Once Upon a Time in Enchancia
Welcome to Chapter 53 of "Once Upon a Time in Enchancia". This is a chapter designed to promote the 2020 American Red Nose Day.
In Britain, Red Nose Day has been a yearly charity event for a number of years. And it is a pleasure to announce that the United States, for the sixth year in a row, is putting on its own Red Nose Day which will include a special fundraising broadcast on NBC-TV the night of Thursday, May 21st of 2020.
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Now, let's have our chapter which will feature some short stories that I think you'll enjoy.
Chapter 53: Six Short Stories
A visit with Mrs. Crocombe
In England of the 1880s, there stood an impressive estate known as Audley End owned by Lord and Lady Braybrooke. The cook at Audley End at that time was Avis Crocombe. Dorrie and Candice had heard of Avis and had wanted to meet her. Dorrie and Candice, using their Voyager contacts, had recently managed to get an invitation to Audley End to meet Avis.
The day of the visit came, and Avis was waiting in the Audley End kitchen.
"Oh, hello," Avis warmly greeted. "I'm Avis Crocombe, and I'm the cook here at Audley End. You may address me as Mrs. Crocombe. It is an exciting day for me since I'm expecting visitors. Not just any visitors mind you, but two visitors from a royal house - Lady Dorrie and Lady Candice from the royal castle in Enchancia. I hate to admit it, but I haven't heard of this Enchancia. I suspect it must be a European kingdom."
At that moment, a knock came at Mrs. Crocombe's kitchen door.
"Come in," Mrs. Crocombe warmly invited.
The door opened, and in walked seventeen-year-old Dorrie, and seventeen-year-old Candice.
"Good morning, ma'am," Dorrie smiled. "Are you Mrs. Crocombe?"
"I am," Mrs. Crocombe confirmed. "And you must be Lady Dorrie and Lady Candice."
"Yes," Dorrie confirmed. "I'm Lady Dorrie, and this is my sister, Lady Candice.
"It is a pleasure to meet the two of you," Mrs. Crocombe greeted. "And I see the two of you are dressed for the task at hand."
"These are the maid uniforms we wear at Enchancia Castle," Candice revealed. "Dorrie and I hear you are interested in making a chocolate pie."
"Yes, and I already have a pie crust ready," Mrs. Crocombe confirmed. "If the two of you will follow me over to the kitchen table, we'll get started."
"Excellent," Dorrie smiled as she, Candice, and Mrs. Crocombe stepped over to the table.
"Let us go over the ingredients we'll need, shall we?" Mrs. Crocombe suggested. "We'll need one prepared nine-inch pie crust, one and one-half cups of granulated sugar, one-fourth cup plus one tablespoon of cornstarch, one-fourth teaspoon of salt, five large egg yokes, two and two-thirds cups of whole milk, one-half cup of heavy cream, six ounces of dark chocolate finely ground, four tablespoons of butter cut into pieces, and one and one half teaspoon vanilla extract. As you can see, I already have the ingredients gathered."
"Then it looks like we can begin," Candice acknowledged.
"Since I haven't made this before, I'll let the two of you walk me through it," Mrs. Crocombe requested.
"Of course," Dorrie began. "In a medium saucepan, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, and salt. You then add the egg yolks, milk, and heavy cream and transfer everything to the stovetop, cooking over medium heat while whisking the ingredients together."
"You'll want to whisk the ingredients frequently until the ingredients begin to thicken," Candice instructed. "This will take several minutes. It is important to remember to not crank up the heat or your filling may not thicken properly."
"Once the mixture has thickened - it should be like a pudding consistency - whisk constantly," Dorrie continued. "The mixture will come to a boil and then you continue to whisk it for 60 seconds before removing it from the heat, while still whisking constantly. You'll then want to add the chocolate, butter, and vanilla extract. Whisk until the ingredients are smooth and the chocolate and butter are completely melted. You'll then want to pour the ingredients through a wire mesh strainer into a medium-sized heatproof bowl. Allow the ingredients to cool for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent a skin from forming."
"You then pour the filling into the prepared pie crust and cover the surface with clear wrap, making sure that the clear wrap is pressed against the surface of the chocolate to prevent a skin from forming," Candice added.
"Clear wrap?" Mrs. Crocombe asked, not being familiar with the term.
"Oh," Dorrie acknowledged. "Clear wrap is something our royal inventor came up with."
