FFM 2026 21: The Tale of a Goblin King

David Bowie Day challenge: The story must take in a labyrinth. Optional add-ons: Include a reference to the movie Labyrinth in some way, shape or form, Someone in the story must be listening to a song from the David Bowie song randomizer, Include something forgotten, Include a goblin king of your own choosing.

I used all the optional add-ons. The lyrics are from Because You’re Young, the first song that came from the generator.

I decided to (try to) write a fairy tale. I might add this to the Whoops worldbuilding as an in-universe fairy tale. Maybe. We’ll see.

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Once upon a time, there was a goblin king who ruled over a magical labyrinth.

The goblin king was not always a king, nor was ze born to a royal family. Ze was originally a member of The Fire Gang, a notorious group of criminals who stole and burned whatever they could. Where there was smoke, there The Fire Gang had been recently.

One day, the not-yet goblin king, Jux zir name was, wandered into the labyrinth at the outskirts of the nearby citadel on a dare. Jux knew it was a terrible idea, for no one who had gone in had ever come back, but ze went in anyway, full of youthful bravado and overconfidence.

The entrance immediately closed behind zir, leaving zir no choice but to go deeper inside.

The labyrinth was of purple stone, overgrown with greens and flowery colors, ever shifting, never disturbing the plantlife within it.

Jux soon found that the labyrinth was not deserted; an abundance of insects, birds and other small animals navigated it, unbothered by the shifts — perhaps even not obstructed by the labyrinth the way those who wandered in were.

While wandering, Jux heard voices — words — and followed them to a clearing. To zirs surprise, there was a broken music box, constantly repeating,

What are they trying to prove?

What would they like to find?

There were corvids around it, listening and repeating lyrics, both the ones the music box was playing and ones that Jux supposed it had also played when it had worked.

Jux found zirself hungering before long and took a chance at an apple-looking fruit ze saw a rabbit eat. It was sweet, like one of those very expensive apples ze had once been able to steal from a stall, but easier to chew. Ze felt no ill effects from eating it, so ze assumed they were safe for zir to eat and carried on, hoping to find a safe source of water before zirs canteen would empty out.

Eventually, ze found a grand building in the middle of the labyrinth. The surfaces were overrun with moss and vines but it still looked undamaged and polished, as if magic kept it maintained despite the vegetation growing on it.

Intrigued, Jux entered the building. Inside, it was awe-inspiring, like images of old castles ze had seen in storybooks. Paintings and murals depicted a people living around the grand building in peace as well as the labyrinth being built around it.

The building was empty save for Jux and the animals wandering in and out through various openings, yet clean inside. No vegetation save for the potted plants, no dust, no trash or waste anywhere, not even anything left by the wild animals.

After wandering deep enough, Jux found what had to be the throne room. At the throne lay a scepter with a glowing crystal. Jux was far too curious not to pick the scepter up and when ze did, ze felt what had to be magic flow into zirs veins. A ghostly apparition of a being ze did not recognize appeared next to the throne.

“Welcome,” the apparition spoke in a language that Jux both understood and did not understand, “to throne of the old ones — the ones who came and faded out. I am Pi, the last royal advisor.”

Jux was too shocked to say anything in response — ze was fairly sure ze was hallucinating. Maybe there had been something wrong with that apple after all.

“If you so wish, I can guide you to the exit of the overgrown labyrinth,” Pi told. “Or you can stay here in the palace, live free either as the one who takes the throne or in the guest rooms. The indoor gardens grow enough food for a village and our wells never dry up as long as our magic exists.”

“Would I be alone?” Jux asked.

“There are echoes of us like myself all around the castle. We are unable to touch but we are company nevertheless. And there might always come more who make it here through the labyrinth, people who could keep you physical company as well.”

Jux thought about it. “I want to see those gardens and wells you mentioned.”

“Very well. Follow me.”

The indoor gardens and wells were just as grand as Pi had described — sustained by magic so nothing ever ran out. Jux did think about leaving, going back to zirs life, but the palace was warm and welcoming in a way that no blaze had ever been. In the end, it was a surprisingly easy choice.

Ze stayed and took the throne. Thus, ze came to live as a goblin king in a land of no one else but zir and those few who made it to the palace after zir.