Possessed Doll
(Arthur POV)
I had just finished sketching the "Chucky" doll from multiple angles, nodding with satisfaction at the designs, when a loud crash shattered my concentration.
Looking up, I found my ghostly employees frozen in guilt beside broken objects scattered across the floor. The shards of my favorite coffee cup lay in pieces.
"We're getting punished again, aren't we?" Diddy mumbled anxiously.
Their faces showed genuine fear of punishment, but I just sighed and waved them off. "Clean this mess up and go."
"Y-yes, right away!" Puffy stammered, the ghosts scrambling to tidy their chaos.
Leaving them to their cleanup, I headed to the parking lot and drove to one of our Hellfire Merchandise stores. The shop specialized in toys crafted by master dwarf toymaker Eloso, whose reputation in the kingdom's toy industry was legendary.
His workshop produced action figures from all our properties - cowboys from "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly," characters from "Lord of the Rings," and the perpetually sold-out Harry Potter wands.
The store's back area hummed with activity - the whir of machinery mixing with the chatter of craftsmen. Employees brightened as they recognized me, offering warm greetings as I made my way to Eloso's workshop.
The old dwarf's office was a wonderland of toys and dolls. Prototypes lined every shelf, while half-finished projects cluttered his massive workbench.
Mechanical toys ticked and whirred, and the air carried the sweet scent of wood shavings and paint.
At 108 years old, Eloso's beard had gone snow-white, but his eyes still sparkled with creative energy as he turned from his work.
"What brings you here?" he asked gruffly, barely looking up from the delicate gears he was adjusting. His casual tone might have offended some, but I understood - age and mastery had earned him the right to such familiarity.
"Old Eloso, I need you to personally craft a doll design," I said.
His bushy eyebrows shot up with interest. "You want me to make something personally?" He set down his tools and turned fully toward me. "Now that's got this old dwarf curious. Let's see it."
I handed him the sketches of Chucky. His weathered fingers traced the design as he muttered specifications under his breath.
"Hmm, appears to be a normal human child..." He studied the details. "Ginger hair, bright blue eyes, striped shirt and overalls, freckled cheeks-" His voice trailed off abruptly.
I smiled, knowing he'd reached the unusual specifications.
"You want to include artificial organs, blood vessels, and muscle tissue in this doll?" Eloso's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Not artificial," I corrected. "I want real organic components."
He stared at me as if I'd lost my mind. "Are you creating a doll or trying to build an actual child?"
A soft laugh escaped me. "Just a doll, I assure you."
"Then why waste time with internal organs? It makes no sense." Eloso shook his head.
"Can you make it or not?" I sighed. "I have my reasons."
The old dwarf studied me intently, concern evident in his ancient eyes. Finally, he relented. "Fine, I'll do it. Truth be told, I'm curious about crafting something this realistic."
"Remember," I pointed to the specifications, "the exterior should still be plastic, with synthetic hair. The materials are clearly listed."
"I can read," he grumbled, already examining the technical details with professional interest.
"One more thing," I added. "The doll needs a speaker and basic magic core compartment for power."
Eloso nodded without looking up from the sketches. "Voice functionality? Standard enough."
In this world, talking dolls were common enough. Given Eloso's expertise with magical toy mechanics, I knew he'd handle the technical aspects perfectly.
"Let me know when it's finished," I said, turning to leave.
"Give me a few weeks," he replied, already making notes on the design.
I paused. "That quick?"
The old dwarf snorted, tugging at his silver beard. "Don't insult me, kid. I've built far more complex pieces in half the time."
"Fair enough. I'll leave you to it."
***
(3rd Person POV)
January 28, 1274 marked the Welsh Premier League finals, with football having captured the kingdom's imagination. The ancient stadium's 80,000 seats filled to 80% capacity - unprecedented for a new sport in Wales.
Before kickoff, Queen took center stage. Their appearance sparked confused murmurs among some spectators.
"Who's this demon band, Queen? I only know Nirvana..." one Welsh fan asked.
His neighbor turned in disbelief. "Don't you own a television? Queen's brilliant - their songs are everywhere!"
At midfield, Frederick surveyed the massive crowd, his pulse quickening with excitement. Performing in Wales had once been just a dream. Though this was only a pre-match show, it marked Queen's first step beyond demon territories.
Frederick's performance of unreleased material electrified the crowd. As he finished what should have been their final song, the stadium erupted with demands for more.
In his office, Arthur watched the crowd's reaction on TV, stroking his chin thoughtfully. 'Looking good. Queen's ready to expand beyond demon territories.'
The football match began with Genesis joining star player Rhys in Wales Dragon FC's starting lineup. Their chemistry on the field proved decisive as Wales Dragon FC claimed victory.
During the celebration, Queen returned to the pitch. The opening notes of their unreleased "We Are the Champions" filled the stadium. Frederick's voice soared as Wales Dragon FC players swayed with their fans, trophy held high, completely caught up in the moment.
"Queen's new album will definitely find an audience in Wales," Arthur mused, watching the scene unfold.
***
By late March, the Chucky doll arrived. Eloso personally delivered it to Arthur's office.
"Remarkable craftsmanship," Arthur said, examining the doll. "I'm surprised you finished it so quickly."
Eloso huffed proudly. "When I promise a few weeks, I deliver in a few weeks. Simple as that."
"Did you implement the voice function?" Arthur asked.
The old dwarf reached for the doll's back, pressing a hidden switch. The doll's head turned with mechanical precision, its blue eyes glinting as a child voice emerged from its speaker: "Hi, I'm Chucky. Wanna play?"
"Perfect," Arthur murmured approvingly.
Eloso stroked his beard, explaining how he'd used pig organs to create realistic internal structures. "Now will you tell me why this doll needed actual organs?"
Arthur regarded him quietly. "You know about my ghost employees?"
"What about them?" Eloso's brow furrowed.
With a subtle gesture, Arthur summoned Diddy into the office.
"Need something?" the ghost asked casually, floating between them.
"Possess the doll," Arthur instructed.
Diddy glanced at the Chucky doll, shrugging. "Easy enough." His spectral form melted into the toy.
Eloso jumped back as the doll came to life, its eyes gaining an eerily organic gleam. Chucky's movements were unnaturally smooth as it began to walk.
"Your ghosts can possess objects now?" Eloso watched in fascination. "Still doesn't explain the organs though."
Arthur's lips curved. "I wanted to see if Diddy could experience physical sensation again. If not, the organs would serve aesthetic purposes when damaged."
"Hold on," Chucky's voice carried Diddy's growing excitement. "There are actual organs in here? I can feel them!"
The doll's arms spread wide, eyebrows rising in wonder. "This... this feels like possessing a real child, not just a toy!" The doll's chest rose and fell as Diddy experimented with breathing.
Arthur watched with mounting enthusiasm. The combination of ghost possession and living components had created something far more visceral than he'd anticipated - perfect for his horror film ambitions.
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