The Witch Queen of Avalon
A Harry Potter UNIVERSE/ Sasporilla Bucket Fan Fiction
by Darren Kelly
Chapter 10
The fashions of Everlost city were not quite to the same tastes as Sasporilla Bucket's. Where she had grown up with the standard Eurocentric Western standard fashion, those of Everlost city were more centered around a modern take on traditional and even ancient design. They reminded Sassy of clothing she had seen in books on ancient cultures of Egypt, The Aztec's, Mayans, the great African and North American tribes people. Some long flowing robes. Some thin whispy cool garments. Adornments of gold. So many Bright feathers and bright colours, and so many styles to choose from!
Sadly nothing really suited Sasporilla's modest tastes but she was too polite not to get something? There was one dress. She thought it fit right in with Everlost city, but she thought it a tad to revealing for her liking. A full length purple wrapped skirt which came up to cross the chest in an X and rest around the neck.
Sasporilla saw no harm in trying it on. A quick look in the mirror confirmed her worst fears. It certainly did show off her midriff and highlighted her bosom making her chest seem much more ample.
"Very becoming Ms.Bucket." Elder Corasoll smiled. "A very good choice. That was the height of last years fashions and on sale this year!"
"Well if it's on sale!" Sasporilla laughed. "I'll take it! My late mother would never forgive me! Passing up a bargain!"
Sassy wore it out of the shop. It helped her blend in with the other women in the city. Though she felt a tad exposed, no one seemed to look twice at her. Nor did anyone cast disparaging glances nor judgmental ones? Everlost city was a very free place to be ones self. Down the street from the dress shop was a shop whose window showcased very familiar brooms.
"TRIUMPHANT'S!" Sasporilla gasped. "Here?"
"Triumphant's?" Elder Corasoll asked. "What are those?"
"They're a very popular brand of broom back home." Sasporilla smiled.
"Oh?" Elder Corasoll said suspiciously. "No my dear, these are Erumpant's! Named after the tough beast of the plains. Curious though."
"Can we go in?" Sasporilla asked.
"Oh yes." Elder Corasoll insisted opening the door for the young lady. "After you."
The shop was quite large and filled with brooms and broomer accessories. Everything here was identical to everything back home in any broomer shop from Diagon Alley to Hogsmeade! And every broom, though they might have read ERUMPANT.... were TRIUMPHANT brooms! Sasporilla was sure of it. They even had a 1200x! Just like her old one.
Elder Corasoll rang the bell on the counter for service.
"Yes, yes..." a voice grumbled from the back, "just a minute."
A tall man stepped out of the back with gruff features and salt, pepper mutton chops and long hair wearing a cowboy hat but he was the spitting image of Pious Griffin. The founder of Triumphant Broom's.
"Ah, Corasoll." The man grumbled. "What do ya want?"
"The young lady, our honoured guest," Elder Corasoll smiled, "wished to look around your shop."
"So look!" The older man grumbled. "Why bother me? Busy working, me... see?"
"Actually I have a few questions for you Rageus?" Elder Corasoll smiled. "They concern the death of your poor long lost twin brother Pious and the law we have about trade of goods outside the city?"
Sasporilla couldn't help but feel responsible. What had she started here? What ever it was must defuse it and fast!
"I love your brooms sir!" Sasporilla fawned taking his arm. "The one in the window reminds me very much of one called a Triumphant from my world."
Rageus Griffin stiffened a bit but Sasporilla tightened her grip.
"This one over here reminds of one made by another company called the Firebolt! And this one by another by the Nimbus company line. I think you have industrial spies coming into Everlost city stealing your secrets!"
"Indeed?" Elder Corasoll questioned raising an eyebrow. "Well that's more plausible than the alternative."
"I was wondering if you had a broom with enough room so I can carry a tent or something I can camp in?" Sassy asked knowingly.
"Actually we have severally brooms that may just solve both your transportation and camping needs." Rageus Griffin said. "The Erumpant 1200x is a sturdy broom, it'll keep up with yer worm fer now an' it has a caravan feature."
A caravan feature?" Sasporilla asked innocently.
"You turn the dial by the grip here and you can extend a caravan from the tip which is magically built into the broom." The broom maker smiled proudly.
"Genius!" Sassy smiled.
"Then we also have the Erumpant 1550 X Dragon." Rageus Griffin smiled. "Fastest broom I've ever made! It'll out fly anything on the market! It only comes with a tent feature. The XT has a caravan but is a bit Slower. Still ten times faster than the old twelve hundred though."
"Really?" Sasporilla asked in awe of the 1550xt Dragon. It's black curled body and gun grip handle with gold accouterment and golden dragons head tip were quite appealing. "What about saddle bags?"
"Pair a saddle bags could be thrown in if you were ta buy today, I suppose." Griffin sneered amused. "Need any leathers?"
"Yes I do!" Sassy said looking over at the women’s rack and seeing her very own style. Now she just hoped they had her size.
When Sasporilla came out of the change room carrying her leathers the Rageus Griffin and Elder Corasoll were in a heated but quiet discussion. Their wands were drawn but not pointed at each other. Not yet anyway.
"Boys calm down!" Sasporilla smiled politely. "The cost can't be that high, surely?"
"Perhaps the cost is higher than you know young lady." Elder Corasoll said angrily.
"Get the stick out of yer arse Chuck!"
"That will be Elder Corasoll to you Rageus!" Elder Corasoll snapped.
"An' that'll be Mr.Griffin ta you if ya please Lord Stick in the arse!" Rageus Griffin barked back.
"Enough!" Sasporilla shouted injecting her lit wand between the pair. "Do I have to petrify you two in the corner like a pair of death eaters or are you going to calm down?"
"He..." Rageus started but Sasporilla shot him a look equal to one of her mum's angry glances.
