07: Ritual Quest

Branches Of Sunshire

Chapter 7 - Tickle Ritual

Shrouded amongst the woods, behind the mansion, Ashley shifted in their bonds as they were tied up to a tree. The gentle flow of the river filled the air around them, and the crackling of the bonfire illuminated the darkness of the night, filling them with warmth. They scrunched their toes between the leaves under the soles of their feet.

Madelyn, Abigail, and Juniper circled them, chanting in their robes, except for Madelyn, who was dressed up in a pirate costume. She wore a pirate captain hat with a big golden feather and an ivory-white dress with a golden corset around her waist, with knee-high boots.

Madelyn: “YARGH! Get your booty ready for our treasure quest!”

She exclaimed, pulling out her feathered sword and pointing it at Ashley. Ashley giggled.

Ashley: “Oh my stars, your pirate costume is SO cute!”

They chirped.

Madelyn: “Why, thank you!”

She waved her feather sword. Abigail rolled her eyes.

Abigail: “This is a sacred ritual, not a costume party!”

She huffed.

Juniper: “Why can’t it be both?”

She smiled.

Makayla interjected from the darkness behind them. She was bound to another tree, away from the bonfire and circle.

Makayla: “Let Ashley GO, you creeps!”

She protested. Lazaros’ gloved hand shoved a muffin into her mouth.

Lazaros: “Be quiet and stay out of this!”

He hissed at her. Makayla glared at him.

Abigail: “Thank you, Lazaros, for keeping the vermin away.”

She smirked and chuckled.

Ashley: “Wait… are you the bad guys?!”

They knit their eyebrows at Makayla, restrained in her bonds. Abigail placed her hand over her mouth and chortled like a cartoon villain.

Abigail: “Oh ho ho ho ho!”

Her cackles echoed through the trees.

Abigail: “That is a matter of your perception.”

She hummed.

Madelyn: “No! Makayla is the bad guy!”

She huffed at Makayla.

Ashley: “Then why is she tied up? And why am I tied up?”

They exclaimed.

Lazaros: “It’s for your own good.”

He glared at Makayla. Madelyn nodded.

Abigail: “Yes… for your own good.”

She smirked at Ashley, pulling out her black, feathered wand and stroking the raven feather across Ashley’s chest.

Ashley: “HehehehHAHAHEHEHEHEHE!”

They squirmed and stammered with laughter.

Abigail: “Let us begin our ritual.”

She declared and stood at the altar table. It depicted a circle diagram split into four parts with a coloured candle in each corner. Abigail picked up the blue candle placed in the west corner with a carved illustration of water and cold flakes of winter. Madelyn picked up the green candle that was placed in the North corner with a carved illustration of spring flowers and air. Juniper picked up the orange candle that was placed in the east corner with the carved illustration of autumn leaves and earth.

The last to remain was the golden-yellow candle sitting in the South corner with a carved illustration of the sun and fire.

Abigail: “Honor us with your fire.”

She swung her violet eyes to Ashley. Ashley’s eyes widened.

Ashley: “M-Me?”

They gasped, and their expression shifted.

Ashley: “B-But I don’t have any fire!”

They bowed their head.

Abigail: “Are you sure about that?”

She stroked her fingertips across their Sunshire tattoo on their thumb. Ashley shivered. Juniper stroked her foot across Ashley’s foot.

Juniper: “It’s buried deep in there like the core of the earth.”

She hummed and closed her eyes.

Madelyn: “Then we will just have to dig it out!”

She exclaimed.

Ashley: “How do we do that?”

They tilted their head.

Juniper: “With a shovel!”

She smiled, holding up a fork.

Lazaros sauntered over to Ashley, pulling out a golden, jewel-encrusted Zippo lighter from his pocket.

Lazaros: “Here you go!”

He smiled at Ashley, lighting the yellow-gold candle for them.

Ashley: “T-Thank you!”

They redenned and smiled. The three women gaped at Lazaros.

Abigail: “NO! NO! NO! What are you doing?! Ashley has to light the candle with their fire!”

