Haggle hurried through the piles of garbage, hoping she wouldn't be seen or heard by Sam. She tripped however and felt a sharp, searing pain in her knee. She gasped as she ran her hand over the small graze on her knobbly knee and fell back on the freezing ground and all that surrounded her anymore were mountains of junk. She tried standing up but hesitated as she heard the familiar sound of Sam's voice. She put her little hand over her mouth and hoped he wouldn't hear her. No way would he forgive her for this. As she carried on self-pitying, she couldn't help it anymore and started to blubber until the collar of her shirt was soaked with her waterfall of cascading tears. She could already picture Sam screaming at her and telling her he didn't want anything to do with her anymore. It was too much. It hurt even more than her knee. She lay in her side and cried into her sleeve.

If I weren't such a DAMN coward, Sam wouldn't be like this. Maybe we'd still be friends. She sobbed even harder as she thought of the word. Friend. She'd never had one before and she had completely ruined everything with her first (and only) friend.

"Hannah! I have to save Hannah!" She heard Sam's distant voice call out. She lifted her head and helped herself up, trying to see if he was OK. She stepped out of hiding and saw Sam being pulled out a heap of garbage by the ginormous hands of Ludo who continuously called his name.

"Come on! Let's go, quick! We don't have much time." Sam said as he ran ahead of the three towards the gates of the Goblin City.

"No!" Haggle said to herself and followed them all up to the gates. She remained hidden, however.

GOBLIN CITY GATES

"Open up! Open the doors!" Didymus called.

"Sir Didymus, be quiet! You're gonna wake him up!" Sam quickly said as he saw a sleeping goblin dressed in chain mail who slept soundly as he stood next to the gates of the Goblin City.

"Well let them ALL wake up!" Didymus grabbed his staff as he leaped off of Ambrosius' back and he whacked the guard's helmet with it. Sam drew his index finger up to his lips, attempting to silence him. It didn't work, however, and he pulled him away from the gates.

"Sir Didymus hush!" He commanded and then let him go again as he pushed the gates open. Didymus paced over to Ambrosius who whined constantly at the thought of going in. Didymus climbed on to Ambrosius' back and stroked the back of his neck again, urging him to follow Sam. The dog followed him reluctantly. Sam walked in much slower now, despite how much time he had left.

"Something feels wrong," Sam said. The little gates slammed behind him they all turned around in fright only to see nothing was there. Sam stepped closer to Ludo as he went to walk further into the city. Two giant iron doors closed and they pieced together to make a giant, steel menacing robot. As it awoke, it's two haunting eyes opened and glowed a vibrant yet terrifying red.

"Who goes?" Its voice boomed. The four friends stepped back and Ludo growled, trying to be brave for Sam's sake. The machine came out from between the closed doors and turned around again. Sam couldn't see what it was that the machine grabbed at first. At least not until it was right above the machine's head. A colossal ax with a blade that was even bigger than the contraption's head prepared to swing down towards them. They all backed up until they felt a sharp something their backs. Sam saw a set of spikes spring up towards his chest. He was trapped and saw no way past this thing.

"WATCH OUT!" He yelled as he saw the ax swing down towards him and his friends. The ax just missed their heads and crashed into the wall beside Ludo. Ambrosius threw Didymus off of his back and retreated behind a single rock. Didymus constantly commanded him to come back; Ludo growled at the robot and Sam dodged the impact of the ax and the spikes that stood up straight behind him. He grabbed a handful of Ludo's fur and tried to pull him back, desperate for him to not get hurt. He then saw a shadow run over him. He looked up and saw Haggle running across the top and she leaped on to the machine's head. It detached however and inside was a little unsightly goblin with bright orange eyes. Haggle grabbed him and tossed him over the side. He retreated as he saw Ludo. Haggle jumped into its seat and tried to work the controls. The ax swung around repeatedly as Haggle struggled with the dials that controlled its arms.

"Drop the ax!" Sam yelled.

"I'm tryin'!" She called. As she messed around with the buttons, one of them popped and steam hissed out of it and she screamed. Sam realized it was malfunctioning and with Haggle still in there, the outcome wouldn't be good.

"Get out of there, Haggle!" He yelled. She stood up on the edge and threw herself over the side. She landed face flat on the floor. Sam ran towards her instantly and helped her back up.

"My God, Haggle are you alright?" He asked, holding her hand.

"Look, I ain't askin' for your forgiveness. I just want a chance to explain. Jaryn made me give you that peach. If I'd have known then-" She was cut off as Sam brought her in for a hug.

