The Witch Queen of Avalon
A Harry Potter UNIVERSE/ Sasporilla Bucket Fan Fiction
by Darren Kelly
Chapter 09
Blue had gotten bigger and so much faster. It was all Sasporilla Bucket could do to bend those trees she could out of his path of destruction and consumption. Blue found he quite liked the crunchy texture of the leafy stemmed plants that poured into his maw as he passed through the forest.
Word spread ahead of them through the plants and animals of their coming. Warning of the big fuzzy blue worm and the protector. To get out of the way, for both their paths had been chosen long ago.
It came with great surprise when somewhere along noon on the third day in the center of the great Wild lands forest, the forest suddenly gave way to an anciant stone city, that much to Sasporilla's surprise was alive and richly abundant. A wide cobble stone roadway ran from where blue had burst through the forest and ran between two large step pyramids. A large arched bridge ran across between them. Shops and homes had been cut into the sides of the step pyramid and the steps as walkways. More shops, schools, homes all lined the giant cobblestone road.
People out to see the great beast as it slowed its passing and came to a stop in the center of the city between the two step pyramids.
"We have arrived." Blue grumbled most satisfied.
"Blue?" Sasporilla asked looking at the large crowd of people gathering carrying bushel baskets of fruits and flowers. "Where is here?"
"Just where we must be," Blue said, "for me to rest before I take in enough food for the long unstopped journey to the icy heart of death... and life."
"How long will we be here Blue?" Sasporilla asked.
"A few days and nights." Blue said. "I must be as long as the city road and my back must touch the bridges underside before I can leave."
The people of the city began to adorn the great beast with flowers. Others piled fresh fruit before blues large mouth. Then all joined the great mass crowd.
"Well the people seem friendly enough." Sasporilla smiled throwing back the blue fur hood of her cloak revealing her striking pink hair. The crowd gasped and went silent.
"Apparently," Blue mused, "they are more shocked by you than by me!"
"Can I have a lift down Blue?" Sasporilla asked.
Blue raised his great paw and Sasporilla climbed on. He lowered her gently down before the crowd on the street. Two little girls carrying baskets of flowers stepped from the crowd to greet her.
"What part of Star Worm are you?" One of the girls asked handing Sasporilla a flower.
"Shut it." The other little girl said.
Sasporilla started to laugh. How they reminded her of Lyra and herself.
"I'm just a friend of Blue." Sassy smiled. "Not really a part."
"Ah, but in that you are incorrect." A hooded figure said stepping forward out of the crowd. "You see Sasporilla Bucket, you are the creatures guardian, companion as well as friend. Actually there are many friends who will be very happy to know that you are alive."
The woman lowered her hood to reveal her lovely face with an intricate silver mask covering the eyes that were blind to the world. Sasporilla smiled and ran forward to hug her friend.
"Agnes!" Sasporilla squealed hugging the blind oracle as a shadowy figure stood up tall beside her.
"What about a hug for me?" Myron Wagtail asked throwing off his cloak with showman like flash.
"Myron!" Sasporilla yelled giving the singer the biggest hug he'd ever gotten.
"I'm happy to see you too!" Myron hugged her back. "When Agnes said she sensed you hadn't passed over and we started searching for you... well, I wondered if we'd ever find you?"
"I'm so happy you have." Sasporilla smiled.
"I'm happy you're alive, and in one piece!" Myron smiled. "Now you can come with us and we can keep you safe."
"No!" Both Sasporilla and Agnes said at once.
"What?" Myron asked. "Why not?"
"Myron," Sasporilla began, "I have made a promise to Blue. To travel with him all the way to Avalon city. He protects me and I protect him."
"We can protect you!" Myron objected.
"Then who would protect him Myron?" Agnes asked.
"That massive creature can't need protecting???" Myron scoffed. "I mean, protecting from what?"
"The Witch Queens Hunters for one Myron Wagtail." Sasporilla said putting both hands on her hips angrily... just as her mother used to. "And every other person who might want to do him harm."
"This is why the pink haired queen," an older man in long blue robes, using a staff to steady himself, said as he stepped through the crowd, "is known as the Protector!"
"Elder Corasoll." Agnes smiled. "How nice to hear your voice.
"I am sorry it took me a little longer than I would have liked to reach the main square." Elder Corasoll smiled. "These days, my age dictates my schedule. Everything takes a bit longer I'm afraid."
"I understand." Agnes smiled.
"Old age." Myron said awkwardly. "This is the oldest I've ever been!"
Crickets... Some jokes don't fly. Then Elder Corasoll started to chuckle. Myron got an elbow in the ribs from Sasporilla.
"Agnes, my best pupil," Elder Corasoll smiled, "you did marry well. Even if it was in secret."
"You're married?" Sassy asked Myron.
"Just a while ago." Myron said. "It's still a secret. The press doesn't know."
"Congratulations!" Sasporilla smiled hugging Myron then hugging Agnes. "So does this mean Agnes is now my God Mother by marriage?"
"Yes!" Agnes said. "Put your jammies on, brush your teeth and get to bed."
Sasporilla burst into laughter. She needed that sort of laugh, after everything else she'd been through.
"Elder Corasoll," Agnes said, "may I formally introduce Sasporilla Bucket."
