Elemental Labyrinth

By: Aubrie1234

What Would You Do

If You Had The Powers

Of A King?

"Thanks for the supplies, Gi." Wheeler voiced when he saw her. He had just entered the living room, where she was reading while Linka worked on writing a letter to her brother. Wheeler avoided looking at Linka, the ache not gone completely, so he didn't see her inspecting him.

"No problem, Wheeler." Gi took the art supplies back, "How did it go?"

"It was great. Anyway, I've got other things to do, so see you!"

"...He was acting fairly suspicious." Linka noted aloud once the man was gone.

"Because he was in a hurry and wanted my supplies?" Gi said, "I guess. But you're being fairly weird too, writing a letter to your brother out of nowhere and all."

"There has been something on my mind. It deals with something Mishka and I went through a few years ago. We were not kids, but compared to now, we were fairly young." Gi dog-earred her page to listen.

"What was it?"

"You would never believe me."

"Linka, we wield the powers of the elements on a daily basis and were even abducted by aliens. I'm sure you can trust me with this." Linka gave a sigh before leaving her letter alone.

"Back when we had just become teenagers, Mishka became very protective of me. It was annoying, and one day he pushed it too far. Our grandmother used to tell us stories of a Goblin King and his Labyrinth, so I took the words from it to wish Mishka away. When he disappeared I realized my mistake and asked the Goblin King to bring him back. The Goblin King would not unless I got through his Labyrinth and to his castle, so I accepted his challenge. Along the way I made friends and learned how much trouble I could get in because of my anger, stubbornness, and cockiness. That allowed me to save Mishka, overcome my faults, and defeat the Goblin King. I have kept in touch with my Labyrinth friends until I became a Planeteer. It was only this morning, after having a memory in a dream, that I talked to them again and they said the King had been missing since I joined 6 years ago." Gi wasn't shocked, much to the Russian's surprise.

"And now you're writing to your brother to see if he's seen the Goblin King?" Linka nodded.

"Yes. In fact, after our adventures, we tried telling other people about it, but no one would believe us. It somehow got to England and America, where it was then made into a movie called Labyrinth."

"I'm assuming names and a few other things were changed, though?"

"Yes. I want to help the goblins, but after what their King did, I am not so sure I want to find him."

"But you're doing it because it's the right thing to do." The blonde nodded, "Then why don't you call Mishka?"

"I...am afraid of what he will say."

"You're afraid that he'll have seen the Goblin King."

"Yes."

"Linka, if he's been missing for 6 years and hasn't seen you, I'm sure that he hasn't been up to anything wrong. In fact, if he wasn't running his kingdom, then there must be a reason why he couldn't return."

"I have thought about that, but since I never knew much about his personal life, I have no idea who could have done this." The girls continued to discuss the topic for a while longer.

After grabbing some leftover toast and a glass of milk, Wheeler went back to his hut. He didn't want to be around anyone for long (especially Linka) until he could get his strange feelings under control. Sinking onto the bed, he wondered why the sadness and heart ache wouldn't pass. Putting the milk on his bedside table and letting the toast hang slightly out of his mouth, he began to play with his hands. Just because Labyrinth was a movie and his dreams had made him, Linka, and Mishka the main characters didn't mean it couldn't have been real once. On a whim, he took off his ring, which was when something began to happen.

Immediately after he took his ring off something appeared in his free hand. The necklace pendant was a strange shaped triangle and, with a start, he realized it looked exactly like Jareth's. Curious, Wheeler slid it on, feeling like it belonged there. With a flick of his wrist he conjured a crystal orb and then knew that this wasn't something out of nowhere. Somehow, he had the powers of the Goblin King.

"You're right." Surprised, Wheeler shot to his feet, looking around for the voice he had heard. Doing so, he accidentally knocked the milk off of the bedside table. His hand shot out to grab it but instead of missing, which it probably would have, it froze the glass and milk in mid-air. Wheeler stood there for a second in shock before moving his hand up. It was like time went backwards, the milk and cup rewinding until it safely rested on the table again.

"Impressive how quickly you learned that." This time when he turned, he saw a transparent version of himself wearing the outfit from the first picture.

"Who are you?" Wheeler asked, letting the toast drop from his mouth. The image chuckled, at the toast falling or something else the human didn't know.

"I'm the Goblin King. Or I was, once upon a time. Then I came and saved your sorry a**." Out of all the Planeteers, Wheeler was the most used to cussing, but he still raised an eyebrow at the image.

"What do you mean?"

"Before the Planeteers, you were caught in an accident, remember?" The redhead certainly did.

"It nearly cost me my life..."

"It should have, not nearly. You would have died if not for me." The image then began to walk around him as it explained, "I grant wishes, but I wanted one for myself, and it was granted by putting my soul and consciousness into your body while you were dying. As I am immortal, I couldn't die, so you managed to survive. I've lived within you since then. If I ever left, then you would drop down dead." Wheeler tried to keep a brave face, but he was quite chilled by this. It was also a bit hard to believe. But after all the crazy stuff the Planeteers have gone through, he was inclined to believe almost anything.

