Epic

Chapter 1

    As the pod opens, glitter floats up and swirls around. The gold glitter forms into an image of the previous queen, Queen Tara. She swirls around my head. 

  "I said you would get back what you returned. Look out for them." She winks at me then goes over to Ronin. He looks like he is going to burst into tears. She smiles at him and he smiles back. 

  "There's that smile." Queen Tara comes back to me and gently plants a kiss on my forehead. I feel her power flow into me. I can feel the whole forest. My senses are ten times stronger. 

  In all that has just happened I haven't noticed my outfit change. I'm in a flowing dress. It is the color of my red hair and then gradually changes to the bright green color of my eyes. The dress sparkles in the moonlight. I look stunning. I look up at everyone and find them kneeling before me. Everyone except for Nod. He looks bewildered. I can't help but smile. At first when I came into this world, all I wanted was to go home but now I can't leave. Nod snaps out of his trance and steps forward. Every head turns his way. As he approaches he winks at me. He turns around and starts speaking. 

  "Queen Tara has chosen a new queen!" he shouts. "Let us bow before her. Queen Mary Katherine! Long live the queen!" When he is finished he turns around to face me and bows. Everyone in the room follows suit. Then after a minute they all stood up and started cheering "Long live Queen Mary Katherine!" I look before me at all of my people. I am their ruler. I am their queen. After they are done we go to Nim Galuu's for an "after party". 

  "So, Queen Mary Katherine, what are you going to do now?" Nod asks, almost startling me. 

  "The only thing I can do. Give life to the forest. What are you going to do Nod? Are we still going to be friends?" 

  "Of coarse we are still going to be friends! This doesn't change anything. It just means that, as a leaf man, my life's work will be protecting you and making sure you are safe. Ronin actually assigned me to be your personal leaf man. Which means that we will be able to spend even more time together." 

  "Well that's good." I smile. I'm actually quite excited. I've liked Nod ever since I met him. I can't wait to spend more time with him. I mean he fought a mouse for me. "How is Ronin? I know he was pretty beat up. I didn't have chance to see him since when I walked in I was chosen to be queen." 

  "Ronin is ok. He is a little rough, but other than that he is good." 

  "What about me?" Ronin shows up unexpectedly. He is eating something but I can't tell what. "Is Nod talking bad about me?" 

  "No he was just telling me how you were. I know you took quite the beating by the boggans. I'm glad you're ok." 

  "Well it wasn't easy fighting them off, but I did." He shoves some more food in his mouth and continues. "How are you? You are the real hero here. You're the one who had the grand idea of getting your dad to play those bat sounds. You saved the forest and now you are going to repair it. You are our savior. How's it feel to be queen?" He asks and smirks. It is kind of ironic that I just saved their kingdom and now their old queen crowned me the new mother nature. I totally expected someone else who actually understands this world to be chosen. 

  "Well, to answer your first question I'm perfectly fine. To answer your second, I can feel everything. It's so weird and mysterious. Nod hit yourself in the face." He looks puzzled. "Nod just do it." 

  "Ok whatever you say my queen." He bows and smiles then stands straight up, gives a pained look to  Ronin and then turns to me and punches himself in the face. I immediately feel his pain. I wince and see a bruise on Nod's face. 

  "Mk there is a bruise on your face." He realizes that I really can feel peoples pain. "Wow. That's cool. I mean not for you but, that's cool." I laugh and touch my cheek. I see his bruise disappear and the pain in my face goes away. 

  "Now that was cool," I admit. I look at Nod and smile. We just smile at each other until Ronin interrupts.   

  "Well Queen Mary Katherine, we have lot's to do tomorrow. Nod will show you where you will live from now on and tomorrow we will go over what areas you will repair this next week. After that well, time will tell what needs done." Ronin leaves us and goes to a table filled with food. 

  "Well are you ready to see your palace my queen?" 

  "I'm as ready as I'll ever be."