112 ) - eight oaks
Rough idea for chapter 1
- Chapter One -
'Shrubbs And Son, Potions Store'
Today was Crispin Oak's 17th birthday, a rather curious and troublesome age for a teenage boy i know. Some say that this had something to do with his family history and the poeple that hung, distructively from his family tree. His father had always been troublesome as a child (who is now a great warrior), his uncles were and his great, great ancestors all had something troublesome about their names. Not to mention that his great, great, great grandfather was the famous Harroway Oak, the same person who put a stop to the evil that used to rule the now peacful community that is 'Eight Oaks'. Yes, Crispins family was quite troublesome and a bit destructive, but they had always acheived things to the best of their ability with the good of everyone else at heart and the troublesome things that they did were infact, the things that changed peoples lifes around them, and that is for the better of course. So nobody really minded that every now and again Crispin and his friends got up to a little mischeif and caused a little havoc. That is to say, that the towns Elite Gaurd constantly tried to catch them in the act and send them to the dungeons away from his life, but they always seem to get away with their little schemes and Wibur Williams (the Eilte Gaurd) always got the worst end of things and always ended up looking the fool. So you see, a reason for this might be that Crispin's family was destined to be troublesome so that in the end, the right thing could be done which also points to the posibility that Crispin, himself was destined to change lifes. And that was an encouraging thought that was forever on Crispin's mind and helped him in his ever successful schemes in the peacful town of Half Oaks, the area in which he lived in. Mr Stubbs, his parental gaurdian didn't mind at all and infact, he often reminded Crispin (and the other children) that following rules was not always the best way to go about life. Crispin was very fond of Mr Arnold Stubbs, not just becasue he took him in as a child, but also because he was a kind and wise man that taught the children much things about life and magic and things out of the extrodinary. You see, Crispin lived with Mr Stubbs because shortly after Crispin was born, his mother and father were called to the aid of a great battle in distant lands that had been escalating for years and years about who should have dominion over the Eight Oaks district. As did most of the parents in Half Oaks, and all the other Oaks in Eight Oaks for that matter, and that is the reason that Mr Stubbs took care of eight children simultaniously.
Crispin Oak, Coco Taylor, Korby Felchin, Gray Bradey, Tucker Torrington, Mia Jegget, Tiffany Ellis and Milo Mathers were all very close friends and were the troublesome teens that constantly dreamed up the schemes that annoyed Wilbur Williams so much. Some of them were so close that they became boyfriend and girlfriend. Crispin had his girlfriend Coco and Tucker had his Girlfriend Mia, although he did not like to admit that they were a couple and were constantly falling out. Tucker was the person who came up with the most schemes, including the one where they set loose all the caged animals free into the village (They were kept int he woods for experiments) Not one person in the village got any sleep that night. Beleive me, it's a hard thing getting to sleep with a two headed Snarlak panting at the side of your bed at 3 in the morning. But again these pranks were always to do what they beleived was right. 'There's nothing more right than what you beleive to be right' often told Mr Stubbs to Wilbur when he went on at him for not keeping the people under his roof 'under control'. But tonight was yet another night of mischeif, yet another one of Tucker's plans and yet another night that people would remember (and probably loose sleep over) for a long time to come.......
'Do you think that if you became famous, you would remeber me?' Asked Coco to Crispin
'Probably' Shrugged Crispin, helplessly
'PROBABLY!' Exclaimed Coco
'I mean, sure i'll remeber you' He corrected, then cracking a slight smile to Coco, she smiled back.
They floated along the river in the southern gorge on this star filled night on a man made bamboo raft they had made as children. The moon shon fiercly in the night sky and reflected ominously from the yellow leaf filled river that trickled ever so peacefully. The yellow leaves had fell from the vines that hung, idely from the walls of the gorge that layed still, unmoved as the air was still and undisturbed.
Coco let out a loud sigh of comfort as a few exotic birds escaped from their homes and flew into the night sky leaving Coco wishing that she could saw along side the cresent moon with them. All of this peacfulness made Coco and Crispin forget all about the plan for tonight that had been hatched the night before by Tucker and Mia, they were just too busy soaking up the fresh air and remenising under the moonlight.
'Something about this night makes me think what life would be like with our parents around'
'Do you think we would be doing this exact thing at this exact moment?' Asked Coco.
'I would hope so' Smiled Crispin.
The gorge became narrow and a little less in a straight line. They drifted past many caves and coaves and wondered what marvelous and strange things that lived there. Crispin was sure that he saw something silver disapear from the tip of a cluster of rocks into the water and wonderd about this for a while. Then, something approached from behind them that sparkled from the moons glare.
