Chapter 13

Toby's Final Wish

Toby suddenly arrived back home on his bed he got off his bed quickly and saw Lacey fast asleep on her bed. Then a thought struck Toby he ran to Sarah's room but it was empty and his heart sunk. Suddenly he heard voices and he crept over to the living room and he saw Sarah and West. "Sarah" he cried in happiness and before Sarah could say anything he hugged her. "I'm so sorry for being such a pain and after you do so much to take care of me too".

When he finally let go Sarah said "Toby, what's gotten into you, you're acting like you haven't seen me in hours".

"What do mean? I haven't".

"We were speaking to or rather yelling at each other just half an hour ago".

Toby looked at the clock and saw Sarah was right he was so confused and mumbled "but it wasn't a dream. It couldn't be" then he dug in his pockets and pulled out his Labyrinth book. "Sarah does this look familiar to you".

Sarah grabbed it and flicked through some of the pages and said "where did you get this"?

"I found it five years ago and I read it. Just tell me did you make a wish when I was a baby".

Sarah looked ashamed and said "yes but you must understand I was frustrated and well teenagers can get moody at the best of times and with you crying constantly that was enough to push me over the edge".

"You don't need to explain, I understand and there I few things I have to tell you. First off I wished Lacey away and the Goblin King came."

"What oh we..."

"Sarah you traded yourself for Lacey and me, Lacey and West ran the Labyrinth for you".

"We did"? West said looking rather confused

"Yes" Toby replied "and we met your friends Sarah Hoggle, Ludo and Sir Didymus. Jareth tried cheating so I wished that we, us and your friends were free from him forever. Then I woke up here and you don't remember any of it but I know it happened because I understand things a whole lot better now. You do believe me right".

"Of course I do"

"What are you talking about Sarah"? West asked

"Eleven years ago I did something very foolish and went on an exhausting journey but some good came from it, a better relationship with my step-mother and half brother and a better understanding of everything around me and the exhausting journey was only bearable because of the friends I made on my way, and like Toby said their names were Hoggle, Ludo and Sir Didymus"

Just then Lacey came out of her room rubbing her eyes and she said "I had a bad dream".

Sarah went over and picked her up and carried her over to the couch while Toby rushed back to his room. Sarah said "how about you tell me all about it"?

"I was in this strange place with all these monsters around me and suddenly I was home again. West and Toby were there but you weren't this mean man had taken you. I didn't know who he was but I remember his head looked like an exzapperated pineapple. So anyway Mr. Pineapple head..."

Sarah burst out laughing "I never thought of it like that. I knew he hair style was strange but that never crossed my mind. Rat that calls himself Jareth, that I heard but Mr. Pineapple head that's a new one"

"but it was just a dream wasn't it"?

"well... I...um..that is"

Sarah was struggling to find words but finally Toby came back with Lancelot and said "no it wasn't a dream but for some reason only you and I remember it".

"oh I think I know. West and I are adults, are lives are full of responsibilities and all the things you have to deal with when you grown up and the labyrinth is full of all the magic that's real when you're a child. I'm guessing when you start acting like a grown-up the labyrinths magic no longer affects you like it does children..." Sarah suddenly realised "I should have seen it before, I haven't been able to contact any of my friends from the Labyrinth for the last five years but it wasn't until five years ago that I started acting more responsibility to take care of you two."

"I'm so sorry Sarah. You gave up so much for me and Lacey and I never even thanked you. I know you consider giving up your dreams a small price to pay for being with us but something I never told you was we need you a lot more than you need us."

"Toby, eleven years ago it took a maximum of three seconds, tops before I realized I didn't want to lose you and I couldn't trade you for my dreams because you'd suffer because of my selfishness and five years ago I knew if I chose not to take care of you and Lacey I'd lose you and you could suffer because of my selfishness and the day I heard Lacey call me mommy I knew even with everything I'd lost if I had it to do all over again I would still make the same choice. You may not understand my choice but I know I made the right one".

