Disclaimer: The movie "Sorcerer's Apprentice" is copyrighted by Disney; the names and characters from the movie are not owned by me. I just like playing in their world. Special thanks to Mr. Harry Dresden, Mr. Jim Butcher and Mr. Nicolas Cage, for opening the door to let the rest of us come in.
!SPOILER ALERT: This story has scenes from the movie intertwined throughout it. You have been warned….. !
PROLOG: The Tailor and his Wife
While the legend of Balthazar, First and Most Trusted of the Apprentices of the great Merlin, Advisor to Arthur, King of all Britons, has been passed down through the ages, very few know of the story of the Tailor and his Wife, and the promise made to the great Merlin himself…
It was said that Merlin had taken on three people to be his Apprentices: Lord Balthazar, the Lady Veronica, and Lord Horvath. Both Lord Balthazar and Lord Horvath looked upon the beauty and grace of the Lady Veronica, and each loved her. When she chose Lord Balthazar, Lord Horvath showed a false face to his comrades, accepting her decision, but his heart grew black and bitter with jealousy as he watched the love between them grow.
Before the fateful day of his last battle, the great Merlin called for a Tailor and his Wife, a Seamstress, both folk of unusual cunning and art, to his home to complete a gift for his Second Apprentice. He had commissioned a dress to complement the beauty of his Apprentice the Lady Veronica as a gift, and gave the Tailor and his Wife a skein of wondrous cloth. So soft and shimmering that it was rumored Merlin himself had woven it in a loom made of air and light.
As the Tailor's Wife packed the cloth away in a small, lined, wooden chest to keep it safe, Merlin was given warning through his invisible servants that his great enemy, Morgana, was approaching his hold with her army to do battle. In haste Merlin summoned a scroll to his hand from the mists, and sealed it inside the chest with words of Power. He sent warning to his Apprentices by spirits of the air, asking them to return as quickly as possible to his aid. Before the Tailor and his Wife fled with the chest at Merlin's command, the great Merlin asked them to give the chest to both Balthazar and his Lady, as his blessing of their lives together, should they arrive too late.
The legend tell of the battle and Merlin's end; betrayed by his Third Apprentice and stabbed by dark Morgana, his great enemy. Legend speaks of the promise made to him by Balthazar, and of the loss of the Lady Veronica, much to the eternal sorrow of Balthazar. After the battle, the Tailor and his Wife searched for the First Apprentice to put the chest into his keeping, but they could not find him in the rubble of Merlin's hold. So the Tailor and his Wife took the chest with them, keeping it always hidden and safe, and they prospered. The chest and the Promise made to the Last Merlin were passed down through the generations of their family.
The promise and the protection of the chest became habit, then tradition. The family learned to search for information about the wandering Apprentice, and to guard the chest from the outside world. Family tradition said that the chest had almost been mistakenly given to the Third Apprentice during World War II, but the Tailor and his Wife's heir, Thaddeus Tayson, had been saved by Balthazar, who in a foul mood after defeating the traitor Horvath, refused to take the chest Thaddeus tried to shove into his hands. Balthazar instead berated him for interfering in wizardly affairs and only left after Thaddeus swore it would never happen again.
Time passed. As the world progressed, so did the family of the Tailor and his Wife.
The chest sailed for America with Thaddeus's heir, Harold Tayson, placed into a warded case for safe-keeping in the strongest vault America could offer in WW II. Generations were born, and a new Family continued to watch for any sign of Balthazar, using modern technology and the World Wide Web to catch rumors and investigate reported sightings. The Tayson family spread across the earth. Some lived in Europe and the East learning the ways and traditions of their adopted homes, while a few wanderers traveled around the globe as scholars, archaeologists, historians and teachers. Others worked at their ancestral trade, becoming captains and movers of the fashion industry. No matter what the language or the country, the family of Tailor bound them together.
In December 2008, the Egyptian adventurer Dr. Charles Khayyat, descendent of Harold Tayson, moved to New York's fashionable Soho district with his enigmatic wife Natalia, known for her fantastic Parisian clothing designs. Dr. Khayyat, an archeologist specializing in ancient textiles and weavings had reportedly invested in several properties in the Tri-State area, including trying and failing to purchase a run-down curios shop called Arcane Cabana after its proprietor disappeared and broke the lease. They became members in good standing of several museum boards, and volunteered as teachers of historical wardrobe and costume re-creation at the New York Museum of Modern Art. The couple relaxed in the atmosphere of the Renaissance fairs as the striking Lord and Lady Khayyat of Thebes, traders in exotic Egyptian silks and spices.