'Whats that?' Asked Crispin to Coco, who looked equally as puzzled.
'Just a bottle, i think'
'Yeah' Agreed Crispin, 'and it's green'
As it floated closer and closer it appeared to be a bottle, but a clear bottle, just with something green in it.
'WIBBIT!'
'I told you it was just a...'
'WIBBIT!'
'....bottle'
The bottle drifted along side them and it suddenly became clear.
'Urrgg...a frog'
It was indeed a frog in a bottle. The slimy green frog kept hopping up and hitting its head on the top of the glass bottle.
'How the hell did a frog get in a bottle?' Asked Coco, as the frog leaped and hit its head once again.
Crispin stuck his hands in the water and grabbed the bottle.
'Perhaps i should let it ou.......'
'CRISPIN' Shouted Coco as they headed for a bend straight ahead. Crispin put the bottle in Coco's back pack and picked up the stretch of bamboo that had a huge green leaf on it which he slammed in the water causing the raft to turn sideways.
'HOLD ON'
They flew around the corner just missing the wall, weaving past the rocks that filled the area.
'YEAH!' Shouted Crispin, obviously enjoying the danger.
He controlled the raft with his paddle, skimming boulders, going up and out of crevises, splashing against the rapid water, he was enjoying every moment of it and it seemed, with ease. He floated along side a coave in the wall and slipped in through a hole in the side.
They were in a cave, away from the rapid river that nearly ripped apart the raft and were now in a quite, dark place.
'That was close' Sighed Coco.
They were safe and unharmed and completely unaware that they still had Tucker's 'revenge' plan to do as soon as they got out of the gorge.
'Man, Tuckers' going to be mad when we're late' Suggested Coco.
'Let's get out of here...this place gives me the creeps'
He steered out of the nearest gap, back into the main flow of the now calm river that headed in a straight line again. they reached a banking that poked out of the wall, there was a spiraled staircase that almost looked natural, that led the way out of the gorge. they heaved the raft out of the water and put a rock on top of it and made their way up the spirled, rocky staircase.
The top of the gorge was a tremendous sight. To the left you could see a part of the neighbouring village of Fairway Oaks, but ot the right was the whole veiw of Half Oaks. It rested upon 3 big hills, on the middle hill was all the shacks and huts and what not, on the far right hill was the stores, shops and huts where they made all sorts of things, and finally up on the left hill was Old Ethel Adams' windmill cottage that was at the side of a stream. All of this village (Like every over village) Was surronded by woods which was inhabited by the mushroom folk, a strange race of mini people who extract medicine from all the strange and weird mushrooms they grew out there so much.
Today's target, though, conisted of the far right hill and the far left hill, nobody was to be hurt and that was one of their key rules as a gang.
They ran down toward the far left hill over the meadow of purple flowers intending on arriving at Old Ethel Adam's windmill cottage.
I think now would be a good time to explain the plan:
As you know, they all are very fond of Mr Stubbs and are greatful to him for taking them all in, i mean eight kids is a lot of kids to bring up.
Anyway, Mr Stubbs owns a very respectable potions store on the far right of the hills. He has had the store for over 20 years and has always had plenty of customers and friends. But close by was another store called 'Shrubbs And Son, Potions Store' they had always known Mr Stubbs had Mr Shrubbs and he son Harrold Shrubbs, and one day they decided to open a store of potions and decided to ask Mr Stubbs for advice. But not only did they take his advice, they took his potions and his ideas and sold them off as their own. Rapidly people became more and more drawn in to 'Shrubbs And Son, Potions Store' as it was a lot bigger and offered lower prices than Mr Stubbs (Which ment they were very low) and Mr Stubbs began to loose more and more customers day by day to his now rival store and that also meant that he lost profit.
The gang had always been aware of this but only until now did they think that it got out of hand and they thought that some revenge was in order. They also thought that it would be a nice jesture to Mr Stubbs, you know, like a 'thank you for raising us' kind of thing.
So here they are tonight, ready for the plan and the reason Crispin and Coco were heading for the windmill cottage up on the hill was because that was their task set by Tucker and was Phase 1 of his plan.
Phase 1 was for Crispin and Coco to 'Accuire' Old Ethel Adam's wolf flute. You see, in her young days she was quite the explorer and had found many artifacts and strange things that no-one had ever heard of before in their life.
Phase 2 was for Milo and Korby to borrow some of Mr Stubbs own made 'Fizzing Light Fuid' from his store, making sure that they don't take it all.