She screeched and snatched the candle, blowing out the flame.

Lazaros: “Alright, here you go, Ashley.”

He handed Ashley his lighter to light the candle.

Ashley: “Thanks, Lazaros.”

They beamed and lit the candle with Lazaros’ lighter. Abigail drew a long breath.

Abigail: “It must be MAJIQUE!”

She huffed. Ashley tilted their head.

Ashley: “Oh! Maybe if I try eating your food again, my majique will come back?”

They nodded to Lazaros.

Abigail: “What?!

She twisted her mouth. Lazaros smiled tightly.

Lazaros: “What a fantastic idea!”

He nodded and returned to the table by the tree with Makayla to bring them his dishes. Makayla glared and fumed in her bonds.

Lazaros stood before Ashley, spoon-feeding them his home-cooked lasagna in their bonds. Ashley closed their eyes, savouring the flavour.

Ashley: “Mmm, that’s so good!”

They purred. Lazaros redenned and beamed at Ashley. Abigail rolled her eyes.

Abigail: “You’re wasting our time.”

She hissed at Lazaros. Juniper chuckled.

Juniper: “No, he’s not.”

Ashley’s eyes lit up when they saw the golden glow around their hands and felt the warm light around them.

Ashley: “Oh my stars!”

They gasped and reached for the candle through their bonds, holding it in their warm hands of light and forming a tiny flame on the candle’s wick.

Ashley: “I-I DID IT!”

They cried happily. Lazaros’s smile spread across his face with delight at the power of his food.

Madelyn: “Hell yeah!”

She grinned and rubbed her candle against theirs, drawing from its flame. Juniper and Abigail followed suit, and the four of them crossed their candles together, sharing the flame together.

Abigail: “So mote it be, our ritual shall be!”

She exclaimed, taking their candles and placing them back down into their respective corners.

Makayla: “NOOOO, ASHLEY!”

Makayla’s scream cut through them, and Ashley’s light around their hands evaporated in an instant. They all turned to Makayla. Ashley knit their eyebrows, glancing down at their bare hands.

Ashley: “M-My majique...”

They cried and trembled. Abigail swung her cold glare to Makayla.

Abigail: “How dare you intervene with a sacred ritual!”

She hissed at Makayla. Juniper shook her head.

Juniper: “So rude.”

Madelyn threw her arms up in the air.

Madelyn: “You ruin everything!”

She glared at Makayla with a trace of an edge. Ashley watched as Lazaros marched over to Makayla and whispered something in her ear. Suddenly, her face went pale and she fell silent.

Ashley: “Huh? What was that about?”

They tilted their head, pulsing with curiosity. Lazaros turned back to Ashley with a smile and nodded to them.

Lazaros: “Don’t you worry, I will get your magic back!”

He exclaimed, picking up the lasagna. Abigail swiped it away.

Abigail: “Enough of this nonsense!”

She hissed and waved her hands.

Abigail: “We already have Ashley’s majique. The candlelight remains bright to guide us to the light.”

She gestured to the golden-yellow candle, still burning. Ashley smiled a bit and sighed with relief.

Abigail: “Let us proceed with the ritual! I will go first!”

She spread her arms out as the cloth of her sleeves blew in the wind. Madelyn and Juniper stepped back on either side of her.

Abigail: “I represent the West that corresponds with the element of water, and the season of winter.”

She gestured to the river positioned to the west of where she stood.

Abigail: “From the water, I craft my potions.”

She explained, waving her hand over the water as it danced around her hand. The water dripped from her hand into a potion bottle. Ashley’s eyes widened with awe.

Abigail: “Winter is death.”

She swung her gaze over to the animal bones tucked amongst the leaves on the soil under her feet. Ashley swallowed hard.

Ashley: “W-what are you going to do to me?”

The stammered. Abigail swung her gaze back to Ashley and chortled.

Abigail: “I am not going to kill you, my silly pet.”

She stroked Ashley’s head.

Abigail: “Death is merely the ending of a cycle.”

She added in a monotone voice and gave Makayla the side-eye.

