Stellarlune - KOTLC Book 8.5 Fanfic

Chapter 16

Sophie woke up with a start as something fruity coated her tongue. A gnome stood over her.

Where was she?

Sophie rubbed her bleary eyes to find that she was still in the midst of Havenfield's hectic preserves, on the grassy ground.

"Try to sit up, dear," the gnome said. "and try to drink this."

Sophie winced as she pulled herself up into a sitting position, legs sprawled out. Every bone in her ached.

The gnome handed her an uncorked elixir that looked strangely like vibrant panake flowers. Sophie took a tiny sip, not sure what to expect of it.

As soon as the elixir hit her tongue, she was under the swaying branches of Calla's Panake tree, with the wind gently blowing on her face, and the sweet aroma of richness that Sophie couldn't even describe.

She took another sip, but longer, and savoured the sensation. Soon, the aches covering her body faded away, and she was no longer feeling weary.

"Thank you," Sophie told the smiling gnome gingerly.

"Don't worry about it," The gnome said. "I'm Rosei by the way. Wouldn't really be a pleasure if you didn't know my name."

"I'm Sophie," Sophie replied, wondering if the kind gnome knew Calla.

"Then I suppose you may know my best friend?" Rosei asked.

"Calla?" Sophie confirmed.

"Yes. Calla," Rosei responded. "Even though she has settled for the rest of her life in pure nature, she is still here, Sophie. Though it may not seem like it, you can hear the messages she is whispering. You can feel her embrace. Her advice."

Sophie felt tears rising up from her eyelids.

She had been so used to people being alive, by being in their old form. But it didn't matter which form they were in. Even though it might be easier to communicate with them.

"And," Rosei added, pointing to the somehow dull entrance of Havenfield. "Her advice to me is to remind you that you are not alone," Rosei smirked, her smile pleasantly amusing. "Your family will get you into a more suitable place for resting. I heard it was quite a crisis."

Sophie's heart stopped short. Then memories began to flow into her mind.

"Simple, if you ask me. I'll let go of your precious alicorns if you give Keefe to me."

"By the way, I wouldn't hesitate to kill Luna and Wynn. We have better bargaining chips."

"I'll come."

"Sorry. I'm just really tense."

Keefe. Silveny and Greyfell. Sandor. Biana. What had happened to them?!

"I need to go!" Sophie struggled to stand, and tipped to the right, arms flailing wildly. A large vine slithered up to her leg and spiralled onto it, balancing her into the middle again.

"I do not feel you are ready to help your friends. Help yourself right now. I hate to say it, but you won't be much help to them," Rosei confessed. "At least drink some of this and I'll see if you are ready to go back in by yourself. Nature can do much, but with this situation, I do not think vines can help you go back the entire way," she spun her wrist, making the vine spin as well.

Sophie groaned but compiled.

She needed to know if they were ok or not! She couldn't just sit there and do nothing. But Rosei was right. She wouldn't be any help to them.

Sophie took a long sip, guzzling the whole elixir to achieve the full impact.

Instantly, her same reaction from before repeated, but even more vibrant. More real. She almost lost herself in it before Rosei interrupted.

"How are you feeling now?" she asked.

Sophie took a steady step. Then another. And another.

"I think I -" she cowered into a crouching position when a headache flared in her mind. She could feel numb aches recurring in her ankles.

Rosei rushed towards her and set her back down on the grass.

"The panakes elixir takes care of most, generally, but you need elixirs targeted on your injuries for it to actually heal," Rosei explained, while fiercely humming a calming tune under her breath.

Soon, Sophie's headache disappeared, and she could breathe again. She hadn't realized how relieving it felt to have her head away from chaos.

"Let's wait for your physician to come and help you," Rosei soothed. This time, Sophie didn't object.

It did feel like she was unstable, even though it seemed like she was pretty healthy. Though it pained her a lot, to stay away from her friends. They had been there for her when she was in pain, yet why couldn't she?

"I think I'll have to make you fall asleep for now," Rosei quickly added. "We don't want any more breakthroughs like your headache, even though we can heal it quickly," she started to sing a peaceful melody.

Sophie started to drift away, retreating into clouds of light. Vision fading away, as drowsiness hit her. The peaceful memories embraced her and she sank into the world of obliviousness.