As the owners of Khayyat, advertised as "The best in authentic medieval wear in the modern world", they employed an odd group of people to assist them. Their merchandising and sales staff consist of Mr. James Johnson, currently a Medical Intern at New York Hospital; Ms. Angela Smith, a returning student from New York State studying law; Mr. Budi Pranata, an eccentric computer specialist and Web Designer; Mrs. Jasmine "Mother" Hollander, a Louisiana" wise" woman transplanted by the floods of New Orleans; and Miss Yoshi and Miss Coshi Takahashi, twin girls recently arrived on student visas.
The staff became more than employees; they became a part of Charles and Natalia's extensive family. As family, they learned the legend of the wandering Apprentice, Balthazar, and the story of the Tailor and his Wife. With Charles and Natalia, they watch, and wait. And the chest still waits in its protective case to be delivered…..
This part of the story begins during the spell of release at the Park, and continues after Dave, the new Prime Merlinian, has flown off to have breakfast in Paris with his girlfriend Becky on the back of a steel eagle…
The dark sorceress Morgana was finally released from the containment of the smallest of the Russian nesting dolls by her servant, the cruel and corrupt Third Apprentice of Merlin, Horvath inside the fountain of a small park. Morgana, in control of the body she and Merlin's Second Apprentice, Veronica, now shared, sneered at the look of longing Horvath gave her in greeting. As she began her spell to raise the dead from around the world, Merlin's First and most trusted Apprentice, Balthazar, entered the tiny central park to battle for the survival of millions of innocents and to destroy the evil sorceress.
As the battle began, a man and a woman waited around the corner from the small decorative park called Bowling Green Park in New York City. In the past they would have been considered a handsome couple. The older man was Egyptian; large, but well built, dressed in professional attire more suited to a day-time executive than going out for the evening's entertainment. His companion, a long-legged, seeming delicate African American beauty, was dressed more like a professional day-trader. As they stood, they noted that the area was quiet, without the sounds of traffic, its inhabitants doing their very best to ignore any strangeness coming from their park. "Amazing," his cultured English voice murmured. "One does have to admire them—they have style. Nothing has gotten through their shielding to alert the neighbors." His eyes noted only normal light coming from the small public park, but his Sight showed almost frantic activity shinning through the overgrown fence. He could almost hear the voice of a woman chanting to the night... Dr. Charles Khayyat, child of two worlds, glanced down at his wife, Natalia, as she drew an old fashioned, hand-held looking glass from her coat pocket. "True. It makes our job easier." She spoke with a similar accent to her husband. "However, the rest of our party is running late." She concentrated, and then softly breathed on the face of the mirror. An image wavered. Coming into focus, the image showed a magical battle of flame and balls of plasma between two men, while a raven-haired woman chanted in the middle of the park's fountain, power flowing from her hands.
The couple was soon joined by an odd assortment of people. Two men, one with dark-hair, wearing a short leather coat and a young-punk attitude, escorted another thinner Indonesian man encased in a windbreaker clutching a computer bag, A pair of women, the matriarchal older one decorated in a highly colorful poncho, was accompanied by a tall, younger woman with short brown hair, who wore a short brown woolen wrap against the cold. The younger one wore a bulgy messenger pouch, while the older woman carried a Hello Kitty! backpack. Charles greeted them as they came up. Natalia kept her attention on the raging battle reflected in the mirror. "James, Budi, good to see you tonight." Dr. Khayyat said. "Mother Hollander, Ms. Smith, it is good to see you again as well. Budi, did you bring your equipment?" The Indonesian man nodded. "The scanner should work exceptionally well tonight. Has the fighting already begun?" His eyes shown with enthusiasm as Charles nodded in the affirmative and indicated the images from the mirror in his wife's hand. "So the glass shows." "I will begin by taking a reading here," Budi said as he began to unpack his bag and withdraw a small rectangular box. "It has taken me several years to create the right monitor to pick up the delicate energies," he continued. "This will help me complete my research project." Angela shook her head. "You sound like Egon Spengler from the movie Ghostbusters when you talk like that," she commented.
