CYOA

There are a few of us who really enjoy that 80's movie. So, I thought it would be fun trying to write a Labyrinth Choose your Own Adventure. It's actually really hard. A lot harder than I thought it would be. So, that's one of the things I've worked on this semester. Here's what I have so far.

The Labyrinth
Choose your own adventure

Your name is Sarah; you are an intelligent, imaginative young girl who has great potential. One day, you and your dog Merlin are at a near by park. You have been acting out scenes from your favorite book, the Labyrinth. You are wearing a princess dress and a garland of flowers in your hair. You do not notice the owl sitting near by, watching you.
“Give me the child,” you say, speaking to an imaginary goblin king. “Through dangers untold and hardships unmeasured, I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the goblin city to take back the child that you have stolen. For my will is as strong as yours and my kingdom is as great!”
There is a crash of thunder that momentarily distracts you. “For my will is as strong as yours and my kingdom as great,” you say to yourself, trying to remember the next line. You can’t seem to remember it. Finally you give up and check your book.
“You have no power over me,” you say, feeling rather foolish for not remembering. While you are cursing your faulty memory, a clock chimes. You realize that it is seven o’clock and that you are late getting home. As it starts to rain, you run though the town with your dress hiked up, exposing the jeans you have underneath.
When you arrive home your step mother scolds you for being late. You are upset because she always makes you stay home and watch the baby. Feeling frustrated and unappreciated, you run to your room and try to forget your sorrows in the realm of fantasy. A tactic that doesn’t work for long because your father, who supposedly wanted to talk to you, tells you that they are leaving and never resolves the problem. As soon as they leave, the baby starts crying. You realize that someone has taken one of your teddy bears.
You rush into the baby’s room. Somebody has given your teddy bear to Toby, your baby brother. You grow extremely resentful to the child. So, you try making yourself feel better by telling him a story about a young girl whose step mother always makes her stay home with the baby. You explain that they king of the goblins has fallen in love with the girl, and at any time she could wish the child away. The goblin king will take the baby and keep him forever, and turn him into a goblin. Since the young girl knows that this is wrong, she suffers in silence.
“Finally, after a long day of housework, when she was hurt by the harsh words of her step mother and she could no longer stand it…”
The story isn’t helping. Toby, your baby brother, cries even louder.
“Stop it, stop it!” you say. “I’ll say the words. No. No, I mustn’t say…I wish…I wish. Oh goblin King, oh goblin king, where ever you may be, take this child of mine far away from me.”
You are slightly disappointed as you realize that this approach doesn’t work. You lie the screaming baby down and turn out the light.
As you are leaving the room you say “I wish…”

What do you do?
If you choose to finish the sentence “I wish you wouldn’t cry so much” turn to page (fill in number here)
If you choose to finish the sentence “I wish the goblins would come take you away. Right now.” Turn to page #

“I wish you wouldn’t cry so much,” you say and leave the room. You go into your bedroom and sulk. You never have the magical you’ve always wished for, you never come to realize the love you have for your brother and you are very unhappy until you graduate and move away to college. You didn’t even make it to the labyrinth. How sad. The End

“I wish the goblins would come take you away. Right now.” As you leave the room, you realize that Toby has stopped crying very suddenly. Feeling extremely alarmed you go back into the room. The light switch isn’t working. You approach Toby’s bed. When you get there you realize that he’s gone!
You were unaware that the goblins had actually been listening to your request. As you are standing in the dark room, surrounded by goblins, an owl flies to the window. Finally, it bursts through the window. In a burst of glitter the owl transforms into an oddly dressed man.
You know exactly who he is. “You’re him aren’t you? You’re the goblin king.”
The goblin king just smiles at you.
“Where is he?” you ask him.
“You know very well where he is,” Jareth, the goblin king responds.
“Please, let me have him back.” You plead.
“What’s said is said,” Jareth replies.
“But I didn’t mean it.” You protest.
“Didn’t you?” Jareth says knowingly.
You didn’t mean it…mostly.
Jareth tries to distract you from your worries about your baby brother by offering you a gift.
“Look Sarah,” he says, “I’ve brought you a present.” A clear orb appears in his hands and he rolls it over his fingertips.
“What is it?” you ask.
“It’s a crystal, nothing more. But if you turn it this way and look into it, it will show you your dreams. But this is not an ordinary gift, for an ordinary girl who takes care of a screaming baby. Do you want it?” He can see that you do. “Than forget about the baby.