"It is my sincerest pleasure to meet the guardian of the Great Star Worm." The old man bowed as low as his old bones would allow.
"Sasporilla Bucket," Agnes smiled, "may I formerly introduce you to Elder Corasoll. Head of the council of Elder's of Everlost City and my former teacher."
"I am honoured to meet you sir." Sasporilla bowed.
"Good!" Agnes smiled joining their Sassy hand to Elder Corasoll's. "Now that you're aquatinted I'm leaving both of you in the safest hands possible. You must excuse Myron and I but we must be off."
"Off where?" Sasporilla asked curiously.
"To stop your funeral of course." Myron said. "I'm sure there are a few people who will be very happy to know your alive and well!"
"Is Angelo ok?" Sasporilla asked.
"I don't know." Myron said. "I know that not all statues were recovered. Some were destroyed. Some are still missing. Those recovered are free."
"Angelo was recovered." Sasporilla smiled. "Give him the biggest kiss for me?"
"I will!" Myron laughed as Agnes took his arm and they vanished in a swirl and a pop.
**************
The dark somber skies cried tears that fell to earth. Hiding the tears on the faces of the grief stricken and broken hearted. The presession was surprisingly small at the funeral of Sasporilla Bucket. Mostly friends disguised by polyjuice potions, as most were wanted terrorists in the eyes of the crown. To there surprise there was a suspicious lack of Royal Guardsmen anywhere near the cemetery? They carried a small urn of ash, left over from the explosion, through the roadway of the grave yard toward the spot where her parents bodies lay. A stone stood for each of them. Father, Riddonkulous Bucket, Mother, Wysteria (Bent) Bucket, And of course daughter Sasporilla Imaginarium Bucket. All gone too soon, before their time. At the hands of evil.
Angelo, disguised as Orson Pygmallion, one of the boys in his dorm, kissed the urn and placed it by the head stone.
"I love you Sasporilla." Angelo said unable to hold back his tears. "I'll miss you. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you!"
Angelo started to wail and collapsed into the arms of a larger man, Arno Sparknix, who was actually Lyra.
"Come on Angie buck up." Lyra said. "There, there. Let it out. I guess we should all say something. Here someone take him."
Lyra handed Angelo off to Professor Splatterpalette Disguised as famous Werewolf hunter Mars Mikelson, whom she still had some hair from after an art project involving him a few years back.
"Sasporilla Bucket was my friend." Lyra said. "My best frend! Despite me trying everything I could do to treat her like crap. Treat her as less than. Call her names when we first met. What did she do when she found out I liked Girls? She stood up for me! When others made fun of me at Hogwarts, she stood beside me! When all abandoned me, gave up on me, she refused to!!! Damn it wide butt why did you have to go get yourself blown up to prove you could squeeze your big monster butt into this little jar?"
Some gasped... some laughed.
"If you really knew her and I," Lyra tried to smile, "you know she'd be laughing. Even though my heart is breaking."
An older woman, short and fat stepped up and raised her vale from her face she raised a flask.
"Time for a toast to our Sasporilla." The woman said encouraging the others to pull small flasks and taking swigs of horrid polyjuice potion. "Sasporilla was my best friend as well. All the way since second year to seventh year. She was my maid of honour at my wedding and godmother to my Son."
Karry Curtis paused choking back her tears. "We had plans to be old friends together. Watch our children grow up together. Now..."
Karry broke down crying. An older man ran up and grabbed her as she collapsed. Zac had taken the disguise of Walter Moorlap, a quiet old widower from Hogsmeade known as a bit of a hermit.
"I've got you." Zac said catch Karry and helping her down.
A loud crack of thunder split the clouds and a ray of sun shawn through. Two plumes of white smoke shot down from the clouds and slammed into the ground in front of the crowd of mourners.
Agnes Moreshead, the blind Oracle and Myron Wagtail appeared from the white cloudy mist.
"Myron, Agnes, you've come." Lyra said approaching. "I wondered if you were going to make it?"
"Yes, sorry, we just got in from Avalon." Myron said.
"Well you're both just in time to say something about Sasporilla." Lyra said.
"I know just what I'd like to say." Agnes said stepping up before the small group that had gathered. "Sasporilla is Alive and well."
***************************
Sasporilla Bucket walked with Elder Corasoll through the streets as people celebrated the return of the great beast. Adorning Blue with flowers and feeding him copious amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables, grains and leaves. Whatever they could spare.
"You see Ms.Bucket," Elder Corasoll said, "centuries ago there were three step pyramids here. They were built by peoples that were here long before us. A native people called the Magawai. A proud and decent nonmagical people who, when the last great beast made its journey here hid in fear in their center temple. The largest of the three. The one their highest priest said would withstand even the great weight of the worm. It did not."
"Oh my god." Sasporilla gasped. "Did all of them...?"
"Die?" Elder Corasoll nodded. "Yes, crushed to death, all of them. Maybe as many as twenty thousand."
Sasporilla stopped in her tracks and put her hand over her heart. The great pain she felt inside for those poor people.
"As bad as you feel now, imagine how the great beast felt learning what she'd done?" Elder Corasoll said. "Knowing how gentle and innocent these creatures really are."
"The last great beast was a she?" Sasporilla asked.
