by Joanne Durda
“My goodness, what is that?” the bewildered Queen asked.
Augean looked puzzled at the colored shadow coming at them all.
Goldest squinted her eyes and looked deeply. Her instincts informed her what that buzzing mass was. “The ladybugs! They have come back!” she exclaimed with excitement.
The lusterless Sun began to take on a bright yellow color as it smiled at the turn of events, and started to shine brightly on the battleground, drying up the men’s blood that covered it so widely.
Ushi, Savagio, and Aparicio stopped fighting for a few seconds to take a closer look at the buzzing, colored mass coming towards them. Captain Frangelico knew that the colorful swarm was the ladybugs. After his encounter with the pretty ladybug, he knew by his gypsy instinct that they would not abandon Goldest and their ancestral homeland.
The ladybugs fell upon the Thorn Warriors. The Thorn Warriors were so agitated at having the creatures all over them that they keep swinging around violently, trying to dislodge the ladybugs from themselves. They swung madly, snapping themselves into two-branch thorns. The Willow Warriors and Gypsy Warriors watched, some not wanting to smash the colorful ladybugs with their weapons. The Thorn Warriors that did not have ladybugs land on them were beaten into two by the Willow Warriors and the Gypsy Warriors.
“Do not harm any of the ladybugs!” Captain Frangelico cried out. The gypsies knew it was bad luck to kill or damage a ladybug. They feared misfortune would befall them if any harm came to a ladybug, so they backed off.
Captain Frangelico rode up to Ushi and Savagio. “So, I see we meet again! And you, Ushi, look much better as a warrior fighting than a horse on the side watching!” Captain Frangelico jested.
“And how did you know of our predicament?” Ushi asked Frangelico.
“Why, I had a visit from one of the prettiest red ladybugs, with big golden eyes,” Frangelico informed him.
The Monks were more than annoyed to see the approaching Gypsy Warriors and see them take part in the assault, but were totally flabbergasted when they saw the colorful mass of exotic ladybugs coming to rescue their Kingdom of the Ladybugs. This was an unforeseen turn of events that Theo did not, and could not, comprehend. His anger was all the greater by reason of his insanity. “What right have they, having left this kingdom many, many years ago?” Theo murmured, with rising fury.
Ushi, Savagio, Aparicio and Frangelico looked up and saw the King of the Willows with his own Willow Warriors ride into the camp of the Monks and surround them. The King and his Willow Warriors gathered the discomposed Monks together. Only Theo remained unbending against the capture, but stood firm and strong, with his head held high above the others. The Monks were captured by a very angry, perturbed King, who was livid that they would do this to his Queen and granddaughter. The frog did not matter to him.
“Seize them! Tear their inviolable medallions from their necks! They have perverted the traditions of their ancestors!” the King cried out. “They will have to atone for themselves before they ever wear their medallions again!”
A few of the Willow Warriors dismounted and tore the valuable sacred medallions, which were the imprint of their ancestry, from around their necks. Theo, his face full of steadfast hatred, knew that he was defeated with the onset of the other warriors coming to the Ladybug Castle’s aid. He stood undaunted and unflinching as his medallion was torn from him. He would not look into any eyes of any warrior. His distaste and ignorance for these warriors was displayed arrogantly on his face. Many of the other Monks were distressed at losing their medallions. It was a part of the essence of their souls. They looked upon Theo to guide them as to what to do. He stood there defiantly, ignoring all. “I will not disgrace myself as a Monk by cowering before these imbeciles,” he quietly told the other Monks close to him.
The Monks were by now disappointed in Theo and the outcome. Most were losing their respect for him. Onion, Alme, Meek, Ebrix and some of the others gathered together by their campfire and sat down, defeated. Heads were bowed in disgrace. Others, like Xnug and Pentangle, stood firm and strong by Theo. No shame would show on their faces. The warriors could read disquiet on their faces, as well as those Monks who showed a mixture of how disturbed they were, or agitated, and with some being extremely upset and others flustered.
The King gazed out at the Thorn Warrior Army and burst into laughter. He was highly amused by the unsightly creatures.
