Last time:

Riki ate Iason's enchanted peach and forgot everything. He was found by an old junk yard lady.

"I'm here, my love." Iason said.

Ch. 8

Riki finally stopped crying and looked around. "Where am I?" he asked again. The old lady, a Goblin-lady to be exact, was loaded down with tons and tons of junk.

"I found you out by that tree over yonder and brought you here, Sonny," she replied. "Where were you headed off to?" Riki looked puzzled. "I--I don't remember. I was looking for something." he said as if in a trance. The old woman motioned him closer. "Well, why don't you come in here and see if what you want's in here, yes?"

She moved over to a tent and pulled back the flap. Riki ducked and went inside. His eyes widened in shock. He knew this place. Iason's spell was already wearing off.

"My...my room," he said to himself and threw himself on the bed.

"It was a dream. It was all so real though." He got up and opened the door, hoping to see his father and even his step-mother. Instead he saw the old junk lady. "There's nothing you want out there, sonny!" she croaked. With that, she rummaged through Riki's things and said things like "You never wanted these thrown away, right?"

Riki sat at his desk and opened a drawer. Inside was a red book labled "Labyrinth". He read aloud. "I have fought my way here to take back the child that you have stolen..."

He looked up and stared at the pictures on his walls. One in particular caught his attention. "The Goblin King...Iason..." he whispered.

The junk lady stared at him confused. "Don't you like your toys?" she asked with a sickly sweet smile. Riki glanced around. "It's all junk. I--" He paused. Then it hit him. "I have to save Aki!!" he shouted.

Picking up a small statue of a dwarf on his desk, he threw it and smashed the mirror. The room began to fall apart. "My Prince!" Sid's voice called. "Riki!" Enyu called. Riki climbed through a hole in the wall and found his friends. "Guys! Let's go. There's not much time!" he called. Enyu and Sid followed.

At last, they reached the gates to the Goblin City. As they were about to enter, they heard footsteps behind them. They turned and came face-to-face with Katze. His face was different though. Instead of arrongant and angry, he looked sad and remorseful.

"Riki," he began. "I didn't mean to hurt you. Iason made me give you that fruit. He--he loves you, Riki." he said.

Riki looked at him a moment and then hugged him tight. "I forgive you, Katze. Thanks for your help." Enyu and Sid smiled. Katze returned it and said "Let's get your brother back!" Everyone else cheered. "Right!" said Riki. Once again, they made their way to Iason's castle.

(In the castle)

Iason sat in his throne in a miserable mood. "Riki," he whispered. "What have I done?"

Just then a Goblin, Norris, entered and bowed. "Your Highness! The boy who forgot everything! He's here with the eunich, a cat-boy, and the gaurd to the Bog!" Iason jumped up and ran to the window.

Sure enough, he found Riki with that same cocky smirk racing to save Aki. His heart soared to know he was okay. He looked at the clock and saw there was only 30 minutes left. The game was back on. "Let them pass." he ordered. Norris bowed again and left to deliver the King's order. Iason turned back to the window. 'There's still hope,' he thought with a smile.

(With Riki and company)

The party pushed open the castle doors and prepared for an attack. None came. Riki saw a clock beside the throne. Fifteen minutes.

"Shit! There! that's the only way he could have gone!" he said pointing to the only other doorway in the room. "C'mon then!" Katze said. "No, I have to go alone. That's the way it's done." The others looked at each other sadly.

"But...should you need us?" Enyu asked. "Yes, should you need us?" Katze repeated. Riki smiled. "I'll call. Thanks all of you!" He hugged them all.

"I couldn't have done it without you guys!" He said before he turned and ran to rescue Aki. What had Katze said? 'Iason loves me?' Riki asked himself. 'No, couldn't be!' another part of him argued. Soon, he entered a bizzare room. Stairs everywhere upside down, right side up, sideways, and any other ways. Everything was completely twisted.

He peered over the edge of the platform he stood on and nearly leapt back in shock.

Iason peered back at him upside down and smiled. "How you've turned my world, you precious thing!" he said and disappeared. His voice seemed to be all around Riki. "Everything I've done, I've done for you. I move the stars for no one." Riki spun around. "What do you want?" he called. A chuckle. "Haven't you guessed by now, my beloved?" Iason asked.

Riki tried to ignore it and looked down. He gasped as he he saw Aki far below him. "Aki!" he called. Aki looked up and smiled. "Brother!" he called back. Riki took a deep breath and jumped. He felt himself slow down and realized he had landed softly.

Aki wasn't there. He turned around and around looking for him. He spotted Iason in the shadows.

"Give me the child," Riki began. "Riki, listen to me: Forget them. Why not just stay here with me?" Iason asked. "I'd rather not be a goblin thank you." Riki said coldly. Iason sighed. "You wouldn't be," he replied. With a flick of his wrist a crystal appeared. "Take it, pet. you can have everything you want. Stay with me." Iason almost begged.

"I have fought my way here to take back the child you have stolen..." Riki continued. Iason's eyes widened. He was desperate now. Only two minutes. 'I have to stall him!' Iason thought. "Riki," he began. Riki ignored him. "You...you..." he paused.