Toby and Lacey smiled and Lacey said "mommy".

Toby said "I guess if you could put up with me and my screaming I can put up with Lacey and her upbeat attitude" he turned to Lacey and everyone watched in amazement as he gave Lancelot to Lacey and said "Lancelot can belong to both of us from now on and he can protect you".

Lacey said "Thank you Toby, but the thing is I have nightmares about Mr. Pineapple head every night since I can remember".

Sarah said "no wonder you keep screaming every night."

Toby said "Sarah there's one thing I still don't understand".

"And what's that"?

"While we were in the Labyrinth I was shown how hard you worked to get me back and everything you endured. Now I never gave up because I need you and you're the only person in my life who I still love but why didn't you give up"?

"It's quite simple, you never gave up because you love me and I never gave up because I love you. Plus if you've read the book then you must know any wished away children if not retrieved are turned into goblins and I couldn't bear the thought of you getting turned into a goblin merely for my own foolishness and selfishness. You know my time through the Labyrinth had quite an impression on me when I returned from the labyrinth I had changed into a more responsible and caring big sister and I think that's what the Labyrinth does it changes reckless and foolish children and teenagers into more sensible people."

"so do you think it changed me "asked Toby half hopeful, half scared

"the first thing I did when I got back from the Labyrinth was run up to your room to make sure you were back and once I saw you safe and sound in your crib I picked up my teddy bear Lancelot, put him in the crib next to you and said "I'd like Lancelot to belong to you now" and just a few moments ago you gave Lancelot to Lacey. I believed you've changed but for the better like I did".

Lacey said "my wish came true"

Sarah asked "what wish"

Lacey looking a little guilty said "I know you tell us to be careful what we wish for but I wished that Toby could be a better brother to me".

Toby said "you wanted a better brother Lacey well I believe you've got one curtsey of Mr. Pineapple heads Labyrinth".

The next day after the beautiful ceremony they were about to go to the reception when Toby pointed out three men looking at them from a distance. One was a man in his fifties wearing more jewellery than normal including a plastic bracelet. Another was very big and hairy and had a familiar gentle smile. The third had bushy red hair and was standing up straight and very properly. Sarah smiled over at them. Lacey said "I'm glad they got out".

Sarah said "I wonder how that happened. To be perfectly honest I'm relieved, I couldn't help worrying about them."Toby said "I think it's because when I wished for us to be free from Jareth forever I included them in the wish meaning they're now free as well just like us". Toby had told them everything that had happened the night before although West doubted the part where Toby humbly asked him for his opinion. Sarah told him that if he was right everyone did something on the path and what Toby did was gained leadership qualities. Knowing others strenghts and weakness's, knowing when to ask for help and inspiring others to be brave.

West said "it was a very generous gesture Toby, especially considering you gave up your dreams for it".

Toby replied "after last night I learnt there are some things more important than dreams like people, the ones you hold close to your heart".

Sarah bent down, put a hand on his shoulder and said "I'm so proud of you Toby. After five years you finally realise dreams may be important but not as much as the people you love".

Toby said "I guess it's because for the first time in five years everything's perfect... I only wish we could all stay this happy forever".

Sarah said "and that's what I call a carefully requested wish".

Meanwhile while everyone else was caught up in the marriageable bliss of Sarah and West in the underground someone was not happy at all. Jareth watched them through a crystal and said "like sister like brother, hard to believe they're only a half brother and sister. They both have plenty in common, they both don't know when to give up and they both think they can beat me and get away with it. Well enjoy it while you can because this isn't the end little boy. I'll get you and your sister just wait and see. I just need to find a way to get round your wish" Just then he spotted West putting his hand on Sarah's stomach and he smiled "and I just found a way". Jareth started formulating a new plan to take place in around nine months but that's not this story. This story is finished and the hero's of this story lived happily ever after... for now anyway.

note- I have Lacey calling Jareth Mr. Pineapple head in this chapter because when I was her age I thought Jareth hair style looked like a pineapple.