The Land of Flora

by Marie Springberry

Chapter 15: Magic and Farewell

  “Meg, Meg. Can you hear me?”

  “Ken?” Meg woke up, and looked around. The morning had come, and she could hear birds twittering to each other. She could also hear the sound of the stream, but she couldn’t make out where the voice was coming from.

  “Where are you, Ken?”

  “Over here, I see you.”

  “Where?”

  “In front of you.” And Meg realized that Ken’s voice was coming from one of the petals of cherry blossoms that had fallen over the night.

  “I can hear you, but I can’t see you.”

  “Come closer, and take the petal in your hand. Look at it closely.”

  Meg found the right petal, and picked it up. When Meg looked at it, she could vaguely figure out Ken’s face.

  “Ken, it’s good to talk to you again! I miss you.”

  “I miss you, too, Meg. This connection only holds for several minutes.” Marilia had told Ken that the connection would last only for several minutes, and that she would not be able to cast the spell again for at least a week due to its precarious nature. “Is everything going all right?”

  “Yes, yes. We are still looking for the Stones, but we should be on our way back as soon as we find one. How is it going back in Rosetta? I can’t wait to see you.”

  “Sis,” said Ken, and paused. Meg sensed something in his tone.

  “What is it Ken?”

  “I just wanted to let you know that we might not be able to see each other for a while.”

  “What do you mean?” Meg, to her own surprise, sounded calm. “We’ll see each other when I get back to Rosetta, right?”

  “Sis, I need you to stay strong and confident in yourself. Remember, I am always in your heart even when we are apart.”

  “What are you saying, Ken?”

  “I think I’m going back to my world soon.”

  “Have you found a way back?”

  “I think I have, but I don’t think I can take you with me if I take this route. I don’t want to leave you in this world, but I’m guessing you’d like to stay.”

  Meg was silent for a minute. And she finally said, “Yes, I would like to stay. I feel this world is where I’m meant to live.”

  “Sis, which kingdom do you think you belong to?”

  “Rosetta.”

  “Why?”

  “I just know that’s where I belong to. I feel I also belong to Sakuratta since my flower is cherry blossoms. But Rosetta will be my home.”

  “Is it because of the Story? What if someone tells you that the Story is a lie, and you have been used by Rosetta?”

  “I feel I is unlikely,” said Meg. “However, I chose Rosetta out of my own will. I chose to come to this adventure because I wanted to.” And Ken knew that Meg really meant it, so he simply said,

  “I want you to be happy, Meg. I wish I could stay with you, but I know this world is not where I belong to.”

  Ken’s eyes and Meg’s eyes met, and they both understood that this would be their parting.

  “Sis, I promised to protect you. But you don’t need me to protect you anymore. You have grown and changed in this short period of time, and I feel you are more than capable of standing on your own.” Ken paused, and then added, “Trust Prince Prligion.”

  “Thank you, Ken. I’m going to miss you so much. But do live a happy life. I feel that I’ll disappear from the world where we came from, but please remember me. And if anybody else remembers me, please tell them that I miss them.”

  “Yes, I will. And please remember me as your gentle brother no matter what happens.”

  “Of course,” said Meg, but she suddenly remembered the dream she saw the other day. “Ken, where are you talking to me from?”

  “The connection is fading, Meg. I didn’t expect us to part in this way.”

  “Neither did I.”

  “Meg, you’re always my dear sister even though we will be apart.” Ken’s voice was now fading. The magic that connected the two places was starting to wear off.

  “I’ll always always remember you, and I’ll always think of you, Ken.”

  “Bye, Meg.”

  “Bye, Ken.”

  A wind blew, and lifted the petal off Meg’s palm. Meg wiped a tear off her face. “The Land of Flora, this is where I belong to.” She said to herself. “And Rosetta is my home.”

  “Meg!” called Tithy. “There is a hollow in the tree! It’s not a cave, but I see something inside.”

  The hollow turned out to be too small for Meg to enter. Tithy, in spite of her fear of darkness, went into the hollow and found a beautiful crystal inside. When Meg touched the crystal, it became warm in her hands. “This must be it,” thought Meg.

  ***

  “Meg! Tithy!” Captain Relosa was relieved to see them approaching the ship. Two days had passed since their departure and he had been really worried. The ship had been attacked by giant butterflies several times over the two days. The crew members had successfully defended the ship and themselves, but Captain Relosa had become worried that Meg and Tithy might have been in danger.

  “Are you all right? Aren’t you hurt or anything?” asked the captain.

  “We are fine, and we have achieved the aim of our adventure.”

  “You mean you have found the Stone.”

  “Yes, we have.”

  “I knew you would be able to find it, but it’s still a great news. You should get some rest, Meg and Tithy. We will go back to Rosetta as fast as we can. We are needed.”

  An hour later, the Spring Rose was sailing back to Rosetta at its top speed. The ocean of nothingness did not prevent the ship from sailing through. Captain Relosa thought it was because they were trying to leave Sakuratta. Meg and Tithy were sound asleep in their cabin, exhausted from their adventure. The Stone was safely hidden in their cabin. Meg was having a dream of a beautiful spring morning, without knowing that a war had begun between Rosetta and Tulitta.

