Scaliens

Chapter 1

Chapter 1- The Plant Fairy

Straight raven black hair, raven black eyes and pale skin, almost translucent. Yup, that basically describes my appearance. I have no outstanding facial features whatsoever. Rika, however, says I have a red fleck in my right eye when i get agitated. This rarely happens though, i don't get angry easily, in fact, even if i do, i don't show it. I keep my face behind an imaginary mask that hides any outward facial expression whatsoever.

I'm only open towards my family, and Rika of course. She brings out the more outspoken side of me. Only then will I show some reaction or response, what i really feel.

I may not stand out, but this helps me to avoid bullies in my school, to blend in with the other students and keep unnoticed. Interestingly, this was what made Rika spot me almost immediately. It seems that she was drawn to my silence, her curiosity eventually resulted in us being friends.

Well, that and both of us being Scaliens.

As we got to know each other, she gave me karate lessons while i tutored her in math. One day, she invited me to her house for a science project. And I can honestly tell you, we didn't even touch on that project.

Rika's house has two levels, a ground level and a basement. She wanted to show me something in her room, so being lead by Rika through the underground maze of her basement, i was amazed.

"Maze?", you may ask, I mean how big can a basement be, right? You're absolutely wrong. The basement was at least twice as big as the house itself.

At that time, I thought that her basement was a bit strange, but couldn't place why. Then I realised, that  the floor, ceiling and walls were all plants, real plants. No tiles, no cement, only plants and roots covered the walls, mostly creepers, with a light bulb acting as sunlight.

Still in shock, I turned to see Rika waiting for me next to a vine- covered wall. Upon coming closer, I realised it was a curtain, the entrance to her room.

Finally, Rika said the first thing she'd ever said to me ever since I stepped foot into her house, "Welcome to my room."

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To say that I was shocked, is an understatement. Everything in Rika's room, was all plants, it looked like  mother nature designed this room. Her study table was a log, her bed was a hammock seemingly grown from vines, her chair was a mushroom, even her wardrobe had two leaves acting as doors.

It was like walking into... a cave lived in by elves and fairies,  from a fairytale.

Rika laughed at the dreamy expression I probably had on my face.

"Come on, have a seat," and as she said that, a mushroom popped out of the ground, right in front of my eyes.

I opened my mouth to ask but Rika interrupted me with, "Sit first, I'll answer your questions after that."

I hesitated before walking across her moss carpet to the mushroom, real moss i expect, since the rest of the house has this nature theme. After poking the mushroom a bit to see if it was real and sturdy, and sat.

I looked at Rika for permission and after she nodded i asked the question that bugged me most,

"Are you a plant fairy?"

She started laughing, really loudly. I think the neighbours would have been able to hear us, if we were on the first floor. Tears were flowing from her eyes, and that was saying a lot because Rika never laughs, at all, unless it's something really funny.

I would never live this down, Rika wouldn't let me. If she had kids, she'd re-tell them again and again, probably starting with, "Hey, you know someone thought we were plant faries once?".

Rika finally stopped after seeing my face, which had a "this-is-not-funny" kind of glare with the squinty eyes and everything.

"And I thought you had a brilliant imagination. Think a bit more, Limmy, out of the box," she said jokingly as she wiped the tears from her eyes. 

"Rika, be serious, are you an alien?" i said standing up. "No one can make mushrooms grow out of the ground in a second! Rika, say something! Why show me this?"

Rika looked at me calmly, "I guess you could say that. Actually, I'm a Scalien and i'm showing you this, because you are too."

Rika then walked over to a wall and put her right hand just in front of it. When she turned back towards me, she was holding a necklace. It had a simple design, just a silver chain and a colourless gemstone pendant. She held it out to me and I automatically reached for it, and she dropped the necklace in my hand.

In my hand, the gem glowed white, and i felt a peculiar sensation in my right hand. I looked and saw my   hand covered in scales, my nails became claws and the pearly white scales were climbing up my arm. Suddenly the glow died down and i realised three things.

One, the gem was actually a diamond.

Two, I had white scales on my arm up to my elbow.

And three, I was going to get Rika to tell me what exactly happened to my arm, even if i had to tickle her to death.

With my left hand, of course.

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A/N: Another story idea of mine. Happy reading! :)