigh, she jogged down the hill toward the wall.