Ashley’s eyebrows rose, remembering their conversation with Andreas over his tarot readings. What does she mean by that? They pondered.

Ashley: “OH! Andreas said something like that before with his tarot cards!”

They exclaimed.

Abigail: “Andreas Ødegaard?”

She frowned. Ashley nodded in confirmation.

Ashley: “You know him?!”

They smiled.

Abigail: “Unfortunately.”

She frowned. Ashley tilted their head.

Ashley: “Oh? Why, unfortunately?”

They pressed her with curiosity. Abigail knelt and picked up a raven feather off the ground.

Abigail: “Birds of a feather, flock together.”

She hummed, stroking her fingertip along it, swinging her gaze to Ashley.

Abigail: “He made his choice and I made mine.”

She frowned, breaking up the raven feather and sprinkling it into the potion bottle. Ashley tilted their head, wondering what she meant by that.

Abigail swirled the potion bottle around, chanting over it as it swirled a deep shade of purple matching her eyes.

Abigail: “If you can survive my most powerful potion, then I will know for certain you’re of our feather.”

She smirked at Ashley. Ashley’s heart sank.

Ashley: “W-Wait, what do you mean by survive?!”

They gasped with a mix of fear and confusion. Abigail placed her hand over her chin and chortled.

Abigail: “Oh ho ho ho! You will see!”

She cackled, pouring the potion into Ashley’s mouth. Ashley shrieked as they felt their entire body convulsing, and a glittering purple glow enveloped them.

Ashley: “W-What’s happening to me?!”

They cried and stammered. Lazaros cupped his mouth and stepped forward, but Madelyn held her arm out to block him.

Ashley: “Hahah haHAHA HAH AHEHEH EHEH EHEEEE! W-WHAT’S GOING ON?!”

They gasped over a laugh as they felt a tingling sensation swarm around their feet, shooting up to their legs and to their tummy. It felt as if the purple glitter particles were tickling them all over.

Ashley: “HAHAH HA HAH HAH AHHAH AHEHEH HAHAH OHOHOHONOOHOHO! WH-WHAT DID YOU DO TO MEEHEHEHHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEEHEHE?! HEHEHEEHEEEEEE! AAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

They screamed and squirmed against the tree as the tingling sensation shot up through their neck and took over their entire body. Abigail pulled out her black feathered fan and fluttered it against her reddened face.

Abigail: “Oh my, we haven’t even begun. I’m not even touching you.”

She teased, fluttering her feathered fan against their chest. Ashley threw their head back with a mighty gasp.

Ashley: “HAHAH AHA HAH AHAAHAH HAHAHA HOHOHOHOOHOHHEEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEEEEEE HAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAAH HAHAHAHAH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH HAH AHAHA HAHAHAH! OH-OH-HOHHHOHOHOHOHOHOGOD! OH OHOHOHEHEH AHAHAHAHAHAHA EHEHEEHEEEEEEE!”

They scrunched their toes and flopped in their bonds, gasping for air.

Lazaros: “Tickling?”

He gaped at her with a bewildered look.

Juniper: “Yes, it's her fetish.”

She smiled dumbly. Abigail turned on her heel to glare at her.

Abigail: “It's NOT a fetish!”

She snapped.

Madelyn: “Dude, your potion is literally called ‘Ticklemore’.”

She folded her arms across her chest and laughed. Abigail swung her gaze to Madelyn and shushed her.

Abigail: “Shh! I’m trying to bathe in the laughter!”

She closed her eyes, inhaling a deep breath, and spread her arms out in front of Ashley.

Ashley: “HAHAHA HAAHA HAA HAHA EHEHEHEHEHEHEHEH EHAHAHAHAHAAHHOHOHOHOHOHOEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEEHEH WHAHAHAAHHAAHAHAH AOHOHOHOHOHOHNOHOHO OHOHO GOD! HAHAHAH AHAHA HEHEHEHEEEEEEEE!”

They squealed and struggled in their bonds.

Abigail: “Thou of primal laughter from the tickle gods! BOOST MY POWER!!”

She chanted over Ashley’s bursts of laughter. Makayla rolled her eyes and groaned.

