CHAPTER 1 – DREAMERS DISEASE (1996)

The King of the Goblins was irritated and in a foul mood. He found himself kicking more goblins out of the way than usual. Thankfully he didn't have to worry about harming them as his kicks were more hard nudges and their bodies were quite sturdy. Some of the little chaos incarnates actually thought it was fun to be punted about and volunteered to be shot of canons. His noisy subjects weren't helping what he suspected were the beginnings of a headache. The cause of his bleak mood and bad temper was due to the Labyrinth that took up a good deal of his kingdom that he oversaw. It wasn't a normal maze by any means which is what everyone always first assumed upon first gazing upon it. It had a primitive consciousness and lately the magic was being distorted. The magic of the Labyrinth had become erratic and constantly fluctuating more than it usually did.

It hadn't been so obvious having started with just little things. The movement of the Labyrinth being a bit sluggish or too quick when shifting its walls about. Certain residents not staying within their territories, but straying and somehow bypassing the barriers to contain them. The vegetation and waters being more potent than they were before. Things of that nature. Then there was the aggression of some of his subjects had risen and had needed dealing with.

Jareth had never seen or felt anything like it before so had no idea what the cause originated or how to go about fixing it. Neither had anyone in the Underground when questioned so were useless to him. His library when searched from top to bottom looking for clues, mentions, anything similar having happened in the past was no help either. There was nothing in the books that he had access to. Scouring the Underground for the source of the disruption yielded nothing. It would help if the Labyrinth could form proper thoughts to convey instead of vagueness. It had informed him in its own way that it was someone from the Above which was impossible. As far as Jareth, and he was sure the other residents of the Underground knew, there hadn't been a mortal strong enough to effect their world in such a way; be it intentional or accident. The last had been the ancient wordsmiths which the Above severely lacked for quite some time.

If it was somehow possible it presented a problem. The problem being that Jareth, as the Goblin King, only gained permission to be Above while performing his duties as said king. To be sure that his goblins had been able to get the baby and cross back to the Underground, proffer the Wisher's dreams in exchange for the child and if so desired when their responsibility and guilt outweighed their desire, gave them the chance to earn the child back, and transporting the Runners to the border of his Labyrinth. The only other time that he was aware that he or any of the other Fae went Above were 'special occasions' now. He like many took advantage during the solstices when the veils between worlds were thinner. The only other times he knew were when for some unfathomable reason one of their kind would decide to live among the mortals or had been banished to Above. In both instances the Fae in question had been stripped of their powers in order to survive the experience.

As Jareth was busy most of the time with his kingdom, he could only search Above when he was summoned to take an unwanted child. Sometimes that wasn't very long between breaking the veils and being called to take the child. Since the anomaly appeared and began to affect and change the Labyrinth, he'd been reluctant to let anyone within it's walls to run it. Jareth might have been forced to answer the calls, but because of the unpredictability of the magic of the sentient maze, he only let those he could not sway or frighten to run the Labyrinth; but he made sure to keep more of his attention on them than he usually gave.

Growling in frustration, Jareth glared at a goblin that had the misfortune of crossing his path and not getting out of his way quickly enough. The creatures were excited and underfoot more than usual as well. Their behavior was much easier to parse out. Just as their king could, the goblins could feel that a child was to be wished away. Their was a certain magic in the air that was palpable to those that had been touched by it before. The goblins were ecstatic for a new playmate whether it would be just for the thirteen hours or the possibility of becoming a permanent one due to the Runner's failure.

The air around Jareth was practically charged with magic, he could feel it as his own magic reached out, embracing and accepting the extra to bolster his own. The Fae grinned a cold feral smile, his sharp canines showing. The combination of the magic along with the reasoning behind it – a mortal selfishly and thoughtlessly wishing away their young – always had him reacting this way. It was a bit intoxicating.

When he felt the time draw near, he flowed his body and magic into the animal form he found pleasing and flew on pale wings over his kingdom. He drew the magic he needed to pierce the veils and in the Labyrinth's overzealous nudge, Jareth entered the Aboveground quicker than he had anticipated. The 'push' had him nearly smack into a tree as he breached the barrier. As it was, he ended up landing in a very undignified way on a branch of said tree. Shaking out his feathers, Jareth settled himself and began to preen his feathers to re-align them. He stopped mid-feather when the prickly sensation of someone's gaze was felt. Looking down at where he felt it coming from he saw a boy about three or four -it was hard to guess sometimes- years at the base of the tree directly under Jareth's branch. His small head was tilted all the way back in order to see the king's owl form. The child's denim dungarees need a good scrubbing ad did the t-shirt he wore that had a rip in it's collar. In fact, it seemed if he could do with a good tipping into a body of water. His bare feet were grass stained and covered in dirt and Jareth was sure there was an equal amount of dirt under the child's nails since his face was smudged with the stuff.

