I want to thank everyone who has shown interest in this story so far: the readers, reviewers, followers, and favorites. I offer you chocolate chip cookies as thanks.

Disclaimer: I don't own Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Labyrinth, or A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Chapter 2: The Throne Room

Four Turtles magically disappeared from their sewer home and reappeared in a shallow, pillow-lined pit in a throne room. All four took defensive stances to prepare for any threat.

A bold goblin approached them. "You are older than most wish-aways. But don't you worry. His Majesty'll take good care of you."

Raphael rolled his eyes. "Like we haven't heard that one before."

A quick glance around them revealed no obvious threats. They straightened, and a handful of appreciative "Oooh"s and "Ahhh"s resounded.

Leonardo blinked as a bevy of chickens capered past them. "Where are we?"

Another goblin came closer. "You really don't know? Who wished you away? The one who wishes always says." He nodded importantly. "It's part of their right words."

Donatello narrowed his eyes, concentrating. "This looks oddly familiar."

"No way!" Goblins tittered as the Turtles stared at Michelangelo. "This is the castle of the Goblin King, and you little guys are goblins, right?"

Another one came out of the shadows. "You got that right."

"But… Why are we here? Master Splinter loves us. No, um…" Michelangelo put a hand on the back of his neck. "No matter how much we might annoy him sometimes, he would never wish us away. We're the only family he's got."

"You're right, dear boy." The Turtles spun to find the new voice. A tall, regally robed man nodded at them.

Leonardo whispered, "He wasn't there a second ago."

Michelangelo whispered back, "I know. He does that."

The king continued as if he was uninterrupted. "Your father never wished you away. That is why we have an unusual situation."

Donatello stared off for a second, murmuring, "This is way too meta."

Jareth smiled kindly. "Perhaps. But what's said is said. By rights, the four of you are mine, now."

Raphael crossed his arms. "I don't like the sound of that."

The king continued. "But there are rules, even then. The one who wished you away had no authority to do so. Neither a parent nor a caregiver made the wish. Also… it is my wish to confound those who spared no thought to your welfare or their own benefit."

Michelangelo rolled his shoulder. "Not that your kingdom isn't lovely, if the movie is anything to go by, but, um…" He opened his eyes wide. "You would keep us here forever?"

"I could, indeed. However…" Jareth stalked around the four of them.

The brothers narrowed their eyes, leapt out of the pit, flipping out behind a row or two of goblins who were watching.

Raphael said, "I don't think so. You turtle-napped us from home. You have no right to demand anything of us!"

Jareth's eyes glowed with pleasure. "You are delightful children: my compliments to your father. So that you understand, I did not take you. The magic of the wish summoned the goblins to take whomever was wished away."

He sighed sadly. "Oftentimes, the children wished away are abused and unwanted. Taking the wish-aways is more often a kindness.

"But that is what makes this situation interesting." Jareth's eyes twinkled with mischief. "The one who wished you away had no true connection to you that would authorize your deliverance. Unlike the will of their wish, I have no obligation to keep you."

Donatello shook his head. "Obligation?"

"Of course, dear child. It is my duty to all of my subjects to make sure they are cared for and that the wish-aways are loved. I've been known to raise a few, myself. Others were given to other citizens to adopt."

Leonardo furrowed his brows. "That makes a lot of sense, actually."

Michelangelo started, "Your Majesty?"

"Please call me Jareth, child."

The youngest Turtle smiled. "Okay, thanks. I'm glad that you don't do it, but it makes me wonder: I noticed that you never mention the fact that we… aren't exactly human."

Jareth smiled broadly. "Because, dear boy, I'm not human, either. I am a fae. Further, you wouldn't believe the races or species that are foolish enough to send away children. You are Turtles. While interesting and fascinating, you are positively mundane, compared with some of the creatures who have been wished away to me."

"Thanks, Jareth." Michelangelo wasn't sure how he felt about calling a king by his given name.

Raphael worked out an earlier part of the conversation. "Wait a minute, Jareth." He felt no compunction about being so casual with his kidnapper, no matter what title he held. "You said you have no obligation to keep us."

"Well spotted, dear boy. That pertains to when the time is up."

Before the brothers objected again, Michelangelo waved his hands and piped up. "Wait, wait, wait. I think I get it. The, um, people who wished us away get, like, 13 hours to run the Labyrinth. Unless a runner gets you mad, and you cut their time…" Jareth raised his eyebrows. "I bet the rules say we gotta be here for those 13 hours."

The king smiled. "Precisely. As long as you are in my kingdom, the rules have been fulfilled. But they say nothing about what needs to be done during that time."

Leonardo looked at his brothers and nodded. "I vote for lunch before we do anything else."

Jareth chuckled. "Then lunch it shall be. But before we do… I have a proposition for you."

Donatello might not have been up on fantasy the way Michelangelo was, but when Sensei had them read A Midsummer Night's Dream, he remembered that one shouldn't make deals with fairies and similar creatures blindly.

He suppressed the urge to draw his bo and asked, "What kind of proposition?"

Jareth nodded at the bright boy. These children took nothing for granted. "When the time is up, I am sending you home. However, if one of you runs the Labyrinth, I'll grant you all a wish."

Raphael thought for a moment. "What kind of wish?"

"I can give you your dreams."

Michelangelo sighed and said, "Look – we can figure it out over lunch, right?"