  Chapter 16: The Fate

  The war between Rosetta and Tulitta was fierce. Rosetta first attacked Tulitta, but Tulitta was expecting the attack. Both armies crashed at the border, and the area was soon filled with red roses and red tulips. Nothing interfered with the fight this time. Rosetta was initially winning. The Rosettalian army surged into Tulitta. However, ninjas of Tulitta were working with the Tulittalan army, and they attacked the Rosettalian soldiers with magic once they crossed the border. They magically depleted water from the water bottles of the soldiers so that they would not be able to fight well. Rosetta initially did not have any idea what was going on, and kept sending water to the front line despite the water shortage. As such, the reservoir of Rosetta was drying up fast. Tulitta in this way soon succeeded in pushing Rosetta back. Both armies were exhausted by then, and ceased fire for a while.

  It was at this time when Meg came back to Rosetta with the Stone. Meg was shocked to see soldiers fighting and dying, but she stood strong. She brought the Stone to the Fountain of Bara with Prince Prligion. Professor Mistel also came along. Meg placed the Stone into the hole dug under the fountain. However, nothing happened.

  “I’m pretty sure this is the Stone,” said Meg, picking up the Stone again.

  “I believe you, Meg. We might be placing it in a wrong place.”

  “We could try to place it on the fountain, but I can’t reach the top.”

  “Let me give it a try.” Prince Prligion said, and stretched his arm to receive the Stone from Meg. When his hand touched Meg’s hand, the Stone became dramatically warm. Meg almost dropped it by surprise, but she held on to it.

  “What has just happened?” asked Meg. “It became hot!”

  “Ah,” said Professor Mistel. “What is the strongest thing in the world?”

  “True Language?” suggested Meg.

  “That too. But there is something else although you really need to mean it. And I think somebody really means it,” and Professor Mistel winked at Prince Prligion. Meg wondered what Mitchy
was talking about.

  However, it seemed the prince had understood the puzzle. He approached Meg, and asked her “do you remember the promise I made before you left?”

  “Yes. You promised me to take me to the most beautiful place in Rosetta.”

  “This Garden of Peace is the place I was talking about. Do you know why I made that promise?” And Meg understood what the prince meant.

  Prince Prligion kissed Meg gently, and Meg felt herself blush.

  “Aishiteru,” said the prince, “I love you, Meg.”

  “I love you too.”

  And they kissed again.

  Lo! The Stone in Meg’s hand suddenly started to pound. Meg let it go, surprised by the suddenly movement. The Stone fell into the hole, and suddenly, water started to flow out of the fountain again.

  “Water is back! You did it, Meg!”

  “No, we did it!”

  “Well, congratulations! I’m going to report to the castle that water is back,” said Mitchy. She winked and added, “I can do this errand by myself.”

  ***

  Two hours later, another council was being held in the castle of Rosetta. The castle was full of hope now that the Fountain of Bara had been revived. Meg soon noticed that Ken was missing, but she did not say anything. King Raligion insisted on conquering Tulitta once and for all. He said,

  “We have enough supply of water. We should be able to do this.”

  “But we keep getting our water bottles depleted once we cross the borderline,” said Captain Curlipian. “We believe there are some magicians among the Tulittalian army. We can try to outnumber them, but I’m not sure if the plan will succeed.”

  “Can’t you do something about this, professors?”

  “We might be able to use the true language to stop this,” said Professor Mistel, and she whispered something to the captain. The captain nodded and said,

  “We will give this strategy a try.”

  “Good. I hope we can eradicate the Tulittalians soon.”

  “Eradicate?” Meg couldn’t help asking. “Why do you have to do such a thing?”

  “Did you really think I’m just trying to overthrow the regime?” said the king. “This is also my personal revenge.” He raised his voice, and Meg wondered if he was getting slightly crazy. “I want to get rid of as many Tulittalians as possible.”

  “What?” This was Prince Prligion. “You’ve never told me about this before. Aren’t we fighting so that Rosetta will be protected? Taking unnecessary lives is a whole different story, and it is unacceptable.”

  “It doesn’t matter. Just try to kill or seize King Sadaharion first. In fact, I’m going to march out myself, and see to it. I temporarily relieve you of the Commander of the army, Prligion. I’m going to command the army.”

  “But…,” started Prince Prligion, but he was interrupted by a guard who ran into the room.

  “Tulittalians have attacked again!” one of the guards shouted at them, and they all ran out of the room.

  ***

  The Rosettalian army, with the help of sufficient pure water, proved to be stronger than the Tulittalian army. The strategy Mitchy had come up with, which was to freeze the movements of spell casters by using the true language, proved to be highly effective as well. Mitchy regretted sharing the idea because the new commander King Raligion showed no sign of mercy. He ordered the soldiers to kill as many Tulittalians as possible, and also to burn their houses. Prince Prligion and Meg tried to bring him back to senses, but he wouldn’t listen. He ordered several soldiers to confine Meg into a castle room until everything was over. He also ordered them to kill Meg if Prince Prligion showed any sign of deference.

