The day everyone was waiting for had arrived. . .

With the birth of the new year, the creatures and humans of Tissitopia were celebrating, not only for the new year but also for the completion of the most difficult potion, Merlin ever made!

Cold breeze blew into the room where the delegates of each magical creature community sat.

"Who on Tissitopia opened the window?" Rainbower, the representative for the Unicorn Community grunted. It was true that only the delegates of the communities could speak English.

"Maybe myself," An old man with huge white beard said with a wink. "after all, I live here."

The other creatures rolled their eyes. Mazledow, the head wizard of Tissitopia was one strange old man. He was very light-spirited.

"Sir, is the potion of art-of-mind-reading-potion ready?" asked a small goblin named Ipto. No sooner did he ask the question that he fell off his seat. The others sighed as Mazledow helped the tiny goblin back to his seat. Goblins were known for their clumsiness.

"Who on Tissitopia literally named a potion with such a long name?" Rainbower grunted again.

"Maybe myself!" Mazledow piped up again, chuckling like mad and causing the other creatures to roll their eyes again.

"It," started Torta, the head of the tortoise and merpeople kingdom. The others in the room turned their heads to look at the aged tortoise. "is," Torta continued, "rea-" the sitting members yawned. "-dy."

"Brilliant stars! Can I have it?" The grinning Centaur named Taman, asked.

"Not," Torta started but was cut off before he could even say the next word.

"Not yet, I understand, wise Torta," Pinkina, the delegate for the fairies said.

"yet," Torta continued, obviously ignoring Pinkina.

"Ahem," Mazledow cleared his throat and everyone turned their heads to look at the old man who was now standing on the dais.

"Yes, it is ready and all of us are going to test it together," this announcement was met with excited cheers. "However, it has a shelf life of only a week and we must take it before that," loud roars and grunts of disapproval and disappointment was heard. Mazledow shot sparks from his magical wand to grab the wailing creatures' attention. "What are we waiting for? Merlin? Follow me, old and young chaps! Off to the potions room!"

~×~

The devilish-ly mischievous liquid used for nothing other than reading innocent people's minds was stored in a very tiny vial. It was crystal clear but the smell of rotten fish and eggs and dragon dung made the creatures to wrinkle their nose in disgust.

"Is this the potion we are supposed to drink?" Rainbower asked, looking disgusted. His colourful mane was sticking up in every direction.

"Yes, yes! So, are you all prepared?" Mazledow asked, chuckling madly.

"No!" Pinkina spat. "I cannot drink such a disgusting liquid! Fairies might consider me impure!"

"What about the fairy wings you donated for the sake of preparation?" Mazledow asked, with the same twinkle in his eyes.

"Fairy tails! I forgot. . . . . No, I do not care. You can have it as some reward. . . " Pinkina said, looking upset. Mazledow nodded.

"I," Torta started. The others sighed. "sugg-" he continued. "-est,"

"Okay, let him complete his sentence, until then let's gobble up the potion. Pinkina pay attention to him." Taman said, causing the little blonde fairy to pout.

"that," Torta continued as the others approached the tiny vials.

"only," Torta continued, yet again as Mazledow took a tiny vial filled with the enchanted potion.

"one," Torta continued, again as Ipto, the goblin stood on his toes and took another vial. Unfortunately, the goblin clumsiness caused Ipto to trip on his own toes. He grabbed the table which fell down, along with him with a loud crash as sounds of multiple glass vials shattering resonated throughout the broad potions room.

"take," Torta continued, oblivious to the loud crash. The creatures, with the exception of the babbling tortoise, stared at the mess in front of their blue and brown, beady and unmindful, wide and narrowed eyes.

"at," Torta continued.

"Holy rainbow of horns and wings! Sir Ipto!" Rainbower screeched as he stomped his legs on the stone floor.stone

"a," Torta continued.

Tears streamed from the small goblin's beady eyes as other creatures joined in to rant at him.

"time." Torta finished after an eternity.

"I wish you had said that a bit faster, wise Torta!" Pinkina wailed.

Mazledow shot sparks from his magical wand again to grab the attention of the angry creatures.

"I do have one vial left," Mazledow said, holding up his vial filled with the enchanted liquid. The other creatures sighed with relief. "only one will be able to have it. "

This caused chaos.

~×~

A hour later, which seemed like an eternity to the aged wizard, Mazledow sat in his office. He had just consumed the liquid which literally burned it's way down his throat but it gave an odd satisfying feeling which Mazledow enjoyed.

As soon as the wizard took the liquid, the creatures ran for their lives as if Mazledow would set them on fire. They did not want their secrets to be out especially to humans. Mazledow understood their feelings and respected them but for now he was bored. He had no lab nice or test subjects to test this ancient potion's wonderful effects.

His hand was meddling with a quill as he waited for his friend, Flamer, the Dragon delegate to arrive. The dragon delegate was not invited to attend the meeting as he and his community did not have a part in donating the ingredients required for the potion. Sure, the potion stinked of Dragon dung but it was not made up of it.

Mazledow sighed as he thought of waiting for another day to test the potion.

