So here it is. I was struck with the idea to do fanfictions based on fairy tales. I hope to go through several different movies and books, but we'll see... I don't really want to commit to anything just yet, so enjoy this in the meantime!

"I wish the goblins would take you away," Sarah said bitterly, flipping off the light, "Right now." She turned and entered into the hallway, and Toby's screams abruptly stopped. Sarah turned back around hesitantly. No one stopped crying that quickly. "Toby?" she called into the dark room, "Toby, why aren't you crying?" She tried turning the light on, but the power seemed to have been cut. Slowly approaching the bed, Sarah heard strange noises coming from around the bedroom, but tried to ignore them until she found out what was wrong with Toby. With a gasp, she flipped back the blanket in the crib, and found it to be empty.

Thunder crashed, lightning flashed and suddenly, the bedroom windows flew open. An owl flew in and with a flash of smoke, turned into what might have been a man. But this man, if he could be so called that, looked...terrifying. Horrific. Hideous even. Dressed in tight, black armor, half the man's face was uneven and almost scale-like. His hair, or what there was of it, hung long, blonde, and limply thin on one side, and was nearly non-existent, save for a bit of fuzz, on the other half of his head. His eyes were mis-matched, on blue and the other dark brown, and the deformed skin was a greenish-brown hue.

Sarah gave a shriek, and stepped back, only to find herself surrounded by-goblins?

"You're him aren't you?" She asked, realization dawning on her, "You're the goblin king.

The man smirked and gave a nearly imperceptible nod.

"I'd like my brother back," Sarah pleaded, "Please, if it's all the same."

"What's said is said," the Goblin King replied coldly.

"But I have to get my brother back," Sarah protested miserably, "Please. He must be so scared."

"What's said is said," the king repeated, "You can't get him back."

"But I need him here!" She implored, "Please. Where is he?"

"You know very well where he is." The king informed her. When Sarah looked puzzled, he shrugged and added, "He's in my castle." He gestured out the window, to a castle surrounded by a labyrinth which had magically come into view.

"There must be something I can do." Sarah begged, "I'll do anything! Please, just give me my brother back."

The Goblin King frowned. "There's nothing you can do." he stated, "You wished him away to me."

"Oh please!" Sarah cried, becoming desperate, "You can't keep him there." The king shrugged and swept around, preparing to turn back into an owl and leave.

"Wait!" Sarah exclaimed, "Wait. T-take me instead." The Goblin King froze, and slowly turned around. "You know, like a trade," Sarah continued, "You can do that, can't you?"

The king studied her for a moment. "You mean to say that you'd come and stay in my castle, willingly?" he asked. Sarah nodded. A goblin standing next to the king tugged on his pant leg and gave him a pointed look.

"I'd take Toby's place." she rambled, trying to keep the king's attention, "Just don't leave him there. Please. I'd be good, I prom-"

"Enough!" the Goblin King cut in, "I accept your offer." He turned to the goblin standing at his side. "Bring the child back here." he ordered, "And have a room prepared for our new guest." He gestured out the window. "Follow that path," he instructed Sarah, "At the foot of the hill you should find a dwarf. Calls himself Hogbrain or something. Tell him his majesty King Jareth has ordered him to take you directly to the castle at the center of the Labyrinth."

Sarah gave a small sob and fled out the opening. What have I done? she asked herself miserably as she made her way down the narrow path. Coming to the foot of the hill, she found the dwarf the king had mentioned, relieving himself in a pond. "Are you Hogbrain?" she asked through sniffs, trying not to look.

The dwarf gave a start and fastened up his pants. "No I aint'!" he protested, "I'm Hoggle!"

Sarah blinked. "Oh." she said, "Well I was told to tell you his majesty King Jareth ordered you to take me directly to the castle at the center of the Labyrinth." She swept her sleeve across her eyes, trying to rid herself of the tears that threatened to spill over once more.

Eyes widening in surprise, Hoggle asked, "Jareth's taking you to his castle?" When Sarah burst into tears, he took it as a yes. "Alright, alright." he said, backing up with his hands in the air, "I'll take you. Don't have to cry about it." He led the miserable girl to a set of doors, and they began trekking down the passageway into the labyrinth.

"What do they mean labyrinth?" Sarah asked at length with another sniff, "There aren't any turns or openings or anything!"

Hoggle snorted. "'Course there are." he said, "You're just not seein' 'em. Ahh, here we are." He came up to what seemed to be a brick wall. "This way", he said, and walked into a hidden passage. Sarah gaped in amazement and followed after the dwarf.

"Wait!" a small voice called, just before Sarah disappeared. She turned back and glanced around. "Who said that?" she asked.

"Over here!" the voice called again. "Look down!" Sarah did, and found herself looking at a small blue worm. "Hello." she said tentatively.

"'Ello," the worm greeted cheerfully, "I just wanted to warn you not to go that way."

"Why shouldn't I go that way?" Sarah asked curiously.

"It'll take you straight to that castle!" the worm warned, "And you don't want to be going-"

"That'll be enough from you!" Hoggle interrupted, coming up behind Sarah. "We be wanting to go to the castle, and you'd best keep your nose where it belongs."