"How interesting," Mrs. Crocombe said, impressed. "I didn't know there was such a thing as a royal inventor."
"Our Gwen is quite a wonder," Candice smiled. "She started as a kitchen maid. Then, we discovered she had a wonderful talent for inventing useful things. Our King Roland then officially made her the royal inventor of Enchancia."
"Your Enchancia sounds like quite the wonderful place," Mrs. Crocombe said in praise.
"Thank you," Dorrie acknowledged. "By the way, we brought a few rolls of clear wrap with us. It is a gift from Enchancia to you, Mrs. Crocombe."
"Why thank you so very much," Mrs. Crocombe said, touched.
"You're welcome," Candice smiled. "Getting back to the pie, you then refrigerate it for at least 6 hours to allow the pie to firm up and set. Afterward, you may put whipped cream on the top of the pie, then serve it."
"This looks absolutely wonderful," Mrs. Crocombe said, pleased, as she inspected the pie. "This is the kind of dessert that Lord and Lady Braybrooke would enjoy, especially with guests."
"This pie is a favorite of our Prince James," Dorrie revealed. "It's safe to say he enjoys all things chocolate."
"It has been an absolute pleasure to have two fine young ladies visit Audley End," Mrs. Crocombe praised.
"The pleasure has been ours, Mrs. Crocombe," Dorrie acknowledged, pleased.
"Thank you for allowing us to visit," Candice added.
"If you ever find yourselves in the vicinity of Audley End in the future, please pay us a visit," Mrs. Crocombe invited. "The two of you will always be welcome."
"Thank you, Mrs. Crocombe," Dorrie acknowledged, pleased.
"We'll be sure to do that," Candice happily added.
A treat for Creamy
It was a July afternoon in 1870 at Enchancia Castle. Candice walked into her bedroom to find her cat, Creamy, relaxing in his cat bed on the floor.
"Good afternoon, Creamy," Candice smiled.
"Good afternoon, Candice," Creamy smiled back. "What do you have in the bowl?"
"A treat for both of us," Candice announced as she brought out a small dish from a drawer, and spooned some of the contents from the bowl onto the dish. "Vanilla ice cream."
"Oh, thank you, Candice!" Creamy exclaimed in glee as Candice put the dish on the floor. Creamy quickly got up and started happily licking the ice cream on the dish.
"You're welcome," Candice smiled as she sat down in her overstuffed chair, and enjoyed her ice cream.
After Candice and Creamy had finished their ice cream, Candice put the bowl and the dish aside, and Candice sat back down in the overstuffed chair. Creamy came over and gently jumped into Candice's lap. Candice gently scratched Creamy behind the ears, while Creamy purred in delight. It was a wonderful way to spend the afternoon. Life was good.
Saying goodbye to a friend
Author's note: this is a "Doctor Who" what if? scene. What if the Peter Capaldi Doctor wasn't alone in the Tardis at the end of the "Doctor Who" episode "Twice Upon a Time"?
The Doctor was in his Tardis. He had just dematerialized the Tardis and was on his last voyage in his present form. He would soon regenerate into a new body. Or, at least that was the plan.
"Oh, there it is," The Doctor remarked, looking at a view screen on the Tardis console. "The silly old universe. The more I save it, the more it needs saving. It's a treadmill."
Suddenly, two beams of light appeared before The Doctor. As the beams faded away, in their place appeared ... sixteen-year-old Dorrie and sixteen-year-old Candice.
"Dorrie? Candice?" The Doctor asked, taken off guard. "How are the two of you here?"
"We're not really here, Doctor," Dorrie explained. "The Tardis, well ..."
"... she made us in Dorrie and Candice's image," Candice added. "We're computer-generated representations."
"Ah! I see," The Doctor acknowledged.
"We know you're ready to call it quits," Dorrie revealed. "But, you do realize everybody will get it all wrong without you."
"Yes, yes, I know. They'll get it all wrong without me," The Doctor acknowledged as his hand started glowing. "I suppose one more lifetime wouldn't kill anyone. Well ... except me."
As the Tardis Cloister Bell tolled, Candice turned to The Doctor. "You're ready to regenerate."
"Not just yet," The Doctor said, before staring into the distance as if he were looking at his future self. "You wait a moment, Doctor. Let's get it right. I've got a few things to say to you."
Dorrie and Candice looked on as The Doctor started up to the catwalk above the Tardis control room, and started walking the catwalk.