“Theo! I thought nothing could ever match the strangeness of the Tooth Warriors that you cultivated for the Tooth Fairy Princess. But this – this is a gardener’s nightmare!”
Aparicio had taken notice that his father, the King of the Willows, had captured the Monks. He knew it was time to take his leave discreetly. He jumped on his horse and rode across the battlefield, back to his homestead and his wife and son. While out in the open, the Queen of the Willows, from the open tower window, screwed up her eyes as she saw this familiar man leave the battlefield on horseback. She gasped and clutched her hands to her heart. She almost fainted.
“Aparicio! My son! My son!” she cried out painfully.
“Uh-oh,” Goldest croaked quietly, feeling a tinge of guilt.
Augean stretched her neck out from the window and watched the man ride away into the forest. “Father? How do you know, Grandmother?” Augean was very much distressed at her grandmother’s words.
“A mother never forgets a child she has carried in her womb. She always knows this child by sight and smell, and can feel the child’s presence – even at a distance!”
Augean began to whimper while Shadow whined. Still young, Shadow always made himself part of a chorus.
“The time has come for us to pay a social call,” Goldest informed them. She turned around and jumped down from the windowsill. “Come, follow me!”
How nice it was for Aparicio to come forth and help Ushi save my kingdom, thought Goldest to herself as she hopped with satisfaction through her castle. That took a lot of courage, knowing that he would be discovered, Goldest concluded. Maybe it was because of his mother and daughter being here with me…
While the Queen of the Willows collected her gray-hooded woolen cape outlined in grayish mink, Augean had collected her red-hooded woolen cape outlined in red fox fur. The Queen of the Willows and Augean, with Shadow at her heels, followed a hopping Goldest into the forest. They had to discreetly sneak out of the castle in order to leave the safety of the castle grounds, alone.
In the meantime, Imbecile was inside Octagon’s tent, comforting him. He had watched the fighting for a while from the side on Octagon’s horse, then spurred his horse towards Octagon’s tent, dismounted and went inside to meet with Octagon. He had hesitated at first, not wanting to lose the courage that was given to him, but as a Monk and Brother, he knew he had no other choice but to do what was right. That was why Octagon was his friend. Theo and the other Monks were so busy watching the assault that they hadn’t even noticed Imbecile had returned.
Cream-colored candles glowed everywhere inside the tent, their flames adding warmth.
The air was smoky and intense with emotion, and with sandalwood incense burning for protection. A shivering Octagon, with blankets draped around himself, looked up as Imbecile loomed over him.
How pathetic, thought Imbecile. Is this how I look to others? he asked himself. For the third time, Imbecile thought about hanging on to Octagon’s strength and courage. But he knew deep within his heart that this would not be an honorable thing to do. So, he knelt down and looked deeply into Octagon’s eyes, giving him back his spirit. Slowly, Imbecile felt the draining. A sadness overcame him. He whimpered as Octagon slowly stood up, firm and strong. There was silence for several seconds as Imbecile also stood up and slouched over.
Octagon threw off his blankets and resumed his normal stance and character. Octagon looked at the slouched Imbecile. He is back to his old self, thought Octagon, with regret. Imbecile was now the pathetic Monk he once had been.
When this is all over, an
d with my power brewing secretly, I shall have to concoct something for Imbecile to make him strong and powerful in character, Octagon decided.
Octagon changed his robe, put his arm around a silent Imbecile and they walked out to their campfire to drink some wine together and watch the finale. They both already knew what the outcome of the day would be. Octagon noticed that most of the Monks had their heads bowed with ignominy while the Willow Warriors watched over them.
“It is going to take some time before the Monks resume their distinct, illustrious stature,” Octagon informed Imbecile. Imbecile shook his head in acknowledgment, wishing to remain unseen and unheard.