"Hullo, burdie." His voice was soft and gentled as if afraid of spooking Jareth. His amber brown eyes continued to stare up at the tawny ones of the owl. Tilting his head, he spoke just as softly as he had before but there was confusion in it as well. "I fought owls slepted at day?"

Jareth watched the child with as much curiosity as the boy did him. He was always curious about the children who were wished to his realm by their family. There was no mistaking it; he could feel the slight buzz in the air letting him know that both the Wisher and the one to be Wished Away were near. It was a shame really, the child seemed a nice little boy despite his grubby appearance. He wore a bright warm smile that enhanced his elfin features.

The dirty little urchin moved slowly, keeping his gaze on Jareth. One hand went into a pocket and pulled out a plastic bag with a few animal crackers within. Taking one he held it up on his palm like an offering. "Wan one?"

Despite his kind feeling contempt and disdain for most mortals, children were another matter. If he hadn't been in his owl form, Jareth would have politely accepted with an amused smile. The boy was very patient and still as he waited. As Jareth was contemplating on whether rewarding the child to nip down and take the offering, a voice shouted causing both to startle, and the cracker fell to the ground.

"SETH!"

The child had whipped his head around, Jareth was surprised the boy hadn't gotten whiplash, in order to face the owner of the voice. It belonged to a teenager with an olive complexion and gray eyes who didn't look too happy. Like many of the youth for whatever reason, this one's dark hair had the tips dyed blue and looked as if it hadn't been washed for a few days. In contrast to Seth's appearance the teen's clothing didn't have a spec of dirt on them even if they were just as worn and a tad over sized.

Looking sad, the little boy mumbled, "Buh-bye, burdie."

"Where are your shoes?" The teen demanded. "If you lost them again..." He left the threat hanging.

Seth didn't say anything. With his head down and eyes staring at his feet, he put his thumb in his mouth. This caused the teen to groan and begin to frantically look around for the missing shoes. Seth Followed behind like a lost puppy all the while keeping his thumb in his mouth and sneaking quick glances at Jareth. A check of the teen's watch had the owner letting out more frustrated sounds, then grabbing the boy's wrist still holding the forgotten bag of animal crackers, he led them away. "We're going to miss our bus!"

From his perch, Jareth watched them walk to the edges of the park, cross the street, and stand in front of a large building. Now that the little boy was no longer distracting him, Jareth took stock of his surroundings. The park was quite large surrounding a lake. There were a lot of people taking advantage of the nice weather. Swimmers, joggers, bicyclists, sun worshipers, and people on roller shoes. Children laughing and shrieking as they had fun and played on either the play equipment or splashed about in the wading pool.

Taking flight, Jareth soared around the lake and park. Bright colorful streamers and banners caught his eyes. Many tents of different colors littered a small portion of the park. There were ponies in a rink being saddled for riders while others were being relieved of their burdens to rest. Vendors and booths of entertainment everywhere. From all the activity and such he could see it seemed to be some kind of festival. Some people were sitting or standing by a large stage dressed in costumes. One young man was bare chested in ragged dark green trousers. Meticulously painted on his bare skin were vines and leaves, pointed ears glued on. Jareth had to look twice to be sure the youth wasn't anything but human; he still wasn't entirely too sure even then.

Seth slid off Max's back now that they were home and so could walk the rest of the way instead of being carried. Running up the path to the house, he bounced on his toes impatient for Max to unlock the door. As soon as it was open, he rushed inside to look for their aunt and uncle. He wanted to tell them all about meeting the glowy owl at the park. They would believe him, unlike Max who didn't believe in anything.

Max meanwhile went straight for the kitchen and found the note his aunt left taped to the fridge and immediately felt his annoyance and anger grow. She had to work late tonight which mean the was stuck watching Seth. At least he didn't have to make dinner as it had already been made and was just had to be nuked in the microwave. Crumpling the note he tossed it into the garbage wondering if he should do what he'd been asked not to do: call up his uncle and ask him to bring home some take out for dinner instead of whatever their aunt had made.