  The Rosettalian army was approaching the central city of Tulitta. Too many red tulips were blooming along the path the army had taken. King Sadaharion was fighting in the front line, but he was sensing that it was a matter of time that they would lose. He knew that surrendering was not an option because it was now apparent that King Raligion was trying to destroy Tulitta once and for all. Marilia and Ken were also fighting next to him. The Rosettalian army now knew that Ken was working for Tulitta.

  An arrow suddenly flew at them, and Marilia was struck.

  “Marilia!” Ken shouted.

  Marilia was still breathing.

  “Ken, it was good to meet you. I wish we’d had time to get to know each other better.”

  “Marilia, don’t.”

  “Ken, please save Tulitta.” And she turned into a red tulip.

  “No… Marilia.”

  But there wasn’t time for lament. The Rosettalian army was now at the city wall. Ken finally saw King Raligion triumphantly marching with the army, and knew it was time to carry out his mission. He recalled the dream he had the first day he came to Flora. “You have come to find who you truly are,” the voice in the dream had said. Suddenly, Ken noticed who Fair Lady was, and his heart was filled with courage.

  “King Sadaharion! It was an honor to serve you.” Ken said, and jumped into the Rosettalian army. He felt arrows piercing him, but he did not halt. He soon reached King Raligion.

  “Oh, Ken. I think you are too late. Your friend Tulitta is going to disappear soon.” King Raligion jeered at Ken. The king’s eyes were set in a strange manner, and Ken saw that the king was not himself anymore.

  “No, Tulitta won’t disappear. Peace is what Flora needs.” And he shouted his true song, “Oozorani Sobiyutaiboku Chikarazuyoshi Konohachiredomo Inochiwahatezu.”

  A strong smell of peppermint engulfed the field, and a tremendous explosion occurred. The explosion was so large that all the soldiers stopped fighting.

  When the fire and smoke cleared, there was a magnificent red rose, indicating that King Raligion had passed away. There also were red roses scattered around the area of explosion. However, for an explosion of this size, the number of casualties was relatively small. Ken was nowhere to be seen.

  Suddenly, a warm wind blew from nowhere, and everyone in the field heard a voice. It said, “The Land of Flora, forever. The Will did not overpower the Story, the Will became the Story.”

  “The new king of Rosetta, I wonder if we could talk,” called out King Sadaharion.

  ***

  A peace treaty was soon concluded between Rosetta and Tulitta. They also agreed on to restore Violetta, and a new and true Union was restored on the Land of Flora. King Sadaharion after all decided to tell King Prligion of his identity. King Prligion initially found it hard to believe, but accepted the fact once he stood back to back with King Sadaharion and found that they were exactly of the same height. However, he was a true Rosettalian at heart, so Rosettalian people happily accepted King Prligion as their new king. His true song, “Tenkuuni Hikarikagayaku Taiyouyo Terasechinoue Tamiwomichibike, lead the people as the sun shines upon the earth,” thus came true.

  Many funerals had to be held as many soldiers had sadly deceased in the war. All the flowers were retrieved, and were carefully replaced in the Gardens. Meg lamented over the loss of Ken, but she remembered his parting words, and stood strong.

  When the period of mourning was over, a wedding ceremony of Prligion and Meg was held. Delegates and guests from Tulitta, Daffolitta, and Violetta gathered, and it was indeed a cheerful day. There was a lot of singing and dancing, and the guests were especially entertained by the dance performance by rabimous.

  A surprise was waiting for Meg when she was alone in her room after the feast. Prince Prligion was not in the room as he had gone out to see the delegates and guests off. Meg was drowsing on her bed, and suddenly the old man from Sakuratta appeared.

  “Oh, I must have miscalculated the time difference,” said the old man, his eyes twinkling. “But the Fair Lady is with me.”

  “You have done a very good job, Meg.”

  It was Meg’s mother.

  Epilogue

  “Please wake up. We have landed.”

  Ken drowsily opened his eyes. “What’s going on?” he asked. He was back on the plane,
and the plane had landed. “Where am I?”

  “We are at Narita International Airport. Welcome to Japan.” The cabin attendant smiled at him. “We experienced some turbulence during our flight, but I hope you had a pleasant flight,” and she left.

  “Where is Meg?” Ken thought, and looked at the seat next to him. Meg was not there. Instead, there was a beautiful rose petal on the seat. Ken realized that the Land of Flora was not a dream, and that Meg had really chosen to stay there. Ken said to the petal, “Sis, I've come back.” As Ken reached for the petal, it disappeared.

  As the passengers started to get off the plane, Ken decided to ask the cabin attendant another question.

  “Excuse me. Was there somebody sitting next to me?”

  “No. That seat was empty from the beginning.”

  “Oh, I see. Thank you.”

  Ken stood up, took a deep breath, and stepped forward.

  He knew that a new adventure was waiting for him.