[Random Event[New NPC shifts Narrative[Heal, Create]
“Hi, Welcome to Madd Maggie's Magical Bakery, I’m Lily. How can I help you?”
The woman walked sharply into the shop with a noticeable limp. Taking in all the varieties of breads, cakes, pies, tarts and in the glass case cookies, seemingly endless varieties of cookies. It all smelled delicious, especially the bread, especially that rye sourdough hybrid.
“I’d like to speak to the owner please.”
“I’m sorry the owner is away, perhaps I could help you.”
“Do you know when she’ll be back?”
“Well she’s been gone a few years.”
“Then who does your magical bakes?”
“I do, I’m the manager, Lily by the way.”
“Yes, I’m sorry Lily, my name is Dr Charlotte Li, please call me Lottie.”
“Well, Lottie, what kind of magical bake are you looking for?”
“ I want a magical antibiotic, I have a patient that will most likely die without it.”
“I don’t have any healing bakes at all, have you tried the Alchemist?”
“Yes I went there first, she said to try here.”
“I see, I’ve never been able to bake any type of healing item.”
“Have you ever tried using Stormgrain Flour or Crystal Rye?”
“No, I haven't, what makes you think either of those have any healing magic?”
“On Earth, antibiotics were discovered by accident, mold in a petri dish. But the easiest way to get mold here would be bread”
“Well that may be the problem why I can’t make any magical healing bakes, the bakery has a magical field. Nothing ever rots or goes bad here, even mundane bakes. Take a look at those loaves of white bread, they’re over a year old. Ever since I started offering a sour dough loaf, people have preferred it over the white. But you won't find a speck of mold on any loaf in the bin, or anywhere in the store. I can give you portal muffins, summon the little blue demon, and create a portal to wherever you’d like to go. Go to Earth, get this antibiotic and use another muffin to return.”
“No, I’ve tried every known Earth antibiotic, all proved ineffective. You were my last hope. Wait, have you ever baked a magical bake outside of the bakery?”
“No, unfortunately I have no magic of my own. I gather the magical ingredients, then mix the ingredients, then the bakery does the actual baking.”
“Would you be willing to try? We could build an open air oven outside of the bakery, or we could ask another bakery to lend us an oven. I’ll pay you whatever you want. My son's life is on the line. I brought him here because even the air here is magical and pollution free to boot. He was better instantly and I’d hoped that he’d been cured. But he wasn’t cured, the cleaner air just made him feel better. The disease itself continued to advance. Please, you may well be his last hope.”
I’d really like to help this woman, she is gorgeous with that long straight black hair and those almond shaped eyes. It’d be worth doing just to spend time with her. But I’ve never done a magical thing in my life. That’s why I thought I'd never be a good fit for the bakery. But with the bakery it adds all the magic that’s needed. I don’t want to lead her on thinking we can make a cure, when I am almost positive it’ll fail.
“First I want to say, having zero magical abilities makes me almost certain this will fail. But I will try. You don’t have to pay me. But first we need someone to build the oven because I have no idea how to do that.”
“Sorry to interrupt. You just need bricks and mortar, I’ll bet Lu and I could throw one together pretty fast, Lily. As long as you have a source for bricks. I wasn’t eavesdropping, Salome and I just got back from gathering. She is starting on the first bakes, portal muffins. I believe.”
“Thanks Paula, that’d be helpful. There is a brick maker over by the Hole in the Wall tavern, just turn right at the tavern and it's half a block down on the right. Why don’t you go check that they have what you need. Tell them to bill the bakery and have it delivered as fast as possible. Pay them a premium for fast delivery if necessary, OK?”
“Sure Lily, I’m on it.”
“Thanks Paula. OK Lottie, looks like we’re going to give this a try. Can I get you any baked goods? Today’s our anniversary sale, everything is free. How about a cake for Ryan?”