Opening the fridge to see what he was actually dealing with, Max pulled out the foil covered dish and peeked under the aluminum. It was vegetarian Parmesan eggplant lasagna, his favorite. A container of fresh raw green beans were in there as well. A nod to Seth's favorite vegetable which was one they didn't have to try and struggle to get him to eat. A Tupperware dish full of peaches that their aunt had peeled and diced herself were for dessert. Both boys and their uncle liked peaches but their aunt didn't care for the fruit. She would have berries that she would add to her cereal, pancakes, waffles, or have them by themselves as snacks. She had once told him that she didn't like pears as they were grainy and the apricots and peaches were just not her thing with the fuzz and just didn't like the taste.

Putting the green beans and peaches on the table, he saw to heating up the lasagna. By that time Seth wandered in when he couldn't find either adult. From the doorway he watched his brother set the table for the two of them. A can of soda was grabbed for himself and a sippy cup with Kool-Aid for Seth, Max told the boy to go wash his hands. He had grabbed the sippy cup because he just didn't want to have to deal with having to clean up any messes if his brother dropped his cup. It was bad enough he had to do the dishes when he and Seth were done with their dinner, and make sure that Seth took a bath.

Sipping at his soda, Max slouched in one of the kitchen chairs. He couldn't help but wonder if their aunt and uncle had remembered that his birthday was tomorrow. He hated thinking like that, but their aunt and uncle had been so nice to him and Seth. Naturally, Max was waiting for the other shoe to drop. People just weren't that nice for no reason. Not when you got stuck with the kids you hardly knew from a sibling who decided not even he wanted them.

Their uncle was like how Max's dad had been before he started drinking and decided kids were too much of a hassle and made himself scarce. Their uncle seemed to like doing things with both he and Seth and spending time with them. Of course the guardianship papers weren't settled yet so it could all be an act. Max was waiting for the nice guy to disappear.

Seth came back to stand in front of him and showed that his hands were clean. Picking him up, Max put him in his booster chair. The two boys ate quietly and Seth didn't spill or get too much of his dinner on himself or the table. He hadn't even complained when Max didn't pour a lot of milk in his peaches like he liked. Max blamed their uncle who ate his peaches that was for dessert. There was the usual complaints about bath time but behaved for the most part. No, trouble reared its ugly head when it came to bedtime. Now that he was grudgingly clean and in pajamas he wanted a story. It couldn't be any story either. It had to be one of the ones their mother used to tell them and their aunt and uncle had taken over. Seth wanted a story about the child stealing Goblin King.

"Why do you like that story so much?" Max scowled while trying to rein in his anger just wanting his brother to shut up and go to sleep! At the park he'd been hanging out with his friends who had invited him to a rave. He'd been excited and smug since he was one of the few freshmen invited. Then he'd remembered Seth and he hadn't kept within his sight like he'd told him to. He'd figured that he could drop his brother off and either his aunt or uncle would be able to watch him. It was their job after all, but no. They were both working late tonight and so Max was stuck here with Seth.

The four year old shrugged, hugging his teddy bear closer. He liked all the stories that his mommy used to tell them. "I sawed a glowy owl at th' park."

"No, it wasn't. You were imagining things again."

"Nuh uh!"

"Was so."

"Nuh uh!"

"Was so."

"Was not!" Seth insisted stubbornly.

"Was!" Max nearly shouted getting fed up with this conversation. He turned to get his backpack to to haul it to the bed he shared with his younger brother.

"Nuh uh! It really was all glowy."

"Seth, you're such a liar!" He was sick and tired of Seth claiming something expecting everyone to believe him. Adults would indulge him at first thinking he had a very active imagination, but if he didn't cool it, he was going to start getting those looks.

The four year old glowered right back at him petulantly. "Mommy woulda 'lieved me."

Their mother always riled Max's anger just as it did this time when mentioned. Rounding on the little boy he snarled spitefully, "Well, she ain't here is she? And if you keep spouting lies like a 'glowy' owl, people will think you're crazy too. Same as her! Is that what you want? Do you want to get locked up like her?"

Tears welled up as Seth thought his older brother was calling him crazy and was going to get locked up. Curling around his teddy bear, the boy began to softly cry, trying to muffle the sounds as he pressed his face into the soft material of his teddy. Thinking the argument was over, Max snatched up the straps of his bag. His hands tightened when he heard the muffled, "I wish mommy was here."

"Fine!" Max threw his bag at the wall with gritted teeth uncaring that his homework spilled out all over the floor. "You believe in that crap and wanted the goblins story so bad? Let him tell you the story himself. I wish the goblins would come and take you away. Right now!"

