A/N: A highly-recognizable character shows up in this chapter. I think you'll know who he is once you meet him. ;)
Disclaimer: Jareth, Sarah, Toby, and the whole 'Labyrinth' crew belong to Jim Henson and all of those folks. Ti belongs to me...as does my description of the land...if one can copyright those things. ;)
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Chapter One
"What the…?" Toby trailed off in confusion, picking himself off the ground and turning in circles. None of the landscape looked familiar…and he considered himself something of an expert when it came to the Labyrinth. No, this place -- wherever it was -- was too green, and pleasant, and…and…different!
Had it not been for the thick carpet of grass beneath him, Toby would have almost thought himself to be in the part of the Labyrinth comprised of tall hedges. Forming a complete circle around him, the wall of shrubbery stood at least ten feet tall. The branches were twisted so tightly together, and the leaves were so thick, that no matter how much he tried he couldn't even see through the wall. Trying to find a passageway would prove even less feasible.
Standing in the exact center of this mysterious circle was an elaborate stone fountain, perhaps six feet in diameter and seven or eight feet tall. Water splashed gracefully out of the mouths of stone serpents; out of the pitchers of young maidens; and at the very top, water spurted forth from the mouth of a magnificent winged bird. After giving up on his quest to exit the hedged-in circle, Toby spent the longest amount of time trying to figure out what sort of bird was carved out of the fountain's stone. Its wings spanned the breadth of the fountain's base, each one so intricately detailed that he could see individual feathers. The eyes were glittering rubies, each one catching stray beams of sunlight and refracting them a hundred times. It was like no bird Toby had ever seen before, and yet…
"'Tis the most lovely depiction of a phoenix, is it not?" inquired a cheerful voice. Toby yelped in surprise and spun around.
"Who're you?" he demanded breathlessly. "And how'd you get in here?"
"Why, through that entrance, there," responded the newcomer. He was a very short little man, with a sharply angled face and eyes that fairly gleamed with mischief. Currently, he was pointing toward an open space where the hedges had parted. Toby gaped in disbelief, and the little man chuckled. "It only requires a few soft words and a gentle stroke to the leaves, and a door will be created. Quite clever, wouldn't you say?" Dumbfounded, Toby could only nod, and so the little creature continued talking. "As for your former question, I am none other than Robin Goodfellow."
"Oh." A pause. "So anyway, Mr. Goodfellow, am I in the Labyrinth?"
For some strange reason, Robin Goodfellow seemed to be put out that Toby didn't recognize him. For several moments he just hovered there in midair, frowning unpleasantly, but eventually the sly smile came back. "A labyrinth this is, yes. However, this is not the labyrinth of which I believe you are speaking. That labyrinth is quite some distance from here."
Toby let out a yell of frustration. "It never works for me!" he cried. "The first time I wished, I ended up in some kinda black hole, and now I'm miles and miles away! I'd rather be in the hole again! At least then I could find my way out!"
"Young man, it does no good to be angry!" Robin admonished in that same cheerful voice. "In a sense you have landed on a front doorstep. Welcome to the kingdom of King Oberon and Queen Titania."
"This wasn't the 'front doorstep' I was thinking of," Toby grumbled. "Mr. Goodfellow, can we please get out of here? I need to find Sarah. Again."
"Ah, yes, the beautiful mortal queen of the Underground!"
"I…guess so…"
"Your sister is not the queen, then?"
"Well, yeah, she's the Goblin Queen or something."
"Queen Sarah, beloved wife of Jareth!"
"Yeah, that's what I said." Toby glowered.
"No, you didn't." Puck cackled. "Oh, alright, I can see I'm testing your patience! Follow me, and I'll lead you out of here! And by the by, please call me Puck." Another expectant pause followed, but Toby gave almost as much of a reaction as before. However, some realization seemed to dawn on him. He smiled crookedly.
"Hey yeah, I think I heard of you before. You're some faerie guy that Sarah used to talk about when she was in school. 'Oh, you would never believe what we're reading in English class! A Midnight Summer Dream! And there are faeries in it!'"
Puck did not seem amused by Toby's jest at all, despite the false soprano that usually had people in stitches. Was the little man related to Karen? "I will forget you said that, Toby."
