Chapter 11: The Wobbly Wand Shop
The cobblestone streets of Astoria bustled with magic and life as Evanora and Everett made their way toward the famous Wobbly Wand Shop. The sun had barely risen, casting a golden glow on the enchanted city, and Everett couldn’t help but feel excited. It was their first stop after forming alliances with the witches at Moonlight Meadows, and now they needed stronger wands if they were going to stand a chance against Monroe and his evil crew.
Evanora, her broomstick thankfully tucked away for now, walked beside him, humming a tune that Everett had come to recognize as her "I’m nervous but trying to stay calm" song.
“Are you sure we need new wands?” Everett asked, trying to sound casual even though the idea of wielding a powerful wand was thrilling.
“I mean, we’ve done pretty well so far, right?”
Evanora laughed, though there was a nervous edge to it.
“I don’t know if falling off my broom and accidentally turning a frog into a chicken counts as ‘doing well,’ but sure.”
Everett grinned.
“You’re right, maybe we could use a little boost in the magic department. So, what’s the deal with this wand shop?”
“They say the wands in Wobbly Wand Shop choose you,” Evanora explained, her eyes wide with excitement.
“But they all have, well, quirks. You have to be careful when picking one, or else you might end up with something that... misbehaves.”
Everett chuckled.
“Sounds like your broomstick.”
“Ha ha, very funny,” Evanora said, though she smiled.
“But seriously, I’ve been wanting a new wand for ages. My current one is... let’s just say it’s not very reliable.”
As they approached the shop, Everett noticed the sign above the door, which was shaped like a crooked wand. The letters shimmered and changed colors, almost as if they were alive: *The Wobbly Wand Shop – Find the Wand that Chooses You.*
Inside, the shop was even more magical than Everett had expected. Wands of every size, shape, and material filled the shelves, some floating in mid-air, others glowing softly. A tinkling bell rang as they entered, and an old witch with a crooked smile appeared behind the counter.
“Welcome, welcome!” the witch said, her voice raspy but warm.
“Looking for wands, are we?”
“Uh, yes,” Evanora said, stepping forward. “We need something... a little more powerful than what we’re used to.”
The witch raised an eyebrow.
“Ah, new wands for a couple of young adventurers, I see. Well, you’ve come to the right place. But be warned, not every wand in here will take kindly to just anyone.”
Everett exchanged a glance with Evanora. “How do we know which one will, uh, like us?”
The witch’s grin widened. “Oh, you’ll know. But the question is... will you like *it*?”
With a wave of her hand, several wands floated off the shelves and hovered in front of Everett and Evanora. Each wand seemed to hum with its own distinct energy, and Everett could feel the magical tension in the air.
Evanora reached for a wand made of dark oak with silver engravings along its length. The moment her fingers wrapped around it, the wand began to vibrate violently, and a burst of bubbles erupted from the tip, floating lazily around her head.
Evanora blinked in surprise. “Uh, is it supposed to do that?”
The old witch cackled. “Not quite what you’re looking for, I think!”
Everett snorted, trying to stifle his laughter as Evanora’s face was overtaken by bubbles. “You look like you’re trapped in a fish tank.”
“Oh, shut up!” Evanora said, swatting at the bubbles. She quickly placed the wand back on the shelf, where it continued to bubble softly.
Everett, meanwhile, had reached for a wand with a sleek, polished surface that shimmered in the light. As soon as he touched it, a loud *achoo* escaped from his mouth, followed by a jet of flame that shot straight into the air.
“Whoa!” Everett stumbled back, nearly knocking over a shelf of wands as he clutched his nose. “What was that?”
The witch cackled again. “Sneezing fire! Quite the trick, isn’t it?”
“I don’t think I want to sneeze fire every time I cast a spell,” Everett muttered, putting the wand back hastily.
They continued to try wands, but each one seemed to come with its own unique set of problems. One wand turned Evanora’s hair into a bouquet of flowers, much to Everett’s amusement. Another caused Everett to start hiccupping bubbles, much to Evanora’s delight.
“I think I’m getting the hang of this,” Everett joked, hiccupping yet another bubble.
Evanora rolled her eyes, her hair still full of pink daisies. “This is ridiculous. How are we supposed to stop Monroe if we can’t even find a wand that doesn’t make us sneeze fire or hiccup bubbles?”
Just as they were about to give up, the witch stepped forward with a thoughtful expression. “Hmm, perhaps we need something a little... different for you two.”
She reached behind the counter and pulled out two wands that had been hidden from view. One was made of twisted willow with delicate gold inlays, and the other was sleek, made from ebony with silver streaks.
“These,” the witch said, her voice almost a whisper, “are special. They’ve been waiting for the right pair to come along.”
Everett and Evanora exchanged a look. “Special how?” Everett asked, cautiously reaching for the ebony wand.
The moment his fingers wrapped around it, a cool, soothing sensation washed over him. The wand fit perfectly in his hand, as if it had been made just for him. He waved it experimentally, and instead of sneezing fire, a soft, controlled beam of light shot from the tip, illuminating the room.
Evanora picked up the twisted willow wand, and a gentle breeze swirled around her, lifting her hair in a graceful arc. The flowers in her hair dissolved into glowing particles, and her eyes widened in awe.
“These feel... right,” Evanora said softly, looking at the witch.
The old witch smiled knowingly. “That’s because they chose you. These wands are bonded to your magic now. Use them wisely.”
Everett grinned, feeling more confident than ever. “I think we finally found what we were looking for.”
As they paid for the wands and prepared to leave, the witch handed them each a small, glowing stone. “Take these. If you ever find yourselves in a bind, these stones will guide you to safety.”
Evanora took the stone and bowed slightly. “Thank you. We’ll need all the help we can get.”
“Good luck, my dear,” the witch said, her eyes twinkling. “Astoria will need brave witches like you in the days to come.”
With their new wands in hand and a renewed sense of purpose, Everett and Evanora stepped out of the Wobbly Wand Shop and back onto the bustling streets of Astoria. The weight of the coming battle still hung over them, but for the first time, they felt ready to face whatever Monroe and his forces had in store.
“So,” Everett said, turning to Evanora, “how does it feel to finally have a wand that doesn’t turn your hair into flowers?”
Evanora laughed, twirling her new wand between her fingers. “It feels... magical.”
Everett chuckled. “Good, because I think we’re going to need every bit of magic we can get.”
As they walked through the streets, the feeling of something new and powerful thrummed in the air. Their journey had taken a turn, and now they were not just fighting to survive—they were preparing to take on Monroe with everything they had.
And with their new wands, they were one step closer to winning the battle for Astoria.