Why Fiction? (Short Stories Compilation)

07. Humanity

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One day, a female dinosaur landed in a vast corn field on a planet called Earth, seeking for humans who love animals. Their planet was in desperate need of a creature who's willing to help them save their dying race. Chaiza, a dinosaur blessed with shapeshifting abilities volunteered to do the searching.

Using their last piece of technology left, Chaiza traveled into space aimlessly. She was close to giving up, until she found Earth.

It was a peculiar planet. The inhabitants called themselves as humans. Some cared for nature, some destroyed it. Families went for each other's throats while strangers show compassion.

Humans like to stress themselves. Chaiza had never understood it. However, she did not judge them. Because she knew for a fact that every race had their own flaws.

Nevertheless, she chose to observe them for a while. She traveled the plains, mountains and even swam with the creatures in the sea.

Then she met Pierre, a zookeeper. He was different from all the humans she had observed.

"Ma'am, we cannot take the pandas out of their natural habitat-"

"I said I will pay you!"

It wasn't the first time Chaiza saw Pierre defending the animals.

The more she observed him, the more she was convinced that she had already found the creature who will save their planet from destruction.

According to Chaiza's past observations, humans love beautiful things. So, she approached Pierre disguised as a woman she saw from a billboard somewhere along the road.

"Excuse me, I need you to come with me. Please help me save our planet."

Pierre's thick eyebrows furrowed upon hearing her words. "I'm sorry, Ma'am. We don't have enough funds to give as a donation."

Chaiza blinked, clearly confused with his response.

The next day, Chaiza took the form of another beautiful woman she saw walking in the streets.

"Hello, may I talk to you?"

Pierre was busy feeding the Giraffes when Chaiza approached him. "Yes, what is it?"

She looked to her left and right. Clearing her throat, she asked, "You care for animals, right?"

He nodded and waited for her to say more.

"I mean, if there is a race of animals on the brink of extinction in another planet. Would you leave Earth to save them?"

"If there is, then, I will gladly help." With that, Pierre excused himself politely because he still need to tend to the animals. He thought that it was just another interview for a documentary. These things happen a lot these days, he wasn't surprised anymore.

Chaiza stood there, lost and desperate. She ran to the back of a huge tree. When she confirmed that there was no one in sight, she slowly shifted back to her true form. A dinosaur.

"W-What..."

She quickly turned to look at where the sound came from.

There she saw Pierre with his mouth hanging open. But, it was only for a moment. His face went back to being serious.

Chaiza was frozen on the spot. She knew that her chances of taking him to their planet is now lost.

But, contrary to her expectations, Pierre approached her with a warm expression. "How can you ask for help when you are pretending to be someone else?"

Her pupils shook from nervousness.

"No one can help you if you don't show your true self. If you think I will only help you if you assume the form of someone beautiful and acceptable, you are completely wrong."

Chaiza was speechless.

"We might not be the kindest creature out there, but we do have a thing called humanity. If you don't know what it is, then I can show you."