AN: What a challenge it is trying to mesh two worlds together. And also, I have no idea how the male mind works, so trying to write from the POV of a 17 year old boy was exhausting. This chapter has not been looked over by Greenchimes yet, so an update will be coming in the future with slight changes; I'm just trying to finish as much of this as possible before Halloween..I think I might not make my deadline.

Chapter 5: Preamble to a Journey

"I wouldn't do that, if I were you."

Upon hearing the unexpected masculine voice coming from the entrance of the museum, Max instinctively took up defense. He instantly stepped away from the glass case and moved himself between the threat and the two people he cared for most. It took him a moment to notice the blonde dude with frizzy hair standing in the doorway was none other than the Goblin King. The guy didn't look the same as before, his dark armor and cape being replaced with more casual clothes, albeit clothes from a different era. It made Max think it was like something out of the movie "Men in Tights."

Although he knew this king was likely skilled in some form of combat or self-defense, not to mention that Sarah had said he was magical, Max sized the man up. The king was the same height and slight build as him, so if it came down to physical strength, Max guessed it would be an even fight. Allison had convinced him to put his energy into learning martial arts when he'd wanted to be better prepared to protect her and Dani, but with what he'd learned by fighting the witches last year, magic made physical defense ineffective. If the king used magic, he'd be toast. Plus, Max noticed that the king wasn't alone; standing on the top step of the stairs behind him was a smaller person of some sort.

"Who are you?" Allison's mom said, moving to stand next to Max.

Max side-glanced at the woman, seeing a fierceness he'd never before seen in her, not even when she was mad at him. She got mad at him a lot; sometimes he thought she was mad for his existence, just because he was dating her daughter. But now, she was standing with him. Max wondered if maybe it was because she thought she had to, being the only adult of the group.

But, to defuse the tension in the room, Sarah came to stand between them all, holding up her hands to appease the anxious woman. "Aunt Paulette, this is the Goblin King."

Seeing the softening of the man's glance at hearing Sarah speak, Max knew his theory was right. This man cared about Sarah.

Sarah then turned to the king. "Why are you here and not keeping an eye on that witch who has Toby?"

"I came because that," He raised a leather gloved hand and pointed to the Book, "summoned me."

"You can't have it." Allison's mom barked out.

"I think it best I did." The Goblin King stated, taking another step into the room. "Nothing but ill could come from that book."

"Why should we believe you?" Allison questioned. It startled Max since he hadn't noticed she'd come up to stand directly behind him.

The king took more slow steps forwards as he voiced his grievances, "Because the tome is sentient and could trick you into saying words you don't intend. That thing of evil does not belong in this world and needs to be returned where it originated: Underground. Do you need any more reason?"

Max felt his sister grasp his arm as she gained the courage to join the conversation. "How do we know you won't take the book and use it against us yourself?"

Max didn't like the way the king narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms as he answered Dani. "I have no need of incantations. My natural abilities are more powerful and stable than magic conjured by mere words."

"We're just supposed to trust you?" Dani asked, her tone incredulous as she continued testing him.

"Dani, knock it off." Sarah quietly warned, furrowing her brows.

The girl gaped at Sarah. "What, you trust him? He took your brother, remember."

Sarah shook her head, her eyes flickering between the girl and the king. "No he didn't. Not now, and not when I made the wish. There are rules, and he has to follow them."

Catching the pleased look in the king's eyes at Sarah's words, Max took it upon himself to ask, "So then, you'll give her brother back?"

The king frowned and shook his head. "I cannot, not while the witch still has him. I must abide by the Labyrinth's allowances."

Sarah took a step toward him, her voice tight, "You can't keep him, can you? Whether that witch wins or loses, you will give him back, won't you?"

"I want to."

Max heard the hesitancy and regret in the Goblin King's voice. It was so frustrating; it should be simple for this guy who was the king of the place to be able to just hand Sarah's brother over.

Allison's mom voiced his thoughts. "What is it, then, that prevents you from giving my nephew back?"