“I’ve heard about your store Lily, giving away its food to those that can’t afford it. Well I want you to know that I can afford to pay for our food. I’ll take a cake and pay for it.”
“What you may not have heard is that we don’t charge our friends for baked goods. We don’t pay for the ingredients so we don’t charge. I hope we can become friends and I’d like to ask a favor in exchange. What do you say?”
“I’d love to be your friend Lily, and any favor you want within my power to do, I’ll happily do for you.”
“Great, we just need to take a walk and I’ll explain on the way. Just let me tell Salome, I’m leaving.”
“Salome, honey I’m just going out for an hour or so. The bakery will take care of itself, you just focus on your bakes. OK?”
“Sure Lily. See you later.”
“OK, Lottie, I’m all set. Here we’ll use a portal muffin. It's faster and I can teach you how to use it. Here take this muffin and repeat after me. Portal Demon I summon you. When the blue demon appears, hand him the muffin and say the tower and one minute.”
“OK. I’ll try. Portal demon I summon you.” A cute blue demon about twenty five inches long floated in the air. She handed him the muffin and he popped it into his mouth. “The Tower for one minute.” The glowing portal appeared, I grabbed Lottie's hand and we stepped through the portal, to Rose's home.
“It’s like Dr Who.”
“I don’t know who that is Lottie.”
“Dr Who it’s a TV show where I come from. His ship was bigger on the inside than the outside.”
“Oh, now that you say that, I think Rose told me about that. The guy who built the tower apparently liked the idea so well, he just copied it. The girl I want you to check on is upstairs on the third level. The vet that examined her said she had the flu and was malnourished so we’ve been following his instructions and she is much better. But it’d be a comfort if a real doctor examined her, just to make sure the vet is right.”
“She’s being treated by a vet. Oh my god why?”
“Rose and the girl's sister didn’t know who to turn to. The girl was burning up with fever. Rose contacted her friend Juliet and asked who her village uses when they are sick and Juliet recommended the vet. She said he treats the entire village. As soon as he saw the girl he immediately put her in a tub of ice water, and had Rose go somewhere for aspirin. Last time he was here he said she’s still very much underweight but on the mend and they could stop the aspirin.”
“Well to be honest, that’s exactly what I would have done for a dangerously high fever, so it really sounds like your vet knows what he’s doing.”
“Well he’s the only doctor for around five hundred people and gods know how many animals. This is her and her sister's room. Opal, it’s Lily and I brought a friend, can we come in.”
“Sure Lily, come on in.”
Opal was tucked into bed, her long rainbow colored hair, shined in the sunlight, revealing her beauty and fey bloodline. She was watching a movie and looked perfectly healthy.
“Opal this is Dr Li, she’s a doctor from Earth…”
“Is that the Wizard of Oz?”
“Yes Dr. Li, Doug say hello to the Doctor and pause the movie please.”
“Hello Dr Li. What med school did you go to?”
“Lily, did the magical tv just ask for my credentials?”
“Look doc, I ain't no television set. I’m the librarian and you aren’t touching my girl there until I hear, med school and residency.”
“Harvard Medical School and I served my residency at the Mayo Clinic as if you’ve heard of either.”
“Harvard Medical School established in 1782 it’s one of the oldest programs in the country and Mayo Clinic highest rated hospital in the United States. Impressive, how do I know you didn’t just make up an impressive resume? What’s Lambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome.”
“LEMS is an autoimmune disorder. Muscle weakness is usually associated with cancer. Should I go on?”
“No, you’re the real deal and arrogant enough to be a surgeon.”
“Doug, that’s enough, I asked Dr Li to come over here to make sure Opal was doing OK. I’m telling Rose you were rude to a guest. I believe you have a deal with her. Something to do with freeing your girlfriend from the library.”
“Look I’m sorry Lily she started it calling me a TV, that’d be like calling you an easy bake oven.”
“Doug, I don’t know what an easy bake oven even is and furthermore I don’t want to. Now let the doctor examine Opal without any further commentary.”