Phase 3 was for Gray and Tiffany to gather as much meat as they could into their back packs and take them to 'Shrubbs And Son, Potions Store' where Mia and Tucker will be waiting for everyone to arrive so they could begin Phase 4, the most important and final phase.
'Damn!' Cursed Crispin, as they arrived at the windmill cottage out of breath from running.
'Damn!' was appropriate as a light on inside the cottage meaning that Ethel was still up. You see, Ethels windmill cottage was quite different and spectacular to the other huts and shacks in Half Oaks. The windmill blades were made out of Minicle Moth wings which are gigantic. Four of these giant moth wings made the propellar on the cottage and was controll by the flowing stream at the side of the cottage.
'Tucker and his half-baked plans' He added, crossly.
Coco paused and thought for a while, not giving up on the plan.
'Dont worry' She said 'this is just a minor problem...'
KNOCK! KNOCK!
The door slowly creaked open and an old crinkly Ethel appeared holding a walking stick.
'Ooohh, hello there Dodo' Crackled Ethel
'Err, it's Coco' She corrected
'Oh, i'm sorry Fofo' Coco rolled her eyes.
Coco looked behind Ethel to see Crispin stumble through the back window.
THUD!
'What was...'
'It was nothing' Said Coco quickly, grabbing the arm of Ethel.
'What can i do for you darling' She continued slowly.......
.....Crispin sneeked past Ethel and arrived at a crickety, spiraled staircase that led up to the top room where Mia had said the 'Wolf Flute' was.
He walked up the stairs past a tank in the wall. A fuzzing light filled the tank and a sbake appeared in it.
Crispin remembered how Mr Stubbs had told them of this. You could have loads of tanks around, wherever. And have one snake (or whatever) in one of the tanks. And if you know the right holographic charm, then it would appear in the tank that you are walking past at the time.
'Amazing' Thought Crispin, imppressed by Ethels magic abilities.
He made his way to the top room which had no door and to his suprise, the flut was sitting right on the desk as soon as you walked in. It gleamed sliver, even in this dark area it shon brightly. She obviously treasured it.
'I'll have to put this back tomorrow' He thought, realising he was stealing what some good person treasured.
He turned to leave but all the strange things on the shelves overwhelmed him.
There was some sort of skeleton on the wall that looked simlilar to a small snarlak.
'Maybe one that we let loose last year' Thought Crispin.
There were an array of weapons on another shelf that looked very strange indeed, maybe they were torture weapons or tools or something.
And just as Crispin was thinking he was taking to long, he noticed a box in the corner. For some reason he couldn't leave without looking in the box, something in his heart wanted him to open it. Suddenly a whhite light appeared from a crack in the box and it began to make a humming noise.
He slowy walked up to it, his heart in his mouth, what was in that box? Somehting was there that Crispin greatly wanted.
BANG! The door downstairs closed.
He shot up and panicked. He span around and tripped over another box. BANG!
'Is anyone there?' Came a crackling voice from downstairs.
Crsipin looked for places to hide but there was no-where. Then he noticed the windows and ran over to one and quickly opened it to see a worried Coco stood helplisy out side.
'COCO!' Shouted Crispin, in a whisper.
'COCO!' She looked up
'Crispin, Ethel is on her way up'
'Don't you think i know that' He muttered, gritting his teath.
'The blades' She shouted.
'What?'
'The blades' She shouted again.
Crispin looked left to see the giant moth wing propeller still circuling around. He heard a noise behind him and whithout thinking, he jumped onto the propeller. He was lucky as Ethel just entered the room as he approached the floor. But his jumper got caught on the blade and as he feet touched the floor, they lifted back up off of the ground and back into the air.
'It must have been a cat or soemthing' Thought Ethel, as she turned toward the door to go back downstairs.
'Arrgghh!' Crispin flew past the window.
Ethel span around. 'I'm loosing my mind' She said to herself, slowly turning back around.
'Arrgghh!' He flew past again.
This time, Coco grabbed Crispin and he flew off of the propeller and they both went crashing to the ground.
'Don't say i was never there' She said, stumbling to her feet.
They headed off through the houses and feilds toward the far, right hill to Tucker and the others.
'I hope they all didn't go as wrong as ours' Panted Crispin, as they sprinted toward to stores.
They arrived in the middle of all the wooden stores and workshops infront of a sign which hung above them that read 'Shrubbs And Sons, Potions Store'.
'Glad you could make it' Said Tucker, leant against the open shop door.
It was a really big shop consisiting of two floors, the bottom floor had all the potions and was very spacious.
'Right' Started Tucker.
