A.N. Sorry it took so long for me to update. Hopefully, I'll be able to update at least once a week. Thank you to everyone who is continuing to read this. Any input or suggestions on what I should do next is welcome. And if anyone is interested in being my beta it would be much appreciated.

Now on with the story!

Chapter 3

Exiting the bog, Max found himself in a densely wooded area with vines of ivy everywhere. Berry bushes were scattered here and there as well, their fruit plump and still on the bush. Suspicious but hungry, he headed for the berries. Reaching a hand out to gather some of the fruit, eyes continually scanning the area.

Max wasn't watching the bush he was reaching down into, otherwise he would have seen a tendril creeping its way up to his arm. He hissed in pain when the thorns gouged his unprotected flesh. Reflexively he yanked his arm back taking several steps back. His actions caused the plant to tear deeper into his skin and leave long lacerations on his arm.

Eyes widening he didn't need the pixie to yell at him to run, already doing so. The vines of the bushes pursued him, whipping at his ankles and as he ran. He was caught a few times, tripping and crashing to the ground. Every time he scrambled back to his feet and was able to pull his legs hard enough to yank himself free.

Running as if his life depended on it, which Max was sure it was at the moment, Max tried to halt his mad dash but couldn't. He overbalanced and fell off the edge of the embankment, tumbled down the and cracked his head on a tree that was quite larger then the rest. The pixie hovered over his dazed prone body. "Max? Are you dead?"

"I'm in too much pain to be dead," Max moaned wincing as he gingerly at up then gulped. He was sure that knock to the head was causing him to see things. There was no way that what he was seeing could actually be happening or exist.

"Max?" The pixie was confused by the human's reaction. He silently stared and pointed. She turned and her eyes also widened.

An ageless woman stood before him looking much like a wood nymph, or at least what Max imagined what one would look like. Her skin was the pale color of wood stripped of its bark. Mahogany colored eyes, fine features, and pointed ears. Her hair was actually made up of soft moss, leaves, and thin branches like roots. Her clothes were made of the bark and leaves of her tree.

"You're beautiful," Max blurted. "Strange, but beautiful."

The woman smiled down at him like a mother would to a child. "Was there a reason you banged so loudly upon my tree?"

"Huh?" For a moment Max was confused then apologized and told her of his predicament.

She looked thoughtful, a frown on her face as she replied, "I see."

Max shifted uncomfortably not wanting to be rude but at the same time wanting to be on his way. Her eyes came to rest on him and his bloodied arm. Speaking too low for him to hear, she reached a hand up towards the lowest branch of her tree. The tree bent down to her waiting hand, and some bark and leaves peeled easily off. Patting the tree she said something else and the tree returned to its upright position. Twisting the bark and leaves together she handed the object to him.

"Do not lose that," She commanded seriously. "That charm will get you safely through any area with plant life."

"Thanks." Max wasn't quite sure how a bit of tree bark and leaves would keep him safe, but not wanting to look a gift horse in the mouth, he pocketed it. Nodding apparently satisfied, the woman seemed to melt back into her tree.

"You should be honored," there was reverence in the voice.

Max jumped, startled at the pixie's voice so near his ear. He had forgotten that she was there.

"Laverne doesn't appear before just anyone." The pixie stared in awe at the tree.

"Laverne?" The name was quite ordinary sounding for such an extraordinary creature, was Max's thought. The pixie didn't comment, instead leading Max away from the tree and deeper into the woods. Even though they had Laverne's assurance that Max wouldn't be attacked anymore by any plant life, he still was wary and jumpy.

"How much further do you think?" Max asked after a bit of silence. He was unnerved by all the tall trees that seemed to blot out the sky.

"Not much further. We're almost to the Wasteland of Junk."

"What's that?"

"It's a large wasteland of junk you humans lose. Didn't you ever wonder what happened to your things when they disappeared?"

"Are you telling me that goblins are responsible?"

"Close enough. Goblins, gremlins, pixies." She grinned as she said the last. "Whatever we take and grow bores with we drop in the junk yard. Over the years it kinda got larger and larger.