'Mother' Hollander broke into the conversation as Budi began to adjust his equipment. "Any sign of that Prime Merlinian fellow ya'all talked about?" she asked, the southern drawl in her voice distinct. Mother Hollander gestured to the sky above them. "She is drawing the summoning star overhead; using the satellite dishes on the office buildings all around us to call the dead. If he doesn't show, and the First Apprentice gets killed, we won't have a chance to stop it. It's gonna be one hellva' fight—a heavy price will be paid to end it." Explosions sounded from behind the corner of the building. Members of the party rocked against the building. Mother Hollander and James started to move toward the sound of the sudden silence, Angela and Budi moving to follow. As they completed a step Natalia called out to them "No! We cannot interfere with this battle; we can only watch." "People are getting killed out there! We have to help this Balthazar so you can finally deliver the chest to him," replied Mother Hollander in anger. Natalia shook her head and motioned them back from the corner and took the group down the block, away from the fight. James grabbed Budi back from the edge of the building as he concentrated on his readings; Angela picked up his bag as they left the corner. As the tiny group gathered around her, Natalia spoke. "There is a reason why we do not interfere. Yes," she waved her hand, "we have done so in the past and for good reasons; to protect the innocent, and to prevent harm coming to them."
"But here, now, we are to deliver the box to the First and Second Apprentice if they are alive after the battle is over," she continued. "Only that." Her companions looked at her in mute surprise. "And if they aren't?" James asked, his eyes intent, every instinct screaming at him to get into the fray. "We will do our best to complete the task of the First Apprentice, if he fails. It will not be easy. Then we will advise the Family. Doubtlessly it will be their task to decide the chest's fate." Natalia replied coolly, as if it was of no consequence. Dr. Khayyak then spoke, his voice hard and demanding. "Not even a minor interference in this battle will be tolerated—is that understood?" His voice softened as the group looked at him in shock. "It was the request of the First Apprentice himself that our family would not meddle in the affairs of wizards. As members of our family, we," He gestured to himself and his wife, "ask you to honor it." James and Mother Hollander exchanged looks, and nodded agreement. Angela and Budi both consented in silence. Dr. Khayyak smiled his thanks, satisfied that they would not disobey their request. Natalia returned to watching the battle via the looking glass. Angela gave Budi a what-can-you-do? look and returned the computer case to him. She closed her eyes and leaned against the wall.
The rest shuffled into more comfortable positions, and prepared to wait.
The incantation formed the summoning star in the sky, brightly burning to the magical eye. The two Apprentices fought. A young man and a young woman found their courage to join the fight.
The sounds of running echoed loudly through the quiet night as two young oriental women ran up to join the waiting group. Two young faces, mirror reflections of each other, peered up at the woman with the looking glass as they ran up, their plastic coats flapping open. "Sorry we're late, Mrs. Khayyat," the first woman said, out of breath. "Momma-san didn't want us to go out tonight. She was nervous, said that there was something bad in the air." The second girl added, "We insisted, and then she got pissed off and told us we were grounded, and had to go to bed without dinner. We're starving! Anyone got anything to eat?" Mrs. Khayyat looked at both of the new arrivals and nodded formally. "Thanks for coming, Yoshi and Coshi. We will need your help tonight." The first twin, Yoshi, shrugged. "Hey, no problem. Mom usually leaves us alone when she gets in these kinda of moods." Yeah, "her sister, Coshi chimed in. "She goes someplace dark when she gets that way." She continued, "Keeps muttering about the return of somebody." as Angela quietly opened up the lumpy messenger bag she wore over her shoulder, offering them each a plastic baggy-wrapped sandwich and a bottle of water. "Ooo, Chicken! Thanks, Angela! And water! You're the greatest!" They both grinned at Angela, and unwrapped their dinner.
The party watched Yoshi and Coshi inhale their sandwiches as Angela traded a Kids! smile with Mrs. Khayyat and gave a depreciating shrug. "I made extras. They're always hungry," she said fondly. James looked back at her with a grin and asked with his heavy New Jersey accent, "I'm hungry too. What else do you got? "Angela looked at him, an impish smile on her face. "Three PB & J's, beef jerky, string cheese, almonds, GORP trail mix, dried fruit, some bottles of water and an apple, James T. What'll it be?" she asked in a drawl. James shuddered. He hated peanut butter and jelly; he truly believed that the PB & J sandwich was a cheap torture to the taste buds created by mothers especially for kids. "No thanks—I'll go for some real food later." He shrugged his shoulders deeper into his jacket. "Make that a steak." He mock-glared at Angela. "And its Captain JamesT. Kirk to you, sweetheart," he said in a playfully scold. "Really? I was thinking of Captain Jack Harkness, eye-candy." Angela joked in reply, and threw him a teasing salute. Choosing to ignore her banter, James moved next to Natalia, watching the battle in the looking glass. He winced in sympathy as he saw Balthazar thrown to the street, taking a near fatal blow from Horvath. "That's gotta hurt."