“Yes, Lily, but just so you know an easy bake oven is a toy oven kids play with.”
“Enough Doug.”
“Lily, Doug, why don’t you leave and let Opal have a little privacy while I do the exam.”
“Doug, shrink, just call us when you’re done, we’ll be down the hall in the library.”
We got to the library before Doug started again.
“Look Lily, I’m sorry if I insulted your friend. But she really started it and I was just looking out for the kid. Alright?”
“Alright Doug, hi Daisy, how are you today?”
“She said," Fine, Lily how are you?”
“Well your boyfriend was giving me a hard time, but otherwise fine thanks.”
“Daisy says, she’ll teach me a lesson.”
“No Daisy please, I hate it when you don’t talk to me.”
“Lily you can come back in”
“Take me Lily I promise I won’t say a word.”
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
“Alright but one word it’s back to the library and I’ll ask Daisy to not talk to you for a week. As soon as we get in there apologize to Dr. Li.”
We went back into Opal’s room and Opal seemed as chipper as ever.
“Dr Li, I apologize for what I said.”
“It’s OK Doug, you thought you were looking out for Lily and that I understand completely. If someone I didn’t know came into my home to examine my son, I’d ask the same questions you did. Now let me ask you a question. Are you really ‘Zenodotus of Ephesus’?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Well it’s quite an honor to meet you. I have good news for you both her lungs sound good, so I’d say another day in bed. Then some light exercise walking, no running around. But you’re still very thin, so eat as many high calorie treats as you can manage and five helpings of vegetables every day. OK.”
“Thanks Dr Li, can I watch the rest of the Wizard of Oz now?”
“Yes of course dear. Do you want anything before we go?”
“Yes please, could I have a bowl of popcorn with butter and M&Ms”
“Certainly.”
I walked over to the side board. Said, “Bowl of Popcorn covered with butter and M&Ms.”
I handed the delicious snack to Opal.
“Thank you Lily, Dr Li.”
“Bye dear.”
“Did you want to take a portal muffin back or would you prefer to walk?”
“I think I have to walk, was it magic that provided the popcorn?”
“Oh yes, would you like something to eat?”
“No thanks, this tower is a lot to take in.”
“You’ve only scratched the surface. Let’s get back to the bakery and see how Paula made out.”
Dogberry waved us on in. It sure was nice being friends with Rose. We got back to the bakery ten or fifteen minutes later.
“Welcome … Hi Lily.”
“Hi Salome, this is Dr. Li and Lottie this is Salome, my right hand and the head apprentice.”
“Hi Dr Li.”
“Call me Lottie, it’s nice to meet you Salome.”
“Nice to meet you Lottie, Paula and Lu are out back working on your oven. What's wrong with the bakery ovens?”
“Well Salome, they work too well, preventing rot. Apparently this medicine we’re trying to make needs to grow mold, So I’m going to try baking magical bakes outside in a real oven then wait until it grows mold and see if it works.”
“That’s cool.”
“You’ve been watching movies with Opal again?”
“Busted.”
“Lottie, you see what I’m up against, I have to learn a whole new language, just to understand what these girls are talking about. And Doug’s only been playing movies for a few weeks. A year from now, I won’t understand a word, it’ll be like their speaking Connacht. Let’s go see how Paula and Lu are coming along.”
We went out the back door, Lu was stirring this gray sludge that had the consistency of wet cookie dough. While Paula was placing bricks into a rectangular hole she’d obviously made just for the purpose. I introduced everybody.
“Wow, Paula, they delivered really fast.”
“Yeah they did and they didn’t charge a premium either. Last year they had a fire and they got free bread here the whole time. He said he was just recovering so he couldn’t do it for free instead he did at cost. We got all this for less than ten gold. Who knew it pays to be nice to people.”
“I think I remember them they’re a lovely family. Thank you Lu for helping with this, aren’t you missing work?”