"This is none of your...." Elder Corasoll shut up as Sasporilla raised her eyebrows in an intimidating manner that would have made professor Severus Snape himself proud.
"Now if you gentlemen will both kindly put your wands away," Sasporilla smiled, "I'm sure we can work this out. As I clearly started this mess I will facilitate its resolution. If your smart you'll accept my offer?"
Both men looked at each other and through grit teeth said. "Agreed."
Sasporilla stood them on either side of the counter with her at the open end.
"Elder Corasoll," Sasporilla asked, "please enlighten me to the law behind your concerns."
"The law is clear!" Elder Corasoll said intensely slamming down his fist. "There is to be NO TRADE between Everlost city and the Witch Queen controlled civilizations of AVALON!"
"And nothing in my shop comes from any of the Witch Queen controlled civilizations of Avalon Charleston Corasoll." Rageus Griffin Snarled.
"Liar!" Elder Corasoll accused. "Then explain how this young woman knows your stock? She isn't from Everlost! You must be trading with Avalon!!!"
"Perhaps it's like she suggested." Rageus Griffin sneered. "Industrial spies?"
"Or perhaps there is an easier solution." Sasporilla said trying to defuse the heightening tensions. "I am not from any of the civilizations of Avalon! I am England, on Earth. You Rageus Griffin are trading with Earth."
"Is this true Rageus?" Elder Corasoll gasped.
"Yes." Rageus Griffin grumbled reluctantly. "That's where my brother has been for years after he faked his death and left this place. He's made a fortune selling my broom designs. He supplies me with whatever I need in other gear for sale. When I decide to retire and sell the shop, I have a giant bank account and nice beach house waiting for me. Away from here. Away from you, Chuck."
Elder Corasoll sat gob-smacked. It was a loophole in the law. It made him furious and Sasporilla saw the old mans face getting dangerously red.
"Why not trade with other civilizations of Avalon Elder Corasoll?" Sasporilla asked.
"Only those under the control of the evil Witch Queen." Elder Corasoll said. "We want know part of her nor anything she taints. Those places the Witch Queen controls have a way of spreading to the places she does not. To stay out of her sight all these years has served us well."
"And since nothing here comes from a place she controls..." Rageus Griffin smirked.
"There is where you are wrong sir." Sasporilla sighed. "You have beaten the law in that you are not Trading with a civilization of Avalon, but England's Ministry of Magic and Britain is under the Witch Queen's control. I'm sure that is something your twin brother failed to inform you of."
"Yes... he... did." Rageus Griffin grumbled.
"I've got you!" Elder Corasoll smiled.
"No you haven't." Sasporilla said. "The law is clear. You have nothing Elder Corasoll, but a closed minded antiquated system that I am sure this gentleman is not the only one to have skirted?"
"Ridiculous!" Elder Corasoll scoffed.
"Is it!" Rageus Griffin asked. "Do you think anyone in this town makes flying leathers like these? No! Why? They're meant for traveling! Travelling away from here! Not flying a broom around the city!"
"There is no reason local people can't make it for you." Elder Corasoll said.
"I've had these in the shop for years." Rageus Griffin said. "I dust them and return most of them for newer ones. Very few sell. No one here will make them. They'd never make money!"
"So that's one example." Elder Corasoll sniffed in derision. "Any other outside goods I'd recognize in a heartbeat."
"I didn’t think you would sir." Sasporilla said.
"Excuse me?" Elder Corasoll said quite offended.
"No offence meant sir but earlier," Sasporilla reminded him, "You and I walked past a music shop a street below. There was a song playing. "Can you dance like a Hippogriff?"
"Yes." Elder Corasoll smiled. "A very big song here, by some local boys. They call themselves.. "
"The Weird Sisters?" Sasporilla smiled.
"No." Elder Corasoll went pale white.
"I'm afraid so." Sassy said sympathetically. "The man who was with Agnes, Myron Wagtail is the actual singer of that song."
"Looks like you don't have quite as much control as you think you do Chuck!" Rageus Griffin smiled.
"Maybe it's time we updated the law." Elder Corasoll stiffened.
"Or maybe," Sasporilla said holding up her hands, "you can let me get to Avalon city, face the Witch Queen and finish my trials. When I'm done with her, she will no longer be a shadow on our worlds."
"And if you fail?" Rageus Griffin chuckled.
"Then Chuck changes the law and you probably run away and retire." Sasporilla said.
"Ms.Bucket do you seriously ask that we have faith in you to beat the Witch Queen?" Elder Corasoll asked.
"No." Sasporilla said. "I ask you have faith in Agnes who has faith in me to change things
To make life better for everyone like am doing gor the worker elves. What I'm asking you to do is Wait for me to get to Avalon City before you act and bet on me to beat the Witch Queen! If I fail, I die. No one wins."
There was silence between the two men.
"Now if I could get these leathers," Sasporilla smiled, "an Erumpant 1550XT and a pair of saddle bags I'll be out of your hair."
"Ah yeah of course." Rageus Griffin said rather humbled by the bravery of the young woman. He pulled the solid black broom with it's curly black body down from the wall. "Ok take the seat. It needs to imprint onto you. Security feature so no one can steal it."
"Between you and me," Sassy asked as she mounted the broom and felt the seat pinch her bottom, "What's the spell you use for that?"
"I can't tell you that!" Rageus Griffin said. "That's an industrial secret!"
"No problem." Sassy said stepping off the broom. "Just didn't want to have to point out that Live wire in the back is Avalon Technology."
"Vestigium Securitas" Rageus Griffin grumbled.
"Thank you." Sasporilla smiled.
**************************
The once Majestic throne room, where the Witch Queen and Warlock King sat in Ivory and golden royal opulence, had now been taken over by a darker esthetic. Cracked rotting tree branches spread across the room weaving a dense cave to entomb and enshrine the royal thrones in dark royal splendor. Baba Yaga sat upon her throne of thorns and moss as the corpse of the Warlock King sat rotting beside her.