Angela removed two PB & J sandwich from the bag, and politely offered one to the person nearest to her. Mother Hollander declined with a flourish of her ringed hand as she watched the sky, studying the complex pattern and munched on a bag of popcorn. She sent an inquiring look to both Mr. and Mrs. Khayyat, who both shook their heads. Angela mimicked the same question via sign-language to Budi. He was holding a small scanner which lit up with energy readings from direction of the park, and storing them for later. His eyes lit up at the gestures and nodded energetically. Angela tossed the sandwich to him, and started eating the second one in her hand. It was going to be a long night...
The summoning star fell apart in the sky. The First Apprentice, who had been slowly beaten back by the collected power of his mortal enemy, the Third Apprentice, was rescued by the young man. He proved himself to be the Prime Merlinian by battling and defeating both the Third Apprentice and the dark sorceress by the use of his mind and his knowledge of physics. He almost lost his mentor to Death, but did not chose to accept that defeat, using his Power to return his Mentor to his Lady's arms. The First and Second Apprentice held each other as the Prime Merlinian left with his Lady on the back of a steel eagle...
Balthazar tenderly held Veronica as they watched Dave and Becky fly off on the steel eagle. His eagle. But he didn't care—Veronica was in his arms once more. He had waited for this moment for over a thousand years.
It was worth the wait.
He gently placed the necklace around her neck as she pulled her hair away from her neck; the necklace that she had seen in the marketplace over a thousand years ago, the one that she had asked for with her eyes. The one he had brought for her to give to her that fateful night.
It looked beautiful on her. Just as he knew it would.
He kissed her. It was also well worth the wait. He looked at her in circle of his arms and grinned. "So, what do you think of him?"
Veronica considered his question in the comfort of his arms with a smile in her eyes. "He's impetuous, not very focused on the tasks ahead and runs off with his ladylove to far-away places on any excuse." She smiled fondly. "He reminds me of you." She kissed him softly. "You should be very proud. He will do well, with your help."
Balthazar cleared his throat meaningfully. "I was considering retiring from all this." Veronica looked up at him, lovingly. "Oh?" She snuggled closer to him. "You would be bored within a week, my love. You would be fretting that he was not doing things correctly, or not being pushed enough to find his true potential. Of course, if you are serious, "she said teasingly, as she turned in his arms and leaned back into his chest, gazing into the surrounding buildings, "I suppose that I could teach him myself, to save you the trouble."
Balthazar laughed softly, as his body adjusted to hers. "Oh, no. He's my apprentice, and so is my responsibility. But we will have time to discuss the matter while he is away," he kissed the top of her head, "among other things…" Veronica closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling of his strong arms around her once more. She had longed for it for a thousand years, though the years of battles and the pain of loss. Never had she regretted her decision to absorb Morgana to protect Balthazar. But she had missed him all those years, and her Teacher, Merlin. She did not have time to mourn, trapped with Morgana, inside the Russian doll. Now, there was time enough to mourn for her teacher, and learn to live again….
Her eyes flew open as she felt him tense. "Balthazar...?" Veronica started to ask what was wrong. Then she heard the approach of many footsteps. She and Balthazar watched a small group of people enter the area. The party of three women and two men walked carefully around the damages caused by the furious combat, caged focusing lens glowing openly in their hands. Veronica noticed that they approached the couple as though the park had become holy ground, with herself and Balthazar as members of the heavenly host.
The party stopped ten feet away, and bowed respectfully. "Forgive our intrusion, Great Balthazar; Lady Veronica," the Egyptian man leading the group spoke deferentially, "but the box given into my family's keeping for you and your Lady has waited many years to be delivered. I am Dr. Charles Khayyat, of the family of Tailor. May my wife, Natalia and I, speak with you while our comrades repair the damages that were made during your combat?" Balthazar frowned at them, as though considering some not-so-pleasant alternatives for the party that waited in front of them. Veronica was both curious and wary, but silently deferred to Balthazar in dealing with these strangers. She had been too long in a place where innocent meetings had become deadly.
Balthazar gave Veronica a quick squeeze for comfort before deliberately placing her next to him. He replied coolly, "If it insures that you leave that much sooner, start talking. You have five minutes. And," Balthazar added, "Have your…friends… keep within our sight, for their safety and ours." Dr. Khayyat nodded in agreement. "It shall be as you wish. Know then that two of our companions were unable to approach due to a sudden illness, " Veronica noticed that one of the women, wearing a pouch slung over her chest, flinched slightly as in embarrassment at the words, "but they are being treated by our physician, James. He can aid you as well should you require it." Balthazar waved his hand, dismissing the offer. "No need. Tell us what was so important that you'd all risk being turned into a bunch of toads in Bowling Green Park tonight."