"Yes." Elder Corasoll smiled. "Not that it's easy to tell. Only they really know for sure."
"So if everyone of the Magawai were killed," Sasporilla asked, "How did all of you come to build on their ruins and learn their tale?"
"Two of three high priests survived." Elder Corasoll confirmed. "One in the step pyramids on either side, along with a handful of acolytes. They sent for a Wild Talker from the Elven city. One of the elves gifted, as are you, with speaking with creatures."
"So it was an elf that first spoke with the great beasts?" Sassy asked surprised.
"Yes." Elder Corasoll smiled. "One of the small ones, of the worker class. The great beast explained this was it's path. Had always been and would always be. The path took the great beasts around the world and saw them transform into the great Star beast! Reaching great size and speed by the Elven city they would pluck a golden seed from the great tree and take off into the stars to bring life to another world."
"The tree of life Yggdrasil. Majesty station." Sasporilla hung her head. "It's in the center of Avalon city. It will be destroyed!"
"Oh yes!" Elder Corasoll nodded sadly. "The Elves were terrified of the same thing and tried to fight the Star Beast as it charged the tree. They injured it, took part of one of it's lower legs using a powerful, anciant weapon. However they could not stop the beast from it's task."
"Did many elves die?" Sasporilla asked sadly.
"Not a one!" Elder Corasoll smiled. "The star beasts approach was expected and the damage path was cleared. All those who attacked her, she refused to harm."
"Amazing!" Sassy smiled.
"The beasts are gentle at heart." Elder Corasoll said. "They have agreed not to crush us if we don't build in their way."
"Fair enough." Sasporilla nodded. "But how did all of you get here?"
"Ah yes, How did the Magi and muggle populations build a city around two old step pyramids of a lost civilization hmmm?" Elder Corasoll chuckled. "The Magi came to Avalon looking for a world of our own. Sick of sharing a world with muggles... yuk! What an attitude our ancestors had! The Elves showed us this land as a possible place to start building! With the stipulation of course that we do NOT build on the great beasts path. To do so would only bring death and destruction."
"So this was the first Magi settlement of Avalon?" Sasporilla asked.
"Oh my dear no!" Elder Corasoll shook his head. "The Magi dismissed this site for the work it would take to start over! No, no! They stole the Elven city! It was much easier!"
"Yes we studied it in school." Sassy said sadly.
"The worst part is most Magi still see nothing wrong with the way the city was taken." Elder Corasoll said. "Well our ancestors did. You see some Magi had morals and a conscience and we would not live in the stolen city. We came here and built this."
"It must have been hard?" Sassy asked.
"It was at first." The old man agreed. "But we are an innovative and resilient people. We are a mixture of Magi and muggle, Magawai and even some elves. We live in harmony without the old hatreds. Everyone is equal here."
"That is so amazing!" Sasporilla smiled with delight. "You've built a fully modern city. You must do well trading goods with Avalon."
"We have no contact with Avalon." Elder Corasoll said with grave seriousness. "We want NOTHING to do with their Witch Queen and that royal system! She is a being of pure evil!"
"I know." Sasporilla nodded.
"No girl I don't think you do." Elder Corasoll interrupted. "You see..."
"She is not my aunt she is really The old witch Baba Yaga." Sasporilla said holding up her hand. "I found out after her trap failed and I was blown here. To this side of the world. I was fighting in a trial to take her crown, but the trials were fixed."
"Of course they were." Elder Corasoll spat. "I would expect nothing less from her."
"I would expect by now she knows I'm still alive and will be sending hunters after me." Sassy smiled coyly remembering the last group of hunters. "That's why I need to uy a few things. If your shops will take these Royal gold coins?"
"Keep them." Elder Corasoll smiled. "The great gift the star beast will leave us is payment enough. "What ever you need I can assure you, we have!"
*************************
The stormy nightmare filled torturous unconscious mind finally allowed the Warlock King to struggle to the calm surface of consciousness. Foggy, Hyronimus Rodrovich awoke in his luxurious over-stuffed soft bed, with Elven silk sheets and seven Pouwerow down pillows. Clearing the fog from his eyes and greeting the bright sunshine that beamed in through the open curtains. The Warlock King smiled and breathed a sigh of relief.
"It was aw just a dweam!" He chuckled as he turned his head on his pillow to face the retched wooden face of the evil hag Baba Yaga.
"Goodmorning," Baba Yaga smiled, black ichor seeping through her gapped tooth smile, "my love."
"Aaaaaaaaaaah!!!!" The Warlock King screamed his jet black hair turning snow white. "Yowah weahw!"
"Well of course I'm real." The hag ssid trying to stroke the Warlock Kings face as he pulled away in revulsion and fell from his bed, striking the Expensive Corpiniri carpet, which felt as hard as the stone floor beneath.
The hag slithered her bony knotted wood skinned body, dressed in fine Royal Silks, off the bed and levitated above the Warlock King.
"Open your eyes." The hag insisted.
"No." The Warlock King insisted.
"Please my Hyronimus." The Witch Queen said. Her voice soft and sweet. "For me Pumpkin? It was just a little joke."
"My Bouganvawia?" The Warlock King said surprised opening his eyes.