What do you do?
If you decide to take the gift and forget about the baby, turn to page #

If you decide not to take the present and decide to pursue inquiries about your brother, turn to page #

“Will he be well taken care of?” you ask as you eye the crystal.
Jareth smiles and nods.
You hold out your hands to accept the gift. He places it into your hands. “Thank you,” you say. He is still smiling, but you can see the look of great disappointment in his eyes. Apparently you weren’t the girl he thought you were. You were no challenge at all.
He leaves and you go back to your room. You are totally fascinated by the crystal. You can’t seem to look away from it. All of those dreams! When your father and your step mother arrive home, you are still staring at the crystal. When they ask you what happened to the baby, you can give no satisfactory answer. You tell them a strange man took the child. You don’t know who he is, or where he went. But you can’t look away from the crystal.
They have you committed to a mental institution where you and your crystal spend the rest of your days. You are very hollow, but don’t seem to notice.
You didn’t even make it to the labyrinth, and proved to be a sort of awful person. Shame on you. No wonder they locked you up. The End.


You like the gift, but you will not be distracted!
“But I have to have my brother back!” you tell him, frustrated.
“Sarah,” he tells you, “don’t defy me.” The crystal in his hands turns to a snake. He throws it at you. You gasp as the writhing snake turns into a mess of scarves and then into a goblin. “You’re no match for me Sarah.”
“I have to have my brother back,” you say again. “Where is he?”
“He’s there?” says Jareth, pointing out the window. Instead of your neighbor hood you see the labyrinth.
“Is that the castle beyond the goblin city?” you ask. You are suddenly on a hill overlooking the labyrinth.
“Turn back Sarah,” he says very dramatically. “Turn back before it’s too late.”

What do you do?
If you decide that you want to turn back, turn to page #

If you decide to brave the labyrinth, turn to page #


“I can’t turn back,” you say, rather dismayed. You don’t think that you can actually finish the labyrinth. And you’re not really sure it’s worth the effort of trying.
“Such a pity,” he says.
“No, I mean really, I can’t turn back. You took me out of my house. I don’t know where I am.”
“You really want to turn back?” he asks, somewhat surprised.
“Yes, please,” you nod.
He sighs. “Now that really is a pity.” He waves his hand and Toby’s bedroom reappears.
You walk back into the room.
“Good bye Sarah,” he says, and your dream world disappears.
You go and find the phone and call the police, telling them that your baby brother is missing. You go downstairs and unlock the back door so you can say that you accidentally left it unlocked. You tell the police you fell asleep on your bed and when you went to check on the baby, he was gone.
No one ever finds out what really happens, but for the rest of your life you have to live with the guilt of giving up your baby brother. You should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself. You deserve to feel awful. You could have had it all, and now you get nothing.
Then End.

“I can’t,” you say. “Don’t you see that I can’t?”
“What a pity,” he says with a shake of his head, though clearly he’s pleased.
“It doesn’t look that far.”
“It’s further than you think,” he says, coming very close to you. He then brushes past you and points to a very odd clock. “You have thirteen hours in which to solve the labyrinth before your baby brother becomes one of us forever.” And then he disappeared.
“The Labyrinth. Well, come on feet,” you say, and start your journey.
As you reach the outer perimeter of the Labyrinth you see a dwarf.

What do you do?

If you decide to ignore the Dwarf and try to get into the labyrinth by yourself, turn to page #

If you ask the dwarf for help turn to page #

You see the dwarf, but ignore him. He seems like an unpleasant fellow. He keeps spraying cute little fairy things. You wander away from him. As you continue to walk around the perimeter, you realize you don’t know how to get in. When you finally give up and try to find the dwarf again, he is gone. You just don’t know what to do. Finally in frustration you yell out:
“How do I get into this labyrinth?”
One of those little fairies that you had seen previously, lands on your nose and points to the outer wall, and suddenly it becomes a door. The fairy then kicks you and flies off. You had no idea that fairies were so mean!
You approach the door and as you get through you see two long walkways stretching off in either direction. The little fairy then lands on your head.
What do you do?

Do you wave it off?

Do you let is stay on your head?


