Tricking a Witch

Under the cover of the night, the duo scampered through the shrubbery to gather up an assortment of indigestible plants, many that Saratoga knew well to avoid.

“Hemlock… Nightshade… These mushrooms should do…”

She collected a healthy stock of these not so healthy vegetation, with gloves on her hands, of course. The only issue that arose was why Moliugas requested she do it in the first place.

“What sort of debauchery are you planning with these?” she asked him.

“My plan is simple,” He pulled out the vial of the remaining quicksilver from his stomach, then gave it a mild shake. “If we mix those poisonous things in with this, she’ll drink it, thinking it is the elixir she seeks. Then she will die a most horrible death.”

Saratoga had a little faith in his plan, but in her limited experimentation with quicksilver, some things didn’t mix well with it. Most of what she was going to put in would simply float on its surface or sink, but she had an idea to make it presentable.

With all the various plants and oils she quickly liquified, a vibrant swirl swam around the top of the liquid metal once added in. The shiny quality of quicksilver already carried it into wondrous looking territories, but now it seemed even more pretty and presentable. If Saratoga hadn’t known better, she might have actually thought this reflective amalgam was the genuine elixir of life. Luckily, she wasn’t that ignorant.

The duo could hear the wicked old witch approaching, searching tirelessly for them along with her large lux construct. The duo wanted to put their plan into action, so they gave the old witch the illusion that they had been discovered.

The witch was maniacally pleased to see the spotlight of her large lux pin on them. They portrayed shock, but truly they ambitiously hoped they could force the witch to drink the fowl liquid.

“I'll only ask nicely one more time,” said the old witch. “The elixir, please.”

Saratoga and Moliugas shared a glance, then nodded. She pulled out their fake elixir and handed it over.

“Ahh…” cooed the old witch. “My goodness, what a shiny look it has… My favourite.”

She reached down from her lux and snatched the drink, quickly drinking the concoction all in one go.

The duo awaited the old witch’s expiration at the hand of the many terrible additives to the drink, but nothing was happening in their favour.

“Now that you've quenched my thirst, why don't you give me the true elixir?” said the witch.

“Drat!” shouted Moliugas. “How did she survive that?”

“Ah-ha!” pointed the old witch. “I knew you gave me a fake, pumpkin freak!

Saratoga was both disappointed at Moliugas's foolish outburst, and confused at the old witch’s ability to consume all those toxic ingredients.

When she asked how she managed it, the old witch replied “Being a powerful witch has its benefits. You younger generations wouldn't understand, what with your prissy little sugar diets and whatnot. Look how thin and cute you are!”

With their daft plan an utter failure, they truly were backed into a corner they couldn't scavenge out of.

“I'll give you one thing, Saratoga… That trick was almost amusing,” she cackled. “The next time I terrorize mankind, I might just use it on someone!”

Her finger raised to shoot a bolt of magic power at the duo. No amount of flaming spittle or improvised projectiles could breach the old witch’s aura.

“Awful witch of ancient time…” called out the old voice of the wizard, “may I curse you forever as a pumpkin rind!”

Suddenly, a smoke cloud surrounded the old witch, moments later being consumed by a violent fire. A screech came from the core of the cloud until the moment it cleared. A rind denizen with a pointy hat was standing in place of the old witch.

“Impossible!” Shouted the old witch rind. “What happened to me?!”

Now the cackle of a witch was replaced by the wheezy laugh of a wizard.

“That was a genius move, forcing her to consume that quicksilver.” Laughed the wizard. “It was the perfect catalyst for my curse!”

When luck strikes a pretty hand on a gamble, Moliugas took it in stride. “Of course! I'm always thinking a step ahead like that.”

“No you weren’t.” As blunt as Saratoga was, she was relieved that the coven mother was now far less of a threat.

There was still the issue of the lux, but the wizard claimed he could handle those on his own. Then he tossed over the broomstick at the duo.

“Go, Saratoga! If you leave now, you'll make it in time to save your mother.”

A full day still stood between them and her mothers passing, but they wouldn't be making it back in their exhausted condition. The broomstick, although damaged and slower, could get them back to the Eastern town before the final day was up. The duo mounted up the enchanted household item and flew off into the sky.