"Basic stuff first," The Doctor called out to his future self. "Never be cruel, never be cowardly. And never, ever eat pears! Remember, hate is always foolish. and love is always wise."
As The Doctor walked down from the catwalk, he continued. "Always try to be nice, but never fail to be kind. Oh, and you mustn't tell anyone your name. No one would understand it, anyway. Except, ah!"
The Doctor then fell to the floor in pain.
"Doctor!" Dorrie and Candice cried out in shock.
The Doctor continued talking to his future self, as he slowly managed to rise to his feet. "Except children. Children can hear it sometimes. If their hearts are in the right place, and the stars are too ... children can hear your name. But nobody else, Nobody else, ever."
As another surge of pain went through his body, The Doctor leaned over the Tardis console as Dorrie and Candice raced over.
"I can't put this off any longer," The Doctor said to Dorrie and Candice. "This is going to happen whether I want it to or not."
"Just do it, Doctor," Dorrie said as she gently placed her hand on The Doctor's shoulder.
"We'll see you out there," Candice smiled as she and Dorrie gently hugged The Doctor.
"I still don't think I'm a hugging type of person," The Doctor stated. "I've been getting better at it, but not completely comfortable with it."
"Well, you don't get a vote," Dorrie grinned.
The Doctor chuckled. "How much like Clara you are."
Dorrie smiled at the compliment as she and Candice stepped away from The Doctor.
"Laugh hard, run fast, be kind," The Doctor instructed his future self. "Doctor, I let you go."
The Doctor outstretched his arms, as orange flashes of regeneration energy shot from his arms and his head. As sparks from the regeneration energy shot across the Tardis control room, the representations of Dorrie and Candice disappeared into thin air. In a few moments, The Doctor's regeneration ended, with The Doctor having been transformed into ... a white-skinned blond-haired woman.
As the new Doctor recovered from the regeneration, she looked around the Tardis control room in a daze. As she looked around, The Doctor's ring easily fell from her finger since her finger was much more slender than the previous Doctor's finger had been. The ring fell on the floor of the Tardis control room and bounced a few times.
The Doctor looked at her reflection in a view screen on the Tardis console and smiled. "Oh, brilliant!"
A new life for The Doctor had begun.
A look back to the past
Author's note: the following is set shortly after the looking back glass scene in Chapter 52 of "Once Upon a Time in Enchancia".
Amber, having heard about Elizabeth's experience with Calista's looking back glass, was curious if she had a past life on the Mystic Isles. Soon, Amber found herself at the door of Calista's room. Amber knocked on the door.
"Come in," Calista cheerfully invited.
Amber opened the door and walked in.
"Amber," Calista smiled. "This is an ever so pleasant surprise. What may I do for you?"
"I was wondering, Calista," Amber stated, "if you would use your looking back glass to see something for me?"
"Why of course, Amber," Calista agreed. "What did you have in mind?"
"I was wondering if I had a past life on the Mystic Isles," Amber revealed.
"Ah!" Calista acknowledged. "You found out about Elizabeth's experience, and you thought you would have a go."
"Yes," Amber confirmed. "Is it possible to see into my past life?"
"All you have to do is to concentrate," Calista instructed. "The looking back glass will do the rest. I'll be more than happy to take you through."
"Wonderful!" Amber exclaimed in glee.
"Just so you're aware, when we step through, we'll be able to see what happened in the past. However, we'll simply be observers, with nobody around us knowing we're there," Calista explained.
"I understand," Amber acknowledged. "Can we step through now?"
"Anytime you're ready, Amber," Calista cheerfully said.
Amber took Calista's hand, and the two walked through the looking back glass. They soon emerged in the far past of the Mystic Isles. As they looked around, they noticed that they were on the Isle of Crystals. Soon, the action shifted to the palace on the Isle of Crystals. Inside the palace stood an adult woman named Amberina who was not only the seamstress/tailor for the Isle of Crystals royal family but also the tutor for Prince Samson and Princess Sammee.
"That's me," Amber said of Amberina.
"You look good as an adult," Calista commented.
"Thank you," Amber responded, pleased.
At that moment, Queen Seline of the Isle of Crystals walked up.
"Amberina?" Seline asked. "Have you seen Samson and Sammee?"
"I'm afraid not, my Queen," Amberina answered. "I was looking for them myself. It's time for their school period."
"That's Sam's mother," Amber said of Seline.