"Hey, how'd you know my name?"
Expression darkening into a smirk, Puck stopped moving and turned to face his traveling companion. "'Oh, I wish you could all meet my brother Toby! He's the sweetest, most lovable boy in the whole world!'" He started walking -- or rather, floating -- again.
What's his problem? Toby wondered, rolling his eyes at the man's back. Aloud, he asked, "So where are we going?" After escaping the circle of hedges, he looked around in bewilderment. "And I thought you said this was a labyrinth! So where're the mazes?"
"You do not resemble your sister at all," Puck stated, once again turning to face Toby. "Within a labyrinth, one could become lost, correct?" Toby nodded slowly, wondering where this was going. "Becoming lost does not have to be as negative as it sounds. Do you not get lost in daydreams? Or wish you could be lost from the world for a time?"
"Yeah, but that's not the same! If you're in a labyrinth, you get lost and can't find your way out!"
"Everyone needs to lose themselves once in awhile. It helps keep their sanity intact." The fae chuckled softly to himself. "Some, of course, would say that we fae are the very antithesis of sane, but we need our escapes all the same." He smiled at Toby. "You and I are somewhat alike, I think -- despite your woeful lack of imagination. I've seen some of your little escapades…in fact, I like to think I may have influenced some of them."
"Yeah, right."
It was quickly becoming obvious that Puck was growing irritated with his charge, no matter what he'd just said about them being alike. Toby had to admit that he wasn't too fond of the little man, either. He didn't want to hear riddles, he wanted a straight answer: how could he get to Sarah?
They passed through a small forest (if it could be called that), following a delicate stream that ran through the cluster of willowy trees. The stream looked bright and clean, its water sparkling in rays of sunlight that came through the leafy canopy above. Not a sign of algae or other impurities marred the perfect white rocks that comprised the streambed; it seemed unnatural for something this pristine to be out in the middle of nowhere. Suddenly thirsty, Toby waded through the mass of colorful flowers lining the bank and kneeled to drink. He'd gotten as far as cupping his hands in the sparkling water when Puck was suddenly there, hauling him back.
"Have you not heard stories of our world?" the fae demanded incredulously. Toby shook his head in answer. "Much as my less generous side would have loved to see your lips touch that water, my more sensible half realizes how much trouble I would be in with your sister if I allowed it. Toby, the land of the fae is every bit as loving of mischief and trickery as our Underground counterpart. However, there is a darker and more seductive side to our magic. Whereas Jareth and his goblins keep the land populated by taking unwanted infants, we bring others in with more subtle methods. Are you starting to understand?"
"N…Not really," Toby offered hesitantly. He glanced back at the stream, paused to watch a couple of tiny flower sprites dance on nearby blossoms, and then turned once more to his diminutive guide.
"We are not all as genuine and kind as you might wish us. Oh, we're not the Unseelie Court -- we are, by nature, generally benign -- but nonetheless there's not a one of us who doesn't like a good intrigue. We draw mortals in with any number of methods: dancing, music, beauty…However, we also love to tempt your kind with food. And drink." He nodded toward the stream. "Anything that you eat or drink in this realm, Toby, makes certain your continued existence here. You will be bewitched; you will never wish to return to your own home. And mortals rarely do very well here in this land of magic."
"But Sarah is fine here," Toby argued. He seemed to have completely missed the obvious point of Puck's admonition.
"Sarah is a different example altogether," Puck replied. "The Underground is, more or less, the same world as ours. However, there are a few subtle differences that make it more habitable for mortals than this realm. Nonetheless, it--"
"Hey, wait a minute!" Toby shot to his feet, blue eyes wide. "You said I can't eat or drink anything here? What'm I supposed to do? Starve?"
The familiar sly grin came back to Puck's face. "'Twould appear so, my young friend! But before you waste away altogether, why don't we see King Oberon? I'm sure he can help you on your quest."
Scowling, Toby studied the impish man for a moment. "I'll find him myself," he snapped at last. Puck laughed loudly.
"Oh, how I'd love to see you try!"
"Whaddoyou mean?"