The remaining members of the royal council responded to Baba Yaga's summons. They appeared in the throne room in their true forms. Free now to appear as the creatures of darkness they all truly are. Marie LaVaeux the great Swamp Witch. Sheliza Amari the Wedjat, the ancient undead creature of the shifting sands. Gormlobom the Hobgoblin who never hid his small evil ugly little self. Then there was... Millicent Glindell. The young, innocent and kind hard working young woman stood shaking in her robes terrified.
"What's wrong my dear?" Baba Yaga asked.
"Wha- wha- what is this?" Millicent Glindell asked starting to cry. "What's happened here? Where is my Queen? What have you done to my Warlock King?"
Millicent Glindell drew her wand but was grabbed on either side by Amari and LaVeau.
"I am your Witch Queen." Baba Yaga hissed. "As for the Warlock King? He's just a little under the weather today. Feeling a touch, "maggoty"."
The creatures laughed as Millicent Glindell struggled to break free. She was slight and small but she squirmed her way out of LaVeau 's grip. Stomped on Amari's foot, breaking her grip. Millicent Glindell pointed her wand at Baba Yaga and froze.
"What are you going to do my dear?" Baba Yaga asked slowly getting off her throne of moss and thrones. "Kill me? I don't think you have it in you! in fact I feel it's time for to learn a few new things. Time for a... make over... as it were."
Millicent Glindell had not noticed the fine branches and vines which had begun to climb her legs until they were half way up her abdomen. By then it was to late. The young woman cast two spells at the plants that quickly enveloped her and forced her to drop her wand.
"Now, now, Millicent." Baba Yaga smiled. "Don't fight it. This will be good for you. You've always been a subservient little stick. Now..."
The branches receded revealing Millicent Glindell in her new twisted form of wood and flesh. Another of the Witch Queens wood Zombies snapping with her jerky painful motions.
"... I will grant you your greatest wish my dear. You may tend to the Warlock King." Baba Yaga laughed. "The rest of you, come! We must organize traps for where you will hunt and kill Sasporilla Bucket."
"What if we can not beat her?" Gormlobom asked.
"If you don't kill her," the Witch Queen said, "then she had better kill you. If she does not? I will!"
*********************
The bridge across Everlost city, between the two old temples, spanned the full width of Blues girth. It was hard to grasp just how large the city was until Sasporilla reached the bridges center. To see the Everlost spread out before her. The temples on either side their step streets lined with shops and homes. The main road, with blue in its center, and the sprawl of homes that stretched out from it. There was no question that Everlost was as big as Essex was. Not as big as London or New York or a major city but any one good section or borough of it!
"You truly have built a remarkable city here Elder Corasoll." Sasporilla smiled.
"Thank you." Elder Corasoll sighed. "Perhaps you can try an understand why I am so protective of it?"
"Oh I do understand!" Sassy said sympathetically. "Perhaps you can try to understand the plants growth?"
"What?" Elder Corasoll asked.
"If you plant an acorn in a small pot, no matter how much you water it, tend to it, or talk to it Elder Corasoll, it will never grow to become an Oak tree." Sasporilla said. "It might sprout and become a fine small plant, but it will never reach it's full potential. Do you understand?"
"I do but a city is not an acorn nor an oak tree," Elder Corasoll smiled self assured, "it's a city after all."
"Yes." Sasporilla agreed. "Alive, as a growing acorn. Do you not think for a second that acorn doesn't know what it's meant to become. Yearns to be a mighty oak. Won't burst the bonds of its small pot by cracking its earthenware sides and spreading its roots as far as it can deep into near by soil? Even if doing so is to it's detriment! Even uf it only finds stone floor and dies? Your little acorn is starting to break out of it's pot! My question to you is this are you going to replant your tree and let it grow tall and mighty? Or let it stagnate and die Elder Corasoll? At this point I'd say the choice is in your hands."
"You are very wise for your age Sasporilla Bucket." Elder Corasoll sighed. "I have much to consider and to bring before the council after the festival of the beast is over. You have done our city a great service. The name of Bucket will be one of honour in this city from this day forward."
"Oh?" An old woman said walking slowly up at them on the bridge accompanied by a younger woman. "It shouldn't be. It's not like she is a REAL Bucket!"
"Excuse me?" Sasporilla asked more than a little confused and offended.
"Mrs.Wunk please remember this young lady is an esteemed guest in our city!" Elder Corasoll smiled at the old woman nervously.
"No!" The old woman asked. "The council may call her that and the sea of unwashed masses below may believe it BUT I KNOW BETTER, don’t I? I am Mrs.Meticulous Wunk. I am your grand aunt. My mother’s brother was Circumstance Bucket, sister of your great grand father. Or rather the man married to the woman whom your great grandmother cheated on with a.... house elf."
"I see." Sasporilla said.
"Do you?" Meticulous Wunk asked. "My mother told me how her brother stood by and turned a blind eye while his whore wife gave birth to the bastard child. Buggy eyes, sharp nose, long face, just like the house elf! What a scandal! We had to move all the way here to get away from it!!! Your side of the family are imposters! House elves! Servants who have stolen my families good name!"
"I am sorry you feel that way Aunt Meticulous." Sasporilla said stepping forward and hugging the bitter old woman despite her hateful nature. "But know that I am so happy to meet you and if my being alive insults you then I apologize, I had little say in that."
"Don't be cheeky girl!" Meticulous Wunk said pulling away. "I only wanted to bring my opinions to your attentions, as you intend to be Witch Queen."
"And being Queen of the dirty Worker Elves?" Sasporilla asked.
"Yes." The old woman agreed. "You are the highest of those below us."
"Auntie may I ask who this is with you?" Sasporilla asked.