"Interesting how a lot of people we know had past lives on the Mystic Isles," Calista observed with awe.
"We'll look for them together, Amberina," Seline suggested. "While we look, we can discuss the details of my ball gown for tomorrow night's ball."
"Yes, my Queen," Amberina acknowledged.
In another part of the palace, an older teenage boy and a young girl were talking to each other. The two were Prince Samson and Princess Sammee.
"That's Jeremiah and Sam," Amber remarked on seeing Samson and Sammee.
"Samson, Sammee," Seline addressed the two as she and Amberlina entered the room. "You are aware that it is your school period?"
"Sorry, Mother," Samson apologized. "Sammee and I lost track of the time."
"Please go to the study room," Seline requested. "Lady Amberina will join you in a few minutes."
"Yes, Mother," Samson said and he and Sammee left.
"I apologize for Samson and Sammee," Seline said to Amberlina. "If their not sneaking off when it's time to study, each daydreams about his or her love interest. It can be quite distracting."
"No harm was done, my Queen," Amberlina acknowledged. "Hopefully, they will grow to be more interested in their education."
"You're more forgiving than I would be," Seline smiled. "That's one thing I like about you, Amberlina - your gentle nature. It's a trait that people tend to undervalue."
"Thank you, my Queen," Amberlina said, grateful. "I'd best be attending to Prince Samson and Princess Sammee."
"I'll see you later, then," Seline responded as Amberlina walked off.
Suddenly, a bright light surrounded Amber and Calista. In a few moments, the light faded, and Amber and Calista found themselves back in Calista's room.
"Thank you for letting me go through the looking back glass," Amber said, appreciative. "It's nice to know I had a past life on the Mystic Isles as well."
"Amberlina," Calista thought out loud. "A nice name."
"Yes, I agree," Amber smiled. "I just had an idea."
"What, Amber?" Calista asked, curious.
"Well, you did a good turn for me," Amber started, "and I think it would be nice if I returned the favor. How would you like to go to the kitchen and share some ice cream with me?"
"Oh!" Calista exclaimed, pleased. "I would ever so much enjoy that."
"Then, let's go," Amber happily acknowledged as she and Calista walked to the castle kitchen.
The two had a pleasant conversation as they walked to the kitchen. It was an enjoyable way to spend the day.
A look ahead
It was a wonderful, sunny day in the Kingdom of Ornburgh. An adult Candice stood looking out one of the windows. As she looked out the window, her mind thought back to what had taken place beforehand: Frederick and Dorrie had opted for a non-royal life of service, with Frederick now being a well-respected doctor, and Dorrie being his equally well-respected nurse-midwife; King Jonathan and Queen Mira retiring from the throne of Ornburgh, and leaving the kingdom to Everett and Candice; Everett now being King of Ornburgh, and Candice now being Queen of Ornburgh; and, in addition to being Queen, Candice was now also in charge of Ornburgh Intelligence.
As Candice looked out the window, Violet walked up. Violet was now the royal steward of Ornburgh. But, that wasn't the only change for Violet. King Eric Fitzherbert of the neighboring Kingdom of Corona, after many years of trying, had finally succeeded in getting Violet to marry him. So, she was now Queen Violet of Corona. However, since Violet had work in her blood, she was also Ornburgh's royal steward (it was a simple matter of using the Floo Network to work in Ornburgh by day and return to Corona by night).
"Good morning, Candice," Violet smiled as she walked up.
"Good morning, Mom," Candice smiled back as the two warmly hugged each other. "What's on the agenda this morning?"
"You have the daily briefing with Ornburgh Intelligence," Violet reported. "After that, the day is yours."
"Excellent!" Candice happily responded. "In that case, I can spend today with Rachel."
"And a lovely Saturday to do it," Violet noted with pleasure.
Rachel was Everett and Candice's adopted daughter. Rachel was an eight-year-old witchlet whose birth parents had been killed by the Witch Revolutionary Front (WRF), a radical group wanting revenge for past crimes against witches. The WRF had killed Rachel's birth parents when they refused to join the WRF. Rachel had managed to escape and spent the next few months wandering the kingdom on her own before being discovered by Everett and Candice. The two instantly fell in love with Rachel and adopted her. Rachel was now Princess Rachel of Ornburgh.
"We had a bad thunderstorm last night," Candice reported. "You'll be happy to know Rachel handled it well."