Ashley: “HAHAH HA HAHAHAHA heeheheheh HAHAHAHahehehehehehe! HAHAHAHAHA AH HA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! OOHOHOHOHO EHEHEHEH EHEHEHEHEEEEEE! HAAHAHAH HHEHEHEHEHEHE OHOHOHOHO GOOHHOHOOHD! HEHEHEHEHEHE AHAH AHAHA HAHAH AOHHHHOOHOHOHNOOOOOO! AAEEEHHAHEHEEEEEEEEE”

They jerked and laughed as the intensity climaxed. Abigail raised her arms to the sky and cackled.

Juniper smiled dumbly, looking around and holding her hand out as if she were anticipating rain.

Juniper: “But nothing is happening...”

She dragged her foot over Abi’s to read her energy.

Juniper: “Your energy has not changed at all.”

She cross-examined her. Abigail glared and hissed at her.

Madelyn: “You don’t need sole-reader powers to know that.”

She laughed.

Abigail: “It’s not instant, you fools!”

She hissed at them both. Ashley’s laughter dropped and simmered down until it was a short-breathed whisper.

Ashley: “HAHAH HAHA HAHA EHEHEHE…Heheheheh ahahah hahah…”

They flung their head forward, panting and gasping for air, and the sparkling glow of purple evaporated into the air like steam. Abigail smirked at Ashley and sauntered over to them.

Abigail: “Yes, my beauty. You did it! You SURVIVED my potion!”

She grinned and stroked Ashley’s head. Abigail waved her hand over the river, thrusting the water into a glass and handing it to Ashley. Ashley sighed with relief, murmuring a quick thank you as they drank from the water.

Suddenly, a loud farting noise ripped through the trees, and they all turned in the direction of the sound. They turned to see Madelyn grasping a whoopee cushion between her hands.

Madelyn: “Omg! Makayla!”

She taunted her and fanned her face. Makayla glared at her.

Madelyn: “Stop hogging all the fun, Abi! It’s MY turn now!”

She marched over to Ashley, picking up Abigail’s dagger from the altar and slashing the ropes off Ashley.

Abigail: “NO! You're ruining my ritual!"

She hissed at her.

Madelyn: “Come on, pretty kitty! It’s time to put some Spring in your step with some air in the north!”

She exclaimed, stomping on the whoopee cushion. She then grabbed Ashley, draping her arm around their waist.

Ashley: “Wh-Wha?!”

They gasped.

Makayla: “HEY! GET YOUR HANDS OFF ASHLEY!”

She interjected with a hoarse shout. Madelyn pulled out her feather sword and turned to Makayla with an impish smirk.

Madelyn: “Suck it, hamburger queen!”

She poked out her tongue and tugged the vine hanging off the tree, sending herself and Ashley catapulting through the air.

Ashley: “AHAHAHAAAHH! OH MY GOD!”

They gasped as they went flying up the tree.

Madelyn: “HehehehHAHAHEHEHEHEHE!”

She beamed with glee as they swiftly flew through the air until they stopped at a halt when they reached the tree tops.

Madelyn swung them both to a thick branch. Ashley clung to the tree trunk like a cat stuck up a tree. Madelyn flashed them a smile.

Madelyn: “Hehe, relax, pretty kitty. Breathe in… Breathe out. Just go with the flow…”

She assured them slowly and gently as she climbed over to the branch and sat down. Ashley paused and took a deep breath in and out. They glanced around, taking in their surroundings and the view of the twinkling lights and distant mountains surrounding the valley.

Ashley: “O-Oh wow… It's beautiful up here! Is that why you brought me up here? Because we’re in the north and in the air now?”

They chirped. Madelyn chuckled.

Madleyn: “Ah, damn, I wish I thought of that!”

She clicked her fingers.

Madelyn: “That’s not why I brought you up here, actually… I wanted to talk to you privately and clear the air.”

She waved her hands around them.

Ashley: “Oh?”

They tilted their head and swallowed hard. Is she upset with me? They wondered.