You decide to ask the dwarf for help.
“Excuse me?” you say timidly.
The dwarf turns around startled. “Oh, it’s you,” he says and picks up a spray can. You realize that there are small fairies flying around the perimeter of the labyrinth. The dwarf sprays one and it falls to the ground.
“You monster!” you say as you pick the fairy up. It then proceeds to sink its teeth into you. “Ow!” you cry. “It bit me.”
“Well, sure. What did you expect fairies to do?” the dwarf asks.
“I thought fairies did nice things, like granting wishes.”
“Shows what you know,” the dwarf replies.
“You’re horrible!” you exclaim feeling hurt and embarrassed.
“No I ain’t,” the dwarf says. “I’m Hoggle. Who are you?”
“Sarah,” you reply defiantly.
“That’s what I thought,” says Hoggle the dwarf, turning away from you and resuming his work.
“Where’s the door to the labyrinth?”
“Fifty-seven!” Hoggle says as he takes down another fairy.
“I said: where is it?” you say, put out by his rudeness.
“Where is what?” Hoggle says as he squirts another fairy.
“The door! It’s pointless asking you anything.” You are feeling rather frustrated at this point. You only have thirteen hours. Less than that now. What a waste of time.
“Not if you ask the right questions,” Hoggle responds.
“How do I get into the labyrinth?” you ask.
“Ah,” says Hoggle, stopping in his tracks. “You gets in through there.” He points very dramatically and a door appears in the wall. You go through and look down both ways. The path seems to stretch on forever in both ways.
“Cozy, isn’t it?” says Hoggle, sneaking up behind you. “Now, would you go left or right.”
“They both look the same,” you say becoming rather concerned.
“Well, you’re not going to get far,” Hoggle scoffs.
“Which way would you go?” you ask, hoping he’ll be of some help.
“Me? I wouldn’t go either way.”
Annoyed with his rudeness and his unpleasant attitude you tell him off.
“If that’s all the help you’re going to be, you can just leave!”
“You know what your problem is,” Hoggle says, pointing a gnarled finger at you, “You take too many things for granted. Take this labyrinth for instance. Even if you get through, you’ll never get out again.”
“That’s your opinion,” you say with more confidence now that you’re actually inside.
“Well it’s a lot better than yours!”
“Thanks for nothing Hogwart,” you say, misremembering his name.
“Oh, it’s Hog-GLE and don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He storms out of the labyrinth and the doors close behind him.

What do you do?
If you go right, turn to page #
If you go left, turn to page #

You decide the wave the fairy off of your head. It is apparently just a nuisance. It flies back out the entrance and the doors close behind it. Now you have to make a choice.
What do you do?
If you go left, turn to page #

If you go right, turn to page #

You let the fairy stay on your head. While trying to decide which way to go, the fairy pulls on your hair. After a moment, you realize that it’s not being nasty, but trying to tell you to go right.

What do you do?
Do you listen to the fairy and go right? If you do, turn to page #

If you ignore the fairy and go left turn to page #



You take a breath and decide to go right. After a time you start to get confused, and yet again, frustrated.
“What do they mean labyrinth. There aren’t any turns or anything. It just goes on and on. Or maybe it doesn’t,” you realize, remembering the words of Hoggle. “Maybe I’m just taking it for granted that it does.”
Feeling very inspired, you star running down the path. After a while you are so confused and frustrated, you slump against a nearby wall.
“’ello,” a small voice says.
You look around trying to find the source. Finally, you see a very tiny worm wearing a scarf.
“Did you just say hello?” you ask. It’s an awfully cute little thing.
“No, I said ‘ello, but that’s close enough.” It’s a very cheerful little thing.
“You’re a worm, aren’t you?
“That’s right. Come inside, meet the Mrs.”
“No thank you,” you say. “I’ve got to solve this labyrinth. You don’t know the way do you?”
“Who, me?” the worm asks. “No, I’m just a worm. Come inside, have a nice cup of tea.”

What do you do?

If you go inside for a nice cup of tea, turn to page #

If you insist that you must solve the labyrinth and continue to ask for help turn to page #


You take a breath and decide to go left. After a time you realize that there aren’t any turns or anything. It just goes on and on. Remembering the words of the dwarf Hoggle, you wonder if you’re just taking it for granted that it does. You start to run at a very quick pace. Still you see no turns or anything. While you are running, you trip on a glittering log. You try to catch yourself on the wall, but the wall isn’t really there, it’s an illusion! You fall onto the ground on the other side of the wall. You stand up and brush yourself off.
Finally, you can get somewhere.

What do you do?

If you go left turn to page #

If you go right turn to page #

You decide to take the advice of the fairy and you go right. You start your way down the glittering passageway. You start to get frustrated soon because there are no turns or anything. It just keeps going on and on! When the fairy realized that you are getting upset, he flies off of your head and disappears into one of the walls. Shocked you go over to the wall and try walking through it. You then realize that it is not a wall at all, but an illusion. The fairy it there waiting for you. It wants to go left.