"That's good to know," Violet said, relieved. "I know how thunderstorms use to frighten her so."
"Yes," Candice quietly admitted. "A throwback to when she was on her own. She'd find a dry place to sleep for the night, but the occasional thunderstorm at night would dredge up that frightened, lonely feeling of being on her own."
"But, thanks to the love that you and Everett have shown her, and sitting with her in her room when we'd have thunderstorms here at the castle, she managed to get over her fear," Violet smiled. "Rachel is really quite remarkable. She could have turned out to be cold and bitter. Instead, she's a kind soul with a bright future in front of her."
"And for that, I'm forever grateful," Candice smiled back.
Later that morning, Candice had wrapped up the daily briefing with Ornburgh Intelligence. She then walked out to the courtyard of Ornburgh Castle where a royal carriage was waiting. Sitting in the passenger area was an eight-year-old white-skinned girl with shoulder-length brown hair. The girl was Princess Rachel.
"Hi, Mom!" Rachel happily waved.
"Hello, my precious one," Candice smiled as she climbed aboard the carriage. "Ready for an outing to Maltena?"
"Always," Rachel happily acknowledged.
In a few moments, the carriage departed Ornburgh Castle as Candice and Rachel had a pleasant conversation. A few minutes later, the carriage reached the entrance to the Village of Maltena.
"I thought we'd have lunch at Gasthaus Kruger," Candice announced. "I know how much you like the food there ... especially the blueberry strudel."
"Oh! That sounds wonderful, Mom," Rachel acknowledged, pleased.
In a few moments, the carriage stopped in front of Gasthaus Kruger, a popular eating establishment in Maltena. Gasthaus Kruger was a German-style inn with a tavern, a restaurant, and a banquet facility.
"Oh, look," a girl on the street said to her mother. "Its Queen Candice and Princess Rachel."
Candice and Rachel climbed off of the carriage and were met by friendly clapping from a crowd on the street. Candice and Rachel happily waved to the crowd as Mr. Kruger and his wife walked out of Gasthaus Kruger.
"Welcome my Queen, my Princess," Mr. Kruger greeted with a bow as Mrs. Kruger curtsied. "Queen Violet sent a message that you'd be dining with us today. Our best table is ready for you."
"Thank you, Mr. Kruger," Candice smiled. "It's always a pleasure coming here."
As Candice, Rachel, Mr. Kruger, and Mrs. Kruger walked inside, the patrons in the restaurant stood and clapped in honor of Candice and Rachel. As Candice and Rachel sat down at a dining table, Rachel smiled and gave a cute little wave to those assembled. This was who Rachel was - a very outgoing girl. Miranda had remarked to Candice a while back that Rachel reminded her of Sofia when she first became a princess.
Candice and Rachel enjoyed a fine meal and had a pleasant conversation as they ate.
"I hear you got an A on your potions exam," Candice praised Rachel. "Nicely done."
"Thank you, Mom," Rachel smiled, before turning serious. "Now, if I could only get the hang of tarot card reading. It's what we're studying in Divination class right now."
"What seems to be the problem, Rachel?" Candice gently asked.
"There are so many meanings for each card," Rachel explained. "I get lost in the woods trying to remember them all."
"Well, remember that tarot card reading is more about what impressions you pick up from each card," Candice explained. "Remember the basic meaning for each card, yes ... but, when you're doing a reading, let your mind do the walking as it were. That's where true interpretation comes from."
"Thanks, Mom," Rachel said gratefully.
"Anytime," Candice smiled. "When we get home, I can take you through some sample readings if you'd like?"
"I'd like that, Mom," Rachel happily accepted.
As Candice and Rachel continued to talk, two women at a nearby table watched and smiled.
"Our Queen is a wonderful mother," one of the women whispered to the other.
"She's an example to all of us," the other woman whispered back in praise.
At that moment, Mr. Kruger stepped into the dining room. "His Majesty, King Everett of Ornburgh."
Everybody stood and clapped at Everett's arrival. Everett then sat down at the table where Candice and Rachel were sitting.
"Everett," Candice smiled. "What a wonderful surprise."
"I finished up early," Everett smiled back. "I had a quick lunch at the castle, and I thought I would have dessert with my two best ladies."
Candice and Rachel smiled at Everett's praise. In a few minutes, dessert arrived - blueberry strudel. As the three enjoyed the strudel, they had a pleasant time talking to each other as those around them watched the happy scene. It was a wonderful time to be alive.