When he was a kid, back before Seth had been born and things hadn't been all bad, he'd wondered. He had heard the same stories as Seth, more of them and more often since he was the eldest child. Max had always been curious if the stories his mother told were true. When she spun her tales you the way they were stated with such conviction you would believe she was speaking truthfully as if she new personally the true tales behind the stories. As a child he would have given anything to know they were true. He wasn't a kid anymore though and knew all that junk was make believe and lies. At the moment though while angrily shouting at his brother, he believed with all his heart; wanting it to be true so he could be done with all this. It would solve his problems. He would be able to go to the rave or any other party that he'd been invited to. Without Seth around he wouldn't have to watch him, cover up for him, or worry about him being institutionalized.

The lights flicked and for a brief moment, Max rationalized it as a summer storm. They were known to happen. The wind could be heard picking up and beginning to howl outside the bedroom window causing the pane to rattle. The lights went out as a flash of lightning briefly illuminated the room and elongated the shadows. Everything that could be attributed to a quick storm that sometimes happened and would be over just as quickly. That didn't account for the sound of naughty mischievous giggles. It made the hairs on the back of Max's arms and neck prickle.

The window opened by itself as if the house was haunted, startling Max. A pale owl flew in through the opening and transformed into a lean, predatory looking man dressed like someone out of a fantasy renaissance festival or something. The aura coming off the man had Max's primal fight or flight instincts rise to the fore. He shivered when the man smiled coldly at him, expression one of sinister amusement. Those strange eyes pinned Max, causing his muscles to lock afraid to move or draw any kind of extra attention. Swallowing past the lump in his throat, Max was able to get out a, "Who- who are you?"

Instead of answering, Jareth pulled out a crystal containing the boys dreams. "I've brought you a gift."

"What is it?" He was already reaching for it before he even realized he was doing so already falling for the enchantment.

"Your dreams. Everything you have ever wanted."

Jareth was curious to see the teenager seemed to be fighting the inclination to take the orb. The look leveled at him while containing fear was coupled with a healthy dose of skepticism.

"And you'll just give them to me? Yeah right. What's the catch?"

'Smart boy,' Jareth thought. Aloud he stated, "I already have the payment."

Confusion turned to horror as dawning comprehension came to the teen. Max paled as his body whipped around trying to locate his brother. The four year old should have been in the middle of the bed clutching his teddy and scared from the suddenness of the storm, but the bed was empty. The silence before now should have alerted Max that something was wrong. Instead his brother had quickly fled his mind and concern as soon as the Goblin King -for it couldn't be anyone else – appeared. Facing the Goblin King he felt the familiar anger that was his constant companion tamper down the fear still coursing through him. It gave him the courage or made him foolish enough to demand, "Give him back! Give him back or I'll -"

"You'll what?" Jareth interrupted slightly amused at the boy's antics.

"I'll..." Max frowned uncertainly because what could you threaten the Goblin King with? He gained a bit of confidence or at least bravado to stated, "I'll call the cops!"

A predatory grin was the response the teen got from Jareth. "And you'll tell them what? That you angrily wished your brother to me? In return you got you received your dreams? I think they would be more interested in you than me."

Max glared and he wasn't sure if his shaking hands were from anger, fear, or both at the same time. The orb was held out to him again, tempting him. It didn't help that the man's voice was persuasive. "Think about it, Max. All of your dreams to come true. You can be the envy of all your little peers. You can go to your parties and never have to worry about your brother again. You won't even have to be guilty. No one will ever remember he ever existed."

Max bit his lip, his will wavering as he gaze steadily at the crystal orb. "Wh-what will happen to Seth?"

"Why so concerned?"

"He's my brother." It was a weak defense and even Max knew that. He loved his brother as much as he resented him and at times wish he hadn't been born. It was cruel, but he blamed Seth for everything that went wrong. Everything had been fine until Seth had been born. He might not want to be responsible for his brother, but he didn't want the twerp to suffer horribly either.

Jareth smirked. "He'll become one of us."

Tearing his gaze away from the crystal, Max glared at him. As much as he would sometimes complain and tell Seth he would fit in with the goblins because he didn't like to bathe, he wasn't going to let him actually become one. "No way! Give him back!"

"What's said is said. You asked that he be taken. He was taken. If you wan the chance to earn him back, there's only way."

"How?"

"Defeat my Labyrinth and you can have him back as if nothing happened."

"That's all?"

Jareth smiled coldly. These mortal always were incredulous and became arrogant when they heard what they had to do to reclaim their child. It was equally amusing as it was infuriating and annoying.