"This is my Grand Daughter Emily." The old lady sniffed. "She's a bit of s useless thing but I'm sure some man will take her some day, if she's lucky."
"I'm pleased to meet you Emily." Sasporilla smiled meeting the beaten down girls lowered gaze. "You know your grandmother is a horrid bitter shrew and you'll have to stand up to her if you ever want your own life?"
"I beg your pard..." Meticulous Wunk gasped.
"Oh shut it!" Sasporilla said stepping forward putting her finger in the old woman’s face. "I tried being polite and diplomatic but as you're a passive aggressive old gas bag I'll make myself clear! No one is lesser than anyone! Not Magi, not elf, not muggle! If you can't learn to treat others like you want to be treated then perhaps you should just sit at home and look in a mirror all day. Clearly you only love yourself. I think you'll find the world is a much brighter place if you let some light into it. Until then there is no place for your kind of darkness and bile!"
The old woman stood there shaking with anger. How dare this young woman, an elf--breed-Bucket, speak to her that way? "The arrogance! The insolence!" Mrs.Meticulous Wunk. Hissed.
"Shut up Grand mother!" Emily snapped turning her grandmother’s face stone cold.
"How dare you?" The old woman started.
"No grandmother," Emily cut her grandmother off, “how dare you? You bring us all the way out here today to insult a stranger! Why? For some imagined eighty year old family slight that neither you nor her had anything to do with. Does that not seem just a touch mad to you? Well it does to me! And she's right! I am tired of your constant hateful bile! Especially towards me! Ms.Bucket please accept my humble apologies on behalf of my family. Grandmother I'm taking you home and you'd best prepare for things to change. Our relationship will be taking on a bit of a different dynamic after today. If you have nothing nice to say to me, don't talk to me at all, unless you need something. Your constant browbeating and abuse of me stops now. Now let me get you home."
"Stupid Girl," The old woman said at Sasporilla, "See what you've done!"
"Lost you a slave and given you back a granddaughter?" Sassy smiled. "You're welcome Mrs.Wunk."
Elder Corasoll and Sasporilla watched the two of them walk off into the city. Emily seemed to be laying down new ground rules that her grandmother was not happy to hear about nor eager to listen to.
"Mrs.Wunk is the wife of one of our late high council members!" Elder Corasoll said.
"Is she?" Sasporilla mused.
"She has always been highly opinionated and considered herself above the rest." Elder Corasoll said.
"You don't say?" Sassy smiled.
"And NO ONE, not even me, has ever stood up to her as you did today!" Elder Corasoll laughed.
"Well then you are welcome." Sasporilla smiled, "but in many ways people like that are monsters of your own making... if you don't stand up to them yourself!"
"Sometimes an outsider is afforded more freedoms to do as they please." Elder Corasoll smiled.
"That's so true!" Sasporilla agreed. "We all choose the chains in which we live in. Why are yours made from bits of bitter shrew?"
"You have a way with words that would that would make most politicians rethink policy, poets rephrase themselves and sailors blush Ms.Bucket." Elder Corasoll laughed holding out his arm to proudly escort the young witch the rest of the way.
"I have learned from some of the best." Sasporilla smiled.
In no time they were across the bridge and down a few levels to Finleey Fine Machines. A small unassuming grey door on a windowless shop front with a simple wooden sign. Sasporilla opened the door and ducked her head to enter. She was no giant like Hagrid, only stand five foot six and three-quarters but she felt like one walking through this small five and a half-foot door.
A small gnome stood in the show room with a young man dressed in robes with his hood up.
"I will be with you in just a moment." The gnome said. "The shelves require constant restocking by busy hands but they can be shuffled around and reorganized at will to showcase any product!"
"I might be able to trade you some tech secrets for replacing busy hands for automation for shelves in some shops sometime in the future?" The wizard said.
"We may have a deal?" Finleey the gnome smiled and held out his hand to the wizard who dropped his hood to reveal that was Angelo Lazarus.
"Angelo!" Sasporilla cried lunging forward embracing him.
Angelo took Sasporilla deeply into his embrace and kissed her, unwilling to ever let her go again.
"I was terrified you were dead." Angelo said. "And I could kill you for not telling me you were alive! I had to find out from Myron and Agnes."
"Please don't be angry with me." Sasporilla pleaded. "This is really the first stop of civilization we've made."
"At least I've found you and we're together." Angelo said. "I would say I will never let you go but Agnes explained you're not leaving big blue out there."
"That's right." Sassy said. "I've made a promise to protect him."
"Then I'm not leaving your side as long as you'll have me, Sasporilla Bucket." Angelo Lazarus said staring into her violet eyes.
Sassy kissed Angelo and took his hand in hers.
"I'm here for at least two more days." Sasporilla smiled. "I won't leave your side."
"No Sassy." Angelo said pulling her outside. "I don't think you understand me."
Sasporilla's heart skipped a beat when Angelo dropped down onto one knee in front of her. He reached into his robes and brought out a small box.
"Sasporilla I saw myself doing this sometime in the future." Angelo said. "Once I was in a position when I was mor financially stable and responsible, but after I thought I'd lost you?"
"I understand Angelo, and I do love you." Sasporilla said cupping his hands not allowing him to open the ring box. "But we're to young, and we're not ready. We are in love yes! I love you with all my heart!"
"And I love you so much Sasporilla." Angelo said. "I can't imagine the rest of my life without you?"
"Then hang on to this ring Angelo Lazarus." Sasporilla Bucket smiled. "I'm not saying no. I'm just saying not yet. Now what did you mean in there about trading tech for future shops?"
"Your wand shop of course!" Angelo smiled. "I'll bet that's why you're here to?"
"Mind reader." Sassy smiled coyly. "Shall we go back in?"
"Yes." Angelo smiled squeezing her hand. "We have the better part of the rest of two days to spend together. And I just love what you’re wearing!"