"Boo!" The hag Baba Yaga laughed biting and snapping her black teeth close to the Witch Kings face. "Love bites my love. Let me bite you? To taste you once more!"
"No!" The Warlock King screamed pushing Baba Yaga away. "You awen't my Bouganvawia! You awent my wove! Not my wife!"
Tears streamed from the eyes of the Warlock King as he ran blindly in terror from the creature that perused him.
"But I am your one and only," Baba Yaga hissed. Her head snapping and twisting in sudden unnatural ways as her brittle wooden form snapped and cracked as she stepped after her prey. "Wedded for ever! Till death do us part my love remember?"
"No!" Hyronimus protested as the long wooden claw of the old witch reached for him. "You awe not who I mawwied. Not who I wove! Noooo."
"Till DEATH...." the Baba Yaga's hissing voice penetrated the Warlock Kings consciousness driving him forward. The Warlock King flung himself through a stained glass window, and fell a hundred feet to the marble walkway below.
"... do us PART!!!" The old hag laughed.
**************************
Sasporilla looked at the chart on the wall with one large lense over one eye and her hand covering the other.
"E.. FP... TOZ..LAPD...YOUR FEE IS ONE FIFTY-SEVEN NURELS?"
"Sorry," the eye doctor laughed, "just a bit of optometrist humour."
"That joke really does get old Carl." Elder Corasoll sighed.
"But really your glasses and the exam fee will come to fifty-seven knurls." The eye doctor mentioned.
"All of her costs are covered Carl." Elder Corasoll smiled. "What ever the young lady needs we will supply her with."
"Thank you Elder Corasoll." Sasporilla said.
"Then all you need to do is pick your frames?" The optometrist smiled and slipped her test lenses into two slots in the counter. Pushing a there was whirring and clicking in the counter, then a big pair of chunky clunky black framed glasses spat out.
"Ok put those on." The optometrist smiled.
"Oh." Sasporilla said surprised at the look but not wanting to hurt anyone’s feelings.
"No, no my dear." The eye doctor laughed. "These are not your glasses! These are just your pair to wear in store to help you see to pick your new glasses! After all, how can you choose glasses if you can't see them?"
"That makes sense." Sasporilla smiled.
A small shelf of lens shapes lift up from the counter. There were many shapes and sizes. Round, square, triangular, tear shaped. Some as big as the mouth of a tea cup and some as small as the ring of a key ring.
"Which size and shape would you prefer my dear?" The eye doctor asked. "This will determine the type of frame available to you and colours, patterns available in those."
Sasporilla chose large lenses, almost square, but with rounded corners. The lenses floated forward in a separate case as the shelf folded away. A large wall of frames came up from the floor and filled the wall. It began to revolve between choices until all brands, makes and models that fit those particular lenses were shown. There was no question in Sasporilla's mind. Right from the off she saw a pair of dark purple frames with a pink rose on each arm near the hinge.
"#443." Sasporilla smiled.
"The Zowly Scholastics! A very good choice." The optometrist said pulling them down and letting Sassy try them on. "What do you think?"
"Perfect!" Sasporilla said.
"They come in a selection of colours...." the optometrist smiled pushing another button causing the rest of the frames to rotate out and be replaced only with Zowly Scholastics in every colour imaginable. Sasporilla did notice very few had the roses.
"No I like this pair," Sassy said, "in this colour, with the roses."
"Roses?" The optometrist asked surprised? "My mistake! Those aren't Plain old Scholastics those are scholastic V's! They only come in one colour!"
"Lucky me it's a colour I like!" Sasporilla laughed.
"Oh no my girl!" The eye doctor said coyly. "The frame colour is silver! Touch both roses to reset."
Sasporilla touched both roses and the frames reset themselves to a brightly polished silver colour.
"Now think of that perfect colour you love again and touch one of the rose!" The optometrist smiled."
Sasporilla did so and the frames changed colour back to that lovely dark shade of purple.
"Oh how wonderful!" Sasporilla smiled.
"They're a bit more expensive but if they're the ones you really want?" The optometrist asked.
"There will be no question." Elder Corasoll smiled.
With the push of a button a new pair were manufactured for Sasporilla right in the counter and put together, placed in a box and slid out on a padded drawer all within seconds.
"Your new Glasses Madame!" The eye doctor smiled.
"Just bill my office." Elder Corasoll smiled.
"This machine you use?" Sasporilla asked. "Who designed it?"
"They are very common automation here." The optometrist said. "It saves time and space for warehouses etc. A magical engineer named Finleey made them. A Gnome. Finleey's Fine Machines. He's across town. His devices practically built this city!"
"Indeed!" Elder Corasoll agreed. "At least the modern city. A brilliant Gnome."
"I must make it a priority to meet Finleey before I leave." Sasporilla smiled. "I may want him to build a machine for me one day."
"At least you'll see him clearly," Elder Corasoll smiled, "now that you have glasses again."
"I find that ever since I got my first pair of glasses," Sasporilla said with a somber tone, "I have seen the world much clearer."
Blue had gotten bigger and so much faster. It was all Sasporilla Bucket could do to bend those trees she could out of his path of destruction and consumption. Blue found he quite liked the crunchy texture of the leafy stemmed plants that poured into his maw as he passed through the forest.