“Yeah, Paula said it was for a sick child, so how could I not help out.”
“Speaking of a sick child I asked Lottie to check on Opal.”
“Is she OK?”
“Yes she doing fine. You tell her Lottie.”
“Yes Lu, I’m concerned with her low weight but Lily was saying she’s much heavier then when she arrived. But the flu, if that's what she had, is gone and she should be able to do some light exercise starting tomorrow.”
“That’s great, that's exactly what Dr Denton said this morning.”
“Can we help build the oven?”
“No thanks Lily, too many cooks you know, we just be getting in each other's way. Are you doing flat bread or loaves? A flat bread oven will be faster to build because it doesn’t require a dome. The Dome will take a while to dry, that’s why it’d take longer. Do you have all the ingredients you need, you could gather while we finish the oven?”
“Lottie does it matter if it’s a flat bread like pizza without the toppings”
“No it shouldn’t matter at all.”
“Great Paula let’s go with the flat, if we change our minds and want loafs could this oven be modified or would we need to start from scratch?”
“I think it’d probably be easy to modify.”
“Terrific, then it makes the most sense to go flat and I’ll go start gathering. We have crystal rye so I know what that looks like but I have to look up Stormgrain to identify the plant. I need to know what it looks like. I just hope Maggie has it in her journal. You might as well go home Lottie, come back tomorrow morning and we’ll let you know how it’s coming along.”
“I’d rather go gathering with you if that’s violating any trade secrets. I want to do something to help.”
“OK, sure but I need to look in the journal first. Lu, Paula, can I get you anything to eat or drink?”
“No thanks Lily, you just gather the ingredients you need leave the oven to us. Divide and conquer.”
“Is that spy lingo?”
Paula laughed. “No, just some saying that stuck in my head over the years. We didn’t need saying when I was a spy, we weren’t supposed to talk.”
Lottie and I went back into the kitchen so I could look up Stormgrain.
Lottie whispered. “Is that ‘the’ Paula Becker, the spy that saved the United States democracy from that lunatic Trump.”
“Yep, that’s her pretty impressive hm, we read her book in book club and then met the author. Then Rose needed a thief to steal a bone from some museum in Mexico and hired Paula to do it.”
“What book, there can’t be a book, it just happened a month or so ago.”
“We read the book, four or five months ago, it’s written by Paula Talbert, she’s in our book club. Paula Becker is her character, she’s fictional.”
“She can’t be fictional, she’s standing in your back yard.”
“Lottie, you don’t look too well, you better sit down on that stool. I’ll get you some tea.”
“If Paula Becker is fictional, and I come from her world, then am I fictional?”
“I really have no idea, but don’t worry about it, we can ask Rose, or Paula. Just relax, it doesn't really matter, you are still the you, you were an hour ago.”
“Oh, my god, am I dead? Is that how I got here?”
“Lottie, LOOK AT ME, you are not dead. You are as alive as anyone. Drink this tea. Dead people do not drink tea.”
She gulped down the steaming tea, but she was still ash white.
“Paula, please come in here. Quick”
“What is it, Lily, is anything the matter?”
“Yes we were talking about you and I mentioned we’d read your book, and Lottie thinks she’s from the same world.”
“Lottie, Lottie it’s all right. I have a hard time dealing with it too. But you are all right, you're not crazy.”
“Paula. She thought she was dead, when she says in the hospital, I think she means as a patient. I think she had some kind of accident.”
“OK, Lily, why don’t you go give Lu a hand and leave me and Lottie to talk, alright.”
***
“Lottie, you have to talk to me, you’re scaring me. I don’t want you to go into shock. I know just how scared you are. The exact same feeling. I was sitting on a beach in Blackpool, when they walked up, my life spun around. I honestly don’t remember if they told me while I sat there on the beach or later when they were buying me drinks. Come on Lottie, please say something. LOTTIE you have a son RYAN who you have to take care of. Your a mother, you can’t just fall apart. LOTTIE”
“I’m sorry, I’m just feeling strange again, when that old homeless woman was babbling nonsense, safe away from the monster.”