“What?” Sasporilla blushed. “This old Thing?”
The fashions of Everlost city were not quite to the same tastes as Sasporilla Bucket's. Where she had grown up with the standard Eurocentric Western standard fashion, those of Everlost city were more centered around a modern take on traditional and even ancient design. They reminded Sassy of clothing she had seen in books on ancient cultures of Egypt, The Aztec's, Mayans, the great African and North American tribes people. Some long flowing robes. Some thin whispy cool garments. Adornments of gold. So many Bright feathers and bright colours, and so many styles to choose from!
Sadly nothing really suited Sasporilla's modest tastes but she was too polite not to get something? There was one dress. She thought it fit right in with Everlost city, but she thought it a tad to revealing for her liking. A full length purple wrapped skirt which came up to cross the chest in an X and rest around the neck.
Sasporilla saw no harm in trying it on. A quick look in the mirror confirmed her worst fears. It certainly did show off her midriff and highlighted her bosom making her chest seem much more ample.
"Very becoming Ms.Bucket." Elder Corasoll smiled. "A very good choice. That was the height of last years fashions and on sale this year!"
"Well if it's on sale!" Sasporilla laughed. "I'll take it! My late mother would never forgive me! Passing up a bargain!"
Sassy wore it out of the shop. It helped her blend in with the other women in the city. Though she felt a tad exposed, no one seemed to look twice at her. Nor did anyone cast disparaging glances nor judgmental ones? Everlost city was a very free place to be ones self. Down the street from the dress shop was a shop whose window showcased very familiar brooms.
"TRIUMPHANT'S!" Sasporilla gasped. "Here?"
"Triumphant's?" Elder Corasoll asked. "What are those?"
"They're a very popular brand of broom back home." Sasporilla smiled.
"Oh?" Elder Corasoll said suspiciously. "No my dear, these are Erumpant's! Named after the tough beast of the plains. Curious though."
"Can we go in?" Sasporilla asked.
"Oh yes." Elder Corasoll insisted opening the door for the young lady. "After you."
The shop was quite large and filled with brooms and broomer accessories. Everything here was identical to everything back home in any broomer shop from Diagon Alley to Hogsmeade! And every broom, though they might have read ERUMPANT.... were TRIUMPHANT brooms! Sasporilla was sure of it. They even had a 1200x! Just like her old one.
Elder Corasoll rang the bell on the counter for service.
"Yes, yes..." a voice grumbled from the back, "just a minute."
A tall man stepped out of the back with gruff features and salt, pepper mutton chops and long hair wearing a cowboy hat but he was the spitting image of Pious Griffin. The founder of Triumphant Broom's.
"Ah, Corasoll." The man grumbled. "What do ya want?"
"The young lady, our honoured guest," Elder Corasoll smiled, "wished to look around your shop."
"So look!" The older man grumbled. "Why bother me? Busy working, me... see?"
"Actually I have a few questions for you Rageus?" Elder Corasoll smiled. "They concern the death of your poor long lost twin brother Pious and the law we have about trade of goods outside the city?"
Sasporilla couldn't help but feel responsible. What had she started here? What ever it was must defuse it and fast!
"I love your brooms sir!" Sasporilla fawned taking his arm. "The one in the window reminds me very much of one called a Triumphant from my world."
Rageus Griffin stiffened a bit but Sasporilla tightened her grip.
"This one over here reminds of one made by another company called the Firebolt! And this one by another by the Nimbus company line. I think you have industrial spies coming into Everlost city stealing your secrets!"
"Indeed?" Elder Corasoll questioned raising an eyebrow. "Well that's more plausible than the alternative."
"I was wondering if you had a broom with enough room so I can carry a tent or something I can camp in?" Sassy asked knowingly.
"Actually we have severally brooms that may just solve both your transportation and camping needs." Rageus Griffin said. "The Erumpant 1200x is a sturdy broom, it'll keep up with yer worm fer now an' it has a caravan feature."
A caravan feature?" Sasporilla asked innocently.
"You turn the dial by the grip here and you can extend a caravan from the tip which is magically built into the broom." The broom maker smiled proudly.
"Genius!" Sassy smiled.
"Then we also have the Erumpant 1550 X Dragon." Rageus Griffin smiled. "Fastest broom I've ever made! It'll out fly anything on the market! It only comes with a tent feature. The XT has a caravan but is a bit Slower. Still ten times faster than the old twelve hundred though."
"Really?" Sasporilla asked in awe of the 1550xt Dragon. It's black curled body and gun grip handle with gold accouterment and golden dragons head tip were quite appealing. "What about saddle bags?"
"Pair a saddle bags could be thrown in if you were ta buy today, I suppose." Griffin sneered amused. "Need any leathers?"
"Yes I do!" Sassy said looking over at the women’s rack and seeing her very own style. Now she just hoped they had her size.
When Sasporilla came out of the change room carrying her leathers the Rageus Griffin and Elder Corasoll were in a heated but quiet discussion. Their wands were drawn but not pointed at each other. Not yet anyway.
"Boys calm down!" Sasporilla smiled politely. "The cost can't be that high, surely?"
"Perhaps the cost is higher than you know young lady." Elder Corasoll said angrily.
"Get the stick out of yer arse Chuck!"
"That will be Elder Corasoll to you Rageus!" Elder Corasoll snapped.
"An' that'll be Mr.Griffin ta you if ya please Lord Stick in the arse!" Rageus Griffin barked back.
"Enough!" Sasporilla shouted injecting her lit wand between the pair. "Do I have to petrify you two in the corner like a pair of death eaters or are you going to calm down?"
"He..." Rageus started but Sasporilla shot him a look equal to one of her mum's angry glances.
"This is none of your...." Elder Corasoll shut up as Sasporilla raised her eyebrows in an intimidating manner that would have made professor Severus Snape himself proud.