Back in the forest, the Queen of the Willows, Augean, Shadow and Goldest continued walking in silence. The Queen and Augean were apprehensive about what was to come. Many thoughts were running through their heads. They soon approached the man-made hut in the deep blue forest. They stopped behind a wild raspberry bush and took a peek out from it. The Queen gasped as she saw her son, Aparicio, holding his wife, Lowilla, in his arms. The baby, Prince Luxnon, lay sleeping outside in his mad-made cradle.
Goldest hopped onward with the Queen and Augean following, their hearts beating wildly with apprehension. Shadow was at Augean’s heels, knowing he was her protector from these strangers.
Aparicio and Lowilla looked at the approaching visitors with surprise. Both Aparicio and Lowilla went down on bended knee and bowed their heads. Shadow trotted past Augean and approached first. He growled at them.
“Stop, Shadow!” Augean cried out to Shadow. “Do not be afraid of him. He is only protecting us,” she informed her father and mother.
The Queen of the Willows, with a strained, tense face, approached. Aparicio took his mother’s hand and kissed it. Augean was busy holding an anxious Shadow back.
“Mother,” Aparicio greeted her with the utmost respect as displayed in his tone of voice.
Lowilla then kissed the Queen’s hand. Both Aparicio and Lowilla looked at a wide-eyed Augean. Augean ran into her mother’s arms.
“Mother!” she cried as her tears poured forth. A teary-eyed Augean looked at her father. He took her tiny hand and gently placed a kiss upon it. He smiled a warm and loving smile at his daughter.
“Your mother and I have missed you, Augean,” Aparicio gently told her.
“But why did you ever leave me?” she asked, with anguish showing in her flawless face.
Aparicio sighed heavily. “It is a long, sad story – best not spoken,” he told her.
Lowilla took Augean by the hand as the Queen and Goldest watched.
“Come, let me show you your baby brother, Prince Luxnon,” Lowilla told her daughter.
The Queen gasped and clutched her heart. “A grandson,” she whispered to herself, with happiness overcoming her.
“You mean I have a baby brother?” Augean asked. She was getting all choked-up with emotion.
A reserved Goldest stood off to one side, quietly and patiently watching the scene acted out with a family brought together again. She never even croaked or hiccuped, and it was unusual for her to be mute and patient for so long.
Lowilla picked up the sleeping baby from its cradle and showed Augean. Augean smiled as she gently took the baby and held him. Lowilla gently dried her daughter’s tears. Shadow approached and stood on his hind legs in front of Augean, in his curiosity to check out the baby for himself.
Aparicio stood tall and faced his mother, the Queen. “I’m so sorry, Mother,” he began to explain, but she cut him off, putting her hand up.
“Hush, Aparicio. Years have past. It does not matter now. We are a family, once again,” she firmly told him, wanting to end any explanation that he felt he had to give her. She did not wish to hear anything unpleasant anymore. She wanted her family together and back at the Willow Castle. Her castle meant protection and security to herself. She would not let any more unpleasantness or vicious rumors pass through the castle walls once they got back.
Aparicio and the Queen hugged one another. “Thank you so much for forgiving me, Mother,” Aparicio told her.
The Queen looked surprised. “Forgive what? Never mind! I do not want to know. You will return home to the castle with us immediately,” she commanded. “Now, I must go see my grandson.”
The Queen looked over her grandson and seemed to be quite pleased. An elated, smiling Augean looked up at her grandmother. Aparicio put his long arms around his mother, Lowilla and Augean, and hugged them all.
A smug Goldest sat triumphantly and quietly in front of them all. Aparicio looked kindly down at her. “Thank you, Goldest. You are truly a special Queen.”
“I already know that!” she replied tartly. “I am going back to inspect the damages. You must all come back to the safety of my castle immediately. Rooms will be made up for Aparicio and his family. Ushi will have the Willow Warriors come out here with some of the village people and collect your things. Whatever you need, just ask the castle attendants. I will make known you are not to be refused anything that you need,” she told them firmly.
She turned and hopped away smugly, saying, “I cannot allow Royalty living in my forest without any protection. I would hold myself responsible for whatever might happen to them.”
Goldest hopped away with an onset of the hiccups, leaving them alone to be with one another and to get reacquainted again. They would have a lot to talk about. She hopped over to the battlefield. A feeling of foreboding began to set in.