"Then why don't you stop?" Max asked refraining from saying what he really wanted to about their past time of stealing from humans.

"That's like asking fire not to burn or ice not to freeze. It's our nature."

"So, after the Wasteland of Junk?"

"If you can get through the Wasteland without becoming lost, you'll see the Goblin City."

"Finally!" Max and his winged companion could see the trees thinning and there was a large gap of dirt from the tree line to the beginnings of the largest landfill Max had ever seen.

"Well," a voice Max didn't want to ever hear again said. "Haven't you gotten far."

Max turned to see the Goblin King in a relaxed pose not far away. "What do you want now? More information for your paperwork?" Max spat.

The Goblin King's relaxed demeanor changed to that of a predator. His lithe lean from radiated menace and power. As he stalked closer, mismatched eyes cold and hard. Max could feel the pixie trembling at the back of his neck. Absently, he wondered if it was from fear of the Goblin King or laughter at Max's stupidity for offending the king.

"Unless you'd like to forfeit more then your brother, I suggest you refrain from making a fool of yourself and angering me."

Max swallowed nervously. The king backed off a little, a bit of relaxation back in his pose. "I've come to offer you a trade."

"What kind of trade?"

"An exchange of information. You may ask me anything you'd like to know. If it is within my knowledge I shall answer. The goes for you. The transaction will happen when you reach my castle."

Having a feeling this had to do with Seth, Max wanted his questions answered too. "How do I know you'll keep to those terms if I win?"

Those cold eyes flashed and Max fought the urge to take a step back.

"Win or lose, I give you my word that I'll answer your questions in trade of mine."

"Deal." Max held out his hand but the king looked at his bloodied arm and mis mouth curled with distaste.

"You must also agree to the terms boy."

"Fine. I promise when I win I'll answer your questions yada, yada, yada." When those mismatched eyes continued to stare at him, Max added, "Same thing if I lose."

Knowing that was as close as he was going to get, Jareth nodded and left him to reappear in his throne room with a frown. He would have to get someone to look at the teen's arm. He couldn't have the boy dripping blood about his Labyrinth. How the boy got injured was a concern of his that he would have to look into as well.

Hearing Seth's excited chatter and a woman calmly and tenderly answering back, had him looking into the adjoining room. He bowed to her, one of the few he would ever do so for. The goddess of spring regarded him with a disapproving look like a mother would to her errant child. She gently urged Seth to go play with the goblins giving him a reassuring look when he hesitated.

Getting up, she led Jareth out onto the parapets where the disapproving frown returned and she got strait to the point of her visit. "The Labyrinth has become more hazardous."

Jareth hid his wince as he recalled not only the bloodied arm but the bruises and singed clothing. The goddess must have seen because her look became narrow and hard. "How long has it been this way?"

Jareth wasn't quite sure when it had begun but did know that it had steadily gotten worse. More so within the past four or five years. When he told her this, she looked thoughtful. Jareth who'd always been quite curious asked, "How is it that you have awakened?"

"The youth has our blood." It was said in a matter of fact voice as if it should be obvious.

"What?" The Goblin King's attention was fixed on her. He had felt her charm on the boy and had wondered how he had gotten it. Now that he knew, he was thankful of her intervening, though he would never admit it out loud.

"The boy could not have awakened me to ask for my help if he were not."

"How is that even possible?"

Male offspring of dryad or nymphs were very rare. If one was born it was widely known throughout the Underground withing a day.

"He is the offspring of a human and dryad from Aboveground."

'His brother must be the same,' or so he thought until Laverne gave him a half amused, half serious look.

Nodding her head at Seth who was trying to explain who and what Batman was to a goblin, said, "He is not of our blood. Look closely and you will be able to see where his bloodline comes from."

Before Jareth could say or ask anything, she shimmered and a will o' the wisp floated away carried by the wind. Much like Jareth used his crystals, Laverne used anything in nature as a conduit for her magic.

Jareth felt that headache threatening to come back again. Not only did he have not one but two children with magical heritage in his realm without the parents consent. If he didn't find a way out of this mess or around it in some way before the thirteen hours was up, he was going to be in a lot of trouble.