"I forgive you, Haggle." He smiled.

"You do?"

"And I commend you. Never before have I seen such courage. You are indeed a valiant lady, Miss Haggle." Didymus praised.

"Haggle and Ludo friends." Ludo said gently.

"W-we are?" She was speechless. Sam had forgiven her, she was called brave rather than a coward and she was recognized as someone else's friend. Sam reached under his shirt where Haggle's trinkets were.

"Here are your things Haggle. Thanks for your help. Really." He handed them back to her and she clipped them on to her shirt.

"You know what? Let's get that rat who calls herself Jaryn 'cause I've just about had enough of her." She stood up proudly and took Sam's hand. They all prepared to walk through the locked, steel doors. (With the help of Ludo) Sam just about managed to get the doors open wide enough for all five of them to squeeze through. The city itself was ranged with ramshackle, minuscule houses that were undoubtedly homes to the goblins. He noticed the odd cat scurry around every once in a while as they ventured further into the city. He could just about see the castle now. Hannah was as good as his.

JARYN'S CASTLE

Jaryn once again had Hannah on her knee. She smiled contentedly at her little eyes and how every curly, auburn lock of her hair rested on her shoulders. Hannah leaned back so her head was on Jaryn's chest. The sound of her heartbeat soon managed to lull her to sleep. Jaryn put her hand on Hannah's head and played with a stray curl of her hair as she drifted off to sleep. She'd never felt more serene. At least until one of her messenger goblins came bursting in.

"Your Highness! Your Highness!" The little goblin panted. He kneeled before speaking again.

"What is it, Griveld?" Jaryn asked out of blatant fury of being disturbed. Hannah opened her eyes and stared at Griveld's unsightly exterior.

"The boy!" He cried.

"What?"

"The boy! The boy who ate the peach and forgot everything!"

"What of him?" She asked slowly.

"He's here with a monster, Sir Didymus and that little dwarf who worked for you."

"WHAT?!" She asked in a panic, hoping it was a daft joke.

"He got through the gates and he's on his way to the castle!" Griveld continued. Jaryn took Hannah and called for Elodie and Zana.

"Take Hannah and make sure the Queen doesn't see her!" She ordered. The two goblins hurried upstairs with Hannah and took her to the nursery. Jaryn paced around the throne room.

It wasn't supposed to be this way. He should have given up long ago. This is bad. Very bad. Her mind became plagued with awful thoughts of what would happen to Hannah and Sam if her mother saw them both.

"You need to stop him! Everyone! Move! Move!" She cried.

GOBLIN CITY

Sam proudly smiled at himself as the steps to the castle were only a few meters away. Before Sam could charge up the steps, he halted as he and his friends saw a party of goblins dressed in dark and dinky armor. They all appeared out of every direction and had some of the most unusual weapons in their hands. He knew they could easily smite him within a heartbeat, however. He looked to his right as he saw an army of them marching down the steps. One of them blew a small horn and played the tune which declared war against someone. The army charged towards them and they had no other choice but to run away. They ran through the little streets of the dilapidated houses, hoping to get away from them. He noticed Didymus and Ambrosius were no longer beside them.

"We've gotta find Sir Didymus and Ambrosius!" Sam declared before they could retreat to the castle. He maneuvered through the streets with Haggle and Ludo, ordering them to follow his every step. He dashed around the corner of another house and ducked as he heard the blast of a cannon. He opened the front door and allowed himself and Haggle in.

"How's Ludo gonna get in?" She asked, following him in. Ludo pulled the entire wall away and clumsily walked inside the house. A swarm of goblins started trying to climb in through the windows but Sam and Haggle managed to fight them off by throwing anything in their faces.

"Ludo! The rocks! Call the rocks!" Sam bellowed to Ludo who was now perched at the top of the house. He howled at the top of his lungs and every goblin in the goblin city retreated from giant boulders that rolled around every pathway and road.

JARYN'S CASTLE

Jaryn overlooked the city worriedly. She desperately tried to find Sam but failed. She feared the worst as she saw her mother in her crow form perched not too far away from her.

"Not yet." She said. The crow cawed and brought its talons to Jaryn's face. She raised her arm as defense and was left with a huge scratch down the side of it. The crow flew away and Jaryn continued looking for Sam.

"Sir Didymus?" She heard him call out. Sam was now at the foot of the castle with Ludo and Haggle.