"But how? After you saved me, wouldn't I have been able to heal and live on without you?"

"Sadly, no. In your accident your heart was punctured, along with your lungs. The holes are still there and it's my immortality that been keeping blood and oxygen from escaping. Not to mention your broken neck and spine, which is still cracked in places. And the reason you aren't a lab experiment right now is because my magic masks all that from x-ray machines and other scanners." Now that was a surprise. Wheeler reached up to touch his neck, as if he could somehow try to feel the cracks in the bone.

"Why haven't I seen you before?"

"Your ring. It's repressed my magic." the image stopped in front of Wheeler, "But now you can use it. We may be two different souls and minds in one body, but we share it and can use each other's abilities. We can even switch which one of us is in control."

"So what I drew earlier, those were your memories?" The image nodded.

"Yes. Those children came to my Labyrinth and escaped, but the girl interested me so much that I wished to see her again. It's because of her that you're alive." The girl looked so much like Linka, but if Wheeler was right in his assumptions, it had been years ago. Besides, what were the chances that it had been Linka and Mishka? Even with the voices he had heard, what were the chances that it had been the same Linka and Mishka Wheeler knew? He decided not to think about it, the implications were a bit too horrible to think about.

"Then if we're going to live together, what can I call you?" The image smiled.

"My name in Maurice, Fire Boy. And yes, I do know your real name, but I don't wish to use it." A smile came to Wheeler's face.

"Fair enough, Goblin King." he held out his free hand, where Maurice shook it, the ghostly feel sending shivers through Wheeler, "Now, could you help me learn to control your powers?"

"Of course, though you seemed to be able to hold your own with the milk and glass."

"Freak accident." A mischievous smile came to the image's face.

"If you say so..." At the sight of the smile, Wheeler had the strange feeling that it was bad. But what harm could an image do?

"By the way, who names a guy Maurice, of all things?"

"People who soon learn to regret it. Now," Maurice gestured forward, "show me what you can do."

Gaia sensed a presence on Hope Island, one that she knew but didn't like all the same. She hadn't felt him anywhere on the Earth in years, but now he comes back? And to here, of all places? She knew this was very bad news and went to check out the source. She had lost too many children to the Goblin King, she wasn't about to lose another. And out of all the Planeteers she worried that might go under his control, Gaia worried about Ma-Ti the most. He was the youngest and most susceptible to the King's tricks, even with his Heart power. She was slightly relieved when she traced the presence to Wheeler's hut, but was still afraid. Wheeler may have been the most distrustful, but even he could be fooled by the Goblin King.

"Wheeler?" Gaia opened the door to his hut without warning, only to find him alone in there with his ring in his hand, not on a finger. There was also a necklace around his neck, something she hadn't noticed before, but the end of it went down into his shirt, so she couldn't tell if there was a pendant or not. Yet she could still feel the King, as if he was in there with them.

"Yeah?" he asked.

"I came to make sure you were okay. I sensed a bad presence around..."

"I'm sure it's nothing." Wheeler said, "You should go keep an eye out for Eco-Emergencies." Gaia was skeptical and didn't budge. Wheeler wasn't a good liar, but seemed to be telling the truth. However...

"Maybe you should come with me." she said, "I get the feeling that I shouldn't leave you alone." Something flashed in the redhead's eyes but was too quick for Gaia to understand.

"If you say so." he shrugged. He walked back with her to the Crystal Chamber, but sometimes the King's presence intensified. But when she looked to Wheeler, the King was nowhere to be seen. Gaia wasn't sure what to make of it, but she knew that something terrible was going on, possibly as she gazed at the Fire Planeteer.

Something was happening to him that she couldn't help with, and as a mother, that was her worst nightmare.

"Don't trust her." Maurice kept telling him, unable to be seen but still there, "She may have given you the ability to help the world, but I can do that too. She's jealous of how limitless I am, so if she learns of my circumstances, she might just try to take me out of you. As that would result in your death, we can't let that happen, now can we?" He had disappeared seconds before Gaia came in and told Wheeler to lie as best he could, as if he didn't want the Earth spirit to know he was there, which made the Fire Planeteer a bit suspicious.

"I can't do that." Wheeler mentally spoke, keeping his mind blocked in case Ma-Ti or Gaia tried to see into his thoughts, "She would never hurt me. And if she was jealous, that's fine, that makes her human. Besides, even she can't do everything."

"And yet you try to keep her and your friend out. You also admit she has her faults, that she has a limit. I, however, have no limits and I can help you save this world more than she can."

"She's doing her best." Wheeler saw that he was fighting a losing argument and changed the subject, "And what about you? You tell me not to trust her, to be against her, just like Zarm."

"Ah yes, him." Maurice spat out the last word with disgust, "If there's anything Gaia and I can agree on, it's that son-of-a-b*tch. Because you had your ring on all the times he came, I couldn't help you. But you learned the hard way what he was like, so I see that as a win. And if I hadn't been held back, I would have shown him just how powerful I am!"

"But you're still like him, trying to get me to distrust Gaia."

"Perhaps, but at least I'm also trying to save the world. He only wants to destroy it."