"Excuse me. Let me in."

Startled by the unexpected voice from behind the Goblin King, Max tried to calm his jolted heart at seeing it had come from the dwarf, who was no longer outside the door but was pushing past the king to get further into the room. The Goblin King sighed as he stepped aside to let his servant in.

The dwarf stopped in the middle of the room, then glanced around at everyone, indicating his condition by lifting up a soggy sleeve. "I'm all wet. Anyone got a towel?"

"I'll get it." Sarah walked towards the front of the room, where the counter with the register guests paid to enter was kept.

Max glanced through the front door; sure enough, rain had begun, causing the sky to dim as the sun was getting closer to the horizon. A flash of lightning briefly lit through the clouds, with thunder following soon after. The aged dwarf then gawked at the room, his large blue eyes taking everything in.

Allison's mom shrieked at seeing the little man. "What is that?"

Sarah's tone showed she was insulted by her step-aunts reaction, snarkily remarking, "Who he is, is Hoggle, my friend. Hoggle, this is my Aunt Paulette, Karen's sister."

"Hello, ma'am." Hoggle said, his hand making a slight wave.

Paulette hesitantly returned the gesture.

"As to what he is, Hoggle is an actual dwarf." As she spoke, she squashed down to rummage under the counter, then came back up with a rag in her hand which she gave her friend. "Where we have people on Earth that have a specific genetic condition that keeps them small, in the Underground, dwarves are their own race."

"So that's why his head is so…" Paulette started, moving her hands outwards.

"There ain't nothin' wrong with my head." Hoggle defended, pausing as he wiped the cloth over his noggin.

Max couldn't help himself from stifling a laugh at the expression on the small man's face.

"If we may go back to the problem at hand," The Goblin King interjected. "I cannot simply pry Toby out of the witch's hands. She herself has magic and might harm the boy should I try. And as he was in her possession when entering the maze, the Labyrinth might not know he was not a willing participant in the wish. Right now, it considers Toby just as much of a contender as the witch. As long as he is with her, there is nothing I can do to change that. And as much as I can go and check on her progress, I can merely present challenges. I cannot interfere..."

Max saw Sarah scowl as she cocked her head, looking pointedly at the king and she narrowed her eyes as she interjected, "How was sending the cleaners on me not interfering?"

The king smirked slyly, but said nothing of her concern, choosing to stay focused. "As for retrieving young Toby, I cannot…"

Max looked between Allison and Sarah to see if they were seeing the same thing he was. The Goblin King was frozen, or at least he suddenly stopped talking and went stark still, his eyes staring forwards, unfocused. Half a minute went by before Sarah stepped closer and called the king by name, causing the gloved hand of the monarch to fly up to shush her. He then cocked his head as if listening to something they couldn't hear. Abruptly, he twisted his outstretched arm and a clear sphere formed in his hand, and he brought it near his mouth and spoke.

"Should you make another attempt to cheat, you'll find yourself outside the gates to begin again. Do not test me, witch." When he was done, another flick of his wrist made the crystal disappear.

"That was rad!" Dani exclaimed. "That was magic, right?"

The king smiled softly at the girl and nodded.

"What did the witch do?" Max asked, curious to know what Sarah Sanderson had tried that caught the attention of the king.

"It appears she thought attempting to fly over the Labyrinth on a goblin's stolen serpent staff would be a good idea. I have convinced her otherwise. She will no longer attempt to take flight."

"And Toby?" Concern laced Sarah's voice, and Max noticed she raised her arm slightly, as if she were going to grasp the king's arm. "Did she try to take him up too?"

"He is safe." The king looked to Sarah, connecting his eyes with hers as if she were the only one needing to hear the words. "The Labyrinth informed me of her attempt before she could accomplish it."

"What's that you said about not interfering again?" Sarah asked, a knowing smirk curling one corner of her mouth as she stared at the king.