'You all know what to do, now lets make it happen'
They piled into the shop, one by one, quietly, with their itmes that they were requested to find.
Korby and Milo waited for Gray and Tiffany to place bits of meat all around the store making sure it could be easily seen. Then Korby and Milo began to sprinkle Mr Stubbs' own 'Fizzing Light Fluid' all over the meat. The 'Fizzing Light Fluid' was in a smallish bottle with a picture of a firework in front of a moon on the Lid. The fluid glew a bright light blue as did the food when they poured it on. They all stood back as the food became brighter and brighter.
'Right' Said Tucker, slowly as if to have thaught about it for a long time.
'Gray, play away' Laughed Tucker.
Crispin gave Gray the flute and began to play. But instead of it making loads of notes, it let ot one deafening screach.
'Arrgghh' They all shouted.
'I guess thats it' Informed Gray.
They all looked at him, now serious about what was about to follow.
'They are coming' He added.
They all ran up to the second floor as so they could all see the specticle they were about to create and everybodies heart was beating, if this din't work then loads of hours of planning would have gone to nothing.
They heard movement outside, something was silently approaching, loads of footsteps could be heard.
Then, somehting unexpected happened. A bottle from Coco's bag slipped out and headed to the floor of the bottom floor. it was the frog in the bottle that they had completely forgotten about.
SMASH!!!
The frog sat there for a while, and then....
POOF!! The frog turned into a man, and not just anyman,. It was Wilbur Williams, the towns Elite Gaurd. He just stood there shaken for a while, wondering how he got there.
'O Oh!' Muttered Tucker
'Tucker, what do you mean O Oh'
They all looked at him.
'I kinda........... turned .............Old Wilbur here into a frog ...........and then put him in a bottle and threw him in the river' He admitted.
'YOU!' Came a voice from downstairs. they all looked over the banaster to see a fuming Wilbur.
'Wilbur, don't move' Said Korby, calmy, noticing the pack of wolves that appeared in the door way.
'I'm not falling for th...'
AWOOOOOO!
Wilbur slowly looked around to see loads of wolves pouring through the door.
'Dont move' Repeated Korby.
But it didn't matter, the wolves went straight for the light blue glowing food like they had planned.
'Tucker' Nudged Tiffany, sweetly, as the wolves started to eat all of the food.
'This is a potions store' She informed
'Yeah' Said Tucker, irratbley
'So when the wolves start to bark fireworks........what will happen to the potions?'
Tucker froze still and realised that this was one thing he had overlooked.
'I suggest we run' He answered
'RUUUN' He shouted.
They all shot up, causing a wolf to bark at them.
BOOM! A great big green and purple firework shot from it's mouth and exploded into a thousand specs of dust aginst the wall, creating a huge hole.
All the wolves were startled by this and began to bark.
BOOM!! SSHHHH! ZZZZCCKKK!! BANG!! Fireworks were exploding everywhere, purple, blue, green, brown, yellow, red , terquoise creating big explotions ripping the store apart bit by bit.
The gang ran down the stairs dodging exploding chairs, zipps of fireworks, the flashes of explosions, grabbing Wilbur by the arm and dragging him out of the way of a rocketing red flame firework that skimmed his head and flew out of the door.
BOOOM! They heard in the distance. but that was not on their minds as the wolves poured out of the store.
CREEAK! The gang stopped and looked behind them as the store seemd to wobble.
CRASSHH! The whole building collapse in a heap caused clouds of dust and smoke.
'Quick, to the hills' Shouted Crispin.
The all sprinted to the top of the hill and collapsed on the ground.
BOOM! CCZZHH! CRASH! went the fireworks into the night. From the hill they saw light and flashes and bangs all over the village, and could see the crumpled potions store in the distance.
BOOM! Soemthing came flying toward them and stook in the ground only feet away. It was a sign stook firmly in the ground that read:
'Shrubbs And Son, Poitions Store'
'Uh' Mumbled Tucker
'Didn't expect that to happen' He added, scratching his head.
BOOM!
They all sat there in amazment until the silence was broke by the grunting voice of Wilbur Williams
'THAT IS IT, I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THESE SHANOGANS!, YOU ARE ALL UNDER ARREST'
'We saved your life' Explained Coco.
Wilbur looked at her and found nothing to say.
BOOM! CRASH! FFFZZZZ!
They all looked up into the night sky as the fireworks continued to explode.
'Well' Muttered Crispin, as he looked a Coco
'It was worth it'
Coco gave Crispin a smile and they both continued to watch the amazing spectical that they had created under the star lit sky of Half Oaks
 Wednesday, November 10, 2004 at 12:30 |
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