“What monster, Lottie?”
“My ex-husband, he beat me, but told the hospital I’d fallen down the stairs, smacked my head and was talking nonsense. They believed him he is a captain in the Boston Police. He had my son, and was going to take him and disappear. Then I passed out. When I woke up my son was chatting with the homeless woman in the hospital. She said don’t worry as soon as you can get out of bed, I’ll get you out of here. Every time I woke up she would be sitting there smiling. The last time I woke up in the hospital, this woman said, Next time you wake up you'll be in a new world, a house that you own, with plenty of food and money. You have nothing to worry about. I’d forgotten that. Only this morning I believed I’d come to Wyldwood willingly for the fresh air to improve Ryan’s health. That woman, she did this. Do I even have a son? If I do, he's fictional.”
“Here, have a little more tea, your color has come back a little. Then we’ll walk to your house and check on your son.”
“Are all the people of this town fictional?”
“No Lottie, as far as I know just me, Salome and McCracken is here visiting. If you want to go back, that’s easily done. I can jump you or we can use a portal muffin both work. You’re not trapped here. I promise. I can jump you to the Hancock Tower observation deck, if you’d like to see Boston.”
“But you’re so calm about all this.”
I’m not calm about this at all, I was just freaking out to McCracken about this yesterday. But today I need to talk Lottie off that ledge her sanity is balanced on. It won’t help either of you to admit you’re scared as hell to be fictional.
“Honestly I wasn’t calm at all when I first found out. Plus I have a very supportive group of friends. They have all been trying very hard to convince me that being fictional is no big deal. My girlfriend even said it’s an advantage.”
“You have a girlfriend?”
“Yes I do, she’s a real person, part fey, and the town librarian. I have very strong feelings for her. These are all things I decided for myself. No one wrote, you’ll fall for the hot fey librarian.”
“So you’re in love with the hot fey librarian?”
“Well, I’m definitely in lust, and probably walking down the path towards love. But this is about you, you’re not alone. I’ll help you get on your feet, you decide what you want, if you want to leave here, I’ll take you and your son anywhere you want to be. When I came to this world, it just felt like home. Which is ironic as how different it is here from where I grew up. Do you want some more tea?”
“No, I'm afraid that I’ll float away if I drink anymore. So you came here willingly?”
“Yes, I did. Because I didn’t believe what Paula Talbert and Rose told me. I thought it was some scam or trick. So I told Rose I’d do it for ten million dollars. A few seconds later my phone chimed, ten million dollars had been deposited. Did you want to ask me anything else or would you like me to walk you home so you can see your son.”
“Can you really jump me to the Hannock Tower, just like that portal muffin I used earlier with Lily? It’s not that I don’t believe you, it’s just see in person will make all this more real.”
“It’s no problem, just hold my hand and here we go.”
Gasps, shouts of where did they come from. A security guard headed our way.
“Have you seen enough?”
“More than enough.”
Then we were back in the kitchen, Madd Maggies kitchen. I had a suspicion but today was not the day to voice it. Soon but not today.
“Shall I walk you home?”
“Can’t you just jump me home?”
“No, I can only jump into fictional worlds, this believe it or not is the real world. We could jump with a portal muffin if you don’t feel like walking.”
“No, I feel like walking and I just want to thank you and Lily for being so supportive. That’s just the way Lily is, she’d be a therapist in our world and I know exactly how you feel. But I’ll introduce you to everyone. Don’t make any hasty decisions, you may grow to love it here. You might even find your very own hot librarian.”
Then I walked her home. Surprisingly after helping her through her crisis, mine weighed a little less on me. I’ve heard the best way to heal is to help someone else, maybe this is the start of healing for me.
