Elementation: Earth and Trees (ON HIATUS)

Chapter 17: A New World.

Mystery POV

I love her.

I can't do this to her.

"Young prince, you know what is required of you, this is one of the steps to excellence! All you have to do is-"

"Yes Manchor! I...know... I just can't do it."

The elderly Treeman smiled wistfully, "I know. But the Lord is demanding and we're running out of time and you know how he is-"

"SHUT UP! I WILL NEVER EVER BETRAY HER!" I explode.

Manchor is trembling and my gaze softens.

"Look, I can't. I made a promise. To her. I don't want this to be like last time. For once, I want it to be real! I'm tired of lying, Manchor!" I slam the ancient table with my hand.

Manchor's eyes widened in fear, "Sir, you don't... you don't l-lo-"

"No." I replied curtly.

Yes. I wanted to say, yes I love her. More than anything. Even more than, her.

Manchor bows lowly in submission.

I scoff and say, "I don't want your submission, I want your support. "

Manchor bows lowly once again, just to spite me.

He winks and says with a chuckle, "As you wish, my prince."

He starts to shuffle out of the room, then pauses.

"Just remember, the lord is very dark. And you know it."

And without another word he scurried out of the room like a mad man.

Hmph. Sometimes I wonder about that man.

***
Zola

Echo takes off running and I scream, "ECHO! ECHO!" over and over.

I take off running but Aqua tackles me and pulls me back.

"Let her go." She says quietly.

I stay there in the mud my emotions thundering.

The ground starts to shake, cracks forming everywhere.

I spin around my gaze landing on the two most despicable people I could think of now.

Aria and Aqua.

"HOW DARE YOU!!!! SHE IS OUR FRIEND! HOW COULD YOU!" My voice claps like thunder.

They all shrink away like the cowards that they are.

"LOOK AT ME! HOW DARE YOU! HOW DARE YOU!"

I reach out for Aqua-

Zola hits the hard ground with a thump as Aqua and Aria stare in horror.

The woman holds up a tranquilizer gun in a menacing way.

"Green, Zolana detained."  The stranger  spoke in a monotone voice.

Two burly men pick the body up and chuck her into a cage.

They shut the bars, Zola slumped inside.

They dissappear into air, yet the two supposed heroines just stand motionless there.

***
Zola

The buzzing is irritating.

Stop. Shut up. Let me sleep...

"URGH! STOP IT!" I scream, raging.

I open my eyes and look around, expecting to see my room.

I sit bolt upright.

This is not my room.

It was a padded cell with bars on the window and it smells as if someone hadn't showered for weeks.

The buzzing noise which had woken me up was coming from the door.

I scrambled to my feet, anxious to find a way out.

But alas my earthly powers were no help.

The door behind me swings open.

I spin on my heel, frightened. 

 A woman in flowing white silk emerges from the doorway. 

As she steps in the room, her beautiful yet aged face shines brightly. 

She is adorned with a crown of roses. 

"Your Highness, how are you , may I ask?" The woman smiles kindly.

"Who are you? How do you know who I am?" I ask furtively. 

Although I'm not sure why I asked that when almost everything I do seems to be connected to my magic.

She smiles almost fondly, "It seems only yesterday I was waving little Clara goodbye..."

"Clara?" I ask, "Who's...?" It was then the realization dawned on me that this women knows my mother.

"Would you like to see where you're really from?" She asks with a sudden light behind her eyes.

"Nebraska? But I've been there-"

She cuts me off, "Where you're really from."

The woman walks through the door and looks expectantly at me. 

"Come," she says and dives in with a leap.

I have no choice but to follow.

**********

As the blinding light of the portal fades away, a new scene unfolds.

I look around and see towering trees above me. 

The grass is green and lush and the smell of sweet flowers entices my nose.

I stand up and brush the dirt off my jeans. 

Or so I thought.

My once ratty hand me down denim, has transformed into a full bodied silken dark green gown. 

Bodice and all. 

"My Queen," the same voice came. The woman stepped forward out of a tree's shadow.

"I am Clarice. Elder of the High Order. I have come to take you home."

"Home?" I wonder looking around me. 

"Yes, Your Highness your home. I shall take you to the palace." And with that Clarice started walking.

"P-palace?" I stuttered. 

Me? A palace for me? I might as well see how it goes.

I catch up to Clarice and take the time to look in awe at the gushing waterfall that has appeared once we passed the trees. 

The sunlight made the prisms of water flash brilliant rainbow colours. 

All of a sudden I see Clarice's long hair go into the full force of the water.

"Wait! Wait for me!" I yell over the deafening roar of the water. 

I hold my breath and plunge in. 

After what seems like an eternity underwater, I finally surface into a dark cavern.

Clarice stands by an opening of the wet, humid cave. "Come with me," she beckons. 

I follow her to the radiant light of the opening.

The light engulfs me and what I see before me is of great wonder.

I'm home.