Pomegranate tea

Everyone knew about the legend of Mt. Ebott. The locals knew most about it, they're the ones who keep the lore going. It's a legend, that's what we truly believed

It seems that adults only used the story to make sure children didn't wander too far, similarly to how adults would talk about "el cocuy" or "the shadow man", things that will take children if they misbehave. The elders were the only ones who told the story as though it was true fact, as if it was the only reason for there to even be a mountain.

I was only five when we moved there, just my mother and I. we lived in an enormous apartment complex, but now that I think about it; it was just three stories high. I was attending second grade by the elementary school near the apartments. I remember when my class had to do a project on our favorite part in history. Some kids did diagrams of George Washington, others wrote about Sacajawea, and then the over-achievers made space scenery and reenacted the moon landing. It was pretty cool. But one of the students, a very quiet one, wrote about the legend of the humans and the monsters and how we forced them underground. The teacher gave them a kind smile but told them to rewrite their paper for a different topic. The kid was disheartened by what the teacher told them and the snickering from the other children in my seat I looked behind my seat and sent glares at the kids, it wasn't funny, and in fact I wanted to know more. When class ended I went to the trashcan and picked up the students essay that they threw in it.

That night I read it over and over again with my flashlight under a blanket. It was fascinating to me, I wanted to know more.

The next day I asked my mother if she could pack me some extra food for lunch. She looked like she wanted to ask me why but she agreed anyway. I saw the student sitting by themselves avoiding the snickering of their peers; I plopped right next to them.

"Hi" I said. I took out my hand to introduce myself "I'm Nina, nice to meet ya"

The student looked at me strangely for a moment and then at my hand, but I wasn't going to let myself be faltered.

"Hello"

They shook my hand softly then took their hand away and look down their lap.

"Do you like enchiladas?"

They looked at me with a quizzical face

"W-what?"

"Enchiladas" I opened up my bag and placed two enchiladas into their lunch plate "here"

"Its super good believe me" I bite into my own and waited for them to eat into theirs.

They stared at their food for a moment then slowly grabbed a fork to cut off a piece of the enchilada. They placed it in their mouth, then they placed another piece, and then another, by the time they were done with the first enchilada they grabbed the second enchilada with their hands and devoured it like me.

"It's good, huh?" I said

"Y-yes really tasty"

"I'll tell my mom that she'll love the compliment"

We continued to eat in silence for a moment until they began to fidget slightly in their seat.

"Nina?"

"Yes?"

"Why are you being so nice to me?"

"What do you mean?"

"Why are you sitting next to me? Why are you sharing your food with me?"

I looked over my shoulder and I saw the other kids whispering to each other and pointing at us.

"Because I think you're cool"

They gave me a confused look

"Yeah I read your history paper, the one you threw away"

"You…you" I could see the face warp into a worried one

"Yup! It was awesome I never knew about that part of history! Do you know anymore?"

They had a faint blush on top of their already rosy cheeks

"I...you're not going to make fun of me?"

"Why would I?"

"People think their baby stories"

"Baby stories? That's silly! Your paper was amazing!

"You really think so?"

"Yeah" I bit my bottom lip a little worried that they didn't like me "I don't know a lot of people here, my momma and I barely moved here, but your paper was so interesting and it made me...I just...I want to know more about it, I want to know more about you"

They looked back up to me with a small tender smile and hopeful eyes; it was the best first week in my new school. My friend and I would hang out every day after school and play on my apartment's playground. My mother took a great liking to them; she even called us her little

"Charritos! Ya está listo la comida, vengan a comer!"

"Come on charrito" I told them with a giggle

"Ok Nina" they followed me out of my room as we dashed into the kitchen. Momma placed a warm soup in front of us as we sat on the table. We grabbed the bowl of cheese and placed a generous amount of it in our soups

"Ay mis charritos son unos ratoncitos"

"Mama!"

She smiled at us and walked back into the kitchen to get another bowl for herself.

"Nina?"

"Yes charrito?"

They smiled at their nickname "what does raton mean?"

"Mice"

"Oh and what about charrito?"

"Umm I think it means cowboy"

"Wow can you teach me more?"

"Absolutely charrito…charo…Chara!" I said as I grabbed a spoonful of the soup, I spat it out, it burned my mouth.

"Ay! Sopla le Nina!"