Word spread ahead of them through the plants and animals of their coming. Warning of the big fuzzy blue worm and the protector. To get out of the way, for both their paths had been chosen long ago.
It came with great surprise when somewhere along noon on the third day in the center of the great Wild lands forest, the forest suddenly gave way to an anciant stone city, that much to Sasporilla's surprise was alive and richly abundant. A wide cobble stone roadway ran from where blue had burst through the forest and ran between two large step pyramids. A large arched bridge ran across between them. Shops and homes had been cut into the sides of the step pyramid and the steps as walkways. More shops, schools, homes all lined the giant cobblestone road.
People out to see the great beast as it slowed its passing and came to a stop in the center of the city between the two step pyramids.
"We have arrived." Blue grumbled most satisfied.
"Blue?" Sasporilla asked looking at the large crowd of people gathering carrying bushel baskets of fruits and flowers. "Where is here?"
"Just where we must be," Blue said, "for me to rest before I take in enough food for the long unstopped journey to the icy heart of death... and life."
"How long will we be here Blue?" Sasporilla asked.
"A few days and nights." Blue said. "I must be as long as the city road and my back must touch the bridges underside before I can leave."
The people of the city began to adorn the great beast with flowers. Others piled fresh fruit before blues large mouth. Then all joined the great mass crowd.
"Well the people seem friendly enough." Sasporilla smiled throwing back the blue fur hood of her cloak revealing her striking pink hair. The crowd gasped and went silent.
"Apparently," Blue mused, "they are more shocked by you than by me!"
"Can I have a lift down Blue?" Sasporilla asked.
Blue raised his great paw and Sasporilla climbed on. He lowered her gently down before the crowd on the street. Two little girls carrying baskets of flowers stepped from the crowd to greet her.
"What part of Star Worm are you?" One of the girls asked handing Sasporilla a flower.
"Shut it." The other little girl said.
Sasporilla started to laugh. How they reminded her of Lyra and herself.
"I'm just a friend of Blue." Sassy smiled. "Not really a part."
"Ah, but in that you are incorrect." A hooded figure said stepping forward out of the crowd. "You see Sasporilla Bucket, you are the creatures guardian, companion as well as friend. Actually there are many friends who will be very happy to know that you are alive."
The woman lowered her hood to reveal her lovely face with an intricate silver mask covering the eyes that were blind to the world. Sasporilla smiled and ran forward to hug her friend.
"Agnes!" Sasporilla squealed hugging the blind oracle as a shadowy figure stood up tall beside her.
"What about a hug for me?" Myron Wagtail asked throwing off his cloak with showman like flash.
"Myron!" Sasporilla yelled giving the singer the biggest hug he'd ever gotten.
"I'm happy to see you too!" Myron hugged her back. "When Agnes said she sensed you hadn't passed over and we started searching for you... well, I wondered if we'd ever find you?"
"I'm so happy you have." Sasporilla smiled.
"I'm happy you're alive, and in one piece!" Myron smiled. "Now you can come with us and we can keep you safe."
"No!" Both Sasporilla and Agnes said at once.
"What?" Myron asked. "Why not?"
"Myron," Sasporilla began, "I have made a promise to Blue. To travel with him all the way to Avalon city. He protects me and I protect him."
"We can protect you!" Myron objected.
"Then who would protect him Myron?" Agnes asked.
"That massive creature can't need protecting???" Myron scoffed. "I mean, protecting from what?"
"The Witch Queens Hunters for one Myron Wagtail." Sasporilla said putting both hands on her hips angrily... just as her mother used to. "And every other person who might want to do him harm."
"This is why the pink haired queen," an older man in long blue robes, using a staff to steady himself, said as he stepped through the crowd, "is known as the Protector!"
"Elder Corasoll." Agnes smiled. "How nice to hear your voice.
"I am sorry it took me a little longer than I would have liked to reach the main square." Elder Corasoll smiled. "These days, my age dictates my schedule. Everything takes a bit longer I'm afraid."
"I understand." Agnes smiled.
"Old age." Myron said awkwardly. "This is the oldest I've ever been!"
Crickets... Some jokes don't fly. Then Elder Corasoll started to chuckle. Myron got an elbow in the ribs from Sasporilla.
"Agnes, my best pupil," Elder Corasoll smiled, "you did marry well. Even if it was in secret."
"You're married?" Sassy asked Myron.
"Just a while ago." Myron said. "It's still a secret. The press doesn't know."
"Congratulations!" Sasporilla smiled hugging Myron then hugging Agnes. "So does this mean Agnes is now my God Mother by marriage?"
"Yes!" Agnes said. "Put your jammies on, brush your teeth and get to bed."
Sasporilla burst into laughter. She needed that sort of laugh, after everything else she'd been through.
"Elder Corasoll," Agnes said, "may I formally introduce Sasporilla Bucket."
"It is my sincerest pleasure to meet the guardian of the Great Star Worm." The old man bowed as low as his old bones would allow.
"Sasporilla Bucket," Agnes smiled, "may I formerly introduce you to Elder Corasoll. Head of the council of Elder's of Everlost City and my former teacher."
"I am honoured to meet you sir." Sasporilla bowed.
