Galia: Tale Of The End

Chapter 18: Illumination

A metal hammer struck a bell seven times. Light barely escaped the wall of the horizon. Many Flora had retired into their homes and plumes of smoke rose from their chimneys. Only beggars and late workers roamed the twisted alleyways at dusk. Sun State Suunites were weary of the unknown of night.

The city center was empty and its bright garden seemed to lose its luster. The secretes of Flos casted a grim shadow over its daytime beauty. The eeriness was felt by the foreigners who snuck out from behind a statue. The freezing air, which greatly contrasted the morning's warmth, nipped at their flushed noses and cheeks. The moon's reflected light was hidden behind lackadaisically moving clouds and slightly lit the trio's surroundings.

"That is the capital building in from of us." Jasmine whispered as they reached a marble set of stairs. Dandy shivers and looked up at the imperial structure.

"It brings back bad memories."

"I am sorry that any of that happened to you Lyon."

"I'm sorry that it continues to happen." He nodded in thanks. "It's gotten worse from what I've seen."

"Treatment of Weeds has gotten worse?" Bellis interjected with curiosity.

"They experiment on them now." He replied slowly. "My generation was the last that was able to be freed. Now, Weeds have no choice. No hope of freedom."

"So Sakura keeps you as slaves, but you can work for, or be born free? Why did she change that now?"

"She didn't." Lyon started. "Five centuries ago, she took power from the previous major, Major Kordesii."

"Kordesii? That's Rose's last name! Could they have any relation?" Bellis questioned.

"Rosales Kordesii. That was her full name. She was banished, but completely disappeared. There is a possibility that they are related. I know she had a child, but they were taken away and put up for adoption."

"Can Flora have human children?"

"We don't have time to create Punnett squares." Jasmine added as they crept towards the door.

"So wait. Sakura replaced Rosales five hundred years ago?" He realized.

"Yes. Unlike you fragile humans, Flora can live for as long as they want."

"That's pretty cool!"

"Yea I guess." Lyon tiled his head.

"How old are you?" Bellis asked, intrigued.

"Almost three hundred."

"I am over a thousand years old." Jasmine said. "And major for nine hundred."

"Wow! That's amazing!" Bellis searched their faces for any signs of age. Their skin was smooth and vibrant, at least in the light, and their hair was still silky. Only their sparkling eyes could give any insight.

"Sakura eased us into Weed hell. It started out as separation from the less common Flora. Before then, we were still considered Flora! The thought of any separation was unheard of, but she did it anyways. She told them that there were too many of us. Weeds, their population needs to be controlled, so she put a limit on how many were born and killed the weak, sick and elders. Then she started making us work without any pay. We were essentially slaves! However, most Flora were not proponents of Sakura's plan, so they were killed off too."

"What happened to the others?"

"They were tricked into believing that it as for everybody's own good. Weeds were nature's work horses. They were always meant to serve higher Flora. It took a while, but eventually it was an indisputable fact."

Jasmine gripped the handle and yank open the golden door. Martha looked up from her magazine and raised a brow. "Can I help you? Nobody is allowed in here without an escort or special permission."

"I am Jasmine Dichtoto, mayor of Radix. We are here to meet with Miss Sakura." Jasmine said authoritatively.

"From the Moon State, huh?" She laid the issue down on the desk. "A diplomat. Concerning the end, I presume?"

"Yes. I am here to discuss the situation of the Moon State."

Martha looked at her for a while in contemplation. She scanned her stern face. "Yea. Sure. Alright. You can go through that door." Her finger directed them to the entrance that the clover blocked. "Let them through Trifolium. Maybe I can finally finish what I'm reading."

Again, the magazine covered Martha's annoyed face. She pushed up her glasses and rested her head in her palm. The Flora did not seem to notice that the human she had lost earlier snuck directly in front of her desk. The clover giant nodded politely at the trio and opened the door to the abyss. They passed through the entrance and descended into the first floor.

Jasmine ripped a torch off the wall and held it in front of her. She led the way while Bellis and Lyon continued their earlier conversation. "So, you said that Sakura experiments on Weeds? What does she do? How can she do that legally?"

"Well you saw that clover." Lyon motion behind them. "Clovers don't normally look like that! They were mutated."

"Poor guy! He looks so sweet under those muscles."

"Clovers are generally gentle. Most weeds, excluding thistle and what not, are very kind."

"I've only met two and I figured that out."

"Aw thanks." Lyon blushed bashfully. "Yea. She does it because it makes them stronger. Weeds with more muscles work and produce more. I'm guessing that that clover was her bodyguard. Nobody will attack her with that around."

"I don't think anybody would attack her regardless."

"Haha! Yea. Agreed. Do you know how long it took for her to find an assistant?"

"And she could only find Martha?" Bellis raised a brow quizzically.

"Yup! Because Martha is completely indifferent."