Chara gave me a napkin in worry to clean my face, and then we both laughed. After dinner we spent the rest of the day coloring in the living room.

"Guau! So there were monster that could shoot fire out of their hands?" I asked

"Si and there were monsters who were made out of fire!"

"Que chido!"

Chara paused and looked at me.

"Chee...dough?"

"We got a lot to work on"

We both giggled, it was an even bargain, they taught me more about the legend behind Mt. Ebott and I taught them Spanish. We were happy most of our time together just Chara and I, but sometimes they seemed down and other times they had the bruises to show it.

"Chara are you ok?"

"Yeah I'm fine I just...fell down the steps by my front door"

"Oh sometimes I fall down the apartment stairs" I laughed, Chara gave me a smile "but my mom gets really scared and worried, then really mad that I didn't tie my shoes...again. But she lets me lay on the couch for the rest of the day with an ice pack and a bag of chips; did your mom do that?"

"Um no but she gave me a transformers ban-aid"

"Well when we go to my home today we can ask my mom to give you a bag of chips!"

"You...um I I'd like that"

When we got home my mother also asked them what happened and they told her the same thing. Chara and I sat in the living room flipping through the channels on the TV sharing a bag of chips when my mom called me to the kitchen to get the ice pack to give to Chara. She pulled me close to her and in a low voice she asked me that if I ever saw Chara with bruises again that they were trying to hide to tell an adult immediately. That seemed strange, why would I tell anyone about something Chara was trying to hide.

I don't remember seeing Chara with any more bruises but they were always wearing long sleeve shirts from then on.

One day my mom surprised us with a visit to Mt. Ebott. Chara had started staying the nights and one time during a weekend my mom woke us up early to go up to the mountains. I was drowsy throughout the whole car ride but I remembered Chara was practically jumping in their seat once they figured out where we were going. My mother took us around the village below the mountain and we were given stories of the legend by some of the elder locals whom were outside of their homes, some were gardening, others were resting on their porches.

"The monsters were grand and enormous with frightening capabilities"

"Many were animals other looked like creatures you could only imagine"

We were given a small tour around the mountain and near a valley with a beautiful field of flowers.

"Look at all these daisies, Chara!" I said as I picked one up and shoved it into Chara's face, they leaned backwards while squinting their eyes.

"They're just flowers, Nina"

I gasped in a jokingly offended manner and covered the flower with my hand

"Don't speak to my children that way!"

Chara couldn't help but laugh and told me that the flowers were very pretty but the bright yellow hurt their eyes.

We weren't able to go the top of the mountain the locals told us it was dangerous for young child to go, that the magic could lure us in and we would get lost, the tour guide told us about the risk of crumbling trees and falling. Chara and I were disappointed but we found a playground in front of a gift shop.

As we headed back my momma made us carry small bags of herbs that she got from the locals, they smelled funny, but the dried up plants looked colorful and pretty.

Chara was grateful for being brought here and repeatedly thanked my mom, my momma smiled at Chara through the reverse mirror, they were so happy that day, but slowly their bright smile lost their shine. They became distant even from me

"You know humans are monsters"

They told me one day. We were on the swings of my apartment's playground, it was finally summer, Chara has practically moved into my home by sleeping over every night.

"Huh?"

"Humans are monster too"

"Why do you say that?"

We swung slowly on the swing seats, with our feet scraping against the wood chips.

"Their bad"

"All of them?"

Chara looked down at their feet, we swung in silence.

That night we slept in the living room having spent the night watching cartoons in front of the TV, I was sprawled on the floor while Chara dozed on the couch. I woke up with Chara softly nudged my shoulder.

"Nina"

"Eh char" is that you?"

"Come on I want to show you something"

"Oh cool" I yawned "I'll tell my mom to take us"

"No it's special only you and I can go"

"…why?"

"Once I show you you'll know why"

I looked out the slide screen door heading to the outdoor patio; the stars were still shining brightly.

"Ok"

We placed on some light sweaters and a jacket on top, we headed outside. As we descended the stairs I wanted to stop and tell Chara that we could go in the morning but I couldn't bring myself to. We avoided the motion sensor lights in the apartments, we ran holding hands. It was slightly chilly but our jackets kept us warm. Both of us tightened it around our faces.

"Char?"

