Labyrinth: Coronation 6

Solicitation: "Maria comes face to face with the underbelly of goblin society and meets a new companion along the way."
==Story==
* Written by Simon Spurrier
* Illustrated by Daniel Bayliss with Irene Flores
* Colors by Dan Jackson
* Letters by Jim Campbell
* Character Designs by Kyla Vanderklugt and Daniel Bayliss
===Synopsis===
Jareth watches in his crystal as Sarah crosses the Bog of Eternal Stench. Beetleglum once again asks Jareth to continue telling Maria’s story to Toby, and this time Jareth obliges. 
:“Was she doomed to be alone? Was she cursed to choose companions who’d betray or desert her, over and over? These were the thoughts that tormented her… But… you mark my words, little Toby. She never despaired. She kept faith that in the Labyrinth - as with a mother’s love - a determined heart will never be diverted”. 
After a momentary pause, Maria is filled with determination to reach the castle and save her son. At that moment the goblin gondolier happens by, once again offering to take Maria directly to the castle for the right price. Maria promises the gondolier the signet ring and he happily takes her on board… only for Maria to remember that Sir Skubbin took his ring back. The gondolier kicks Maria off of the gondola, and Maria is carried by the currents into the Labyrinth's aqueduct network. 
Maria manages to grab a nearby tree branch just before she is carried by current over a waterfall. Much to her surprise, she is greeted by a small pink worm, who happens to live in the nearby brickwork. Maria asks the worm for help, mentioning in her explanation her desire to “Punch your stupid king in his stupid owly face”. That prompts the worm, named Cible, to go into her home and announce to her parents that her destiny is calling her. Cible’s parents try to convince her to think things over, but Cible is adamant that she must live up to her reputation. Rejoining Maria, who is still clinging to the tree branch, Cible proudly announces that she’s going to fulfill her destiny of fighting for the rights of repressed goblins. Cible leaps into the waterfall, and soon after the tree branch breaks, sending Maria plummeting over it as well. 
In the castle, the Owl King is speaking with Sir Skubbin. Skubbin calls the Owl King a coward, saying that he’s afraid of his goblin subjects. In reply the Owl King reveals that Sir Skubbin is his son, Prince of the Labyrinth and current heir to the Goblin Throne. The Owl King chastises Skubbin for giving up the royal ring, and for attempting to leave the Labyrinth to become an outlaw. The Owl King tells Skubbin that it’s in his best interest if Maria fails, because then Skubbin wouldn’t be the one inheriting the throne. Skubbin refuses to betray Maria, but the Owl King insists that remaining in the Labyrinth would be the best for her baby. 
:“In their world the brat would grow a pauper, raised in an orphanage to penury and hunger. Doomed! Here he would be King. He would be loved. In fact - huh - I just realized. He’s stopped crying. You hear? He belongs here”. 
While Jareth tells Toby that no one knows how Maria’s baby fared while she was struggling through the Labyrinth, a young Beetleglum is shown using a masquerade mask to play peek-a-boo with the baby. 
Elsewhere, Maria and Cible emerge from the water into an above ground garden. Goblins on steeds are galloping around, mimicking a British fox hunt. But instead of a fox, the goblins are pursuing a bound Tangle. Maria and Cible immediately come to Tangle’s aid. After Cible tries and fails to stop the goblins with her worm-sized sword, Maria quickly dispatches them by using her chalk to draw the goblins out of existence. 
Back in the castle, the Owl King kicks Skubbin out, ordering him to betray Maria to earn his freedom. With only Septimus left in the room, the Owl King is pleased to hear that Maria’s baby is still quiet and presumed sleeping. 
:“Leave it to sleep. The child must be rested for the coronation. It’s time, Septimus, time for a stronger King. That’s the only way to avoid open rebellion against the throne… that’s what I promised my filthy subjects, and how can I impose rules if I don’t abide by my own? Although - just between us? They may wish they’d been more specific. Time for a stronger King. Mhmhmhm. The brat will give up its time… and I’ll get stronger”. 
The Owl King’s words are overheard by the horrified young Beetleglum, listening through a nearby door with Maria’s baby in his arms.
==Covers==
Labyrinth Coronation textless cover 06 Fiona Staples.jpg|Fiona Staples cover
Labyrinth Coronation 06 Sana Takeda.jpg|Sana Takeda cover
==External links==
* Comic Book Roundup Review Aggregator
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Category:Labyrinth Coronation