"Do you know what a 'glamour' is? No, of course you wouldn't. A glamour is a spell, more or less. It hides the true nature of an object and instead makes it appear more desirable. Or less desirable, depending upon the situation."
"I get it!" Toby exclaimed. "So what, is the castle disguised or somethin'?"
"You're not quite as dim as I once feared you to be!" Puck crowed. "Yes, the castle is hidden by a glamour -- or a disguise, as you suggested -- which is why you would never be able to find it. As it so happens, we're standing right in front of the castle now!"
Disbelievingly, Toby looked carefully at his surroundings. They'd just exited the small grove of trees and stood now in a clearing of wildflowers. The stream continued on its meandering way…but after a moment, Toby realized that the body of water turned at a sharp and unnatural angle, as if going around something. Puck noticed the expression of realization that formed on the youth's face and smiled broadly.
"You are learning! I suppose you can see where the castle would be, were it not surrounded by a spell?" Toby nodded eagerly, and with a laugh, Puck once again began leading him toward the royal home of King Oberon and Queen Titania. After crossing the stream, the party paused for a moment and Puck turned to face the open field, giving a grand sweep of his arm. Suddenly, a castle appeared before Toby's eyes, the like of which he'd never seen before.
Spires and turrets rose into the sky, sparkling in the sunlight as if they'd been covered with diamond dust. In fact, all the walls of the castle seemed to glimmer. It looked like a castle from straight out of a fairy tale…or perhaps something he'd seen once at Disney World. However, nothing in the mortal realm could compare to the awesome sight of this fae structure. It appeared so frail that it could have been made out of spun sugar, and yet Toby was sure that it was well able to protect its inhabitants from any sort of attack.
As if to affirm his thoughts, his sharp eyes caught sight of something he'd missed before in his initial awestruck state. All along the walls of the castle proper were stationed guards, their lithe forms garbed to blend in with the gray stone. Though Toby and Puck were by no means a danger to the king and queen, the guards still stood tense and alert, ready for any surprise. Puck chuckled softly at his charge's wondering gaze, then led the youth toward the castle's entrance.
Three minutes later, Toby stopped in perplexed frustration. "Why aren't we getting any closer?" he demanded, gesturing to the twenty feet before them that hadn't shortened at all, despite how long they'd walked. Puck was already looking irritated, though for once the expression wasn't directed at Toby.
"Show yourself, Ti!" the small man shouted, all traces of amusement gone from his face. It was a measure of how unpredictable the faerie folk's temperament could be if even such a jovial fellow as Puck could turn dangerously irritable within moments. Toby looked around anxiously, waiting for this 'Ti' to appear. A second later, she did.
What he'd been expecting to see was something similar to the flower sprites, or possibly even someone of Puck's short stature. What met his gaze was a voluptuous, golden-haired beauty who stood even taller than him. Silvery gray eyes sparkled with amusement at the two men before her, but when she turned to look specifically at Puck, her lips curved in a bright grin.
"You act so indignant to see me, friend!" she laughed, tossing her long hair behind her shoulder. She was garbed almost indecently, her dress little more than shimmery, translucent material draped over her attractive form. While Toby stood mute in open admiration of such a goddess, Puck scowled more deeply.
"If it hadn't been brought to your notice, Ti," he began pompously, "I'm attempting to bring this young mortal boy to the king and queen. I'll have none of your games this day."
Ti pouted prettily, none of the amusement gone from her eyes. "Oh, Puck," she breathed, sounding wounded, "You never complained about my tricks before!" Suddenly, her expression turned mischievous. "I believe you're just jealous. You have competition from myself and my brother now, where before you were the only trickster around!" Before Puck could reply, the pert fae girl had turned to Toby and flashed him her most winning smile. "Good day to you, young friend! What do you call yourself?"
"I, uh…I'm, um…T-Toby," he stammered, flushing hotly in embarrassment. Ti threw back her head and laughed merrily.
"Toby, 'tis a pleasure meeting you! I am called Ti'Shalai na Brionnach. 'Tis truly strange to see--"
"Enough of these pleasantries!" Puck interrupted suddenly. Toby took a step back, surprised at how irritated his guide was becoming. "Toby, were I in better spirits, I might have laughed at your open-mouthed expression, but it is truly becoming an annoyance. Ti is not what she appears to be, another example to a lesson I've been trying to teach you ever since I found you by that fountain."