"Now if you gentlemen will both kindly put your wands away," Sasporilla smiled, "I'm sure we can work this out. As I clearly started this mess I will facilitate its resolution. If your smart you'll accept my offer?"
Both men looked at each other and through grit teeth said. "Agreed."
Sasporilla stood them on either side of the counter with her at the open end.
"Elder Corasoll," Sasporilla asked, "please enlighten me to the law behind your concerns."
"The law is clear!" Elder Corasoll said intensely slamming down his fist. "There is to be NO TRADE between Everlost city and the Witch Queen controlled civilizations of AVALON!"
"And nothing in my shop comes from any of the Witch Queen controlled civilizations of Avalon Charleston Corasoll." Rageus Griffin Snarled.
"Liar!" Elder Corasoll accused. "Then explain how this young woman knows your stock? She isn't from Everlost! You must be trading with Avalon!!!"
"Perhaps it's like she suggested." Rageus Griffin sneered. "Industrial spies?"
"Or perhaps there is an easier solution." Sasporilla said trying to defuse the heightening tensions. "I am not from any of the civilizations of Avalon! I am England, on Earth. You Rageus Griffin are trading with Earth."
"Is this true Rageus?" Elder Corasoll gasped.
"Yes." Rageus Griffin grumbled reluctantly. "That's where my brother has been for years after he faked his death and left this place. He's made a fortune selling my broom designs. He supplies me with whatever I need in other gear for sale. When I decide to retire and sell the shop, I have a giant bank account and nice beach house waiting for me. Away from here. Away from you, Chuck."
Elder Corasoll sat gob-smacked. It was a loophole in the law. It made him furious and Sasporilla saw the old mans face getting dangerously red.
"Why not trade with other civilizations of Avalon Elder Corasoll?" Sasporilla asked.
"Only those under the control of the evil Witch Queen." Elder Corasoll said. "We want know part of her nor anything she taints. Those places the Witch Queen controls have a way of spreading to the places she does not. To stay out of her sight all these years has served us well."
"And since nothing here comes from a place she controls..." Rageus Griffin smirked.
"There is where you are wrong sir." Sasporilla sighed. "You have beaten the law in that you are not Trading with a civilization of Avalon, but England's Ministry of Magic and Britain is under the Witch Queen's control. I'm sure that is something your twin brother failed to inform you of."
"Yes... he... did." Rageus Griffin grumbled.
"I've got you!" Elder Corasoll smiled.
"No you haven't." Sasporilla said. "The law is clear. You have nothing Elder Corasoll, but a closed minded antiquated system that I am sure this gentleman is not the only one to have skirted?"
"Ridiculous!" Elder Corasoll scoffed.
"Is it!" Rageus Griffin asked. "Do you think anyone in this town makes flying leathers like these? No! Why? They're meant for traveling! Travelling away from here! Not flying a broom around the city!"
"There is no reason local people can't make it for you." Elder Corasoll said.
"I've had these in the shop for years." Rageus Griffin said. "I dust them and return most of them for newer ones. Very few sell. No one here will make them. They'd never make money!"
"So that's one example." Elder Corasoll sniffed in derision. "Any other outside goods I'd recognize in a heartbeat."
"I didn’t think you would sir." Sasporilla said.
"Excuse me?" Elder Corasoll said quite offended.
"No offence meant sir but earlier," Sasporilla reminded him, "You and I walked past a music shop a street below. There was a song playing. "Can you dance like a Hippogriff?"
"Yes." Elder Corasoll smiled. "A very big song here, by some local boys. They call themselves.. "
"The Weird Sisters?" Sasporilla smiled.
"No." Elder Corasoll went pale white.
"I'm afraid so." Sassy said sympathetically. "The man who was with Agnes, Myron Wagtail is the actual singer of that song."
"Looks like you don't have quite as much control as you think you do Chuck!" Rageus Griffin smiled.
"Maybe it's time we updated the law." Elder Corasoll stiffened.
"Or maybe," Sasporilla said holding up her hands, "you can let me get to Avalon city, face the Witch Queen and finish my trials. When I'm done with her, she will no longer be a shadow on our worlds."
"And if you fail?" Rageus Griffin chuckled.
"Then Chuck changes the law and you probably run away and retire." Sasporilla said.
"Ms.Bucket do you seriously ask that we have faith in you to beat the Witch Queen?" Elder Corasoll asked.
"No." Sasporilla said. "I ask you have faith in Agnes who has faith in me to change things
To make life better for everyone like am doing gor the worker elves. What I'm asking you to do is Wait for me to get to Avalon City before you act and bet on me to beat the Witch Queen! If I fail, I die. No one wins."
There was silence between the two men.
"Now if I could get these leathers," Sasporilla smiled, "an Erumpant 1550XT and a pair of saddle bags I'll be out of your hair."
"Ah yeah of course." Rageus Griffin said rather humbled by the bravery of the young woman. He pulled the solid black broom with it's curly black body down from the wall. "Ok take the seat. It needs to imprint onto you. Security feature so no one can steal it."
"Between you and me," Sassy asked as she mounted the broom and felt the seat pinch her bottom, "What's the spell you use for that?"
"I can't tell you that!" Rageus Griffin said. "That's an industrial secret!"
"No problem." Sassy said stepping off the broom. "Just didn't want to have to point out that Live wire in the back is Avalon Technology."
"Vestigium Securitas" Rageus Griffin grumbled.
"Thank you." Sasporilla smiled.
**************************
The once Majestic throne room, where the Witch Queen and Warlock King sat in Ivory and golden royal opulence, had now been taken over by a darker esthetic. Cracked rotting tree branches spread across the room weaving a dense cave to entomb and enshrine the royal thrones in dark royal splendor. Baba Yaga sat upon her throne of thorns and moss as the corpse of the Warlock King sat rotting beside her.