"He said the same thing." Wheeler was starting to wonder how much harm Maurice's powers could actually do and what they were. After all, he had been able to stop and rewind time on the glass and milk, so what else could the image do?

"Do you need me to demonstrate?" If he was in a visible form, Maurice would have spread out his arms, "I already used some of my charisma and lying skills to save your hide. Speaking of that, upon looking through your memories, I see that you are a horrible liar. How did you ever survive?"

"Ha ha." Wheeler mentally rolled his eyes, "And stay out of my memories or else. Give me one good reason why I should let you take over so I can help others."

"I knew Linka long before you or the others ever did." That nearly stopped the Planeteer in his tracks, causing him to stumble at best.

"Is something wrong, Wheeler?" Gaia asked, noticing the stumble.

"Just tripped over a tough rock." The redhead raised his foot and rubbed it, as if to convey the truth. She stared at him for a moment, then seemed to buy it and began walking again, if at a much slower pace.

"What do you mean by that?!" Wheeler didn't know what to think at Maurice's confession.

"I knew her a long time ago, back when she was just turning into a teenager."

"Does that mean...?"

"'Does that mean' what? What did you think it meant? Wait... No no no, that came out wrong! I am NOT a child molester, you f*cking, dirty-minded, perverted boy!" The insulted cussing was giving Wheeler a headache.

"Easy on the cussing! And that's not what I meant. What I meant was: 'Does that mean you knew her personally?'"

"Ah." Maurice quickly calmed down and the headache went away, "Sadly no, but she was a spunky girl. Loved her brother, even after she sent him away, so she went back for him."

"Like in Labyrinth?"

"I went to see that once, and in fact, that movie was based on what happened, though Mishka was much older than young Toby."

"She still defeated you."

"Yes, but she didn't finish me with words. I let her go." They were almost to the Crystal Chamber now, "If that doesn't give you enough of a reason to give me the reins, then I don't know what will."

"...Alright. If you let Linka and Mishka go, staying to your word, then I guess I could let you be in command sometimes. But not now, you'll spook Gaia." Suddenly, with a bit of fright, Wheeler suddenly began to lose feeling in his limbs, his sight, and his hearing. He didn't know what to do as his body kept moving without him, his mind becoming weaker and weaker.

"Oh, child," A ghostly feeling went through him and Wheeler could practically feel the malice and grin in Maurice's voice, "you have no idea how happy you just made me. Sleep tight."

I actually had some of this typed out right after the last chapter, but I didn't know how to end it until now. Here's Maurice's profile:

Maurice -i-e-, xxth King of the Goblins: Once a teenage boy in 18th-Century England, he was wished away to the Underground. He was forced to become a goblin, but he never lost his smarts or cleverness, cheating others out of their positions by manipulating them or tricking them, and his King was so impressed by his abilities that he named the boy his successor if he ever fell. Not long after the King was killed in an ambush of raiders with a stab to the back, automatically making Maurice the new King and giving him his human form back. Now much older, he was not as kind as the previous King and was crueler to his subjects, but gave them more freedom than the last King. He continued the job of stealing children and turning them into goblins while learning their new phrases to English and how it evolved, meeting Gaia and Zarm as he did so, until Linka came. After she won her brother back, the first ever to do so during his reign, he felt cheated yet interested in the girl. He asked to see her, and the magic of his powers (which have their own sentience) granted his wish by putting his soul and mind into Wheeler's body as the redhead laid dying. Because of the Fire Ring's own magic, however, he laid dormant with the exception of his healing abilities, until now.

He is a ruthless man who is cunning and sly, willing to do anything to get what he wants and cusses out others because of his homeless background (he was homeless as a human and wished away by a young girl that he had robbed). Usually he can talk his way out of or into things, being an expert liar with great charisma, and has the ability to turn into a single animal (a fox) at will. All he wants is power over the Underground and the safety of his subjects. He may rule over them with an iron fist, but after being a goblin himself at the hands of the last King, he wants them all to be safe. Public brutality was allowed before, but he outlawed it and most of his threats are propaganda he fakes, but he will stand by his word if need be. His name is also a Berserk Button that should never be pressed, not even if you are a friend to him (of which he has none, so good luck trying to convince him otherwise).

Well, what do you think? This is supposed to come from a document in the Goblin Archives, sort of like the library of the Underground, with Maurice's last name smudged. The number of what King he is, though, I leave to your imagination. He is also a bit of a cusser, as stated and seen above, and will be seen throughout the story this way. As I don't cuss myself, I will blot out part of the cuss word but leave enough there for you to understand it. More of him will also be revealed as the story goes on, such as his powers, as well as what happened to Wheeler that hurt him so badly. Though his powers are the same as Jareth's, he also gains new ones. Other Planeteers will appear as well, not just the main cast. What I mean is other Rings, ones we haven't seen before that also represent other elements of nature (such as Electricity and Metal), will be needed, so be prepared for that wild ride.

And if I missed something, please tell me and I'll explain it in the next AN. I also hope I didn't make them too OOC, as I haven't watched the series in a while. As it is, please read & review!