The monarch's lips also quirked as he continued to gaze at her, "As I attempted to state before, I might not be able to interfere with a wisher's journey, but that does not mean others cannot."

"What are you saying, Goblin King?" Paulette asked, interrupting the moment of flirting they were having.

Turning his attention to the woman, the king started, "It is not against the rules for others to attempt to retrieve the boy. It just cannot be done by myself or the denizens of my Labyrinth."

Hearing this enthused Max, interpreting it to mean that the king was implying they could help. "Alright, then let's go."

"Yeah! Let's help save Toby!" Dani echoed.

"I'm game." Allison said.

"Absolutely not." Her mother's expression stern. "You are not leaving with a stranger."

Max rolled his eyes; it was not a surprise that Allison's mom would object.

"Is retrieving your nephew not a priority, then?" The Goblin King asked the woman.

"I, uh...I don't want my daughter or these children put in any danger. As you said, that witch has magic."

"Mom, we beat her and her sisters last year." Allison said with conviction, walking to the register at the entrance of the building and pulling out something. It was a container of salt. "Just give me some salt, I can handle her."

A kind of pride swelled in Max's heart at seeing how assured his girlfriend was in being able to conquer the witch. One of the things that drew him to her in the first place was her confidence. And her intelligence; it must have been her idea to keep salt on hand for if the unexpected happened in the witches' former home.

"Ali, he's wanting you to go to another world, for Christ's sake." Paulette griped.

"I realize that, Mom." Allison huffed out.

"Well, If you're going, I'm going." The woman stated, squaring off her shoulders.

The king shook his head, stopping their argument. "Only those who believe may enter the Labyrinth. You comprehend that magic is real, but you do not believe in magic. Until you believe, you may not follow. And as time is short, I do not think you will find your faith in enough time to assist with this task."

"Then they can't go." Paulette said firmly.

"Well, I'm going." Sarah asserted, stepping around Paulette to stand next to the king. "I'm neither a child nor your responsibility."

"But Karen…"

"Will understand you told me no, and I chose to ignore you." Sarah answered simply. "If I'm able to help get my brother back, I'm going."

Max admired that Sarah was brave enough to stand up to her step-aunt. He had never been so bold as to challenge Paulette Watts. There had been many times he had desired to do so, especially when she changed Allison's curfew to 9pm the one time he had gotten her home an hour late. One time. So unfair. But, as Paulette had the ability to make Allison never able to see him again, he'd kept his mouth shut. The king barring Allison's mother from joining this journey was quite a relief. Max could just imagine the disaster that could be.

"I'm going too!" Dani chimed in. "I'm not Mrs. Watts' kid either, and I want to help save Toby."

Sarah moved to the girl, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Dani, I appreciate you wanting to help, but my aunt is right about one thing; this other world is unpredictable. I would hate for something to happen to you."

"But I want to help." Dani whined.

"By staying safe, you are helping." Sarah stated gently.

"Hold up." Max hesitated, rethinking his willingness to go on this quest at seeing Sarah so guarded. Maybe there was more to know before agreeing to virtually leaving Earth for an unknown realm. "What types of things happen in this place? Is it dangerous? Can we even get back?"

"It's a damn cheat, if you ask me." Hoggle grumbled.

Sarah cocked her head and looked to the king, "I"m not sure if what I experienced on my journey was because of my wish. There seemed to be a lot of untold dangers and unnumbered hardships that I didn't pass through on my journey."

Nodding, the king answered, "There were."

"Like what?" Max asked, not knowing what Sarah had gone through in the first place.

"Winding canals, sapient thorn bushes, monsters that could crush your bones with their bare hands, and numerous other treacherous obstacles. Such things I try to keep from wishers, but it could happen should the Labyrinth itself find the need to enhance the challenge," The king looked to Sarah again, "thus why you were placed in the path of the Fireys. That was not my doing."

Whatever the king meant by his last statement must have resonated with Sarah, for she nodded in understanding.