"She's…she's not?" Toby drawled in bewilderment, flicking his gaze momentarily back to the lovely fae girl. Her expression had lost all amusement, and was now merely petulant. Shimmering wings -- which he hadn't noticed before -- fluttered in the briefest show of her own irritation.
"No. Ti, the games are finished. Show your true self!"
With an indignant huff, Ti disappeared with a startling 'clap', a sound that an air vacuum might make. Reacting instinctively, Toby shut his eyes and shielded his face with his hands. When he at last looked up again, he saw a small faerie creature -- no bigger than his hand -- fluttering angrily in front of Puck's face. Light glittered on her beating wings and made her blond hair gleam. It was Ti! Only…smaller…
"You are so beastly to me!" her tinny voice cried, little hands balled into fists. Puck looked meaningfully at Toby.
"This, young friend, is Ti's true form. She is not the perfect beauty you saw just moments ago…though she might wish herself to be." He smirked at the angry girl.
"Are you really that small, too?" Toby asked hesitantly. He thought the question a logical one -- after all, when one looked at pictures of faeries, weren't they all depicted as tiny creatures with wings? However, Puck shook his head.
"Many different creatures live within this realm. You mortals, of course, have us all grouped together as 'faeries', but there are also elves, sprites, imps…a variety of folk. Ti, here, is something quite different from myself. Aren't you, Ti?" The tiny fae girl only glared mulishly in response. Before Puck could insult her further, she flitted over to Toby. A smile suddenly brightened her features.
"I still like you, young Toby. I have a feeling we shall meet again…without the presence of him." She pointed at the still-smirking Puck. "For now, however, I shall leave. You may enter the castle without any further interruption from myself." And with those parting words, she was gone, streaking through the air faster than Toby's eyes could follow her. Puck nodded once in satisfaction.
"There. Shall we go on, then?" Toby nodded his acquiescence, and the pair finally entered Oberon and Titania's home.
Disclaimer: Jareth, Sarah, Toby, and the whole 'Labyrinth' crew belong to Jim Henson and all of those folks. Ti belongs to me...as does my description of the land...if one can copyright those things. ;)
Chapter One
"What the…?" Toby trailed off in confusion, picking himself off the ground and turning in circles. None of the landscape looked familiar…and he considered himself something of an expert when it came to the Labyrinth. No, this place -- wherever it was -- was too green, and pleasant, and…and…different!
Had it not been for the thick carpet of grass beneath him, Toby would have almost thought himself to be in the part of the Labyrinth comprised of tall hedges. Forming a complete circle around him, the wall of shrubbery stood at least ten feet tall. The branches were twisted so tightly together, and the leaves were so thick, that no matter how much he tried he couldn't even see through the wall. Trying to find a passageway would prove even less feasible.
Standing in the exact center of this mysterious circle was an elaborate stone fountain, perhaps six feet in diameter and seven or eight feet tall. Water splashed gracefully out of the mouths of stone serpents; out of the pitchers of young maidens; and at the very top, water spurted forth from the mouth of a magnificent winged bird. After giving up on his quest to exit the hedged-in circle, Toby spent the longest amount of time trying to figure out what sort of bird was carved out of the fountain's stone. Its wings spanned the breadth of the fountain's base, each one so intricately detailed that he could see individual feathers. The eyes were glittering rubies, each one catching stray beams of sunlight and refracting them a hundred times. It was like no bird Toby had ever seen before, and yet…
"'Tis the most lovely depiction of a phoenix, is it not?" inquired a cheerful voice. Toby yelped in surprise and spun around.
"Who're you?" he demanded breathlessly. "And how'd you get in here?"
"Why, through that entrance, there," responded the newcomer. He was a very short little man, with a sharply angled face and eyes that fairly gleamed with mischief. Currently, he was pointing toward an open space where the hedges had parted. Toby gaped in disbelief, and the little man chuckled. "It only requires a few soft words and a gentle stroke to the leaves, and a door will be created. Quite clever, wouldn't you say?" Dumbfounded, Toby could only nod, and so the little creature continued talking. "As for your former question, I am none other than Robin Goodfellow."