Back to the present
It was mid-May of 1870. Sixteen-year-old Candice slowly awoke after having blacked out. All she remembered was that she had been walking down an alley in Dunwiddie when suddenly she passed out.
"She's coming around," a woman's voice said.
"I don't know why we're bothering with the likes of this one," another woman's voice said of Candice. "Look at her! She's a sellout! Wearing that maid's uniform ... she's subservient."
"Enough!" the other woman's voice barked as Candice fully awoke.
"What is going on here?!" Candice demanded to know as she reached for her wand which she still had.
"We simply want to talk," the woman who had barked "Enough!" announced. "We've allowed you to keep your wand as a sign of good faith."
"You could have simply made an appointment," Candice pointed out as she sat up.
"Just hear us out," the woman requested. "Those of us here represent an organization of witches who ... want things to change for our kind."
"In what way?" Candice asked, curious.
"Look at you, for example," the woman started. "You're Lady Candice of House Cosmarune, creation of Maleficent. You've turned good, and have been totally devoted to king and kingdom. How many times have you defended this kingdom, only to have some continue to look down on you because of your past?"
"Your point being?" Candice wanted to know.
"You're a witch of the first rank," the woman pointed out. "You deserve respect for who you are. You should be worshiped, not hanging around in the background."
Candice gave the woman's words some thought. "You've better play along for the time being, girl," Candice thought to herself as she gently stroked her neck area. "Let's find out more about this organization."
"Look at her!" the other woman barked, looking at Candice. "She actually has to think about it!"
"I'm listening!" Candice barked back. "Remember who I am. I'm Lady Candice of House Cosmarune! I'm witch nobility. Remember your place!"
"Well, you do have fire!" the first woman exclaimed in glee. "That's good to see."
"Who are you people?!" Candice barked, keeping up the deception.
"We're the Witch Revolutionary Front, or if you like, the WRF," the woman explained. "For too long, we witches have suffered at the hands of Muggles. We were even forced to leave our dimension and come here to escape Muggle persecution. Surely you remember hearing of Salem?"
"I've heard of it," Candice acknowledged. "I'm not saying our kind don't have a tragic history."
"I'm glad to hear you say that," the woman acknowledged. "The WRF can bring us back to our former glory. And we need witches like you to join us."
"What did you have in mind?" Candice wanted to know.
"We take back our rightful place," the woman began. "We rise up, and take over ... everything."
"Excuse me," Candice countered. "There are plenty of witches of whom would oppose you. Witches who are happy to have peace between the magical and non-magical realms. What about them?"
"Those who oppose us will be dealt with ... by death if need be," the woman answered.
"Then count me out!" Candice barked as she raised her wand, and pointed it at the two women. "We just got rid of what was left of Neila's scum. We won't have another such group come in and start the whole thing all over again."
"I'm very sorry to hear that," the woman said to Candice, disappointed, as three additional witches appeared in a puff of smoke. "I'm afraid you'll have to die, Lady Candice of House Cosmarune."
"Granted, there are five of you and one of me," Candice pointed out. "You clearly have the drop on me. But, did you think I wouldn't have some kind of insurance for times like these?"
At that moment, a powerful blast blew a large hole into a wall of the room where Candice and the five witches were. Through the wall came Dorrie, Sofia, Lucinda, and Abby, all with their wands drawn. They managed to take out four of the witches.
"How did you get help?" the woman asked Candice in shock.
"I have my ways," Candice smiled. "As an agent of Enchancian Intelligence, I place you under arrest as a threat to Enchancia."
"I think not!" the woman yelled as she threw a smoke bomb from her hand.
"Stop her!" Sofia ordered. However, it was too late. The woman had used her wand to magically leave.
"Well, she's gone," Lucinda said in defeat.
"Good thing I was able to activate my amulet," Candice said to Dorrie. Sofia, Lucinda, and Abby. "Did you guys hear everything?"
"Yes," Dorrie answered.
"It appears we have a new threat," Sofia acknowledged.
"I'll need to get back to the castle, and report this to your father and Colonel Martinsen," Candice said to Sofia.
"Are you okay?" Dorrie asked Candice, concerned.
"I'll be fine," Candice answered in a reassuring voice. "Thanks, Sis."
The five made their way back to Enchancia Castle. Once in the castle courtyard, Candice noticed Baileywick talking to a few male servants.
