Season of the Witch
Oct. 24th, 2006 12:23 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vovatA few weeks ago, ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
lozenger8 challenged me to write a 500-word Oz story. It took me a while to get around to it, and my first two tries were already too long when I'd just started to introduce the basic plot. I'm apparently not used to writing really short stories. I might well complete the story about the Walking City of Trilmeria anyway, but I'm not sure if I'll do anything else with the one about the giant weasel. Anyway, here's what I came up with. It ties in with the novel-length manuscript I've been intermittently working on for the past decade or so. And, unless the word count utility is lying to me, it's exactly 500 words, not counting the title.
The First Triumph of the Wicked Witch of the West
The King and Queen of the Winkies sat in their private drawing room, discussing the dangerous state of their country as of late.
"They say a milkman over in Goldsboro was found transformed into a lemon-flavored yogurt," said King Willinos. "What ARE we to do about this, Nellie?"
"I cannot say I know," replied Queen Neldra, as she nervously ran her hand through her blonde curls. "What a time to bring a child into the world!"
"Where is Peg, anyway?"
"Her nurse is giving her a bath."
"Ah, I see. Oh, by the way, perhaps you already know this, but I sent Larnid to Platina, to try to obtain the Duke's assistance in defending our castle. I feel that--"
At that moment, the door burst open, and a page announced that a wandering woman sought an audience with Their Majesties. "She came to the castle this morning, Your Majesty," explained the page. "We let her in and offered her a drink of water and a hot bath, but she refused both. She did accept a meal, though."
"Is it really a good idea to be inviting strangers in during these trying times?"
"But Will, the Ozian code of hospitality says that we should provide succor to travellers in need," argued the Queen.
"Yes, I know," replied Willinos, as he slid down slightly in his armchair. "It just worries me, my dear. Show the stranger in, Capsum."
Capsum bowed, left the room, and soon returned with a woman dressed in scraggly clothes. Her hair was drawn into two stiff pigtails, and she had a patch over one eye. In the crook of her arm, she carried a large umbrella. Something about her struck the monarchs as not entirely honest. The page bowed and retired, leaving the rulers alone with the stranger.
"Your Majesties!" called out the woman, in a raspy voice. "I have come here to discuss a grave danger to your kingdom."
"Oh, my! Another one?" questioned the King, in a somewhat sarcastic manner.
"I'm sure you've heard of this one before. A woman known as the Wicked Witch of the West."
"Yes, we know about her, madam. Our spies are currently on the lookout for a woman who meets her description. Only one good eye, and…"
King Willinos trailed off as realization dawned. He and his wife immediately called for help, but none came. The Witch cackled and quickly cast a spell, which had no effect on either of the monarchs. After this failure, she stomped her feet and pulled hair from her pigtails. Just as Willinos decided that she looked rather frail and could probably be defeated with a physical attack, the Witch remembered a spell that she had recently learned from a desert sorcerer. A flash of bright light was the last thing that Their Majesties remember for some time. The Witch lost no time in taking control of the castle, but it would take some time and effort to consolidate her rule over the Winkies.
Any thoughts? Yeah, I know. You liked my second grade stories better. :P It's possible I'll have more of those in the future, if I can turn up any more. I'm pretty sure I didn't throw any of that stuff away, but that doesn't necessarily mean I have it here.
By the way, according to my watch, the 23rd will be over in less than two minutes, so I suppose I'll have to wish a happy belated 47th birthday to Weird Al. The 23rd was also the date that Bishop Ussher determined for the creation of the world. How he managed to date it so exactly, I'm not sure. Also, I believe yesterday (and now it actually IS yesterday, as of a minute ago) was the last day of Ramadan.
lozenger8 challenged me to write a 500-word Oz story. It took me a while to get around to it, and my first two tries were already too long when I'd just started to introduce the basic plot. I'm apparently not used to writing really short stories. I might well complete the story about the Walking City of Trilmeria anyway, but I'm not sure if I'll do anything else with the one about the giant weasel. Anyway, here's what I came up with. It ties in with the novel-length manuscript I've been intermittently working on for the past decade or so. And, unless the word count utility is lying to me, it's exactly 500 words, not counting the title.The King and Queen of the Winkies sat in their private drawing room, discussing the dangerous state of their country as of late.
"They say a milkman over in Goldsboro was found transformed into a lemon-flavored yogurt," said King Willinos. "What ARE we to do about this, Nellie?"
"I cannot say I know," replied Queen Neldra, as she nervously ran her hand through her blonde curls. "What a time to bring a child into the world!"