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Max stared at the seemingly endless junkyard, mouth agape. It was a lot larger standing at the beginning of it then it did at the tree line. His pixie didn't say anything even though she looked at him with concern. Seeing small piles of the garbage moving he groaned. That was all he needed, to fight a junk monster! Staring harder he saw the little moving mounds were actually goblins with backpack frame on their backs loaded down with junk. They roamed about rummaging and occasionally adding to their growing load.

"What are they doing?"

"Searching."

"For what?"

"What they lost."

The way she said it and the tone of her voice had him turning to face her where she fluttered not that far away from his face. She came and sat in his cupped hands, pointing to the nearest goblin. "That goblin used to be like you."

"What?"

"He was a Runner who lost sight of what was important and why he came to the Labyrinth in the first place. Now he continually searches for what he lost even though he has completely forgotten what exactly he was looking for. Whenever he sees something that we took or that belonged to him, he adds that to his possessions. For a second he believes that was what he was searching for only to be filled with a hollow dissatisfaction and continues looking."

"He forgot his brother or sister!" Max couldn't believe it.

"Don't forget what you came here for. They'll try and distract you until you forget too."

"But why? Why would they want other Runners to become like them?"

"Isn't it a human saying that goes 'Misery loves company'?"

Max stared at the goblins and swallowed. He would not become like them. He'd reach the castle. After all he still owed the Goblin King a chat.

Seeing his look, the pixie sighed seeing he was still determined. "Good luck. I'll be rooting for you."

"What, where are you going?"

"This is as far as I or my kind can go."

"Why?"

Coming to a decision, the pixie flew up to his ear and whispered the secret. "We cannot abide the touch of iron. It's poison to us." Flying a bit away she waved then called, "Besides, only goblins and humans are allowed in the Goblin City."

Max felt a bit of despair as she flew away but turned back to the junkyard and felt even more depressed. That was a lot of ground to cover in the short time he had left. Letting out a sound of irritation he began to jog. He saw the goblins watching him but he ignored them. He wouldn't let them distract him from getting to the castle to get Seth back.

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Jareth sat on his throne watching the four year old playing with his goblins as if he did this everyday. The Goblin King frowned as he studied the child trying to see what Laverne had and put it together with what he already knew. The child had said his last name was Williams and as much as he hated to admit it, the first thing that came to his mind was the girl.

There were many mortals with the last name Williams. It could be coincidence, which is why Jareth went to the teen to dispel the thought that lodged in his brain and refused to go away. Then the teen had informed him that their fathers differed.

Time in the Aboveground went by faster then it did Underground but it surely couldn't have been so long that Toby, or little Jareth as he liked to call him, was old enough to have children. So, it was back to coincidence. Or it was until Laverne dropped the news on him about the teen being descended from dryad's and the younger boy not.

The boy looked up at him and seeing Jareth's serious face deep in thought, went up to the arm of the throne looking up at his face. "Are you in trouble?"

"What?" Distracted, Jareth frowned down at the boy who just looked up at him with genuine concern.

"Max makes faces like that when I flicker." Seth tilted his head. "Can I help?"

"What hospital is your mother in?"

"I forgets the name but Max says the peoples there are fruit loops." The boy canted his head the other way with a puzzled look on his face. "I asked him if they was fruit loops did they eats cereal or was that canblizm like Max was studying in his book."

Jareth was shocked not knowing what to say at first. "You know what cannibalism is?"

Seth nodded scrunching his face in disgust. "Max says peoples in the Amazon were peoples eaters."

Jareth never thought he'd be so happy to see a goblin rushing in the throne room to save him from answering or commenting. He looked up at the head of his Goblin Corps. "What is it?"

"The Runner is at the gates of the city!"

Checking the time, Jareth's mouth immediately went up in a malicious smile. The boy had just ten minutes to get to the castle. Then he remembered that he needed a solution to his problem in the next ten minutes. Scowling, he told the captain to stand down and let the boy come. The goblin looked at him as if he'd lost it and maybe he had, but Jareth wanted answers and the sooner the better.