"Oh." A pause. "So anyway, Mr. Goodfellow, am I in the Labyrinth?"
For some strange reason, Robin Goodfellow seemed to be put out that Toby didn't recognize him. For several moments he just hovered there in midair, frowning unpleasantly, but eventually the sly smile came back. "A labyrinth this is, yes. However, this is not the labyrinth of which I believe you are speaking. That labyrinth is quite some distance from here."
Toby let out a yell of frustration. "It never works for me!" he cried. "The first time I wished, I ended up in some kinda black hole, and now I'm miles and miles away! I'd rather be in the hole again! At least then I could find my way out!"
"Young man, it does no good to be angry!" Robin admonished in that same cheerful voice. "In a sense you have landed on a front doorstep. Welcome to the kingdom of King Oberon and Queen Titania."
"This wasn't the 'front doorstep' I was thinking of," Toby grumbled. "Mr. Goodfellow, can we please get out of here? I need to find Sarah. Again."
"Ah, yes, the beautiful mortal queen of the Underground!"
"I…guess so…"
"Your sister is not the queen, then?"
"Well, yeah, she's the Goblin Queen or something."
"Queen Sarah, beloved wife of Jareth!"
"Yeah, that's what I said." Toby glowered.
"No, you didn't." Puck cackled. "Oh, alright, I can see I'm testing your patience! Follow me, and I'll lead you out of here! And by the by, please call me Puck." Another expectant pause followed, but Toby gave almost as much of a reaction as before. However, some realization seemed to dawn on him. He smiled crookedly.
"Hey yeah, I think I heard of you before. You're some faerie guy that Sarah used to talk about when she was in school. 'Oh, you would never believe what we're reading in English class! A Midnight Summer Dream! And there are faeries in it!'"
Puck did not seem amused by Toby's jest at all, despite the false soprano that usually had people in stitches. Was the little man related to Karen? "I will forget you said that, Toby."
"Hey, how'd you know my name?"
Expression darkening into a smirk, Puck stopped moving and turned to face his traveling companion. "'Oh, I wish you could all meet my brother Toby! He's the sweetest, most lovable boy in the whole world!'" He started walking -- or rather, floating -- again.
What's his problem? Toby wondered, rolling his eyes at the man's back. Aloud, he asked, "So where are we going?" After escaping the circle of hedges, he looked around in bewilderment. "And I thought you said this was a labyrinth! So where're the mazes?"
"You do not resemble your sister at all," Puck stated, once again turning to face Toby. "Within a labyrinth, one could become lost, correct?" Toby nodded slowly, wondering where this was going. "Becoming lost does not have to be as negative as it sounds. Do you not get lost in daydreams? Or wish you could be lost from the world for a time?"
"Yeah, but that's not the same! If you're in a labyrinth, you get lost and can't find your way out!"
"Everyone needs to lose themselves once in awhile. It helps keep their sanity intact." The fae chuckled softly to himself. "Some, of course, would say that we fae are the very antithesis of sane, but we need our escapes all the same." He smiled at Toby. "You and I are somewhat alike, I think -- despite your woeful lack of imagination. I've seen some of your little escapades…in fact, I like to think I may have influenced some of them."
"Yeah, right."
It was quickly becoming obvious that Puck was growing irritated with his charge, no matter what he'd just said about them being alike. Toby had to admit that he wasn't too fond of the little man, either. He didn't want to hear riddles, he wanted a straight answer: how could he get to Sarah?
They passed through a small forest (if it could be called that), following a delicate stream that ran through the cluster of willowy trees. The stream looked bright and clean, its water sparkling in rays of sunlight that came through the leafy canopy above. Not a sign of algae or other impurities marred the perfect white rocks that comprised the streambed; it seemed unnatural for something this pristine to be out in the middle of nowhere. Suddenly thirsty, Toby waded through the mass of colorful flowers lining the bank and kneeled to drink. He'd gotten as far as cupping his hands in the sparkling water when Puck was suddenly there, hauling him back.