As she got closer to her destination, a strange, spooky feeling came over her. She shrugged the feeling off, and continued onward as she left the boundary of the woods.
The Aftermath
Warriors from the various kingdoms, who had come to help counter the attack, gathered up the broken Thorn Warriors and put them into piles to burn. Every thorn was either broken apart or bent beyond recognition. The Thorn Warrior Army was no more. The thorns that were only snapped and not broken apart were easily hacked to death and put into the many fires. Some of the gypsies asked if the thorns could feel the pain of the hacking and the fires. Captain Frangelico reassured them that sticks and branches did not have any feelings or emotions. They lacked the senses that humans themselves display. Octagon had taken notice that the gypsies were spooked by these thorns, so he went over to Frangelico and his warriors and reassured them that what Frangelico had told them was true.
Octagon went on to explain, “The thorns are evil, and evil has no soul. Let this deed be done and ended. Enough is enough. They were grown and cultivated to be pernicious – and that is all.”
Even though Octagon stood with the other Monks, he was still highly respected and held in high regard by many of the Royalty and warriors. They all knew he had a kind heart and was truly honorable. The gypsies listened to his words and believed in what he had told them about the thorns. They continued the task of throwing them into the fires, which turned into an angry, brazen orange. The battlefield was soon aglow with numerous orange and copper fires as the afternoon dragged on.
The jubilant ladybugs had left the battlefield and flew out beyond the castle grounds to where the lakes and ponds were waiting beyond the forest. They flew in search of a location suitable to their needs to build their own community upon. They loved the various weeping willows and searched for the warm-hearted willows that wept sweet-tempered tears into colorful ponds.
The disgruntled Monks sat around their own camp-fire in groups, sipping on their beef barley soup and drinking cider. They broke wheat bread amongst themselves and dipped the bread into the hot barley soup filled with spinach. They were being heavily guarded by the Willow Warriors, since the Gypsy Warriors were spooked by this whole affair and were extremely superstitious where the Monks were concerned. They were concerned that evil, fateful spells would be cast upon themselves by these discontented Monks when released. The Willow Warriors were not raised to be superstitious as the gypsies were. Guarding the Monks meant guarding the enemy to them – just another inconvenience that comes wi
th warring kingdoms.
Octagon and Imbecile invited the Willow Warriors and Gypsy Warriors to come drink from their barrels of home-made cider. Theo was annoyed that Octagon was sharing their spiked cider with the warriors. An inflamed Theo rose up from the campfire and walked over to Octagon. He was most perturbed in the worst way. He wanted to set alight their wine and cider so no warrior could share of it with them, so great was his disquiet.
“Do not let them drink of our wine – just the cider!” he told Octagon angrily.
Even though a captive, Theo was still their eminent leader. Octagon bowed his head in respect to Theo. He did not bother to speak to his Brother, fearing harsh words might be spoken due to Theo’s anger at having been captured. Theo never expected such a turn of events here. He expected no interference, either. He had put himself and his Monks above all others and expected victory would be theirs. He would not yield to shame, but would stand tall, proud and bold, like his Brothers before him had stood throughout the centuries. This is only one loss to hold us back, Theo thought crudely to himself.
“Curse those ladybugs,” he mumbled as he walked back to the fire.
It wasn’t long before Ushi, the King of the Willows, Savagio, Frangelico, Carlos and Esbri were gathered together at the barrels sharing in the drinking of the spiked cider.
“This cider certainly warms my blood,” Carlos chuckled.
“Maybe we should take some of the Monks back with us and put them to work in our wineries and kitchens,” Esbri added.
“No, I think not,” Frangelico, looking thoughtful, replied. “The gypsies are too superstitious to be living around Monks who have special powers and gifts of illusion.”
“Why, the gypsy witches would probably use them freely and invite them inside their huts to help them concoct their cursed brews and potions, and take part in their devilry and misdeeds,” Carlos chuckled.
“We cannot have that,” Frangelico remarked.
