Sneak Preview: Luck of the Irish - Chapter Three

For a few years, around St. Patrick's Day I had a leprechaun story that was comissioned by one of my patrons. I missed last year, and I feel real bad about it, so the finale is gonna be big and bold. It's a bit of a mish-mash of european creatures.

The third chapter is the finale, and will end in some surprising ways, I hope.  The full story will be posted publically, matching the other two, but it won't be finished until next month, so here is an exclusive look for you, my fine patrons.
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The Forest of Luck loomed in the distance, the trees arching high into the clear blue sky like arms swooping towards Lucy Tunstall, trying to snatch her up. She had been transformed into a Leprechaun like creature by a vengeful old woman who turned out to be a leprechaun herself, and now she was marching into an enchanted forest to try and save herself and her two friends who had also been wrapped up in this strange tale. She shook her head as she was followed by a male leprechaun named Shaun, who was chuckling to himself. 

“Well, you have a bit more tenacity than I would have expected given the circumstances. That kind of fire will serve you well as a wee lass of the leprechaun type.” he mused. 

“Not if I have anything to say about it.” she said with a snarl. “What is the first thing I need to do in this god-forsaken place?” 

“Well there are ingredients to a potion that can cure you. They are all in the forest. Then you must find a pot of gold to finish your quest” He said. “The first ingredient is just ahead, if I am not mistaken.” he said as he pointed.

“Let’s get it over with.” she said. “You coming?”

“I am not permitted to assist, but I’ll be waiting at the end to see how you do.” he added with a smirk. 

She sighed and began her trek into the forest, watching as the leprechaun she had been conversing with disappeared with a puff of green smoke. She resolved to get this over with and walked into the forest, thinking her quest would be full of peril and mystery, seeking hidden things, but when she came a brief clearing, she saw a sign that read “First Ingredient Here” that pointed to a small bottle on a table. 

She walked over and picked the bottle up and looked at it’s contents, of which there were none. 

“It’s Empty? Oh come on.” she muttered. 

“Well, you need to fill it up” came a deep thunderous voice. “It is is supposed to contain nothing but the most pure delicious fear.” 

A figure made of shadow and mist began to pour into the clearing, the only thing even remotly human about it was a pair of eyes that were staring out of it. It then started to become more solid as it approached her. Before her, the mist turned into her...as a human. A beautiful woman who was not a shortstack magical creature, and it was infuriating. 

“What is the meaning of this?”

“Showing you what you lost.” the figure said as it shrank into a more accurate representation of her now. “And what you will never have again. You know you won’t win this quest.”

“I can damn well try.” she said, struggling not to be upset. 

The figure shifted again, this time to that of her friends, spliting into two distinct giggling leprechauns, one fat, one a child. “They too will be trapped here forever, and it is all your fault.” hissed the voice. 

“Stop it! How is this supposed to help.” 

“You are afraid of losing everything you know. Your life, your friends, being trapped in this place, are you not?” she said.

“Yes.” Lucy admitted.

As she said the word yes, a black smoke poured from her mouth, which made her gag. It began to pour itself into the bottle. 

The mist clapped. “Well, that was successful.” 

It reformed, this time into a somewhat chubby looking man with a bowler hat and a waistcoat that was brown and red, atop high waisted slacks.

“Bobby Boggart, at your service. I show people what they be most afraid of. I was enlisted to help get that fear out of ya. Now you know what you stand to lose.” he said. “I’m to accompany you onto the next challenge, it’s a whopper.” he said. 

“You asshole.” she shouted. 

“Now, dearie, it’s nothing personal. I am just a boggart looking to make a buck, and they offered me this prime gig, and it benefits you. Not only did you fill the bottle with the needed ingredient, now you know that you are afraid, but it doesn’t define you. It hasn’t made you want to give up, has it?” the creature asked. 

She looked at him and nodded. “I want to finish it more than ever.” 

“Fear of fear itself is wise. Keep that up. Anywho, we should be getting on our way if you want to make the potion before you are stuck this way forever.” 

The two of them began to venture deeper into the forest, where it was getting darker and thicker. 

“Never met a former human before My grandfather told me stories of him frightening them from inside their closets, but I never thought I’d get to meet one.” 

“Well, if I make it back to my original body, you can try to scare me then, how about that?” she said. 

“Oh, don’t tempt me, missy.”