The Goblin Prince.

In which Prince performs his more Unsavory Duties.

The Prince went back into the Labyrinth before transporting himself to the Goblin Village. He always had to be careful when transporting in the Labyrinth. As whimsical and magical as this land was, it wouldn't do for a dreamer to see something startling and remember it clearly. Exploding into glitter was something startling. 

The goblins locked themselves into their homes or took up arms and manned the boulders and loaded the cannons, chattering all the while.

The Prince watched it all, walking through the village to survey the preparations. As he walked towards the Castle beyond the Goblin City, some fences and buildings that had been damaged in various boulder and cannonballs mishaps fixed themselves as the Prince passed.

After a few minutes the Prince passed through the huge gates of the Castle, sitting on the smaller but just as extravagant throne in the throne room that Jareth had ordered crafted for his fifth birthday, one eye on the small girl, the other watching the Runner through his crystals as he made his way closer to the dreamer's glade. 

Perhaps the brutish knight should make an appearance and redirect his course. His father's voice echoed around the Labyrinth, but only Prince heard it. 

Prince stood and left the throne room, his tunic and trousers morphing into green armor the moment he was out of sight of the wishaway, a crystal sword at his side. 

He transported to the area the runner was heading to and summoned a dueling dummy and a helmet, cast two glamours and waited. 

He began to strike at the dummy, moving swiftly and accurately, each slice leaving deep gashes in the wood. 

Just as the runner entered the clearing the dummy's head rolled, coming to a stop at the Runner's feet. 

"Oh, what's this?" The Prince said, removing his helmet and revealing a glamour. He looked about twenty at the moment. "A new challenger." 

To anyone who couldn't see through illusions, the clearing was covered in blood and skulls. 

"Do you wish to pass me by?" The Prince asked, brandishing his sword. "Then you will have to fight for it."

The runner, while aggressive towards those weaker than himself, turned tail, watched by an owl that circled around the Prince before diving back into the Labyrinth.

Prince sighed and dispelled the glamour's, his clothes returning to his normal outfit, sword banished back to the armory.

Prince returned to the castle and sat on the edge of the wish away pit, watching the child pet one of the many chickens in the castle. 

The throne room was vast, plenty of room for the numerous goblins and his father's I.promptu dance routines, although sometimes it felt far to small.

The thrones overlooked the entire area, only the alcoves that lined the walls floor to ceiling and tunnel system that connected them all, affording a better view.

When Prince was young, he would drive his father mad by vanishing into them just as easily as the goblins would, exploring for hours.

Eventually he had gotten too big to fit and had been declared old enough to explore the labyrinth, as long as he stayed with his guide the first few months.

Oh the tricks and fun he had. Even now, decades later, there were still places in his kingdom he had yet to explore, although he was well versed in the main sections.

Prince decided to play with the child, showing her tricks and illusions to entertain her, bringing a wooden horse to life along with several other animals.