Not So Sweet Candyland

XXXVI: Water Ripples

"There is a myth that if you make a ripple out of water in Candyland, then you can see the souls of the living and the dead in the water."

"Woah, is that really true?"

"I wish I could show you, but there's no water nearby. I know what to do!"

Berry prepared a spell and faced her hands towards an empty space.

"Oh powers of the earth, give me a lake to look at the reflection of the living and the dead from our reverse dimension! Lapis Luzirri!"

A large blue cloud formed where the empty spot was and soon, a lake formed right then and there. The background was slightly altered to make the lake fit more in then just be a regular lake in the middle of nowhere.

"I was always fascinated by this myth. The Ripple Myth. It's a conversation from our voices to their brain. It makes them think that there is an imaginary friend in their head. Saying some things that go on through their head. If they are alive, it's a teasing match. If they're dead, then you see spirits floating all around them."

"Wait...."

"I know a lot about the dead. I chatted with many of them back when I wanted to take my life. I asked the ones who actually did it, if they regretted their actions, and they said they did."

"Is suicide a big thing in Candyland?"

Berry shook her head.

"No actually. The leading cause of death is execution due to the king. Prison simply does not exist here and if it's your time to die, you can run but you can't hide. They will get you and cut your head open if they can. That's their thing, the Royals believe that everything is possible because they are at the top of the world."

"And you find that?"

"Bullshit. Pure bullshit. This is why I hated princes and princesses because they only care about looks and how their friends are doing. Princess Sofia from Titindin could say that her kingdom is doing financially well, but most of her people are starving. Or, Prince Edward of Ehhiroth could say that his people are the most well behaved when they clearly are forced into slavery every day. Then, when their people revolt, they suddenly act so surprised because they were so stupid or selfish that they couldn't save their people. But, it's whatever."

Berry made a ripple in the water and that's when a figure showed up.

"Who are you?" She asked.

The person was dead, but she was wearing a princess tiara and ball gown. Blonde hair and blue eyes, her hair was curled and it fluttered right to her shoulders.

"Have I seen you before?"

"I don't think that you have."

"Well, let me introduce myself. I am Olivia Vininghan, I am 18, or that's how old I was when I passed, and I died of a murder-suicide attack on me and another girl."

"You're very beautiful." Berry said to her.

"You really think so? Thank you so much. Nobody has actually called me beautiful at all."

"But, you are."

"Stop! Who are you?"

"My name is Princess Berry of Candyland, but you can just call me Vansssa."

"Vanessa, eh? Why do you go by Vanessa compared to Berry?"

"Vanessa is my human name, Berry is my Candyland name."

"Are you alive? Or, have you passed like I did?"

"I'm alive."

Chase came over and looked over Berry's shoulder.

"Who's that?"

"This is Chase. Chase is on a journey with me, although right now, we're training and getting to know the world around us."

"Chase, are you treating her right? She seems like the girl that will kick you in the balls if you don't listen to her."

"Oh, she is that type of girl. She will never take no for an answer. And if you confront her, that means that you're in for a surprise of a kick in the you know what."

They laughed.

"But in all seriousness, if you two are going on an adventure, please be very very careful.any world that you are venturing in is dangerous. And although, I was not killed by savages, I was betrayed. But, my story doesn't matter. All that matters is that you two make it out together, and alive. These worlds are full of dangerous games that you must play to defeat the system. Here in the real world and in Candyland, please listen to me even if I might not know a thing about your world. You have each other, and you two seem to bring two different sides to the table. Utilize them more and balance out each other because I can tell that the girl overpowers the boy. Let the boy learn and let him thrive."

The ripple started to fade away.

"And if you two love each other, then say it!"

The ripple faded away.

"I can't believe that it actually worked, I wasn't planning on it to work like that!"

Chase just stood, staring at the clear water.

"Who was she? And why have I seen her before?"

And that's when Chase started to realize. She was his childhood friend. The first girl that Chase ever liked before she moved to the west of Colorado. She really was still beautiful. Like, she never changed. But, her death was scary and it scarred Chase for life.

"Hey, Chase." Berry snapped her fingers in Chase's face and that's when slowly, the lake and all of the surroundings around it started to fade away as well.

They picked up their bags and left the area to where the lake was, and that's when Berry took out her spell book and turned to a page with a spell circled in red ink.

"What is that?" Chase looked over her shoulder.

She closed the book and sighed.

"Nothing." 

She put the book in her bag and started walking faster than normal.

"I feel that the next part of our journey will be somewhat..... different. I Don't know, I guess it's just a gut feeling."