They responded with a grunt

"Where are we going?"

"It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you"

I couldn't help but agree. I sure love surprises; I just wish it didn't feel bad.

We reached the highway bridge.

"Were really far from the apartments"

"Yeah"

They pulled my hand to follow. We waited at a bus stop, we stood close together.

"Char maybe we should go back"

"Having a small adventure never hurt anyone, don't you trust me?"

"I...yes"

Chara gave me a small smile, it didn't reach their eyes. They pulled me close by holding my shoulders. When the bus came by Chara placed two bucks into the machine and pulled me to sit next to them. The bus driver gave us a suspicious look but then let out a small sigh and shook his head.

We rode the bus for around 25 minutes maybe more throughout the ride Chara looked out the window keeping their hand on mine. I tried distracting myself but my eyes would always fall on them.

"Hey! You two" The bus driver called at us as we were getting off of the bus. We both turned, I looked positively scared with a caught expression, but Chara simply smiled, it gave me chills.

"Be careful out there" the bus driver shouted out. Chara simply gave him a waved.

"Yes of course! Thanks for the ride" they shouted back. Chara hopped off then helped me get out of the bus. "Come on this way" they told me we trudged along.

I looked around. We were surrounded by trees, the sign behind me said the name to the town but I wasn't able to get a good look. But I could see the houses nearby. Some were homes that looked more modern and other seemed like big cabins.

"H-hey we're in the village below Mt. Ebott" I said. I recognized this place, the homes of the local villagers.

"I don't think there's any tours for Mt. Ebott today, Char" I said as we walked up to the hills. The leaves and roots of the trees crunched against our feet, it was getting a little colder and my legs began to get nipped by the air, I wish I wore longer pants.

"We're almost there Nina!" Chara told me with slight excitement in their voice. They began to run pulling me along by; all I wanted to do was sit and catch my breath.

I forced myself to match their pace. As we reached the top of the mountain I looked behind me and into the darkness of the forest. It leans after us trying to catch us by our ankles.

"Look"

Chara stopped and I followed their gaze, this wasn't something that I recognized. There was a cave opening, Chara approached it. Letting go of my hand they leaned against the caves walls showing how fatigued they really were.

"Where are we?" I slowly approached the cave wrapping my coat closer to me, holding onto the collar of my coat. I could feel the wind in the cave drape itself against my legs and back. Chara turned and gave me a smile; it wasn't the one they gave the bus driver or the ones he gave the teachers, or the plastic ones they sometimes gave me. Smiles that did not reach their eyes, a smile that chilled you, a smile that caused you to step back.

No this smile was one that Nina had not seen in a while. The one that Chara gave them the first time they meet, one filled with hope. I approached them slowly; I could see my warm breath hit the cool air in the cave. Chara's cheeks were flushed making there already rosy cheeks have a deep crimson color.

"Where are we?"

Chara turned slowly to show the rest of the cavern, they gave me a small smile.

"We're at the top of Mt. Ebott, Nina"

I looked around the cave and saw the caverns wall completely covered in green vines but the darkness did not allow me to see much more.

"The top? We've never actually gone to the top"

"I know isn't it beautiful"

The cavern was massive with cracks of moonlight shining through. Flowers of various different species decorated the floor but in the middle of the cave was what caught my eye. At first glance it looked like a deep abyss calling towards to dive into the endless it's deep blue color, it looked like a marvelous sea, it was a deep wide hole.

"Chara this place is amazing" slowly it dawned on me "this...isn't your first time here is it?"

They were silent and turned their attention back towards the cave walls.

"No"

They traced their fingers against the walls feeling the rock underneath the vines.

"Remember the second time we came up here?"

I did, Mom brought us again because some of the locals had spices that she was interested in. She had let us play in the playground by the gift shop after we took another tour around the mountain. That day Chara was wearing both a sweater and long pants, despite the scorching heat, They were wearing appendix bandages wrapping around their knee that my mom had given to them when she saw them hobbling. Even with the limping they still played with me, I offered to play by the swings, I pushed them.

Chara had their gaze on the mountain.

"What do you think is up there?" Chara asked me I looked up to where they pointed at.

"I dunno? Flowers a whole bunch of them! Blue, pink, purple, green, oh and pretty yellow ones!"

Chara didn't speak at all for a moment then they busted into a giggle.