"As to this fellow's other query," Max realized the king was talking about him when the man's gloved hand was pointed in his direction, "None of you made the wish, therefore the Labyrinth has no claim on you. I may allow you to traverse the realms as I see fit. I see no reason the Labyrinth should interfere and try to keep you."

"You mean that maze thinks for itself?" Paulette asked, the tone of her voice showing she found it hard to believe.

"Yes." Sarah, the dwarf, and the king answered together.

Considering the king's description of the things lurking within the Labyrinth, plus the dwarf's opinion of the place, Max knew he had to make a decision. He turned to his little sister, cringing inside at knowing she was going to throw a fit with what he was about to say. "Uh, yeah, Dani. I am going to have to agree with Sarah on this. You should go with Mrs. Watts. Let her take you home."

Sure enough, his sister's face reddened, showing her upset as she threw down her hands before raising them to cross over her chest. "But I want to. If I can't go, you can't go either."

Knowing there would be nothing he could say to appease her, Max shook his head as he stood his ground, "No Dani. It's best that you go home."

"And what shall I tell your parents about you if something happens, Max? 'Oh, sorry, your son didn't make it back from his journey to another world.' I'm the one who would be arrested." Paulette huffed.

"I think you're being a bit extreme, Mom." Allison said, then looked to the king, a hopeful gleam in her eyes. "Besides, I'm sure the Goblin King could protect us with his magic."

The king was hesitant to speak as he seemed to contemplate how to best answer. He gave a slight nod as he conceded, "I will do all that's within my power to keep you from harm. But know it is your choice to come. I am not infallible."

Nodding, Sarah said, "That's good enough for me." She then turned on her heel and stepped towards her step-aunt, holding out her hand, "Unlock the case and give me the Book."

Paulette gaped at her a moment before tightening her lips and shaking her head as she pulled out the keys from her pocket. "I hope you know what you're doing in giving him this."

"Oh, I'm not giving it to him." Sarah answered, conviction ringing in her tone.

"Sarah, I don't think…" The king started.

"Let me finish. I'm not giving it to you until I have Toby back." The look in her eye as she focused on the king challenged him to defy her.

With a stern gaze, the Goblin King scowled but nodded. "I suppose that's reasonable. I care not for the book. I merely seek to remove it from this realm."

Mrs. Watts seemed to perk up at hearing that and with more energy, finished removing the Book from its case. As soon as it was in her hand, she lifted it to Sarah. "Here, get it out of our lives for good. It's caused enough grief."

"Do we need to bring anything with us? Food? Weapons?" Allison asked.

Sarah sighed, "Right. I did get pretty hungry about eight hours in. There's only, what, eleven hours or so left for the witch to run, right?"

The king nodded.

That got Max thinking, and he voiced his quandary, "I bet there's no porta-potties around either."

Allison whacked his shoulder, "Max, that's gross. I'm sure mom will let us take some chips and Snickers bars from the vending machine."

Paullet nodded reluctantly and walked back to her office. Something clanked and rattled as she set it on her desk. Max moved to where he could look into the office to see her pulling out coins and bills from the cash tin. She then exited and handed the money to her daughter. "If I'm going to let you go at all, I'm going to make sure you're cared for."

Allison smiled as she looked at the money, then she turned to Dani, "Wanna help me pick out what we should take?"

Of course, Dani was willing to help. Allison winked at Max as she handed him the canister of salt before taking Dani's hand. Max loved how Allison never hesitated to make Dani feel appreciated. He knew it wasn't expected for girlfriends to accept the family members of the guy they were dating, but Allison embraced the girl with open arms. Of course, the way they were thrust together last Halloween would make anyone close. He watched as Allison led his sister and overheard her tell the girl how important she could be by staying behind and guarding her own house, the place where the witches left from. Allison had a way with Dani, knowing just the right things to say to make the girl listen.

His attention was pulled away from the important females of his life by Paulette saying, "I'll get the first aid kit from under the register. Since I can't prevent this, I will at least make sure you are prepared for the worst."