The remaining members of the royal council responded to Baba Yaga's summons. They appeared in the throne room in their true forms. Free now to appear as the creatures of darkness they all truly are. Marie LaVaeux the great Swamp Witch. Sheliza Amari the Wedjat, the ancient undead creature of the shifting sands. Gormlobom the Hobgoblin who never hid his small evil ugly little self. Then there was... Millicent Glindell. The young, innocent and kind hard working young woman stood shaking in her robes terrified.
"What's wrong my dear?" Baba Yaga asked.
"Wha- wha- what is this?" Millicent Glindell asked starting to cry. "What's happened here? Where is my Queen? What have you done to my Warlock King?"
Millicent Glindell drew her wand but was grabbed on either side by Amari and LaVeau.
"I am your Witch Queen." Baba Yaga hissed. "As for the Warlock King? He's just a little under the weather today. Feeling a touch, "maggoty"."
The creatures laughed as Millicent Glindell struggled to break free. She was slight and small but she squirmed her way out of LaVeau 's grip. Stomped on Amari's foot, breaking her grip. Millicent Glindell pointed her wand at Baba Yaga and froze.
"What are you going to do my dear?" Baba Yaga asked slowly getting off her throne of moss and thrones. "Kill me? I don't think you have it in you! in fact I feel it's time for to learn a few new things. Time for a... make over... as it were."
Millicent Glindell had not noticed the fine branches and vines which had begun to climb her legs until they were half way up her abdomen. By then it was to late. The young woman cast two spells at the plants that quickly enveloped her and forced her to drop her wand.
"Now, now, Millicent." Baba Yaga smiled. "Don't fight it. This will be good for you. You've always been a subservient little stick. Now..."
The branches receded revealing Millicent Glindell in her new twisted form of wood and flesh. Another of the Witch Queens wood Zombies snapping with her jerky painful motions.
"... I will grant you your greatest wish my dear. You may tend to the Warlock King." Baba Yaga laughed. "The rest of you, come! We must organize traps for where you will hunt and kill Sasporilla Bucket."
"What if we can not beat her?" Gormlobom asked.
"If you don't kill her," the Witch Queen said, "then she had better kill you. If she does not? I will!"
*********************
The bridge across Everlost city, between the two old temples, spanned the full width of Blues girth. It was hard to grasp just how large the city was until Sasporilla reached the bridges center. To see the Everlost spread out before her. The temples on either side their step streets lined with shops and homes. The main road, with blue in its center, and the sprawl of homes that stretched out from it. There was no question that Everlost was as big as Essex was. Not as big as London or New York or a major city but any one good section or borough of it!
"You truly have built a remarkable city here Elder Corasoll." Sasporilla smiled.
"Thank you." Elder Corasoll sighed. "Perhaps you can try an understand why I am so protective of it?"
"Oh I do understand!" Sassy said sympathetically. "Perhaps you can try to understand the plants growth?"
"What?" Elder Corasoll asked.
"If you plant an acorn in a small pot, no matter how much you water it, tend to it, or talk to it Elder Corasoll, it will never grow to become an Oak tree." Sasporilla said. "It might sprout and become a fine small plant, but it will never reach it's full potential. Do you understand?"
"I do but a city is not an acorn nor an oak tree," Elder Corasoll smiled self assured, "it's a city after all."
"Yes." Sasporilla agreed. "Alive, as a growing acorn. Do you not think for a second that acorn doesn't know what it's meant to become. Yearns to be a mighty oak. Won't burst the bonds of its small pot by cracking its earthenware sides and spreading its roots as far as it can deep into near by soil? Even if doing so is to it's detriment! Even uf it only finds stone floor and dies? Your little acorn is starting to break out of it's pot! My question to you is this are you going to replant your tree and let it grow tall and mighty? Or let it stagnate and die Elder Corasoll? At this point I'd say the choice is in your hands."
"You are very wise for your age Sasporilla Bucket." Elder Corasoll sighed. "I have much to consider and to bring before the council after the festival of the beast is over. You have done our city a great service. The name of Bucket will be one of honour in this city from this day forward."
"Oh?" An old woman said walking slowly up at them on the bridge accompanied by a younger woman. "It shouldn't be. It's not like she is a REAL Bucket!"
"Excuse me?" Sasporilla asked more than a little confused and offended.
"Mrs.Wunk please remember this young lady is an esteemed guest in our city!" Elder Corasoll smiled at the old woman nervously.
"No!" The old woman asked. "The council may call her that and the sea of unwashed masses below may believe it BUT I KNOW BETTER, don’t I? I am Mrs.Meticulous Wunk. I am your grand aunt. My mother’s brother was Circumstance Bucket, sister of your great grand father. Or rather the man married to the woman whom your great grandmother cheated on with a.... house elf."
"I see." Sasporilla said.
"Do you?" Meticulous Wunk asked. "My mother told me how her brother stood by and turned a blind eye while his whore wife gave birth to the bastard child. Buggy eyes, sharp nose, long face, just like the house elf! What a scandal! We had to move all the way here to get away from it!!! Your side of the family are imposters! House elves! Servants who have stolen my families good name!"
"I am sorry you feel that way Aunt Meticulous." Sasporilla said stepping forward and hugging the bitter old woman despite her hateful nature. "But know that I am so happy to meet you and if my being alive insults you then I apologize, I had little say in that."
"Don't be cheeky girl!" Meticulous Wunk said pulling away. "I only wanted to bring my opinions to your attentions, as you intend to be Witch Queen."
"And being Queen of the dirty Worker Elves?" Sasporilla asked.
"Yes." The old woman agreed. "You are the highest of those below us."
"Auntie may I ask who this is with you?" Sasporilla asked.
"This is my Grand Daughter Emily." The old lady sniffed. "She's a bit of s useless thing but I'm sure some man will take her some day, if she's lucky."