Madelyn: “Does Makayla sing to you?”

She glanced down at Makayla on the ground, feeling her cold gaze on her. Ashley tilted their head. What an odd question, they thought.

Ashley: “YES! All the time!”

They chirped and nodded. Madelyn sighed.

Madelyn: “Do you feel hungry when she does?”

She locked her gaze onto their eyes, watching their pupils grow large.

Ashley: “YES! How did you know?”

They clutched their stomach. Madelyn drew a long breath.

Madelyn: “She did the same to me, too...”

She frowned.

Ashley: “Oh… I'm sorry. Are you hurt that she's dating me now?”

They knit their eyebrows, feeling a pang of guilt. Madelyn turned to Ashley.

Madelyn: “I'm not hurt about that; it just makes things difficult with you being bound to her.”

She swung her legs over the branch and turned to them. Ashley gave her a curious look.

Ashley: “Oh, why is that?”

They asked. Madelyn glanced up at the sky and raised her hands above her as if she were reaching for the stars.

Madelyn: “It's like… having all the ingredients you need to bake a cake, but you only need one more missing ingredient, but there's this… big boulder in the way!”

She laughed bitterly.

Ashley: “Oh dear! You have a boulder blocking your fridge?!”

They cupped their mouth. Madelyn cackled with amusement.

Madelyn: “No, NOT literally, silly! Though a real boulder would be more manageable than this metaphorical boulder…”

She laughed and shifted her gaze to Ashley.

Ashley: “You're talking about Makayla, aren't you?”

They sighed and bowed their head.

Madelyn: “Bingo!”

She nodded and petted their head.

Madelyn: “Look, I wasn't supposed to tell you this, but I feel like I should. I don't wanna bend you to our will with a song, unlike some people.”

She shifted her eyes to Makayla.

Madelyn: “You should know what's going on so you can bend to your own will.”

She added.

Madelyn: “I just wanted to be sure you were the one first…”

Ashley tilted their head with a surprised chuckle.

Ashley: “The one?”

They gasped.

Madelyn: “One of four. Sortilège Covens must connect each of the four corners to complete the circle, thereby achieving balanced power. We need our summer and fire in the south to complete our full circle… We need the sun.”

She explained, poking Ashley’s Sunshire tattoo. Ashley’s eyes widened.

Ashley: “Oh?! You want me to join your coven?!”

They gasped, gesturing to themself.

Madelyn: “Thaaaat’s right!!”

She smiled and nodded.

Madelyn: “But, you have to want that.”

She pointed at Ashley.

Ashley: “YES PLEASE!”

They beamed and eagerly clasped their hands together.

Madelyn: “But you are already bound to another…”

She glanced down at Makayla.

Ashley: “Huh?”

Madelyn: “Sorry, pretty kitty; So long as you are bound to the Hamburger Queen, you can't be bound to us!”

She clicked her tongue. Ashley’s heart sank.

Ashley: “Oh… is that because you guys don't get along with each other? Is there a way you can make peace?”

They knit their eyebrows. Madelyn snorted.

Madelyn: “Hell no! So long as she's around, there will never be peace!”

She huffed and glanced down at the river beneath them.

Madelyn: “Abigail says our energy is like a river. The current is always changing and moving, but it can get messy and blocked by bullshit, and that can also move downstream to other rivers around you. So when Makayla pisses in your river, it will flow down into our rivers, and we can't have that! She fucks with your vibes, it will fuck with ours, throwing off the balance of the circle!”

She waved her hands around in the motion of water. Ashley's jaw dropped.

Ashley: “No way! Makayla would never do that to my river!”

They glanced down at Makayla. Madelyn interjected with a bitter laugh.

Madelyn: “I figured you’d say that…”

She sighed and slowly rose to her feet.

Madelyn: “There’s a difference between being spellbound and lovebound, pretty kitty.”

She petted their head.

Madelyn: “My quest to you is to figure that out!”

She smiled and tipped her hat off to Ashley, jumping down from the tree as if she were floating with the wind. Ashley’s eyes widened.

Ashley: “H-HEY! W-what am I supposed to do?!”