Sarah nodded. "I'll go grab my satchel out of my car so we can carry everything."

"I'll help." The dwarf said, starting to follow Sarah out of the museum.

Sarah shook her head at him and smiled softly, "That's okay, Hoggle. It's raining pretty hard. No need both of us getting wet. You could hold the Book for me, though."

The dwarf mumbled, "Yeah, alright."

Sarah smiled at him, laying the Book in his hands. "I'll be quick."

Max watched Hoggle slump his shoulders in disappointment, but then nod after looking outside after Sarah, where there was a steady downpour. The dwarf then took a good look at the object in his palms. Something about it triggered the hobbled man to gape at the thing.

Hoggle walked to the king, raising up the tome as high as his arm would stretch. "This is…"

But the monarch cut him off, "Something evil and not of this world and therefore returning with us. Do not open it. Is that understood? You know the consequence should you ignore my warning."

The dwarf shut his mouth and nodded, his blue eyes going wide. He quickly brought the Book to his chest and held it tightly.

Observing their interaction made Max wonder if there was something more to the Book than the king had stated for the dwarf to look so worried. It made him wonder what Hoggle was going to say before he was cut off.

Sarah was fast. She was back in less than two minutes with not a drop on her. She nodded to the king and said a quick thanks.

The king grinned and inclined his head slightly. "Can't have you catch a cold or you'll be in no shape to save young Toby."

That's when Max realized the king must have used magic to keep Sarah dry. And Max hadn't even seen the king lift a finger or bat an eye. But the man was using his eyes now, and his flirting was working as a rosiness hued Sarah's cheeks before she cleared her throat and turned to her step-aunt. She opened the satchel so the woman could place the First Aid kit inside. Sarah then held out the bag for Max to place the salt within. After taking the Book back from Hoggle and placing it too within the bag, she then went to join Alison and Dani in making the food selections.

"Hoggle, is it?" Paullet asked out of the blue.

The dwarf turned and stared at the woman, having not been expecting anyone to address him, "Uh, yeah?"

"Is this king of yours to be trusted? Will he take all precautions to keep them safe?"

Hoggle folded his arms as he thought on her question, then said, "I don't think he'd let anything happen to Sarah, if that's what you're askin'. And since your girl's related, I doubt he'd let anything happen to her, either. He wouldn't want Sarah to be pissy at him."

Inwardly, Max patted himself on the back for not being the only one to see the mutual attraction between the king and the girl.

The king, on the other hand, must not have appreciated being talked about right in front of him.

"Although I hold fondness for her, I doubt she reciprocates. Until the time comes where she indicates otherwise, I find it best to let the subject lie."

Had he the mind to do so, Max would have found it amusing how the king was oblivious that Sarah felt the same. But he was rather distracted. As the Goblin King spoke, he formed three crystals in his hands and started a mesmerizing dance with them between his fingers, over his palms, and rolling them around his arms every which way. It was unlike anything Max had ever seen before and seemed to defy the laws of gravity.

"That is wicked cool!" Max couldn't help but to express that he was impressed.

Once he was done showing off his talents, the king handed a crystal to Max. Expecting to feel the magic within, Max was somewhat disappointed that he only felt glass, albeit it was warm as if it was a living thing with its own internal heat.

"What is this supposed to do?" He asked, turning it in his hands, noticing the reflection of the room upside down within.

"To appease the mother of your beloved, I give you a piece of my magic." The king snapped the fingers of his free hand and all three crystals burst, leaving a shower of glitter and three necklaces behind.

The pendant at the end of the gold chain now in his hand, pulsing with the same warmth he felt of the crystal, was a round medallion about the size of a Morgan dollar with a symbol Max had never seen before. "What will this do?"

Lifting up his own pendant with his free hand, the King showed the center of his signet had the same design, "When you wear this, those in my kingdom will know you are my emissaries and therefore not attempt to prevent your travels through my Labyrinth. It will also afford you protection from the Labyrinth itself."