"Mister Baileywick," Candice started, "I need you to gather King Roland and Colonel Martinsen. I have important news regarding kingdom security."
"You're in luck, Candice," Baileywick said. "The two of them, along with Constable Miles, are meeting in King Roland's study as we speak."
"Good," Candice acknowledged. "I'll get up there now."
In a few minutes, Candice arrived at the door leading to Roland's study. Candice then knocked on the door.
"Enter," Roland directed.
Candice opened the door and walked in. "My apologies, gentlemen," Candice apologized. "I have grave news. We have a new threat to Enchancia and the other kingdoms."
Roland, Martinsen, and Miles listened to what Candice had to report, and they agreed that the Witch Revolutionary Front would be something to keep an eye on.
(End of Chapter 53).
Special note
Just a reminder that there will be a special fundraising broadcast for American Red Nose Day on NBC-TV the night of Thursday, May 21st of 2020. In addition this year, you can receive a digital Red Nose by making an online donation to the American Red Nose Day. Do an Internet search for 2020 American Red Nose Day FAQ. When you find FAQs | Red Nose Day USA, click that on and go to How can I get a digital Red Nose? which will give you a link that will allow you to donate. Once you make a donation, your digital Red Nose will be emailed to you along with a thank you and donation receipt. Share your Red Nose selfie with family and friends to show your support for the campaign.
Behind the scenes
First of all, I want to let everybody know I'm still doing well during this coronavirus pandemic. I'm not sick, nor showing signs of being sick. I hope you and yours are doing well. I send you and yours all my best wishes. If we continue to follow the safety protocols that have been laid down, we will see this pandemic come to an end at some point.
Meanwhile, onto something else. Since blueberry strudel was mentioned in this chapter, I thought it would be nice to give you a blueberry strudel recipe.
Blueberry Strudel
What you'll need:
- 3 cups fresh or frozen (not thawed) blueberries.
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar, plus more for sprinkling.
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch.
- A pinch of salt.
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more for the pan.
- 12 (9 by 14-inch) phyllo sheets, thawed if frozen.
Instructions:
In a 4-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, bring the blueberries, 1/4 cup sugar, cornstarch, and a pinch of salt to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Transfer to a medium bowl and let cool completely.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Butter a sheet pan.
Cover the phyllo sheets with a piece of plastic wrap and a damp paper towel.
Arrange 1 sheet of phyllo on a work surface with the short side nearest you (keep the remaining sheets covered) and brush with some butter. Top with 2 more phyllo sheets, brushing each sheet with butter. Place a heaping 1/4 cup blueberry mixture over the lower third of the buttered phyllo, leaving a 2-inch border along the bottom and sides. Fold the bottom edge of the phyllo up over the blueberry mixture and fold in the sides to enclose the filling completely. Roll up the phyllo to form a strudel, about 4 by 2 inches. Transfer, seam-side down, to the prepared sheet pan. Brush the top with some butter and sprinkle with sugar. Using a paring knife, cut 2 vents across the top of the strudel. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
Bake until golden brown and crisp, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a rack and cool 20 minutes. Serve immediately.
Author's notes
Anna Li Cook / Queen Seline, Elizabeth West-Chadwick, Jeremiah Cook / Prince Samson, and Samantha "Sam" Cook / Princess Sammee are characters created by MisuteriTenshi / SailorWednesdayMercury and are used in this story with the permission of MisuteriTenshi / SailorWednesdayMercury.
Creamy is a character created for Candice by Jolly Roger Brat. Creamy is used in this story with the permission of Jolly Roger Brat. Readers of "Once Upon a Time in Enchancia" will remember that King Roland is no longer allergic to Creamy, and Creamy is now allowed in the castle.
Floo Network, and Muggle, are from "Harry Potter".
Having Amber and Calista using the looking back glass to travel to the Mystic Isles of the past was based on an idea by MisuteriTenshi / SailorWednesdayMercury.
"I still don't think I'm a hugging type of person," The Doctor stated - this is a reference to the last moments of the "Doctor Who" episode "Deep Breath". After The Doctor had regenerated (into the Peter Capaldi Doctor), his traveling companion at the time (Clara Oswald) hugged the newly regenerated Doctor, with The Doctor cringing and saying "I don't think I'm a hugging type of person anymore". Clara just looked at him, smiled, and simply said "You don't get a vote" as she hugged him anyway.