"Why doesn't she use a Weed instead?"

"Oh she tried." Dandy giggled. "Weeds, most of them, aren't terribly smart. Also she used a cactus, so."

"A cactus?"

"Yea. Let's just say all of her paperwork was shredded whether she wanted it to be or not."

They laughed as the conversation steered away from Suun's dark past. Jasmine listened silently with a thin smile plastered on her face. She did not want to join them in fear of changing the subject into something depressing. Their giggles and silly stories warmed her cold heart.

"So, if you could be a Flora, what would you want to be?" Lyon asked.

"Well, I guess I'd be a daisy. That's what my name means."

"Bellis Perennis?"

"Yes. In my time, Bellis Perennis is the scientific name for a daisy flower. Specifically, a European daisy, or so the Wiki says."

"The Wiki?"

"Oh it's nothing. You wouldn't understand."
"Human technology I guess?"

"So how about you?" Bellis started. "What Flora, I mean one that isn't considered a weed, would you want to be?"

"I'd like to be a sunflower." Lyon smiled lightly. "Nobody is sure if they exist. It's part of a Suunian legend."

"It is said that the universe was created by divine sunflower seeds. However, sunflowers only exist as plants and not Flora." Jasmine finally added.

"We had sunflowers too!"

"Villam, my farming district, was known for its sunflower patches and harvests of seeds." Jasmine said.

"I think they taste the best with salt." Bellis remembered the taste which he once savored.

They were at the top of the staircase that led into the basement. Jasmine stopped them before they got any further. "We cannot go inside."

"Why!" Bellis asked. "Aren't we going to fight Sakura."

Dandy laid a hand on his shoulder. "If we went inside and attacked her directly, we would die instantly. She can control plasma, which makes up part of our blood."

"Yes. We must hide behind the door, so that she cannot see us. If she does, we would not get the chance to fight her."

"What are we supposed to do?" Bellis was confused and could find no solution. Jasmine brought them together and whispered the plan. It was simple, but could be their way of beating the witch. They tiptoed down the stairs which brought them to a gargantuan pair of rotted wooden doors. The slit between the doors did not reveal much. Every so often, a flash of pink could would pass in front of the opening.

"Do you think you can do it, Bellis?" Jasmine asked in a hushed tone.

"I hope so." He nodded and closed his eyes. He concentrated and soon the small droplets and puddles of water congregated into a swirling mass. Bellis pushed the massive waterspout through the crack.

Sakura gasped and tried to stop the flood, but her powers were useless. There was no one that she could control, and her powers were useless. She could not see the group, therefore she was not able to kill them. In addition, Sakura could not swim. She flopped in the pool that was up to her neck and gasped for air when she could. Bellis stopped when the room was half full. Jasmine slid a hand against the door and closed her eyes. The liquid solidified and the surrounding air cooled. Jasmine froze the body of water that held Sakura until her pleas were nonexistent.

"Oh my! Did it work?" Lyon smiled and breathed out a sigh. "Is it over?"

"For now it is." Bellis grinned and accepted Lyon's embrace. Jasmine's face mirrored their relief, but fell instantly when the mass of ice began to crack and shatter. Bellis jumped away from the other and stared at the noise in horror. "What is that?"

"Oh no." Jasmine gasped. "She's changing."

"What does that mean?" Dandy shouted.

"We have to run. Now!" She grabbed their hands and darted up the stairs and through different corridors. A low gurgle imitated from below. It suddenly turned into horrendous screeching, the flapping of thick wings and the scratching of claws on the walls of a stone prison.

"What are those sounds! It doesn't seem good!" Bellis squeaked as he looked behind him. They ascended the last set of stairs and piled into the lobby of the capital building. Martha looked up from a new magazine a and huffed.

"What do you want now?" Another scream came from the basement.

"Do you not hear that?" Bellis snapped and slammed his hands down on her desk. "Your boss is a freaking monster!"

"Crap. She changed?" Martha was genuinely scared. "Clover we are leaving. Get two horses ready!" They nodded and left through a side door.

"What about us?" Lyon asked.

"Oui. You again." She sighed. "This is your fault, so you guys get to deal with it! We only have two horses anyways."

"So you won't help us?"

"I've got better things to do, people I care about."

"Ha! You love somebody?" Lyon snickered.

"Let us not fight over petty things. We must hurry!" Jasmine scolded and led them out into the city center.

Martha nervously watched them leave. She looked back at her watch and at the side door. It opened and the clover came back.

"Trifolium! You're okay!" She sighed and put her pale hand in his. "I was worried she would find you, but I guess she's still trapped." Martha rested her head on his side. He hugged her back and took her safely to the stable.

The trio outside turned and watched as the capital building shook and crumbled into a molten pink heap. An ivory, scaly face emerged and opened its flaming eyes. It clawed its way to the surface until its entire shining body was visible and lit by the free moon. It tilted its head back and howled. Lights in buildings all over the city turned on as Flora peered through curtain covered windows.

