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"Sarah. Sarah, tell me the story!" three-year old Toby was clinging onto her neck as they rode the wooden horse around and around.
Sarah gave him an indulgent smile, "Okay. One day a little boy named Toby was riding on the merry-go-round. He was bored of going in circles and wanted something exciting to happen. Little did he know that the mysterious Goblin King was watching him, and uttered his wish aloud. "I wish the horses would come to life!" Toby said, and suddenly they did, and Toby's horse leapt from the carousel and galloped away into the woods."
The grown up Sarah was standing a few feet behind her younger self and her brother, listening to the story with a mixture of sadness and amusement.
"You told good stories." Suddenly the Goblin King was beside her. Sarah didn't turn to look at him, trying to remain as nonchalant as possible.
"No I didn't. I stole most of that plot from Mary Poppins."
Jareth took her chin in his hand and forced her to look in his eyes. His voice was surprisingly gentle as he said "Nonetheless, you brought magic into that boy's life."
"Much good it did him." Sara said bitterly.
"It did him a world of good. Why did you turn away from that part of yourself?
Sarah pulled away, unnerved more than she could say by his gentle voice and manner. It wasn't the Goblin King she remembered. "What do you care?" she noticed that a pained look flitted across his face, to be replaced quickly with his usual sardonic smile.
"I am just curious. I offered you your dreams once, and you turned me down. I am surprised, however, that you moved so far away from the person you once were."
He was making her feel uncomfortable, so Sarah did what she usually did, which was to retreat into anger. "Look. Why am I here, really? Why do I suddenly have to get through the Labyrinth? And what's with the carousel, and the park? Why those places?"
"Oh, I didn't create them."
Sarah was surprised. "Well, who did then?" but he was already gone, and she was left alone on the twirling carousel. She carefully made her way to the edge of the platform, but when she looked over the side, all she could see was a gaping chasm and she pulled her self back hastily. "Great. How am I supposed to get off?" She thought of the story she'd told Toby, so long ago, and laughed. "Well, worth a try, I guess." She climbed awkwardly onto the nearest horse and felt kind of foolish when nothing happened. "Um, giddiup?" Still nothing. Then Toby's baby voice came floating towards her "I wish the Goblin King would make the horse come alive…" and the horse beneath her gave a shudder, painted fur became soft horse hair, and her mount, with a little whinny, leapt from the carousel into the darkness beyond.