"Damn! I can never remember that line!" he cursed. "Riki, be mine. You can be so powerful with me..." That was Iason's fatal mistake.

Riki looked him directly in the eyes and shouted "You have no power over me!" Iason was heartbroken but he couldn't hate the boy. Never. He transformed just as the clock struck thirteen. "I love you, Riki! I always have and I always will!" In his owl form, he flew out the window of Riki's house.

When he was gone, Riki looked around and was relieved to find he was truly home. "Aki," he said and ran upstairs. In Aki's room, the boy was sound asleep. Riki smiled and tucked the covers tighter around him.

He then shut off the light went to his room.

(In Riki's room)

As he sat at his desk, Riki put his old pictures an other childhood things away. Somehow though, he couldn't put Iason's picture away and simply put it in a frame and placed it on his bedside table.

"We're home! Riki! Are you home?" his father's voice called. "Yes! I'm home!" he called back.

"I'm home." he repeated softly. He glanced into his mirror and jumped. Sid waved and said Goodbye, Riki." Then, he disappered and Enyu took his place. "Riki, should you need us?" he asked. Katze took his place when he disappeared. "Yes, should you need us? For anything at all?" he asked. Riki choked back tears.

"I need you, Katze. All of you." Katze grinned. "Why didn't you say so?" he asked with a laugh.

Riki turned and found all his friends he had met, even the Fierys and junk-lady. "Scrabble anyone?" called Sid. Everyone danced and laughed all night.

(Meanwhile)

Unaware to anyone, a lonely owl sat outside Riki's window wishing he could dance with Riki. 'I love you, Riki. I'll wait for the day when you will truly be mine.' Iason stretched his wings and flew away. However, everyday he returned and watched Riki.

(Many years later)

The years passed and before he knew it, Riki was old with children and grandchildren. His friends from Iason's world never stopped coming and even now visited Riki's decendents as they had been visiting him and Aki over the years. It was a Dark family secret. Aki visited his brother whenever he could in his own old age.

Riki was still beautiful to Iason altough his raven hair was now grey and his smooth skin was now slightly wrinkled.

'Riki, do you still dream of me? Do you remember me at all?' Iason asked silently. One night, Iason discovered the window ajar. Excited he slipped inside and transformed into his human form.

Next, he crept to Riki's bed. He caught sight of a picture frame at Riki's bedside and his heart soared with joy to find his picture inside. He sat down beside Riki and stroked his hair.

As he gazed at him lovingly, he realized something was wrong.

Riki was breathing abnormally and was coughing. Iason took the pale hand. "Riki?" he asked. No answer. 'No! He can't! He can't leave me!' Iason thought. He knew it was true though. Riki was old and dying. He wouldn't survive the night. Iason gathered the frail body in his arms and sobbed. "I love you," he whispered again and again.

Riki's tired eyes opened and locked onto Iason's.

"I-Iason?" he asked in a frail voice. "Yes. Yes it's me, love." Iason replied. Riki smiled faintly. "I-I'm S-Sorry," he whispered. "Sorry for what? You did nothing wrong, precious." Iason said surprised.

"I love you, Riki. I was selfish. I'm the one who should be sorry and I am, Riki." Riki smiled again and said "I love you too," in a faint whisper. He took one ragged breath and closed his beautiful chocolate brown eyes for the last time. Then, he passed away just as the clock struck twelve.

Iason's heart broke once more.

He wanted to take the body back with him but knew he couldn't. Instead, he summoned the golden crown similar to his own and placed it on Riki's head.

"For you, my love. Know that you will always be my one and only. My Prince." He kissed the still warm lips, transformed and flew back to his kingdom. "Farewell, my love! Forever isn't long. I know I'll see you again!" In the Underground, everyone mourned the death of their beloved Prince. The only one to ever beat the Labyrinth and win King Iason's heart.

(More than a century later)

Many years passed in the mortal world.

More than a century in fact. A small cemetery lay on the outskirts of a small town. Groundkeepers of the cemetery came and went as the years went by.

Each one told of witnessing the same strange things. In the center of the cemetery was a grave marked 'Riki Dark: Beloved son, brother, husband, father, and grandfather'.

The groundkeepers told of how each night and each morning, a majestic golden owl would come and rest upon the stone and hoot softly. The owl looked to be waiting. Waiting for something--or someone--it cared for and loved very much. The owl wasn't the only visitor to the grave.

Early at dawn or late at night, gravediggers and keepers, during their working shifts, have claimed to see what appeared to be a figure kneeling at the grave.

A figure with long blonde hair and a powerful build.

They said if you listened close, you could hear the figure weep, kiss the grave, and whisper softly, "I love you, Riki. I always will. I'll wait for you forever". Then, the blonde figure vanished without a trace.

Ice Demon Allysandra: This is not the last chapter. There will be an alternate ending soon. Please review if you want to see things turn out differently. By the way, that last little part about Riki dying is something I made up and not from the movie. ALTERNATE ENDING COMING SOON! REVIEW!