~×~

A loud roar announced the arrival of the dragon, early in the morning, the next day. Mazledow immediately teleported to the grounds of his enormous castle to meet the black, thick skinned fiery dragon with red whiskers. The huge reptile, named something like sissshasa (the dragons were named in their language, Dragonish which was neither spoken not understood by other creatures) bowed in respect to the wizard. Mazledow bowed back politely.

That exact moment, shivers run up the aged wizard's mind as he began seeing Sissshasa's memories. One contained of a small child riding on his spiky back.

"Yay! Thank you Green!" The little boy with black hair said, reaching his tiny hands above to pat the beast. He looked about six, pale and fragile. The beast grunted in response to his affectionate pat.

"Itzz alright, John. I need you to get well sssoon. " the beast breathed.

"I don't think I would, Green. You know, this disease is not curable. Tonight might be my. . . last night on this earth."

The dragon roared which sounded oddly like a cry.

"Ssh, Green. If my parents hear you, they will call some zoo keepers. They will make you into a lab dragon!" The boy named John said.

Sissshasa shook his head. "'m sssorry, John. I wish I could help you to live. . ."

The boy nodded, "I love you and shall look over you from the heavens." John said and fainted that instant.
The memory turned cloudy and the last thing Mazledow heard before seeing the confused looking dragon in front of him was a roar of sadness.

"What isss this fool looking at?" Came a familiar voice. Mazledow looked up and found Sissshasa staring at him. Mazledow, realizing that he had just read Sissshasa's mind, smiled sheepishly before answering.

"I just wanted to check on you, noble Sissshasa."

The dragon made a small roar before thinking, "Waste of my time." before taking off.

~×~

The next day found Mazledow in his office, looking at a manky old boot. This boot was sent to him by some unknown person. Confused, the old wizard touched the boot. O! How huge of a mistake that was!

"Who is this old man?" Came a tiny mind voice.

Mazledow opened his eyes and found three elves looking at him with their huge beady, curious pink eyes.

"Isals! Alsmal! Aksnae elfy ethanos?" One of the trio asked Mazledow. Mazledow blinked. Truly, he did not know elvish. "Why is he looking at us like a fool?" The same voice thought.

"Merlin, I don't understand you little curious creatures!" Mazledow said, hoping they would know English.

"What is he talking?" another mind voice came.

"Iska tusu?" another elf spoke up. Mazledow shook his head.

"I am requesting you to talk in English." he said.

"What's all this commotion about? Can't the security elves give this elf a rest? Not even a single day!" came another mind voice which Mazledow recognized. "O! Lord Mazledow! What brings you here?" asked Tibbytoes, the delegate for the elves. Simultaneously, Mazledow heard him think, "Why did this old human come now?! I need rest for elves' sake!"

"I came here by some old boot!" Mazledow explained.

"Is this man an idiot? How can a boot help him to come through the magical dome of the elf kingdom?!" Tibbytoes thought. Unbeknownst to the elf, the wizard had heard it.

"I don't know how I got past the dome shield!" Mazledow argued. Tibbytoes looked shocked. That was when Mazledow realized that he shouldn't have mentioned the dome shield. The security ways and forces of each kingdom was a very undisclosed secret which no other creature or human knew about. Mazledow was not supposed to know about the dome shield.

"How does he know about the shield?! He's a traitor!" thought Tibbytoes, still wearing the expression of utter shock.

"I am not a traitor!" Mazledow said before he could stop his mouth.

"Guards! Kick him out of here! He's doing some evil sorcery and reading my mind! Get rid of him!" Tibbytoes ordered but before any of the three security elves could approach the old wizard, he leaped to the side and grabbed the same manky boot which was lying there. He felt a pull which resembled that of teleportation. He opened his eyes and found a Pegasus standing there, looking at him oddly.

"This sage is here. How did he get past the pegasus security kicks?" The wizard heard Gasuas, the pegasus think.

"I didn't get past the security kicks!" Mazledow said and swore loudly. He just revealed that he knew of another kingdom's defense. The pegasus delegate's eyes widened. Pegasus kicks meant the kick an intruder would get if he or she dared enough to get past the security pegasuses.

"H-How do you know about Pegasus kicks?" Gasuas neighed.

"I-I- Escape!" Mazledow shrieked and grabbed the same ol' manky boot. The same feeling of transportation was experienced and Mazledow's eyes remained closed, fearing for the worst. He wondered if he was now in the kingdom of the nasty nymphs or that of pummeling pixies or of weary warlocks but when he forced his scared eyes open, he found himself in his own office, back in the wizarding land. A sigh of relief escaped his dry lips as he slumped onto his armchair.

"That was the worst mind reading experience ever!" Mazledow exclaimed to the shadows of his empty room.

"Was it at least a memorable new year experience?" Came the voice of his successor, Lilia Graster, a fifty year old witch. He turned his head to see her leaning against the door frame of his office. Mazledow sighed before answering.

"I know what you are thinking. I also know that it was question to me and that you are testing the effects of the potion," Mazledow said, rubbing his temples as a smirk crossed the witch's face.

"Sounds like my manky ol' boot thought him a lesson on not to read others' minds and invade their privacy." Thought Lilia. Mazledow nodded.

"Good try there. You win. I won't make that potion ever again but yes, it was a wild yet memorable new year experience. . ."