What do you do?
If you go left, turn to page#
If you go right, turn to page #


You decide to ignore the fairy and go left instead. It seems very put out and yanks harder on your hair, trying to get you to go to the right.
“Ow!” you say. “Now, cut that out. You haven’t been very pleasant. Why should I listen to you?”
The fairy makes a pouting face, which you can’t see because it’s on top of your head, but it stays there, apparently willing to stick around for the ride. You start to get frustrated soon because there are no turns or anything. It just keeps going on and on! When the fairy realized that you are getting upset, he flies off of your head and disappears into one of the walls. Shocked you go over to the wall and try walking through it. You then realize that it is not a wall at all, but an illusion. The fairy it there waiting for you. You now have a choice to make; the fairy seems to have no preference.
What do you do?

If you go left, turn to page #

If you go right, turn to page #

Your nerves are very sore by now. A cup of tea might be nice.
“That would be wonderful, thank you,” you tell the worm. You look at the wall a moment, very confused. “How do I get in?” you ask politely.
The worm laughs. “Oh, it’s easy enough. You see that little hole there?” he asks, indicating a little dimple in the wall.
“Yes,” you say.
“You go in through there.”
When you look at the worm dubiously, he laughs again. “Things aren’t always what they seem in this place. Try it, you’ll see what I mean. Just put your finger in that hole there. I’ll follow you.”
You aren’t very confident in this, but do so. You feel a whooshing sensation, and realize that you are inside a dark space, which must be inside that wall.
You see a darling little purple worm near a stove. You aren’t sure if you have become very small, or if the worms have become very big.
“’ello there,” says the purple worm upon seeing you. “You must be here to solve the labyrinth,” she says sweetly. “Poor dear. I imagine you’ll be needing a nice cup of tea. Go ahead and sit down.”
“Thank you,” you say, and take a seat.
“I’ve brought company dear,” says the husband worm, coming though the door.
“I can see that. So, what’s your story deary?” she asks, bringing you a cup of tea.
“How do you mean?” you ask.
“I mean, why are you wandering around the labyrinth? What’s your quest all about?”
You are rather hesitant to say, since you brought it upon yourself. “He has my baby brother,” you say, sipping the tea. It does make you feel better.
“Oh deer,” the little Mrs. Worm says. “I think you’ll be needing this then,” she says and moves over to a pendant that’s almost as big as she is. “Take this with you love,” she says, shoving the pendant towards you.
“It’s beautiful, but I can’t take that. It looks very valuable.”
“It is valuable,” says Mr. Worm. “That’s why you should take it. You never know when something like that is going to come in useful here.”
“Besides, a valuable object is only valuable so long as it will be helpful to a friend.”
You graciously accept their gift. “Thank you so very much,” you say gratefully.
They help you out the door. Once outside, you are back to your normal size. The pendant is now small enough to fit into your pocket. The worms go outside to see you off.
“I am still confused,” you say as you realize that you still don’t see any turns. “It just keeps going on, there aren’t any turns or anything.
“Of course there are!” Mr. Worm says. “There’s one just across there.”
“No there isn’t,” you protest.
“Of course there is,” Mrs. Worm says.
“Try walking through it, you’ll see what we mean.”
You doubt that there is actually an opening there, but take their advice. As you walk through what you thought was a solid wall, you realize it was just an illusion.
“Thank you,” you say, starting to the left. “That was incredibly helpful. Everything. Thank you so much.”
“Wait, don’t go that way!” Mr. Worm calls after you.
“Never go that way,” Mrs. Worm joins in.
“Oh,” you say.

What do you do?


If you take their advice and go to the right, turn to page #
If you ask why, turn to page #

You are excessively disappointed. “I’ve got to get through this labyrinth, but there aren’t any turns or openings or anything.”
“Of course there are!” the worm says, chuckling.
“Well, where are they?” you ask eagerly.
“Why, there’s one just across there.”
“No there isn’t,” you say, looking at the blank wall.
“Come on inside,” he invites you again.
“But there isn’t an opening.”
“Of course there is!” he says again. “Try walking through it, you’ll see what I mean.”
You doubt that there is actually an opening there, but take his advice. As you walk through what you thought was a solid wall, you realize it was just an illusion.
“Thank you,” you say, starting to the left. “That was incredibly helpful.”
“Wait a minute! Don’t go that way.”
“What was that?” you ask, coming back.
“I said, don’t go that way, never go that way.”
“Oh.” You respond.

What do you do?

If you take his advice and go to the right, turn to page #
If you ask why, turn to page #