"Good!" Agnes smiled joining their Sassy hand to Elder Corasoll's. "Now that you're aquatinted I'm leaving both of you in the safest hands possible. You must excuse Myron and I but we must be off."
"Off where?" Sasporilla asked curiously.
"To stop your funeral of course." Myron said. "I'm sure there are a few people who will be very happy to know your alive and well!"
"Is Angelo ok?" Sasporilla asked.
"I don't know." Myron said. "I know that not all statues were recovered. Some were destroyed. Some are still missing. Those recovered are free."
"Angelo was recovered." Sasporilla smiled. "Give him the biggest kiss for me?"
"I will!" Myron laughed as Agnes took his arm and they vanished in a swirl and a pop.
**************
The dark somber skies cried tears that fell to earth. Hiding the tears on the faces of the grief stricken and broken hearted. The presession was surprisingly small at the funeral of Sasporilla Bucket. Mostly friends disguised by polyjuice potions, as most were wanted terrorists in the eyes of the crown. To there surprise there was a suspicious lack of Royal Guardsmen anywhere near the cemetery? They carried a small urn of ash, left over from the explosion, through the roadway of the grave yard toward the spot where her parents bodies lay. A stone stood for each of them. Father, Riddonkulous Bucket, Mother, Wysteria (Bent) Bucket, And of course daughter Sasporilla Imaginarium Bucket. All gone too soon, before their time. At the hands of evil.
Angelo, disguised as Orson Pygmallion, one of the boys in his dorm, kissed the urn and placed it by the head stone.
"I love you Sasporilla." Angelo said unable to hold back his tears. "I'll miss you. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you!"
Angelo started to wail and collapsed into the arms of a larger man, Arno Sparknix, who was actually Lyra.
"Come on Angie buck up." Lyra said. "There, there. Let it out. I guess we should all say something. Here someone take him."
Lyra handed Angelo off to Professor Splatterpalette Disguised as famous Werewolf hunter Mars Mikelson, whom she still had some hair from after an art project involving him a few years back.
"Sasporilla Bucket was my friend." Lyra said. "My best frend! Despite me trying everything I could do to treat her like crap. Treat her as less than. Call her names when we first met. What did she do when she found out I liked Girls? She stood up for me! When others made fun of me at Hogwarts, she stood beside me! When all abandoned me, gave up on me, she refused to!!! Damn it wide butt why did you have to go get yourself blown up to prove you could squeeze your big monster butt into this little jar?"
Some gasped... some laughed.
"If you really knew her and I," Lyra tried to smile, "you know she'd be laughing. Even though my heart is breaking."
An older woman, short and fat stepped up and raised her vale from her face she raised a flask.
"Time for a toast to our Sasporilla." The woman said encouraging the others to pull small flasks and taking swigs of horrid polyjuice potion. "Sasporilla was my best friend as well. All the way since second year to seventh year. She was my maid of honour at my wedding and godmother to my Son."
Karry Curtis paused choking back her tears. "We had plans to be old friends together. Watch our children grow up together. Now..."
Karry broke down crying. An older man ran up and grabbed her as she collapsed. Zac had taken the disguise of Walter Moorlap, a quiet old widower from Hogsmeade known as a bit of a hermit.
"I've got you." Zac said catch Karry and helping her down.
A loud crack of thunder split the clouds and a ray of sun shawn through. Two plumes of white smoke shot down from the clouds and slammed into the ground in front of the crowd of mourners.
Agnes Moreshead, the blind Oracle and Myron Wagtail appeared from the white cloudy mist.
"Myron, Agnes, you've come." Lyra said approaching. "I wondered if you were going to make it?"
"Yes, sorry, we just got in from Avalon." Myron said.
"Well you're both just in time to say something about Sasporilla." Lyra said.
"I know just what I'd like to say." Agnes said stepping up before the small group that had gathered. "Sasporilla is Alive and well."
***************************
Sasporilla Bucket walked with Elder Corasoll through the streets as people celebrated the return of the great beast. Adorning Blue with flowers and feeding him copious amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables, grains and leaves. Whatever they could spare.
"You see Ms.Bucket," Elder Corasoll said, "centuries ago there were three step pyramids here. They were built by peoples that were here long before us. A native people called the Magawai. A proud and decent nonmagical people who, when the last great beast made its journey here hid in fear in their center temple. The largest of the three. The one their highest priest said would withstand even the great weight of the worm. It did not."
"Oh my god." Sasporilla gasped. "Did all of them...?"
"Die?" Elder Corasoll nodded. "Yes, crushed to death, all of them. Maybe as many as twenty thousand."
Sasporilla stopped in her tracks and put her hand over her heart. The great pain she felt inside for those poor people.
"As bad as you feel now, imagine how the great beast felt learning what she'd done?" Elder Corasoll said. "Knowing how gentle and innocent these creatures really are."
"The last great beast was a she?" Sasporilla asked.
"Yes." Elder Corasoll smiled. "Not that it's easy to tell. Only they really know for sure."
"So if everyone of the Magawai were killed," Sasporilla asked, "How did all of you come to build on their ruins and learn their tale?"
"Two of three high priests survived." Elder Corasoll confirmed. "One in the step pyramids on either side, along with a handful of acolytes. They sent for a Wild Talker from the Elven city. One of the elves gifted, as are you, with speaking with creatures."