"Coming!" The fox cried.

"High Ho Silver!" The fox yelled to Ambrosius as they joined Sam, Haggle, and Ludo. They all ran towards the main doors.

"No!" Jaryn said. She ran back into the castle.

THRONE ROOM

Sam found himself in a little room that had been seemingly trashed. There was a small pit in front of him and behind it rested a proud throne. He noticed the clock behind it. Five. Minutes. Left.

"No!" He said fearfully as Hannah was nowhere to be seen or heard. He looked at a small staircase that would take him upstairs.

"That's the only way she'll have taken her." He turned towards the staircase and proceeded to follow them, hoping Hannah wouldn't be too far.

"Well then let's go!" Haggle cried, following him. Sam immediately turned around.

"No! No. I have to face her alone."

"But why?" Didymus asked.

"Because that's the way it's done." He stated.

"Well if that is the way it is done, then that is the way you must do it. But should you need us..." Didymus trailed off.

"Yeah. Should you need us?" Haggle repeated.

"I will call. But thank you. All of you." He faintly smiled at his newfound friends. He took one last look at them all and almost couldn't believe he was leaving the only friends he'd ever had in his whole life. It was overwhelming for him, yes, but he had to get Hannah back. He needed to get Hannah back.

He turned his back and retreated upstairs and out of the throne room. He came to a room that was filled with stairs going in every possible direction. Hannah was in here. She had to be in here. He turned to the nearest set of stairs and hurried down them and came to another set of stairs. He looked beneath him to find Jaryn standing below him. Almost like a reflection. He gasped and stepped back.

"How you turned my world, you precious thing..." Jaryn's words echoed throughout the entire room. Sam tried to run to the nearest steps but became off guard as her haunting voice sung again.

"You starve and near exhaust me..." Sam looked all around for her but jumped as he heard her come out from behind him.

"Everything I've done, I've done for you. I move the stars for no one..." Jaryn allowed herself to fall forward and she was completely under Sam, standing upside down almost mirroring him. He ran to one side and she copied him.

"You've run so long, you've run so far..." Sam tried to retreat down another set of stairs but Jaryn stepped over the side and walked towards him.

"Your eyes can be so cruel..." As Sam stepped farther away, Jaryn drew up another crystal towards him. He silently mouthed 'no.'

"Just as I can be so cruel..." Jaryn turned around and hurled the crystal as far as she could.

"Oh, I do believe in you..." Sam noticed the crystal roll towards another staircase and it bounced up each step and into the hands of...

"HANNAH!" He screamed as he saw her grab hold of the crystal. She turned her head and started climbing around in the next step she could see. Sam moved as quick as he could in hope that he would soon reach Hannah before something drastic happened.

"Yes I do... live without your sunlight, love without your heartbeat. I, I can't live within you..." Jaryn's melodic yet haunting voice echoed throughout the entire hall. Sam panicked as he realized with every step forward, he was getting further away from Hannah. He looked up to see her smiling as she was sat upside down, right above his head. He jumped from staircase to staircase, hoping Hannah would be there. He feared the worst as she was no longer in sight. This was it. Hannah was gone forever. He came around the corner of another wall and there she was. Sitting on one of the steps, playing with the sleeve of her red and white onesie.

"Hannah!" He called out, overwhelmed with relief of seeing his little sister again. She turned around and leaped up to Sam. He embraced her tightly and brought her head to rest on his shoulder. Hannah wrapped both arms around the back of his neck and squeezed with all of her might.

"God! I've missed you so much! I'm so sorry Hannah." He cried. Jaryn watched on the pair of them with despair and anguish as she saw how much Sam and Hannah's cuddling reminded her of herself and Kesara embracing when they were younger. She then looked above them and saw her mother, Empress Morrigan who looked down at Sam and Hannah with scornful eyes. She looked over at Jaryn and brought her two hands up. Jaryn acted fast and threw a crystal down by Sam's feet and the entire hall lit up as bright as a beacon. Morrigan fell back, not expecting Jaryn's actions. Each step and wall crumbled all around Sam and he tripped over the side. He quickly let go of Hannah's hand, not wanting her to fall to her death. He cried out as he rolled over the side and he squeezed his eyes shut. He slowly opened them as he realized that he still wasn't touching the ground. He found himself floating instead of falling to his death. He landed safely on the solid concrete floor below him and saw chunks of wall and the few odd steps levitating in midair around him. He looked all around for Hannah, but once again, she was nowhere to be seen.