"There's no such thing as purple flowers you goof"

"Oh but violets exist"

"Those are blue"

"Nuhuh!"

We laughed harder so much I forgot I was pushing Chara so when they swung back towards me we collided against each other causing them to tumble into the woodchip covered ground. Mom and some locals found us with our limbs entangled and in awful pain. She made us both stay inside of the gift shop after that. I chatted away with store owner while Chara sat in one of the chairs next to the main desk.

"So they turned to dust?"

"Yes pumpkin, they didn't have enough physical matter to maintain their form so they turned into dust"

"Wow, that's really sad"

"Yes I agree with you sweetie but monsters would place the dust of their loved ones over the things the loved that way they could live on in that object, at least that how my papa told me"

"Wow" I leaned into the counter with my head resting against the palms of my hands

"Could I have the key to the restroom please" the storekeeper smiled at Chara and handed them the key that was attached to a long block of wood decorated with stickers and bright floral painting.

"Sure honey here you go, it's just around the corner"

As Chara walked out of the store to head towards the bathroom the store keeper turned to me.

"They're your friend pumpkin?" she asked

"Yup best friends!"

"I can see that sweetie"

"Then why'd you asked?"

The storekeeper rolled their eyes but kept their smile they looked out to the door for a moment, I shoved some of her complimentary candy into my face.

"You two match each other's needs"

"What do you mean?"

"You have a bright and accepting soul that's just got so much love to give and your friend just needs someone to accept and love them for who they are"

"...huh?"

"I hope you two do great things together in the future"

I was extremely confused by her statement but I gave a wide smile either way. As she searched behind her counter to refill her jar of complementary candies I spun around in the stool. About 47 spins around the Stool I decided to stop and slowly hopped off, careful to not fall from my dizzy venture. I was kind lonely with Chara so I decided to look around the store, there were mostly souvenirs and small tokens such as dried up flowers and small variety of rocks. I returned to my seat next to the main desk were Chara had sat and looked out towards the window. I realized that if I turned my head to the right I had a perfect view of the mountain. It almost looked like any of other surrounding hills that were around it but Mt. Ebott was somehow different. Even when you traveled down the high altitude were the small town was you could still distinguish it among the other mountains. Even if you were miles and miles away, if you could still see the highlight of the mountains, you would be able to tell where Mt. Ebott laid among the green vegetation on top of the mountains. The locals said that it was because of the magic that lured people to it other said you could tell where it was because it was usually right in the center. My mind began to drift back to the monsters that were trapped underneath that very mountain. A scared shiver passed through my spine as I remembered my mother telling me one day that if I didn't go back to bed soon the monsters underground would pull me down with them from under my bed but Chara had told me that the monsters couldn't possibly be under my bed if they themselves were trapped. That made me feel incredible sad, it wasn't fair that the monsters were trapped underground and we were hogging all the bright and colorful sky, right Chara?

Chara?

Where were they? Suddenly I had a sudden commotion outside the gift shop. The storekeeper and I looked at each other for a moment, what was going on? She stepped out from her counter and headed towards the entrance of her shop which was a thin screen door, I followed close behind her. Before the shopkeeper even placed her hand on the door someone had beaten her to it. He entered the shop with a struggling Chara being held by the back of their shirt.

"Chara was found wandering far from the tour lines" said the man who entered with Chara, I recognized him as one of the neighbors, and he had often volunteered to show around for tours.

"I thought I saw something!" said a struggling Chara

"Uhhuh sure, Nina keep an eye on them will you"

"Uh um y- yes"

The local left the store and the young southern belle store keeper sighed and shook her head as she headed back to her counter

"Chara! What were you doing? You know they don't let us go past the lines" I said in a very concerned voice, Chara bit the inside of their cheek and avoided eye contact with me as the adjusted their shirt.

"I really thought I saw something"

"You had me worried"

"I'm sorry Nina I don't want you to worry about me"

I gave them a smile as they slowly looked up to meet my eyes, I brought them into a tight hug. Chara jolted in surprise but stayed put matching their slow gaze to the speed of their arms wrapping around me as well. I could hear the storekeeper let out a small chuckle of a sigh, Chara lost the key. I never asked them where they went, and now here we both were on top of Mt. Ebott

"It was beautiful when I first came up here but with you here…" Chara combed the vines while they sat on one of the rocks. I could feel a glint of moonlight hit my cheeks.