"So it was an elf that first spoke with the great beasts?" Sassy asked surprised.
"Yes." Elder Corasoll smiled. "One of the small ones, of the worker class. The great beast explained this was it's path. Had always been and would always be. The path took the great beasts around the world and saw them transform into the great Star beast! Reaching great size and speed by the Elven city they would pluck a golden seed from the great tree and take off into the stars to bring life to another world."
"The tree of life Yggdrasil. Majesty station." Sasporilla hung her head. "It's in the center of Avalon city. It will be destroyed!"
"Oh yes!" Elder Corasoll nodded sadly. "The Elves were terrified of the same thing and tried to fight the Star Beast as it charged the tree. They injured it, took part of one of it's lower legs using a powerful, anciant weapon. However they could not stop the beast from it's task."
"Did many elves die?" Sasporilla asked sadly.
"Not a one!" Elder Corasoll smiled. "The star beasts approach was expected and the damage path was cleared. All those who attacked her, she refused to harm."
"Amazing!" Sassy smiled.
"The beasts are gentle at heart." Elder Corasoll said. "They have agreed not to crush us if we don't build in their way."
"Fair enough." Sasporilla nodded. "But how did all of you get here?"
"Ah yes, How did the Magi and muggle populations build a city around two old step pyramids of a lost civilization hmmm?" Elder Corasoll chuckled. "The Magi came to Avalon looking for a world of our own. Sick of sharing a world with muggles... yuk! What an attitude our ancestors had! The Elves showed us this land as a possible place to start building! With the stipulation of course that we do NOT build on the great beasts path. To do so would only bring death and destruction."
"So this was the first Magi settlement of Avalon?" Sasporilla asked.
"Oh my dear no!" Elder Corasoll shook his head. "The Magi dismissed this site for the work it would take to start over! No, no! They stole the Elven city! It was much easier!"
"Yes we studied it in school." Sassy said sadly.
"The worst part is most Magi still see nothing wrong with the way the city was taken." Elder Corasoll said. "Well our ancestors did. You see some Magi had morals and a conscience and we would not live in the stolen city. We came here and built this."
"It must have been hard?" Sassy asked.
"It was at first." The old man agreed. "But we are an innovative and resilient people. We are a mixture of Magi and muggle, Magawai and even some elves. We live in harmony without the old hatreds. Everyone is equal here."
"That is so amazing!" Sasporilla smiled with delight. "You've built a fully modern city. You must do well trading goods with Avalon."
"We have no contact with Avalon." Elder Corasoll said with grave seriousness. "We want NOTHING to do with their Witch Queen and that royal system! She is a being of pure evil!"
"I know." Sasporilla nodded.
"No girl I don't think you do." Elder Corasoll interrupted. "You see..."
"She is not my aunt she is really The old witch Baba Yaga." Sasporilla said holding up her hand. "I found out after her trap failed and I was blown here. To this side of the world. I was fighting in a trial to take her crown, but the trials were fixed."
"Of course they were." Elder Corasoll spat. "I would expect nothing less from her."
"I would expect by now she knows I'm still alive and will be sending hunters after me." Sassy smiled coyly remembering the last group of hunters. "That's why I need to uy a few things. If your shops will take these Royal gold coins?"
"Keep them." Elder Corasoll smiled. "The great gift the star beast will leave us is payment enough. "What ever you need I can assure you, we have!"
*************************
The stormy nightmare filled torturous unconscious mind finally allowed the Warlock King to struggle to the calm surface of consciousness. Foggy, Hyronimus Rodrovich awoke in his luxurious over-stuffed soft bed, with Elven silk sheets and seven Pouwerow down pillows. Clearing the fog from his eyes and greeting the bright sunshine that beamed in through the open curtains. The Warlock King smiled and breathed a sigh of relief.
"It was aw just a dweam!" He chuckled as he turned his head on his pillow to face the retched wooden face of the evil hag Baba Yaga.
"Goodmorning," Baba Yaga smiled, black ichor seeping through her gapped tooth smile, "my love."
"Aaaaaaaaaaah!!!!" The Warlock King screamed his jet black hair turning snow white. "Yowah weahw!"
"Well of course I'm real." The hag ssid trying to stroke the Warlock Kings face as he pulled away in revulsion and fell from his bed, striking the Expensive Corpiniri carpet, which felt as hard as the stone floor beneath.
The hag slithered her bony knotted wood skinned body, dressed in fine Royal Silks, off the bed and levitated above the Warlock King.
"Open your eyes." The hag insisted.
"No." The Warlock King insisted.
"Please my Hyronimus." The Witch Queen said. Her voice soft and sweet. "For me Pumpkin? It was just a little joke."
"My Bouganvawia?" The Warlock King said surprised opening his eyes.
"Boo!" The hag Baba Yaga laughed biting and snapping her black teeth close to the Witch Kings face. "Love bites my love. Let me bite you? To taste you once more!"
"No!" The Warlock King screamed pushing Baba Yaga away. "You awen't my Bouganvawia! You awent my wove! Not my wife!"
Tears streamed from the eyes of the Warlock King as he ran blindly in terror from the creature that perused him.