Their heart sank as she left them up in the tree alone.

Madelyn: “JUMP!”

She hollered at them from below.

Ashley: “W-WHAT?!”

They yelped and trembled with apprehension. Juniper stepped forward.

Juniper: “Aww, poor kitty is stuck in the tree!”

She cooed. Lazaros gasped as he approached with a plate of lasagna.

Lazaros: “Oh, no! They need to eat my food for their magic to work!”

He exclaimed, rushing up to the tree, trying to reach Ashley.

Abigail: “No, they don’t!”

Ashley’s eyes lit up at the sight and waft of his lasagna.

Ashley: “Oooh…”

They inhaled the delicious flavours, and their breathing became slower and more relaxed. They knelt and climbed onto their belly across the branch, locking their gaze onto Lazaros and his delightful lasagna from below. Their heart thundered and raced with adrenaline.

Ashley: “I want!”

They chuckled, trying to swipe at the plate of lasagna from above like a jungle cat. Lazaros beamed. Madelyn chuckled with amusement. Abigail rolled her eyes and shook her head.

Abigail: “This is absurd.”

She huffed and folded her arms across her chest. Makayla fumed and trembled with rage.

Makayla: “ASHLEY!”

She called out to them. Ashley stumbled and lost their balance, snapping the branch.

Ashley: “ARGH!”

They yelped as they fell to the ground, landing amongst a mountain of leaves.

Lazaros: “Ashley?! Are you ok?”

He rushed over to Ashley, kneeling to them. Ashley fluttered their eyes and reddened when they gazed up to see Lazaros glancing down at them and offering his hand.

Ashley: “Haha… yeah.”

They raked their fingers through their hair and gently took his hand. Lazaros beamed brightly at them.

Juniper was seated in a lotus position at the base of the tree.

Juniper: “Now you are grounded back down to earth in the east.”

She smiled at Ashley, pouring leaves onto the ground.

Juniper: “It’s important to connect to our roots.”

She hummed, rubbing the soles of her feet along the roots of the tree.

Ashley: “...Our roots?”

They traced the roots of the tree with the soles of their feet. Juniper smiled and nodded.

Juniper: “Yes, our roots are the foundation of who we are and form the branches that connect us.”

She beamed at forming her hands together. Ashley lit up.

Ashley: “...Branches?”

Their eyes sparkled, and they gripped their crystal necklace as they thought of their family portrait under the sacred family tree of the sun.

Suddenly, Juniper winced and retracted away from the tree, snapping Ashley out of their reverie.

Ashley: “Juniper?! What’s wrong?!”

They gasped and knit their eyebrows. Juniper rubbed her feet as if something had wounded her.

Juniper: “...Oh, the creepy crawlies bit me!”

She assured them with a chuckle and a wave of her hand.

Ashley: “Oh, dear!”

They rose to their feet, scanning the ground for insects. Juniper shifted her gaze to the blackberry bushes behind her, and her smile dipped into a frown.

~

Madelyn, Abigail, and Juniper gathered around in the living room, whispering amongst themselves. The moon cast a light through the window between them.

Abigail: “Well, it looks like we’ve found our fourth, ladies.”

She stroked her chin with a raven feather, peering at Ashley through the crack in the door. They were seated at the dining table with Lazaros, eating lasagna.

Juniper: “Does that mean we can de-feet my sister now?”

She smiled, a glimmer of hope. Madelyn chuckled at her pun. Suddenly, the backyard door burst open as Makaya barged in.

Makayla: “ASHLEY!”

She cried and rushed over to Ashley.

Madelyn: “There’s one big fat problem, though… They’re bound to her!”

She sighed, pointing at Makayla. Abigail rolled her eyes.

Abigail: “Then we will just have to sever their binding.”

She smirked, snapping her feather in half. Madelyn and Juniper gaped at her.

Juniper: “Oh? Isn’t that Dark sortilege majique?”

She fiddled with her long red tresses.

Abigail: “We have until the next full moon, and we have our fourth now, so we need to act NOW by any means necessary!”