"So King Jareth's finally found himself a girl?" the worm asked, eyeing Sarah and suddenly looking very serious, "Is she the one, you think?"

"Am I what?" Sarah asked, confused.

Hoggle grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the worm. "Nothing!" he said, a bit too loudly, "Nothing at all. Now you just mind your own business and stop asking questions I can't answer! And you!" he called back to the worm, "Keep your mouth shut, if you know what's good for you!"

Sarah allowed herself to be pulled along, but wondered what the worm was talking about. "If you can't answer any questions," she asked, "Who can?"

"Stop asking me stuff!" Hoggle exclaimed, "You can ask the king when you get to the castle."

"Are we there yet?" Sarah asked, "How much farther, do you think?"

Hoggle sighed. "So many questions! Yes, we're almost there. See?"

Looking up, Sarah saw that the castle loomed not too far ahead. It looked less foreboding up close, but not any friendlier. She unconsciously wrapped her arms around herself as they drew nearer. "You can go in through that door," Hoggle said, pointing, "It'll take you to the castle kitchens. Ask to be taken to the throne room." He turned and began to walk away.

"Thank you, Hogwart." Sarah called after him.

"Arrgh!" exclaimed the dwarf, "It's Hoggle! And don't say I didn't warn you!"

Sarah's face clouded with concern. "Warn me about what?" she shouted to the retreating figure.

"Stop asking questions!" was Hoggle's reply, and then he was out of sight.

"Alright then." Sarah said with a shrug. "Better get this over with." She pushed the door open, and found herself standing in a kitchen, full of goblins running around, some with steaming pans, others with pots full of dirty water. Sarah dodged a goblin carrying a large bowl of what appeared to be pudding, and found herself face to face with a rather large and rather portly goblin, wooden spoon in one hand, dishrag in the other.

"What's a girl like you doing here?" the goblin demanded in a rough voice, "I ain't giving scraps away to nobody. Now shoo!" He began to swipe at Sarah with the dishrag.

"Wait, stop!" Sarah protested, putting her hands up in defense, "I'm here to see the king!"

The goblin immediately halted his assault. "You're here to see King Jareth?" he asked incredulously, "You-you want to see him?"

Sarah huffed. "Why is everyone so shocked when I say that? I don't particularly want to see him, but I made a deal."

"A deal?" another goblin, carrying a tray of roast beef, "You going to stay here? You going to change-"

"That'll be quite enough," a voice cut in. Sarah spun around and saw an old, grey-haired man standing in a doorway. "You are to come with me." the stranger said.

"Who are you?" Sarah asked.

The stranger smirked. "Although it's none of your business, I'm his royal majesty's advisor. My name is Garret. Now if you're through with asking questions..." he trailed off. Sarah ducked her head in embarrassment. "Yes." she replied meekly.

"Then please follow me." Garret said, gesturing out the door. Sarah hurried out of the kitchen. Garret followed, and as she turned around to ask him a question, she noticed his eyes were blank, as though he could not see.

"Are you blind?" she asked him bluntly. Garret smiled.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I am." Sarah wanted to ask why a blind man was the king's advisor, but out of politeness, refrained.

"Why is everyone so secretive?" she asked instead, "What exactly is going on."

"I am not permitted to answer that," was Garret's reply. Sarah huffed.

"Are you allowed to tell me why you're here?" she ventured.

"I don't understand the question." Garret answered, "I am here to serve his majesty."

"I know that!" Sarah snapped, "I mean, how come you're not a goblin? Isn't this a goblin city?"

Garret smiled. "It is. I am actually not native to the Underground. My mother wished me away many years ago, and I was sent to serve his highness."

Clasping her hands over her mouth, Sarah exclaimed, "How horrible!" Garret shook his head.

"Not really," he said, "I'm the king's advisor, and that alone grants me quite a bit of power." The pair came upon a large door. "These will be your living quarters," Garret informed her, "If you need anything, call for a goblin. You have an audience with his majesty King Jareth tomorrow, at noon. I'll be sure to send you your own goblin by then, to show you around and such."

Sarah thanked the man, and pushed open the heavy door with a grunt. I don't know how something as small as a goblin would be able to open this. she thought. Glancing around her room, she gaped at the size. Though by no means lavish, the room was at least twice the size of her living room back home. It held a large, canopied bed, a changing screen, a wardrobe, a chair, a book shelf, a vanity and a fireplace. A door stood in the corner and when opening it, Sarah found that the bedroom had it's own bathroom.

Flopping down on the bed, Sarah kicked off her shoes. She was exhausted from all that had happened, and wondered what her family would think when they found her gone. Gone. What a dismal word. He never said how long I'd be gone, Sarah thought miserably, tears pricking her eyes, Will I be here forever? Too tired to find anything to wear to bed, Sarah curled up into a ball, and cried herself to sleep.

What do you think? Like it? Hate it? Do you think I'm moving the story too fast? Leave your comments and criticism by clicking the review button!