Max nodded and placed the chain around his neck.

When the girls rejoined them a moment later, the Goblin King handed the necklaces to Allison and Sarah. That's when Max noticed Sarah's was different; it was a petite version of the king's pendant, not just the circular center. Sarah noticed too, because she paused a good minute, staring at the symbol before she closed her eyes and took a deep breath before putting it on. Max found her response odd and wanted to ask her what she was thinking at that moment, but now was not the time. He knew the king's feelings on Sarah through his confession, but Sarah was a female; he had no idea what could be going on in her head. Heck, even Allison had tricked him into thinking she liked him the first day they met, until she gave him back the note he'd made with his phone number on it. It was definitely mixed signals. Girls were weird.

Allison turned to her mother, "I think we're as ready as we're going to be. If Max's parents are there when you take Dani home, tell them that Max and I are at some Halloween party. Then they won't be expecting us to come home any time soon."

Nodding, Paullet sighed, then said, "You all are taking this with pretty level heads."

"Well, fighting the witches last year gave us courage." Allison answered.

Max added, "We beat them then, and we'll make sure they can't return this time."

"Preferably, they will not remain in my realm either. They are out of their time and out of their world. If I have anything to do with it, they will return to their exanimate state." The Goblin King vowed.

Max noticed the ever thrumming sound of the rain abruptly stop, causing him to glance outside. Rather than seeing the expected twilight of the clouded sky, there was the golden-orange glow of the sun from another world outside the door. He was drawn away from it when he heard his sister sniffle beside him.

Bending down to be eye to eye with her, he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Listen to Mrs. Watts. Be good for her."

Frowning, Dani said, "You'd better come back, dork face. And Toby too."

"I have to. I"ve got a promise to keep on Thursday." Max tried to say something light hearted that would distract her from feeling left out.

"Yeah, tights and all, or else." Dani grinned, then wrapped her arms around his neck. "Be careful."

Feeling her squeeze him so tight and the wisp of her breath before she placed a short peck upon his cheek almost made Max choke-up. Almost. He swallowed as he stood, blinking to spread the moisture that threatened to escape his eyes. He had to stay strong for Dani. Plus, he didn't want Allison to think less of him by showing such vulnerability. Sure, they'd been dating for a year now, but he'd never had reason to cry in front of her, and now was not the time to begin.

"I'll get her home." Paulette promised him, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder.

"I'll look after the school if you don't come back." Dani stated.

As much as he felt he should grin at his sister's promise to care for the fish in the aquarium he kept in his room, all he found himself doing was nodding to her. A tickle of fear started to spread from the center of his soul. Fear that something could go wrong and he and Ali could be stuck in a strange world for the rest of their lives. Fear that what they could face in the Labyrinth could potentially hurt them since Sarah, the dwarf, and the Goblin King seemed to be so worried about it. But there was an excitement for this journey too. The fact that other worlds existed was radical.

Max turned to find Allison waiting at the door for him. Sarah, the King and the dwarf had already stepped through.

Allison reached out her hand to him and he took it. They both looked back to their loved ones staying behind, giving one last small wave before heading into the unknown.

Looking at Allison, Max took a deep breath before saying, "Off to Neverland."

Chickens were for eating, not for petting. Mary Sanderson thought it against her nature to stroke the creature kindly, but she found it rather pleasing. As she focused on watching her fingers glide through the surprisingly soft, black feathers of the chicken she held in her lap, Mary was contemplating the situation she and her elder sister found themselves in. Whenever there was an obstacle in life, she typically found the optimistic side of the circumstance; she could not do that here. Firstly, she was a third of her normal size after having been transfigured into a child. Secondly, she was in a strange world with strange smells and the feeling of wild magic everywhere with no obvious source. And thirdly, the creatures surrounding her were unlike anything she had ever seen. They weren't demons and they weren't animals but were something in between. She didn't know if she should be afraid of them or try to befriend them.