"I'm pleased to meet you Emily." Sasporilla smiled meeting the beaten down girls lowered gaze. "You know your grandmother is a horrid bitter shrew and you'll have to stand up to her if you ever want your own life?"
"I beg your pard..." Meticulous Wunk gasped.
"Oh shut it!" Sasporilla said stepping forward putting her finger in the old woman’s face. "I tried being polite and diplomatic but as you're a passive aggressive old gas bag I'll make myself clear! No one is lesser than anyone! Not Magi, not elf, not muggle! If you can't learn to treat others like you want to be treated then perhaps you should just sit at home and look in a mirror all day. Clearly you only love yourself. I think you'll find the world is a much brighter place if you let some light into it. Until then there is no place for your kind of darkness and bile!"
The old woman stood there shaking with anger. How dare this young woman, an elf--breed-Bucket, speak to her that way? "The arrogance! The insolence!" Mrs.Meticulous Wunk. Hissed.
"Shut up Grand mother!" Emily snapped turning her grandmother’s face stone cold.
"How dare you?" The old woman started.
"No grandmother," Emily cut her grandmother off, “how dare you? You bring us all the way out here today to insult a stranger! Why? For some imagined eighty year old family slight that neither you nor her had anything to do with. Does that not seem just a touch mad to you? Well it does to me! And she's right! I am tired of your constant hateful bile! Especially towards me! Ms.Bucket please accept my humble apologies on behalf of my family. Grandmother I'm taking you home and you'd best prepare for things to change. Our relationship will be taking on a bit of a different dynamic after today. If you have nothing nice to say to me, don't talk to me at all, unless you need something. Your constant browbeating and abuse of me stops now. Now let me get you home."
"Stupid Girl," The old woman said at Sasporilla, "See what you've done!"
"Lost you a slave and given you back a granddaughter?" Sassy smiled. "You're welcome Mrs.Wunk."
Elder Corasoll and Sasporilla watched the two of them walk off into the city. Emily seemed to be laying down new ground rules that her grandmother was not happy to hear about nor eager to listen to.
"Mrs.Wunk is the wife of one of our late high council members!" Elder Corasoll said.
"Is she?" Sasporilla mused.
"She has always been highly opinionated and considered herself above the rest." Elder Corasoll said.
"You don't say?" Sassy smiled.
"And NO ONE, not even me, has ever stood up to her as you did today!" Elder Corasoll laughed.
"Well then you are welcome." Sasporilla smiled, "but in many ways people like that are monsters of your own making... if you don't stand up to them yourself!"
"Sometimes an outsider is afforded more freedoms to do as they please." Elder Corasoll smiled.
"That's so true!" Sasporilla agreed. "We all choose the chains in which we live in. Why are yours made from bits of bitter shrew?"
"You have a way with words that would that would make most politicians rethink policy, poets rephrase themselves and sailors blush Ms.Bucket." Elder Corasoll laughed holding out his arm to proudly escort the young witch the rest of the way.
"I have learned from some of the best." Sasporilla smiled.
In no time they were across the bridge and down a few levels to Finleey Fine Machines. A small unassuming grey door on a windowless shop front with a simple wooden sign. Sasporilla opened the door and ducked her head to enter. She was no giant like Hagrid, only stand five foot six and three-quarters but she felt like one walking through this small five and a half-foot door.
A small gnome stood in the show room with a young man dressed in robes with his hood up.
"I will be with you in just a moment." The gnome said. "The shelves require constant restocking by busy hands but they can be shuffled around and reorganized at will to showcase any product!"
"I might be able to trade you some tech secrets for replacing busy hands for automation for shelves in some shops sometime in the future?" The wizard said.
"We may have a deal?" Finleey the gnome smiled and held out his hand to the wizard who dropped his hood to reveal that was Angelo Lazarus.
"Angelo!" Sasporilla cried lunging forward embracing him.
Angelo took Sasporilla deeply into his embrace and kissed her, unwilling to ever let her go again.
"I was terrified you were dead." Angelo said. "And I could kill you for not telling me you were alive! I had to find out from Myron and Agnes."
"Please don't be angry with me." Sasporilla pleaded. "This is really the first stop of civilization we've made."
"At least I've found you and we're together." Angelo said. "I would say I will never let you go but Agnes explained you're not leaving big blue out there."
"That's right." Sassy said. "I've made a promise to protect him."
"Then I'm not leaving your side as long as you'll have me, Sasporilla Bucket." Angelo Lazarus said staring into her violet eyes.
Sassy kissed Angelo and took his hand in hers.
"I'm here for at least two more days." Sasporilla smiled. "I won't leave your side."
"No Sassy." Angelo said pulling her outside. "I don't think you understand me."
Sasporilla's heart skipped a beat when Angelo dropped down onto one knee in front of her. He reached into his robes and brought out a small box.
"Sasporilla I saw myself doing this sometime in the future." Angelo said. "Once I was in a position when I was mor financially stable and responsible, but after I thought I'd lost you?"
"I understand Angelo, and I do love you." Sasporilla said cupping his hands not allowing him to open the ring box. "But we're to young, and we're not ready. We are in love yes! I love you with all my heart!"
"And I love you so much Sasporilla." Angelo said. "I can't imagine the rest of my life without you?"
"Then hang on to this ring Angelo Lazarus." Sasporilla Bucket smiled. "I'm not saying no. I'm just saying not yet. Now what did you mean in there about trading tech for future shops?"
"Your wand shop of course!" Angelo smiled. "I'll bet that's why you're here to?"
"Mind reader." Sassy smiled coyly. "Shall we go back in?"
"Yes." Angelo smiled squeezing her hand. "We have the better part of the rest of two days to spend together. And I just love what you’re wearing!"
“What?” Sasporilla blushed. “This old Thing?”
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/ )