There was suspicion in the teen's gaze as he asked, "How many have failed?"

Shrugging indifferently with a bored expression, Jareth wondered when the little mortal would realize that he wasn't going to get his brother back no matter his decision. It was a bit tedious for him when the mortals were trying to talk themselves into running his Labyrinth. "Hundreds, thousands, probably more. I've lost track." Truthfully, Jareth never cared about the numbers so hadn't kept a tally.

"Has anyone ever won?" It was the natural progression to ask the question after hearing what sounded like no one triumphing.

Something flickered across the king's face too fast for Max to catch, but he knew he's seen something. "Yes."

When he didn't elaborate, Max pressed knowing he wash pushing his luck as well. "How many?"

Jareth's eyes narrowed but decided to answer. "During my reign, only one. Even then, she barely made it in time."

Growing annoyed at the stalling and bringing up his one and only loss, he watched the expressions and emotions crossing the teenager's face and stance before it settled on determination. Seeing his decision, Jareth transported them to the hill overlooking his Labyrinth so the mortal could take it in, in all its glory. A sadistic smile smirk appeared when he saw the reaction of dismay at the sight of the maze he had to conquer. He couldn't help goading the child. "Do you still wish to take him back?"

'If a girl could do it, I should be able to.' Max thought.

As if he could hear what he was thinking a gleam appeared in the king's eyes as his cruel smile grew. He pointed to a clock as he began to step away, instructing, "You'll have thirteen hours to reach my castle and reclaim your brother. Your time starts now."

Max wasn't all that surprised when he looked over his shoulder and saw that he was alone. Looking over the vast Labyrinth he swallowed and started down the hill. Seeing how tall the walls were as he neared he groaned. "Oh, man."

There didn't seem to be an opening either. There had to be a door somewhere though! "Of course, we're talking about a guy that can disappear and turn himself into an owl." He felt safe grumbling without the man's intimidating presence.

Frowning, Max spent the better part of twenty minutes searching for any way in. He figured that a guy who seemed to like puzzles enough to live in the center of a maze, would have the entrance hidden in plain sight. The problem was the entry could be anywhere! Getting frustrated after twenty more minutes of futile searching, he grabbed some ivy on the wall with the intention of scaling it.

"AGH!" He jumped back, startled, when something flew out of the clump of ivy and straight at his face.

"You could have crushed me, you stupid clumsy oaf!" A tiny voiced piped.

Max just stared dumbly at the minute figure of a tiny, winged, angry woman that was fuming mere inches from his face. Finally he got out, "Y-you're a pixie."

"What emelse/em would I be?"

"Hopefully, a delusion." Max was trying really hard to believe this was just a nightmare induced by bad food. Obviously by the fact that the pixie's face became remarkably scary with anger, she did like the response. The sudden calmness and the sweet smile she gave him caused him to be nervous. Nothing good came of expressions like that.

"Where are you going?"

"Insane?" It was a possibility. One that he didn't think he had to fear anymore. He didn't believe in his mother's stories. At the expression on the pixie's face though, he was sure this too wasn't the correct answer. "I need to get into the Labyrinth so I can get to the castle."

The pixie's eyes lit up with mischief and delight. "You're a Runner! Haven't had one of those in awhile."

"Um.." Max didn't know what to say so he wisely kept his mouth shut.

"It's against the rules to help Runners. Hoggle learned that the hard way." Smiling wickedly she continued. "But as it'll annoy His Majesty, I'll help you."

Grinning in a way that didn't reassure him in the least, she led him to a set of doors that were cleverly made to resemble the wall on either side. At his first touch they opened, but as soon as he cleared the doors, they shut tight behind him. Looking both left and right, he sighed. They both looked the same. There were no obvious choices.

"Which way are you going to choose?"

"I don't know." They both seemed to go on forever. And what was up with all the tree branches? There weren't any trees for them to have fallen from?

"Well, you can't just stand there for thirteen hours. Well, you could, but that's not why you came here is it? It wouldn't be any fun either."

Max scowled at the pixie and when she saw that he wasn't going to try and take his annoyance out on her, alighted on his shoulder. Turning left, Max kept his right hand against the inner wall. He figured one direction was as good as any other. After a few feet his hand left rough stone meeting only air and it caused him to smile in satisfaction. Walking into the opening he decided to go right this time and shortly found himself standing at the top of a stone staircase leading down into a torch filled tunnel. Not knowing how long it would take him to backtrack and find a different way he descended the steps stating, "I should've just snuck out the window."