Originally Posted: Mar. 3rd, 2007
Length/Rating: 100 words, PG, Gen
Pairing/Warnings: none
Summary: He didn’t actually turn children into goblins, no matter how hard their siblings wished. Written for drabbles 30 Days of Drabbles: Day 24 Prompts: Noun/Object: Teacher (Sense/Weaponsmaster/Tutor/Adviser)

LABYRINTH is trademark and copyright Jim Henson Productions, Sony Pictures, and probably a few other folks. All rights reserved. No copyright infringement is intended nor implied.

He didn’t actually turn children into goblins, no matter how hard their siblings wished. The rules governing Underground were as old as the magic that sustained him; no harm could come to true innocents here.

Wicked step-sisters, on the other hand, were fair game.

He watches the current questor stumbling valiantly around the maze, fueled by love as much as fear. They were rarely ever truly wicked, but the rules are strict about redemption.

The clock ticks on, counting progress instead of time, marking off lessons the Labyrinth was meant to teach.

And the thirteenth chime always finds him alone.