Disclaimer:: I do not own Labyrinth or anything associated with it, including Jareth. Please don't rub it in. A girl can only wish...

Warning:: This is NOT a J/S story, and the prologue is in a different style than the rest of the story. It's just a tale that inveigled itself into my brain and I had to get rid of it somehow...

Enjoy?

Once upon a time, in a magical land far, far away, there lived a certain King.

This King ruled over a vast land rich in wonders and brimming with magic. From within his grand castle he spun a intricate web of dreams and fears, creating – as his job entailed – a deep labyrinth, embodying the brightness and darkness that lurked in the very heart of mankind.

Despite the company of his entertaining if tiring subjects and the diverse array of magical creatures in the land, the King was alone.

While the King would never admit that he was lonely, he was still alone.

Which wouldn't be so bad, if he wasn't centuries old and only had forever to look forward to.

Forever, alone.

It could make anyone bitter.

And then, of course, there was a girl.

She was bratty sometimes, but young, headstrong, and pretty, and definitely amusing.

She was temperamental, and indecisive. She had used the power in the King's name to wish a baby away, and then, like the child she was, wanted him back.

A wish granted is not easily annulled.

But within the span of thirteen hours, she solved his labyrinth, led his subjects to treason, destroyed his subjects' city and turned his usually uneventful life upside down. Her sincere naivety repelled the dark traps and nightmares of the labyrinth and instead attracted allies and friends.

The King had never experienced anything like this. All of his previous wish-challengers had been pathetic and weak-willed, passing trivialities. Disappointingly forgettable.

Her innocence and strong spirit attracted him like a moth to a flame.

It was only natural that he try to keep her. And the baby, of course.

After all, then the King might no longer be alone.

But she scorned his power, rejected his offers, humiliated him, and in the end, after exceeding his greatest expectations and reclaiming his precious child, completely forgot about him.

Forgot.

Worst of all, the King could do nothing about it. The girl had said the words, and her strong belief made them true.

He had no power over her.

The King could not find her, talk to her, follow her, even watch her back in her own world.

And so, she forgot. Moved on. Grew up. Had a family. Lived her life normally, to a nice old age, and died happy.

Any King does not enjoy being forgotten. Especially so utterly. It was humiliating.

And then they went and made a movie out of it.