The dragon, Sakura's true inner beauty, escaped at last. Her face was the same pale white it was normally, but her ebon hair grew longer and ash. The rest of her smooth body was oily black and melted into her pointed claws. Her underbelly, wings, eyes and spiraled horns were a stunningly bright fuchsia. Plasma of the same color radiated from her eyes in a brilliant flame. She slowly turned to look at the entire city and bowed her head down. Her mouth began to glow and a cloud rose from her nostrils. With a snap of her head, a thick beam of light erupted from her jaws and ripped into the buildings before her.

Screams emanated as Flora panicked and ran, but they were not safe. The splendid dragon spread her wings and hovered over the city. She barely moved as she let the plasma destroy her domain causing the the air to grew silent.

Jasmine, Bellis and Lyon huddled in the cherry blossom forrest and could only watch the genocide. Lyon whimpered as Bellis tried to comfort him. Jasmine stayed calm and formulated a plan. "Bellis, I'm going to need your help." She whispered.

"What do you want me to do?" He asked with despair. Lyon listed from the cold ground and tree he was propped up against. "I can try. But how am I going to get it to you when you need it?"

"It will all work out. I just need you to listen to me as we do this." Jasmine informed and rested a hand on his shoulder. "Please forgive me if I become harsh. It is the frozen façade a leader must wear to protect the people."

Lyon sniffled and watched his friends leave him in the brush, but he understood its cause. Sakura landed harshly on the brick and left an indentation. She turned her head to acknowledge the duo stalking up to her.

"Worry not, Bellis, in this state she cannot control our bodily fluids, but she can vaporize us with her breath."

"Oh! I defiantly haven't peed my pants! Thanks for the reassurance!" He replied hysterically, but did as she instructed. Water from underground rose around him and formed a singular orb.

Sakura laughed, at least tried, with her head tilted back. Once she caught her breath she lowered herself down to their level. "YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD KILL ME, HUMAN? AND YOU, JASMINE? YOU ARE WEAK FOR A CAPITAL MAYOR. I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT THE MOON WOULD CHOOSE A STRONGER PROTECTOR. PERHAPS SHE DOESN'T CARE. SHE SENT YOU TO KILL ME? WHY? MAYBE IT WAS TO INSINUATE YOUR OWN DEMISE. HOWEVER, I SHALL ENJOY YOUR PAIN WHILE I CAN MAKE IT LAST." Jasmine raised her hand into the water orb and pulled out a frozen, glassy saber. "AH! AN ICE MAGE. I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT IN SUCH A LONG TIME. TOO BAD IT WILL BE A SHORT MEETING."

"I think not." Jasmine shouted and pointed at Sakura. Bellis understood the motion and wrapped water around the dragon's taloned feet and maw. It acted like a chain and bound her to the earth. Sakura vaporized the liquid around her mouth easily and fought her bindings. They solidified under Jasmine's hand and trapped the beast's feet.

Sakura screamed and flapped her wing with no avail. Her head smashed into the ground near Bellis, shattering one of her sculpted horns.

"I see that you need to recharge, vile demon." Jasmine laughed spitefully. "You cannot protect yourself." She approached the beast's exposed underside and poked it with the saber.

"For conspiring to end this universe with your own and other's magic, compromising Flos's previous mayor, and the completely inflora treatment of Suunites, both Sun and Moon, I hereby execute you, Sakura Prunus, for your crimes." Jasmine listed her seemingly continuous list of wrongs. Bellis began to see the coldness she spoke of previously, but understood its reasoning.

"DO YOU REALLY THINK YOU CAN PIERCE MY SCALES WITH THAT TOOTHPICK?" Sakura snarled.

Jasmine tilted her head with an amused smile. "Fighting your just death in such a way is dishonorable, Mayor Sakura Prunus. A strong mayor, would accept the consequences of their actions."

"IT SEEMS WE HAVE DIFFERENT VEIWS ON STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS. BUT YOU HAVE MADE A FATAL FLAW." The smoke rose again. "YOU BLABBER TOO MUCH." Her jaw snapped open and she aimed her head towards the ice.

Jasmine jumped in the way with her hand out as if she was trying to catch the energy. The solid beam halted and cracked. Sakura's eyes widened as the plasmic stream froze. "I'm not just an ice mage, Sakura. I can freeze anything, including your magic." She neared the dragon's underside again.

"NO! STOP! I'M AFRAID TO DIE!" The cruel beast yelped in agony as Jasmine shattered the thick scales with her power and thrusted the saber into her originally frozen heart. Her horrendous death cry, a tremendous sound of defeat, could be heard throughout the valley. Her flame flickered into darkness as her body collapsed.

At last light had illuminated a portion of the  darkness, but alas, there was nobody in Flos to witness it except the Weed, foreigner and righteous hand.