Jeremiah: readers of my stories "Dorrie", "Dorrie: Book Two", and "Once Upon a Time in Enchancia" will remember Jeremiah Cook from those stories. Jeremiah's mother (Anna Li Cook), along with her daughter (Samantha "Sam" Cook), have also made appearances in "Dorrie", "Dorrie: Book Two", and "Once Upon a Time in Enchancia".
King Eric Fitzherbert of Corona was originally created by Skyrimfan for Skyrimfan's stories "Lucinda the First" and "Rise to Power: Queen of Corona". Skyrimfan has given me permission to use King Eric Fitzherbert in my stories, and I have given Skyrimfan permission to use Dorrie and Candice in "Lucinda the First" and "Rise to Power: Queen of Corona".
Mrs. Avis Crocombe is from the popular English Heritage "The Victorian Way" videos on YouTube.
The Doctor chuckled. "How much like Clara you are" - this is a reference to Clara Oswald, one of The Doctor's previous traveling companions during the Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi eras of "Doctor Who".
The female Doctor is, of course, the Jodie Whittaker Doctor from "Doctor Who".
The House of Cosmarune: as readers of "Dorrie", "Dorrie: Book Two", and "Once Upon a Time in Enchancia" will remember, the House of Cosmarune is the magical house that Dorrie, Candice, Violet, Abby, and Scarlett's Royal Steward (Colette) belong to. The House of Cosmarune was originally created by Skyrimfan for Skyrimfan's stories "Lucinda the First" and "Rise to Power: Queen of Corona". Skyrimfan has given me permission to use the House of Cosmarune in my stories, and I have given Skyrimfan permission to use Dorrie and Candice in "Lucinda the First" and "Rise to Power: Queen of Corona".
The Scarlett Warrior (A.K.A. Scarlett) (A.K.A. Queen Scarlett) (A.K.A. Queen Scarlett Katherine Felchenerow) is a character created by Ben10Man and is used in my stories with permission from Ben10Man. Meanwhile, the character of Colette (A.K.A. Lady Colette Cosmarune) is a character that I and Ben10Man created and is based on Bayonetta from the video game "Bayonetta" (please note that Colette, and Madam Collette of Enchancia Castle, are two different characters who are not related in any way, shape, or form).
The Witch Revolutionary Front (WRF) is originally from Chapter 4 of my story "Witch Tales".
Voyager is from the "Voyagers!" TV series.
Disclaimer
Anna Li Cook / Queen Seline, Elizabeth West-Chadwick, Jeremiah Cook / Prince Samson, Samantha "Sam" Cook / Princess Sammee, and the other original ideas from MisuteriTenshi / SailorWednesdayMercury are the property of MisuteriTenshi / SailorWednesdayMercury and are used in this story with the permission of MisuteriTenshi / SailorWednesdayMercury.
"Bayonetta" and everything associated with it © PlatinumGames, Sega, and Nintendo.
Creamy and the other original ideas from Jolly Roger Brat are the property of Jolly Roger Brat, and are used in my stories with the permission of Jolly Roger Brat (under an agreement that the two of us may use things from each other's "Sofia the First" fan fiction stories).
"Harry Potter" and everything associated with it © J. K. Rowling, Bloomsbury Publishing, Arthur A. Levine Books, Little Brown, Heyday Films, 1492 Pictures, Patalex IV Productions, and Warner Brothers Pictures.
"Doctor Who" and everything associated with it © BBC.
King Eric Fitzherbert of Corona, the House of Cosmarune, and everything associated with them are the property of Skyrimfan, and is used in this story with the permission of Skyrimfan.
"Sofia the First" and everything associated with it © Craig Gerber, Jamie Mitchell, Disney Television Animation, Toiion Animation Studios, Team TO, and Disney-ABC Domestic Television.
The Scarlett Warrior and the other original ideas from Ben10Man are the property of Ben10Man and are used in my stories with the permission of Ben10Man.
"Voyagers!" and everything associated with it © James D. Parriot Productions, Universal Television (MCA), and Scholastic Productions.
I only own Abby Cosmarune-Murphy, Candice Cosmarune-Cooper, Colonel Martinsen, Dorrie Cormarune-Cooper, Gasthaus Kruger, King Everett, Mr. Kruger, Mrs. Kruger, Neila, Princess Rachel, the Village of Maltena, and the Witch Revolutionary Front (WRF).