She hastily picked up a black leather-bound spell book, leafing through it.

Madelyn: “If that were even possible, how would you do that?!”

She pressed her with curiosity.

Juniper: “Oh, can’t we just tell Ashley that Makalya is a bad witch?”

She smiled dumbly.

Madelyn: “HA. That’s not going to work, Juniper! It never does…”

She laughed bitterly. Abigail slammed her spellbook down and rummaged through her potion cabinet.

Abigail: “Don’t worry, I have my ways…”

She smirked, grabbing various items and pouring them into a small cauldron.

~

The three women sauntered into the dining room.

Abigail: “Congratulations on surviving our ritual quest, Ashley. I have a gift for you.”

She smiled, handing them a black silk pouch. Ashley’s eyes lit up.

Ashley: “Ooh! Thank you!”

They chirped and went to open it. Abigail held her hand up and waved her finger at them.

Abigail: “Ah-ah. The contents of the bag must NOT be disturbed, or else you will break the good luck spell!”

She said firmly. Makayla snatched the bag off Ashley, glaring at her.

Makayla: “Nice try! But you’re not casting love spells on my sweet Ashley!”

She protested, ripping the bag open and dumping the contents out onto the table. A small potion bottle, dead rose leaves, a piece of malachite, a chicken bone, and a tiny mirror fell out. Abigail smirked at Makayla. Ashley’s eyes widened. What is all that stuff for? That doesn’t give me love potion vibes, they thought.

Makayla: “Don’t worry, Ashley, I will protect you.”

She cooed at them. Madelyn groused and poked her tongue out.

Madelyn: “So, what’s it gonna be for your costume?”

She pressed Ashley.

Ashley: “Hmm… A dessert-themed cat.”

They pondered and flicked their gaze to Lazaros’ lasagna.

Ashley: “Huh, you know… Tiramisu is like the dessert version of lasagna.”

They chuckled. Lazaros smiled tightly.

Ashley: “OOH! HOW ABOUT A TIRAMISU CAT?!”

They chirped and clasped their hands with excitement.

Lazaros: “Ooh, how about Tirameowsu?”

He smiled tightly.

Ashley: “OOH! IT’S PURRFECT!”

They beamed.

Madelyn: “So mote it be, it shall be done! Here’s the booty!”

She grinned and grabbed a chest decorated like a pirate treasure chest, plonking it onto the table in front of them. She flicked open the lid, revealing various clothing fabrics and accessories.

Madelyn: “Go on, take your pick!”

She waved her hand over the contents. Ashley’s eyes brightened.

Ashley: “Ooh! I’ve never seen so much fabric in my life!”

They rummaged through the contents of the chest, getting deeper and deeper.

Ashley: “It’s like a bottomless pit!”

Madelyn chuckled.

Madelyn: “It is! It’s an enchanted treasure box! Ever wonder why your socks keep disappearing? They end up here!”

Ashley: “I don’t wear socks, haha!”

They scratched their head, glancing down at their bare feet.

Madelyn: “Okay, then undies! The laundry gremlins steal them for their enchanted treasure collection!”

She waved her hands. Ashley gaped at her and blinked mutely.

Ashley: “L-Laundry gremlins?!”

They laughed awkwardly, pulling away from the chest and shifting their eyes. Madelyn stumbled over a laugh.

Madelyn: “I'm just messing with you!”

She nudged them.

Ashley: “OH! Hahah!”

Madelyn: “Go on, pick the fabric you want, and I'll make it!”

Ashley rummaged through the chest, and their eyes widened at the paisley yellow fabric.

Ashley: “OOOH!”

They beamed.

Madelyn: “Very nice!”

Ashley: “Ooh! And this is so tiramisu-y!”

They chirped at the crushed velvet, canary yellow, and coffee brown stripes.

Madelyn: “Coming right up!”

She grinned and picked up her feathered wand. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath in as she channelled her vision.

Madelyn: “Sew the seams of my vision, so you shall make your decision with precision!”

She chanted, waving her wand around Ashley. The fabric merged around Ashley’s body as if it were being woven together with each stroke of her wand.