"Thank you for showing this to me Chara" I responded softly, my eyes kept looking around my scenery, mystified by this true fairytale.

"You're the only one who understands, Nina"

"What do you mean?"

"You understand that humans were wrong to trap the monsters"

"Yes th-they were doing nothing wrong we-"

"We feared then so we forced them underground"

"Yes"

"That was wrong of us" Their voice lost its soft ting when they said that, their tone almost matched the darkness of the cave I couldn't help but take a step back, it didn't go unnoticed.

"Y-yes" my bottom lip trembled

"We can make it right Nina"

"How?"

"You and I could set the monster free"

It clicked in me, we could. Chara and I could free the monsters and together we could help both humans and monster get along in peace. Chara reach out towards me and I firmly grabbed onto their offering hand and I gave a small smile. They suddenly tightened their grip, my heart froze I fear when I saw their own smile turn into a malicious grin.

"We'll free the monster to destroy humanity"

"Wh-what?"

They pulled me closer to the deep hole

"Together you and me Nina"

"Ch- chara i"

Our feet were so close I could hear the loose rocks fall into the hole

"I can't!"

Chara stopped they slowly took their focus off of the hole and turned their head towards me.

"What?"

"We can't do that Chara! We can't destroy humanity!" I pulled my hand out of their grasped. They looked down quickly at our disconnected hands then quickly looked back up towards me.

"Humans are monster, Nina. I thought we both agreed"

"Are we all monsters?"

Chara furrowed their eyebrows.

"Yes Nina"

"Even me?"

Their eyes widened and took a pause.

"Even mama? Are we all monsters?"

"ni-Nina that's not what I mean"

Chara desperately attempted to re-grab a hold of my hand but i pulled back.

"Cha...Chara Charrito no"

They looked at me bewildered the moment i called them the nickname my mother had both given us.

"I can't do that"

Chara looked at me in disbelief then gave me an ugly frown i could feel my heart beginning to break, they turned their heel

"Chara?"

I reached out towards them but they shrugged off my hand.

"I'll do it myself"

"What!?"

"I'll free the monster and they'll destroy humanity"

"Chara no"

"Only then will you agree with me, only then will you be my friend again"

I tried to grab ahold of their shoulder to stop them but Chara violently turned around and punched me in the nook of my shoulder and chest. I fell onto my side feeling the pain flood onto my chest, I didn't know if it was from the punch or something else. Chara pulled their hand back and realized what they just did.

"I'm...I'm so sorry" they said, my eyes became blurry with tears that I didn't want to let flow as I got back on my feet.

"Chara please come back home with me"

Chara's eyes glazed over

"Home"

"Yes home with momma and i"

"Home with you"

"Let's go back together

Chara stared through me I could feel the cool air hit the sweat on my back but the flaming heat on my shoulder and the tightness in my chest gave me an uncomfortable warmth.

"Chara please"

They lowered their head but I could see the tears stream down their rosy cheeks. I cupped their face with my hands and softly cleaned their tears with my thumbs.

"Let's go home"

Chara leaned in to my hands and gave a raspy sigh

"...ok"

I grabbed they hand and pulled them away from the pit, they followed with tiny steps but after the fifth one they pounded their foot into the ground.

"Chara?"

They wouldn't move no matter how much I pulled

"Come on let's go"

They didn't move, I could feel my heart beating against my chest. Chara gripped my hands roughly together almost as if they were about to crush them, i would feel the bones of my fingers rub against each other.

"O-ow Chara?"

They ripped their hands out of mine.

"No" they said softly

I brought my hands to my chest trying to sooth the pain out of them.

"I can't"

Chara looked up at me through their sweaty hair I could see the anger and - build up in their eyes.

"I came here to do want I must Nina, then you and I. You mama and I will finally be happy"

"Char-"

They turned rapidly towards the pit, as they tried to run their foot got snagged by a growing root.

"Chara!"

They fell in

I pushed towards the pit, attempting to grasp something I couldn't.

"Nina!"

I looked over the edge of the cliff with my belly to the floor I saw them fly backwards into the deep hole.

"Nina"

It was so faint now I could see their arm reach out towards me; they disappeared deep into the darkness of the pit

"...Chara"