Heir of the Labyrinth

Chapter 10: Labyrinth Adventure

Jareth Jr. had always been curious about the Labyrinth. His father, the Goblin King, rarely spoke of it in detail. He would sometimes allude to its mysteries and dangers, but the way his eyes flickered with something that wasn't quite malice—something more like affection—made Jareth Jr. yearn to see it for himself.

Today, he found himself standing at the edge of it, the twisting stone pathways beckoning him forward to his will.

The air shimmered slightly, as though the Labyrinth itself was alive and breathing, watching him. A strange sense of excitement bubbled up in him. The moment he stepped past the threshold, the great stone gates groaned and creaked shut behind him, sealing him inside.

Jareth Jr:
-„Uhh great...not again"

His heart raced, but there was no turning back now. "Let's see what all the fuss is about," he muttered to himself, pulling the collar of his dark coat higher against the cool breeze.

The Labyrinth was no ordinary maze. It wasn't just a set of walls and dead-ends; it was alive, shifting as if it had its own mischievous intent. One moment Jareth Jr. was walking down a narrow passageway, the next, the walls expanded into a large courtyard that hadn't been there a moment before. And in that courtyard stood a familiar figure.

-"Hoggle?" Jareth Jr. called out, a wide smile spreading across his face. The stout little man was rummaging through his pouch, muttering under his breath.

Hoggle:
-"What are you doing here?"

Hoggle, at first startled, looked up with wide eyes before his expression soured. "Oh, great. Another Jareth," he grumbled, tucking his pouch away. "Like I needed that today."

"Relax, Hoggle," Jareth Jr. said, crossing his arms and leaning against the moss-covered wall. "I'm not here to cause trouble. I'm just... exploring..again.."

-"Exploring?" Hoggle scoffed, glaring at the young prince. "The Labyrinth ain't a playground, boy. It's dangerous. You think you can just waltz through like yer father? It doesn't take kindly to kids like you."

Jareth Jr. shrugged. "I'm not a child anymore Hoggle! I know this place. I grew up here after all and I heard about it a lot from my father"

"Hearing about it and knowing it are two different things," Hoggle said sharply, his beady eyes scanning the shifting walls warily. "This place—" He paused, looking down a narrow path that had just appeared, his expression hardening. "—isn't as friendly as it looks."

Before Jareth Jr. could respond, the sound of creepy laughter echoed from the shadows. Two figures emerged, their faces twisted into mocking grins. Jareth recognized them instantly. Hans and Lars —troublemakers of the Labyrinth.

-"Well, well, if it isn't the young prince," Hans sneered, his voice high-pitched and grating. He was a lanky creature with too many limbs, each of them moving in unsettling, jerky motions. Beside him, Lars—a rotund, frog-like creature—croaked with laughter.

"What's the Goblin King's whelp doing here?" Lars jeered, waddling forward. "You lost, little prince?"

Jareth Jr. stiffened. He knew of Hans and Lars, their reputations infamous within the Labyrinth. They weren't exactly dangerous, but they were pests—always getting in the way, always causing trouble for anyone foolish enough to cross their path.

"Back off," Jareth Jr. warned, stepping forward. "I'm not in the mood...."

"*Ooh,*" Hans mocked, his long fingers waving in exaggerated fear. "The little prince is all grown up now. What are you gonna do? Run home to Daddy?"

Lars burst into another round of croaking laughter, slapping his belly. Hoggle scowled at the two creatures, stepping closer to Jareth Jr.

"Why don't you two go find someone else to bother?" Hoggle snapped. "Ain't you got anything better to do?"