Ashley: “Oh, my stars!”

They gasped and cupped their cheeks, amazed and bewildered.

Madelyn: “Dressed to be blessed!”

She grinned and crossed her wand over Ashley. Ashley gasped at their costume. It consisted of a pair of fluffy brown ears, canary-yellow velvet bell-bottom pants, and a yellow paisley crop top with bell sleeves.

Ashley: “O-Oh, WOW, I love it! Thank you so much!”

They beamed and brightened, running their fingertips along the material. Makayla licked her lips and bit her bottom lip.

Makayla: “Oooh, very sexy!”

She purred, dragging her fingernail down their tummy.

Ashley: “H-Hey! Why is my tummy showing?!”

They gasped and reddened, covering their tummy.

Madelyn: “Oops, I ran out of material.”

She laughed and shrugged. Lazaros’ jaw dropped.

Lazaros: “LEAVE IT THAT WAY! IT’S BEAUTIFUL!”

He beamed at Ashley, clasping his hands together.

Ashley: “R-Really?! Thank you!”

They smiled and reddened, raking their fingertips through their hair.

Makayla glared at Lazaros and grabbed Ashley’s arm.

Makayla: “Back off! Ashley is MINE and we’re leaving NOW!”

She snapped.

Ashley: “M-Makayla?”

They knit their eyebrows. Juniper turned her attention to rustling outside the window.

Makayla: “I’m very hurt, Ashley! They were mean to me, and you didn’t rescue me!”

She pouted and scolded them. Ashley felt a twinge of guilt and cupped their mouth.

Ashley: “I-I’m sorry…”

They cried. Makayla’s demeanor shifted, and she gently petted their head.

Makayla: “It’s okay, it’s not your fault! They’re manipulating you! They’re just doing this to get to me! I only agreed to this so you would see how rotten they really are and so I could protect you from them!”

She bawled, taking their hand and leading them out the door with her.

Madelyn: “Oh, come on!”

She laughed bitterly.

Ashley: “Thank you for the costume and the food!”

They said to Madelyn and Lazaros as they were whisked away by Makayla.

Madelyn: “Okay, see you at work on Monday!”

She laughed and waved. Lazaros sighed and shook his head. Abigail smirked at Makayla and the contents of the pouch on the table, and Juniper kept her gaze fixed on the window.

~

Ashley returned home with Makayla, walking up the veranda, approaching the door.

Makayla: “Stay away from them, Ashley! They’re up to no good and can’t be trusted! Abigail tied us up and tried to cast a love potion on you! Madelyn only made you that costume, so you would owe her something, and all she does is try to piss me off because she’s bitter and jealous of me! Juniper is Jaclyn’s sister, so you can’t trust her either! Don’t even get me started on Lazaros!”

She ranted, throwing her arms up. Ashley sighed and unlocked the door, entering the house.

Blake: “Ashley?! Where the hell have you been?! I’ve been worried sick!”

He shot up from the couch upon seeing them.

Blake: “...Why are you dressed up like that?”

He examined their costume.

Ashley: “Oh, hi, Blake! I was at the neighbours! Madelyn made this awesome costume for Dessert Ranch!”

They beamed and turned around, showing it to him. Makayla huffed.

Blake: “You need to tell me where you are, Ashley! And what is SHE doing here?”

He scolded them and pointed at Makayla.

Makayla: “Rude.”

She scoffed and laughed.

Makayla: “I was saving Ashley from the witches!”

She cooed at Ashley, taking their arm.

Blake: “Witches?”

He blinked mutely at her.

Suddenly, they were alerted to a knock at the door. They all turned to the door with curiosity.

Blake: “What now?”

He huffed, marching over to the door.

Makayla: “Hmph, it better not be Lazaros.”

She pouted, folding her arms across her chest. Blake opened the door to see Jaclyn standing on the doorstep, dressed in a black sequin gown. She raised her wide-brimmed hat and greeted them with a cold and empty smile.

Jaclyn: “We need to talk.”

She flicked her gaze to Ashley.