"Where is Peg, anyway?"
"Her nurse is giving her a bath."
"Ah, I see. Oh, by the way, perhaps you already know this, but I sent Larnid to Platina, to try to obtain the Duke's assistance in defending our castle. I feel that--"
At that moment, the door burst open, and a page announced that a wandering woman sought an audience with Their Majesties. "She came to the castle this morning, Your Majesty," explained the page. "We let her in and offered her a drink of water and a hot bath, but she refused both. She did accept a meal, though."
"Is it really a good idea to be inviting strangers in during these trying times?"
"But Will, the Ozian code of hospitality says that we should provide succor to travellers in need," argued the Queen.
"Yes, I know," replied Willinos, as he slid down slightly in his armchair. "It just worries me, my dear. Show the stranger in, Capsum."
Capsum bowed, left the room, and soon returned with a woman dressed in scraggly clothes. Her hair was drawn into two stiff pigtails, and she had a patch over one eye. In the crook of her arm, she carried a large umbrella. Something about her struck the monarchs as not entirely honest. The page bowed and retired, leaving the rulers alone with the stranger.
"Your Majesties!" called out the woman, in a raspy voice. "I have come here to discuss a grave danger to your kingdom."
"Oh, my! Another one?" questioned the King, in a somewhat sarcastic manner.
"I'm sure you've heard of this one before. A woman known as the Wicked Witch of the West."
"Yes, we know about her, madam. Our spies are currently on the lookout for a woman who meets her description. Only one good eye, and…"
King Willinos trailed off as realization dawned. He and his wife immediately called for help, but none came. The Witch cackled and quickly cast a spell, which had no effect on either of the monarchs. After this failure, she stomped her feet and pulled hair from her pigtails. Just as Willinos decided that she looked rather frail and could probably be defeated with a physical attack, the Witch remembered a spell that she had recently learned from a desert sorcerer. A flash of bright light was the last thing that Their Majesties remember for some time. The Witch lost no time in taking control of the castle, but it would take some time and effort to consolidate her rule over the Winkies.
Any thoughts? Yeah, I know. You liked my second grade stories better. :P It's possible I'll have more of those in the future, if I can turn up any more. I'm pretty sure I didn't throw any of that stuff away, but that doesn't necessarily mean I have it here.
By the way, according to my watch, the 23rd will be over in less than two minutes, so I suppose I'll have to wish a happy belated 47th birthday to Weird Al. The 23rd was also the date that Bishop Ussher determined for the creation of the world. How he managed to date it so exactly, I'm not sure. Also, I believe yesterday (and now it actually IS yesterday, as of a minute ago) was the last day of Ramadan.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-10-24 04:51 am (UTC)In more seriousness, you did a very good job of constructing an actual story in 500 words. I liked the tone a lot.
no subject
Date: 2006-10-25 06:07 pm (UTC)Do you think it would work better if I were to add them in?
Capsum bowed, left the room, and soon returned with a woman dressed in scraggly clothes! Her hair was drawn into two stiff pigtails, and she had a patch over one eye! In the crook of her arm, she carried a large umbrella! Something about her struck the monarchs as not entirely honest! The page bowed and retired, leaving the rulers alone with the stranger!
I liked the tone a lot.
Thanks. I don't think this is a story that you really need to have a prior knowledge of the Oz series to understand. All the characters in it, aside from the Wicked Witch, are essentially my own creations. Another established character is mentioned, but in an obscure offhand way.
hooray for oz
Date: 2006-10-25 02:43 am (UTC)Are the King and Queen of the Winkies mentioned other places like some of the other quadrant rulers who get random mentions (like King of the Munchkins in OZMA)? Is that a reference to Peg Amy from KABUMPO? Some day I'll actually get my act together with Oz knowledge and not have to keep asking you questions!
Re: hooray for oz
Date: 2006-10-25 06:14 pm (UTC)Thanks!
Are the King and Queen of the Winkies mentioned other places like some of the other quadrant rulers who get random mentions (like King of the Munchkins in OZMA)?
I can't recall a specific mention, but my assumption was that the Winkie Country had its own rulers before the Wicked Witch's takeover. What happened to them is one of the issues I'm addressing in my manuscript. I had a story published in the latest Oziana about the former royal family of the Quadlings, so I guess this is a theme for me.
Is that a reference to Peg Amy from KABUMPO?
Yes, actually. I'm glad someone caught that. Since the only older relative of Peg's we meet in the Famous Forty is her uncle, I decided that her parents could have been the old King and Queen of the Winkies.