And fourthly, the person whom she trusted to have a solution to any problem was currently not handling the situation any better. In fact, Winifred was rather losing her mind.

"Cheese and crackers, why won't it work?! My brain wills the magic just as much as he, yet it obeys me not. Double damn that Goblin King. I must find a way to outwit the man." Winnie's red curls shook as she ranted while pacing the room, her cherub cheeks flushed from her vexed disposition.

That her elder sister was being over-dramatic was nothing new to Mary. She was used to having to calm her and be the voice of reason. "But Winnie, did you not smell him? Of man, he is not."

Winnie rolled her eyes, "No, dear Mary, I did not. Who couldst smell anything with these foul, putrid creatures around?" She then waved her hands to indicate the goblins scattered throughout the room.

"I can. The king might have been born a man, but he is one no more. He smells of one having been transformed by magic."

"And tell me, my sister cursed with olfaction, what dost thou sense of these...creatures?" She asked, waving her hand about to indicate the beings that surrounded them.

Mary sniffed the air as requested, then frowned. "They too were transfigured by the magic of this place. W-Winnie, dost that mean we might be altered too?" Tears started down her cheeks as she whined, "I don't want to be a hob."

"Thou dost not want to be a child, thou dost not want to be a magic-turned beast." Winnie stepped closer to her sister, her voice getting louder as she went, "but maybe if thou were transmogrified, thou could finally be of some use!"

Mary curled her shoulders and looked away from her tiny, angered sibling. They might be in smaller bodies, but it seemed to have enlarged their emotional reaction. Mary let her fingers go back to giving her attention to the chicken. It at least didn't yell at her.

Winnie went back to attempting to master the magic of this world, but soon enough was flustered again. "How can one think with all this ruckus from these creatures!"

"We ain't creatures, we's goblins." One screeched at her.

Not expecting one to talk back, Winnie puckered her lips before chiding back, "Well, whatever thy be, thou art more hideous than a toad's wart."

"Thanks!" The goblin laughed and went about its business.

"Hiss."

"HisssS."

"Sssssss"

"Grrr."

"Shush, not grr. Hiss. Dragons don't growl."

"How should I know, I ain't never seen one."

"Neither have I."

"Then how do you know they hiss?"

"They woof."

"No."

"Meow?"

"No!"

"Oink!"

"I give up. Just, do whatever sounds scary."

Hearing strange voices coming from the other side of the manicured foliage, Sarah Sanderson pulled her captee to a halt, stopping to see which direction the voices were headed. If they were citizens of this ever changing land, perhaps she could bespell one and they could lead her to the castle. She'd seen the stone fortress in the distance, but every time she'd try to head towards it, she somehow got turned around and it would be behind her. So tricky.

Once she gathered what direction they were heading, she pulled the boy along, but he resisted again, yanking against her the opposite direction from where she wanted to go.

"Come, now boy Toby. Cease thy skirmishing limbs. Or perhaps I should consume thy finger to remind thee to do as I say." She spat out her words in a strong whisper so only the boy would hear. She nearly laughed aloud at seeing him nod in compliance with fear stricken eyes. "Good, now hush and stay with me."

She followed the voices until it seemed as though one more turn and they would come into view. That is when she began her enchanting song.

"Closer I call thee, come now my way.
Show me the things that thou know.
Guide me to thy king, the home where he lay.
That's where I need to go.

Share with me secret ways to traverse,
Impress me with what thee can show.
Lead me, guide me, show me the way.
Take me where I need to go."

She smiled when halfway through her verse, the creatures appeared, drawn by her voice. There were five of them, all working together to manipulate the puppet of a serpent. They all became still and silent, ceasing their animal calls. Their strange appearance intrigued her; small beings that were not animal nor imp, but something in between. Whatever they were, she could not sense any magic in them. They should be easy to coax to do her bidding.

And yet, it was not to be so.

"Lady sings so pretty. Sing again!"

"Yeah, it's usually only kingy who sings. Do it again!"

"But something more happy. We likes to dance!"