"Have you not heard stories of our world?" the fae demanded incredulously. Toby shook his head in answer. "Much as my less generous side would have loved to see your lips touch that water, my more sensible half realizes how much trouble I would be in with your sister if I allowed it. Toby, the land of the fae is every bit as loving of mischief and trickery as our Underground counterpart. However, there is a darker and more seductive side to our magic. Whereas Jareth and his goblins keep the land populated by taking unwanted infants, we bring others in with more subtle methods. Are you starting to understand?"
"N…Not really," Toby offered hesitantly. He glanced back at the stream, paused to watch a couple of tiny flower sprites dance on nearby blossoms, and then turned once more to his diminutive guide.
"We are not all as genuine and kind as you might wish us. Oh, we're not the Unseelie Court -- we are, by nature, generally benign -- but nonetheless there's not a one of us who doesn't like a good intrigue. We draw mortals in with any number of methods: dancing, music, beauty…However, we also love to tempt your kind with food. And drink." He nodded toward the stream. "Anything that you eat or drink in this realm, Toby, makes certain your continued existence here. You will be bewitched; you will never wish to return to your own home. And mortals rarely do very well here in this land of magic."
"But Sarah is fine here," Toby argued. He seemed to have completely missed the obvious point of Puck's admonition.
"Sarah is a different example altogether," Puck replied. "The Underground is, more or less, the same world as ours. However, there are a few subtle differences that make it more habitable for mortals than this realm. Nonetheless, it--"
"Hey, wait a minute!" Toby shot to his feet, blue eyes wide. "You said I can't eat or drink anything here? What'm I supposed to do? Starve?"
The familiar sly grin came back to Puck's face. "'Twould appear so, my young friend! But before you waste away altogether, why don't we see King Oberon? I'm sure he can help you on your quest."
Scowling, Toby studied the impish man for a moment. "I'll find him myself," he snapped at last. Puck laughed loudly.
"Oh, how I'd love to see you try!"
"Whaddoyou mean?"
"Do you know what a 'glamour' is? No, of course you wouldn't. A glamour is a spell, more or less. It hides the true nature of an object and instead makes it appear more desirable. Or less desirable, depending upon the situation."
"I get it!" Toby exclaimed. "So what, is the castle disguised or somethin'?"
"You're not quite as dim as I once feared you to be!" Puck crowed. "Yes, the castle is hidden by a glamour -- or a disguise, as you suggested -- which is why you would never be able to find it. As it so happens, we're standing right in front of the castle now!"
Disbelievingly, Toby looked carefully at his surroundings. They'd just exited the small grove of trees and stood now in a clearing of wildflowers. The stream continued on its meandering way…but after a moment, Toby realized that the body of water turned at a sharp and unnatural angle, as if going around something. Puck noticed the expression of realization that formed on the youth's face and smiled broadly.
"You are learning! I suppose you can see where the castle would be, were it not surrounded by a spell?" Toby nodded eagerly, and with a laugh, Puck once again began leading him toward the royal home of King Oberon and Queen Titania. After crossing the stream, the party paused for a moment and Puck turned to face the open field, giving a grand sweep of his arm. Suddenly, a castle appeared before Toby's eyes, the like of which he'd never seen before.
Spires and turrets rose into the sky, sparkling in the sunlight as if they'd been covered with diamond dust. In fact, all the walls of the castle seemed to glimmer. It looked like a castle from straight out of a fairy tale…or perhaps something he'd seen once at Disney World. However, nothing in the mortal realm could compare to the awesome sight of this fae structure. It appeared so frail that it could have been made out of spun sugar, and yet Toby was sure that it was well able to protect its inhabitants from any sort of attack.
As if to affirm his thoughts, his sharp eyes caught sight of something he'd missed before in his initial awestruck state. All along the walls of the castle proper were stationed guards, their lithe forms garbed to blend in with the gray stone. Though Toby and Puck were by no means a danger to the king and queen, the guards still stood tense and alert, ready for any surprise. Puck chuckled softly at his charge's wondering gaze, then led the youth toward the castle's entrance.
