Chapter 4: The Wish That Got Away
The day after Monty and his friends had gathered in the kitchen, formulating plans to neutralize the muffin’s magic, the town of Wobblewood was teetering on the brink of complete chaos. Flying cows still dotted the skies, while the once-calm streets were filled with people either laughing uncontrollably or hiding from yet another absurd wish gone wrong.
It was clear that Monty’s plan wasn’t going to be simple.
“You’re telling me,” Penny said as she paced back and forth in Monty’s living room, “that we have to find a way to balance the muffin’s power before the next wish is made, or it could get even worse?”
Monty nodded grimly. “That’s exactly what I’m saying. The problem is, we don’t even know what the next person might wish for, and with every new wish, the muffin’s magic seems to amplify.”
Everyone in the room was gathered around Monty’s kitchen table, eyes wide and anxious. The muffin—sitting innocently in the middle of the table—seemed to be watching them with an unnerving stillness. No one dared to touch it.
“Do we have any ideas yet?” asked Ollie, who had remained unusually quiet since the group had gathered. He adjusted his thick glasses and leaned forward, clearly thinking deeply.
Penny rubbed her temples. “We could try talking to Mr. Bunbury again, but honestly, I’m not sure he understands the severity of the situation.”
“You’re right,” Monty said. “He’s too caught up in the novelty of it all to realize the potential dangers. We need someone with a little more knowledge about magical objects like this.”
“And where do we find someone like that?” Penny raised an eyebrow.
Monty bit his lip. There was only one place he could think of—the old town library, with its ancient shelves and dusty volumes that no one had dared open for years. Monty had always been fascinated by the library, though it was mostly a place of forgotten lore now. Still, there had to be something—someone—who might know how to fix this.
“I think we need to go see Old Man Fletcher,” Monty said, determination building in his voice.
“Old Man Fletcher? The town historian?” Penny’s voice rose in surprise.
“That’s the one,” Monty replied. “He’s got to know something about magical objects. He’s lived here his whole life and has seen things the rest of us can’t even imagine.”
The journey to Old Man Fletcher’s house was a short one, but it felt like a lifetime. Monty and Penny arrived at the edge of town, where a large, dilapidated house sat surrounded by overgrown bushes and an ancient stone wall. The place had always given off an eerie vibe, with its dark windows and peculiar architecture.
Monty knocked on the door, which creaked open almost immediately. Old Man Fletcher’s wrinkled face appeared in the doorway, his wild, white hair sticking out from under his old-fashioned hat.
“Well, well, if it isn’t Monty and Penny,” he said with a knowing smile, his voice raspy but warm. “What brings you to my humble abode today?”
“We need your help,” Monty said, getting straight to the point. “We’ve got a problem—well, a huge problem—and it’s got to do with a muffin.”
Fletcher raised an eyebrow. “A muffin, eh? You’ve certainly come to the right person. Come in, come in. I’ve got just the thing for you.”
Monty and Penny exchanged confused glances, but they followed Fletcher inside. The house was dark and cluttered with stacks of old books, trinkets, and oddities from decades past. There was a large fireplace in the corner, and an overwhelming smell of sage and rosemary hung in the air.
“I take it this isn’t just any muffin?” Fletcher asked, settling into an old armchair and gesturing for them to do the same.
“No,” Monty replied, sitting across from him. “It’s… a magical muffin. And it grants wishes. But the wishes are… well, they’re going out of control.”
“A magical muffin, you say?” Fletcher chuckled softly, but there was a glimmer of curiosity in his eyes. “I’ve heard of many odd things in my time, but a muffin that grants wishes is a new one.”
“We didn’t exactly plan for it to happen,” Penny added, looking a little embarrassed. “We had no idea it could get this out of hand.”
Fletcher sat up straighter, his eyes narrowing. “I see. Well, in my years as town historian, I’ve encountered all manner of magical artifacts, and I can tell you that there’s one rule when it comes to wishes: the sillier the wish, the more dangerous the consequences.”
Monty leaned forward, his heart racing. “That’s exactly what’s happening! People are making wishes that seem harmless, but they’re becoming absurd and out of control. We need to stop it before something really bad happens.”
Fletcher stroked his chin thoughtfully. “There are two kinds of magic: controlled magic and wild magic. Controlled magic can be shaped and guided, but wild magic… well, it’s unpredictable. Once a wild magic object is disturbed too much, it becomes volatile, and there’s no telling what could happen next. I suspect your muffin is a relic of wild magic.”
Penny gasped. “You mean it could destroy everything?”
“Not necessarily,” Fletcher said slowly. “But wild magic, once released, seeks to spread. The muffin was probably meant to grant small, silly wishes to diffuse negative magic, but if the balance is thrown off, it will begin granting larger, more complex wishes with no regard for the consequences.”
Monty felt a chill run down his spine. “So, if we don’t stop it soon, there’s no telling what might happen?”
“Exactly.” Fletcher sighed. “Unfortunately, once the magic has been set in motion, it’s not always easy to reverse. There’s one way to stop it, but it won’t be simple. You’ll need to find the Muffin’s Master—a person who is able to control its magic and restore its balance.”
“Where do we find this person?” Penny asked, her voice tinged with desperation.
Fletcher’s eyes twinkled. “Ah, that’s the tricky part. The Muffin’s Master isn’t someone you’ll find easily. It’s someone who has an innate connection to the muffin—a person who knows how to harness its energy, control its power, and stop it from spiraling out of control.”
Monty felt the weight of the situation settle on his shoulders. “So, we need to find this person before the muffin grants another wish, right?”
Fletcher nodded. “Correct. If the muffin grants another wish of significant magnitude, it might be impossible to reverse the effects. You don’t have much time.”
Monty stood up, his mind racing. “Thanks, Fletcher. We’ll find the Muffin’s Master.”
“You’d better hurry,” Fletcher called after them. “Before it’s too late.”
As Monty and Penny left Old Man Fletcher’s house, the sky above them seemed to darken, the first signs of an approaching storm on the horizon. The weight of the task ahead felt heavy in Monty’s chest, but he knew one thing for sure: they had to find the Muffin’s Master—and fast. The wishes were growing out of control, and if they didn’t act quickly, Wobblewood would be lost forever.