Shocked that her magic had had no effect on them, she shrieked as they rushed at her, throwing down the serpent puppet they had been carrying. They excitedly surrounded her. In her surprise, Sarah let go of the boy and he took no time in running off once free of her.

"No, child! Come back." As she ran after the boy, the creatures stayed close on her heels, nearly causing her to trip. "Leave me be, foul brattle."

Relief rushed over her when her longer legs allowed her to catch up with the boy. Thankfully, the maze hadn't changed so she could easily find him. It surprised her that he didn't try to pull away when she grabbed a hold of his wrist again.

"Do not run again, Toby. 'Twas not gentlemanly to take advantage of my distress and run away."

It angered her that the boy laughed at her, then said, "You're funny."

"I don't see the humor." She stated, not understanding his mirth.

"Of course I ran, and I'll do it again too, any chance I get. I know my sister is looking for me. Sooner I'm away from you, the sooner I can find her."

One thing she had learned from observing her eldest sister; the easiest way to make thyself feel better is to break another down. And right then, she felt terrible. "Thy sister hath not magic nor the fortitude to make a wish to get her here. She be too noble to wound another to save thy life. Thy sister isn't coming, dear one."

"Yes she is, you'll see!" The boy stated strongly, despite the tears in his eyes.

Sarah didn't get a chance to rebuke him, for the gang of not-imps found them. Again, she tried to shoo them off, shouting, "Go away, foul creatures. Leave me be!"

"What's the matter, they're only goblins." Toby stated.

"Goblins?" Sarah tried to think of where she'd heard of such a creature before, in one of the bedtime stories her mother told her and her sisters as little girls. They liked to run amuck and liked to collect things precious, like gems and baubles. That would be what she would need to use against them to get them to leave her be. On the ground near her foot she found her answer.

"Lump of stone, so rough and cold, turn your outside into gold." She said quietly under her breath.

A giggle escaped her when she saw the grey rubble turn a metallic yellow. At least her magic still worked here, just not on the natives. She bent to pick it up, then brought it in front of their faces. They all stared at it, as she expected.

"Dost thou want this? Then go find it?" And she threw it as hard and far as she could over the bushes.

Sarah scanned the horizon to see where the castle was, and it looked even further away than it had before the goblins had interfered. She looked to the sky and screamed, then strode back the way she came, before encountering the mischievous troupe, all the while pulling the stumbling boy along.

"I am quite tired of the trickery of this land. It teases and changes. Well, I shall go above it all."

She smirked when what she sought came in sight; the long staff with the head of a serpent the goblins had left behind. It would suffice to set her aloft so she could finally reach the castle. Then, she wouldn't need the boy as leverage any more. It was tiresome and his constant refusal was a nuisance; she'd be glad to be rid of him.

Letting the child go, she bent to retrieve the staff and whispered words to its wood. "Simple staff you shall comply. Take to the air and let me fly."

Another happy cackle bubbled from her as she began to rise, her magic still cooperating. She rose over the tall hedges, able to see clearly the castle in the distance. But the moment she moved towards the stone fortress, her spell collapsed and she went tumbling to the hard stone ground. As her body ached and her blood boiled, a voice cracked through the air.

"Should you make another attempt to cheat, you'll find yourself outside the gates to begin again. Do not test me, witch."

"Blast and damnation!" Sarah screeched as she picked herself up off the ground. How dare the king keep her from completing her task on her own terms.

It did not help things that the child laughed, saying, "He caught you. My sister said she thought he was often watching. I guess she was right."

"We'll see about that." She pointed one hand to the sky, "Abhorrent meddling king who plucked me from the sky, I cast a curse to blind thy ever watchful eye. Where 'er I turn in secrecy, it's me that thee shall never see."

Such a spell could not be observed, but Sarah felt the magic obey the curse. The next time the Goblin King should try to spy upon her again, he would not be able to find her.

AN2: As always, i would love to hear your thoughts on how this is going. Please comment if you are so inclined.