Three minutes later, Toby stopped in perplexed frustration. "Why aren't we getting any closer?" he demanded, gesturing to the twenty feet before them that hadn't shortened at all, despite how long they'd walked. Puck was already looking irritated, though for once the expression wasn't directed at Toby.
"Show yourself, Ti!" the small man shouted, all traces of amusement gone from his face. It was a measure of how unpredictable the faerie folk's temperament could be if even such a jovial fellow as Puck could turn dangerously irritable within moments. Toby looked around anxiously, waiting for this 'Ti' to appear. A second later, she did.
What he'd been expecting to see was something similar to the flower sprites, or possibly even someone of Puck's short stature. What met his gaze was a voluptuous, golden-haired beauty who stood even taller than him. Silvery gray eyes sparkled with amusement at the two men before her, but when she turned to look specifically at Puck, her lips curved in a bright grin.
"You act so indignant to see me, friend!" she laughed, tossing her long hair behind her shoulder. She was garbed almost indecently, her dress little more than shimmery, translucent material draped over her attractive form. While Toby stood mute in open admiration of such a goddess, Puck scowled more deeply.
"If it hadn't been brought to your notice, Ti," he began pompously, "I'm attempting to bring this young mortal boy to the king and queen. I'll have none of your games this day."
Ti pouted prettily, none of the amusement gone from her eyes. "Oh, Puck," she breathed, sounding wounded, "You never complained about my tricks before!" Suddenly, her expression turned mischievous. "I believe you're just jealous. You have competition from myself and my brother now, where before you were the only trickster around!" Before Puck could reply, the pert fae girl had turned to Toby and flashed him her most winning smile. "Good day to you, young friend! What do you call yourself?"
"I, uh…I'm, um…T-Toby," he stammered, flushing hotly in embarrassment. Ti threw back her head and laughed merrily.
"Toby, 'tis a pleasure meeting you! I am called Ti'Shalai na Brionnach. 'Tis truly strange to see--"
"Enough of these pleasantries!" Puck interrupted suddenly. Toby took a step back, surprised at how irritated his guide was becoming. "Toby, were I in better spirits, I might have laughed at your open-mouthed expression, but it is truly becoming an annoyance. Ti is not what she appears to be, another example to a lesson I've been trying to teach you ever since I found you by that fountain."
"She's…she's not?" Toby drawled in bewilderment, flicking his gaze momentarily back to the lovely fae girl. Her expression had lost all amusement, and was now merely petulant. Shimmering wings -- which he hadn't noticed before -- fluttered in the briefest show of her own irritation.
"No. Ti, the games are finished. Show your true self!"
With an indignant huff, Ti disappeared with a startling 'clap', a sound that an air vacuum might make. Reacting instinctively, Toby shut his eyes and shielded his face with his hands. When he at last looked up again, he saw a small faerie creature -- no bigger than his hand -- fluttering angrily in front of Puck's face. Light glittered on her beating wings and made her blond hair gleam. It was Ti! Only…smaller…
"You are so beastly to me!" her tinny voice cried, little hands balled into fists. Puck looked meaningfully at Toby.
"This, young friend, is Ti's true form. She is not the perfect beauty you saw just moments ago…though she might wish herself to be." He smirked at the angry girl.
"Are you really that small, too?" Toby asked hesitantly. He thought the question a logical one -- after all, when one looked at pictures of faeries, weren't they all depicted as tiny creatures with wings? However, Puck shook his head.
"Many different creatures live within this realm. You mortals, of course, have us all grouped together as 'faeries', but there are also elves, sprites, imps…a variety of folk. Ti, here, is something quite different from myself. Aren't you, Ti?" The tiny fae girl only glared mulishly in response. Before Puck could insult her further, she flitted over to Toby. A smile suddenly brightened her features.
"I still like you, young Toby. I have a feeling we shall meet again…without the presence of him." She pointed at the still-smirking Puck. "For now, however, I shall leave. You may enter the castle without any further interruption from myself." And with those parting words, she was gone, streaking through the air faster than Toby's eyes could follow her. Puck nodded once in satisfaction.
"There. Shall we go on, then?" Toby nodded his acquiescence, and the pair finally entered Oberon and Titania's home.