"But I am your one and only," Baba Yaga hissed. Her head snapping and twisting in sudden unnatural ways as her brittle wooden form snapped and cracked as she stepped after her prey. "Wedded for ever! Till death do us part my love remember?"
"No!" Hyronimus protested as the long wooden claw of the old witch reached for him. "You awe not who I mawwied. Not who I wove! Noooo."
"Till DEATH...." the Baba Yaga's hissing voice penetrated the Warlock Kings consciousness driving him forward. The Warlock King flung himself through a stained glass window, and fell a hundred feet to the marble walkway below.
"... do us PART!!!" The old hag laughed.
**************************
Sasporilla looked at the chart on the wall with one large lense over one eye and her hand covering the other.
"E.. FP... TOZ..LAPD...YOUR FEE IS ONE FIFTY-SEVEN NURELS?"
"Sorry," the eye doctor laughed, "just a bit of optometrist humour."
"That joke really does get old Carl." Elder Corasoll sighed.
"But really your glasses and the exam fee will come to fifty-seven knurls." The eye doctor mentioned.
"All of her costs are covered Carl." Elder Corasoll smiled. "What ever the young lady needs we will supply her with."
"Thank you Elder Corasoll." Sasporilla said.
"Then all you need to do is pick your frames?" The optometrist smiled and slipped her test lenses into two slots in the counter. Pushing a there was whirring and clicking in the counter, then a big pair of chunky clunky black framed glasses spat out.
"Ok put those on." The optometrist smiled.
"Oh." Sasporilla said surprised at the look but not wanting to hurt anyone’s feelings.
"No, no my dear." The eye doctor laughed. "These are not your glasses! These are just your pair to wear in store to help you see to pick your new glasses! After all, how can you choose glasses if you can't see them?"
"That makes sense." Sasporilla smiled.
A small shelf of lens shapes lift up from the counter. There were many shapes and sizes. Round, square, triangular, tear shaped. Some as big as the mouth of a tea cup and some as small as the ring of a key ring.
"Which size and shape would you prefer my dear?" The eye doctor asked. "This will determine the type of frame available to you and colours, patterns available in those."
Sasporilla chose large lenses, almost square, but with rounded corners. The lenses floated forward in a separate case as the shelf folded away. A large wall of frames came up from the floor and filled the wall. It began to revolve between choices until all brands, makes and models that fit those particular lenses were shown. There was no question in Sasporilla's mind. Right from the off she saw a pair of dark purple frames with a pink rose on each arm near the hinge.
"#443." Sasporilla smiled.
"The Zowly Scholastics! A very good choice." The optometrist said pulling them down and letting Sassy try them on. "What do you think?"
"Perfect!" Sasporilla said.
"They come in a selection of colours...." the optometrist smiled pushing another button causing the rest of the frames to rotate out and be replaced only with Zowly Scholastics in every colour imaginable. Sasporilla did notice very few had the roses.
"No I like this pair," Sassy said, "in this colour, with the roses."
"Roses?" The optometrist asked surprised? "My mistake! Those aren't Plain old Scholastics those are scholastic V's! They only come in one colour!"
"Lucky me it's a colour I like!" Sasporilla laughed.
"Oh no my girl!" The eye doctor said coyly. "The frame colour is silver! Touch both roses to reset."
Sasporilla touched both roses and the frames reset themselves to a brightly polished silver colour.
"Now think of that perfect colour you love again and touch one of the rose!" The optometrist smiled."
Sasporilla did so and the frames changed colour back to that lovely dark shade of purple.
"Oh how wonderful!" Sasporilla smiled.
"They're a bit more expensive but if they're the ones you really want?" The optometrist asked.
"There will be no question." Elder Corasoll smiled.
With the push of a button a new pair were manufactured for Sasporilla right in the counter and put together, placed in a box and slid out on a padded drawer all within seconds.
"Your new Glasses Madame!" The eye doctor smiled.
"Just bill my office." Elder Corasoll smiled.
"This machine you use?" Sasporilla asked. "Who designed it?"
"They are very common automation here." The optometrist said. "It saves time and space for warehouses etc. A magical engineer named Finleey made them. A Gnome. Finleey's Fine Machines. He's across town. His devices practically built this city!"
"Indeed!" Elder Corasoll agreed. "At least the modern city. A brilliant Gnome."
"I must make it a priority to meet Finleey before I leave." Sasporilla smiled. "I may want him to build a machine for me one day."
"At least you'll see him clearly," Elder Corasoll smiled, "now that you have glasses again."
"I find that ever since I got my first pair of glasses," Sasporilla said with a somber tone, "I have seen the world much clearer."
PLEASE REMEMBER
I am in no way affiliated with Warner Bros. or with J.K.Rowling. My work is purely that of fan fiction & do not ask for, nor accept money, gifts or other compensation for my work. If you really feel you must do something, donate to J.K.Rowling's charitable foundation LUMOS! Link below! ( https://www.wearelumos.org/ )
I am in no way affiliated with Warner Bros. or with J.K.Rowling. My work is purely that of fan fiction & do not ask for, nor accept money, gifts or other compensation for my work. If you really feel you must do something, donate to J.K.Rowling's charitable foundation LUMOS! Link below! ( https://www.wearelumos.org/ )