Another story that will build Risa's drama.
Throughout the years of the world's existence, Mother Nature has always been a prominent figure in our world. After all, without Her, our entire world would not be born-it would simply be water covering a large area. Life is unsustainable without Mother Nature. The clouds in the sky, the rain falling from the clouds, the earth we tread on and the forests where animals live are all apart of Mother Nature. She is not a true person-simply a term to describe the environment we live in. However, there are myths that dispute this, saying that She had taken a human form once before.
There is no evidence to prove that Her feet have ever roomed the world. Yet, several stories protest this and claim that She has indeed had encounters with man. One of the most famous myths of Mother Nature is named "Coeur de Mother", and the plot is rather intriguing. It gives Mother Nature an unusual characteristic, a neurotic one. One minute, She is completely smitten by the mortal She loves and makes all the world's flowers bloom at once and the sun shines brightly around the world. The next, her hatred of man overwhelms Her, and tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis and earthquake annihilate nearly all of man. Normally, She is portrayed as a woman who is docile unless angered by us mortals. The world may never know what the truth is, but I believe that Mother Nature has indeed set foot on this earth so that we can finally put a face to the mother of the skies, mother of the seas, and the mother of the lands.
"It is a tedious effort to locate where She could have been," says Michael Frotinu, the famous archeologist who has dedicated more than a decade of his life to studying the secrets of Mother Nature. "I am a firm believer of Her human presence here. Who knows, maybe She's here with us now, hiding among the people." When I asked him where he thought Mother Nature would be hiding out, he answered, "I haven't the slightest idea. My assumption is that it would be a place of bountiful verdure that no expert gardener could ever imitate. And I believe that it is my duty to locate this place before I die, otherwise, my life is not worth living." When I spoke to a myth analyst, named Stacy Good, she stands at a different viewpoint than Dr. Frotinu. A much different view point.
"He is a lunatic who will believe anything that his parents will read to him in bed. To be honest, I used to be one of his most dedicated pupils that believed the same thing his entire life revolves around. Then I realized at a point in my life, Mother Nature is a fictional being. She lives within nature and I doubt that She would want to become a human." I asked her why and she replied matter-of-factly, "In every myth I've studied, mankind always leads to its own downfall. Our emotions and our feelings tend to get in the way of others and ultimately lead to our own destruction. I'm not saying I'm a misanthrope, but that is what is portrayed in all corners of the world. Just look at the places where civilizations once stood-they have all fallen because of mankind. If I was an immortal entity, I would not want to become a human for the fun of it."
Who knows, perhaps Stacy Good is telling the truth like it is. For a myth analyzer, she doesn't want us thinking that all myths tell us the truth. Meanwhile, Dr. Frotinu wants us to really dive into the myths and stories we were told at a young age about the mysterious and moody Mother Nature. But both people tell us that we should be looking within ourselves for the answer. Can the answer be buried in our own hearts so simply? Or should we be looking high or low for beautiful meadows where Her footprints have left marks of her existence. Also, what Dr. Frotinu pointed out something worth getting into-what if She is walking among us right now? What if she is acting as an angel, watching over all of us and judging every action we do and ultimately becoming the judge of our lives? My studies and findings will be further explained in the next chapter.
The next ten pages are blank, most likely from old age. This is rather annoying, this is a book that I am enjoying. I reach the penultimate chapter, page twenty-four.
Who is to say that Mother Nature wouldn't m-
"Get your nose out of that book for one second," grumbles Knuckles. "I need to talk to you." Politely, I rest the book on my lap, memorizing the last page.
"Yes?"
"I'm going out on an errand so I need you to pay close attention to the Master Emerald."
"Do we not do that every day?"
"Don't get smart with me."
"I am simply stating the obvious," I retort, picking up the book. "Take care." He stands there unsatisfactorily as if waiting for something. "Yes?"
"Forget it."
"Forget what?"
He flies off Angel Island quietly. It is about time, how am I supposed to finish this book with him breathing down my neck, figuratively speaking. My body rolls onto its back like a barrel and my eyes are back in the book.
Who is to say that Mother Nature wouldn't mate with a fellow mortal in this world? The short story, "Dancing Leaves" explains the possibility. Mother Nature wishes to surrender Her immortality for a short while and She becomes a human simply because She is bored. As she wanders into a nearby village, a man offers to help Her on Her feet, as he sees She is naked and exhausted. It is love at first sight, and they make love and She bears a daughter with powers of Her own. For some inexplicable reason, Mother Nature reverts back to Her spiritual form, leaving the man She loves to father Her only child. You may argue that this is simply a fairytale that we reiterate to our children every night, but some evidence might prove it to be true.
The Goddess' Temple, that has yet to be explored by anyone or even seen for that matter, is believed to contain idols and icons dedicated to this unique story. Legends and myths tell us words cannot describe the grandeur of the Goddess' Temple. If anyone were to search for it, they will know it when they see it. Even though it hasn't been seen, archeologists have discovered traces of gold under the-
The rest of pages are blank until I flip to the last page.
It is up to you to believe whether or not you have believed everything I've written. For others, Mother Nature exists in the lightning in the sky and the waves in the ocean, and for people like me, She has once in Her lifetime removed the cloak of immortality and donned mortality's silk in order to experience what we feel: Joy and happiness, hatred and anguish, and most importantly, love.
I am not sure what to think pertaining to this book or why I even picked it up from that library. The Goddess' Temple holds the secrets, does it? It is not even in this world, it lies in another. There is something nagging at me, wanting me to…do something foolish. A shuffling in the snow forces me to sit up and gaze behind me. If it is Knuckles, he would have already said something like "You're still lying around here?" This must be an intruder.
I summon the periwinkle blade into my hand and raise it to my face. While leaning on the back of the Master Emerald, I make my way to the steps and point it at the upcoming intruder. Aloofly, she almost walks directly into the point-she could have lost a nose. "Who are you?" The intruder gapes at me, realizing that it is not a stick I am pointing at her but a sword capable of doing more than simply stabbing people. "Instead of gawking you should speak."
"Ah, er…hey, wait a second," the girl tries distracting me for a moment. The girl does seem oddly familiar. "You're Hoodie Girl." I have been called many things in my short lifetime-strong, brave, scary, mean, and cool, the last one from Clancy-but never a "Hoodie Girl". I am not sure what to make of that.
"Excuse me?"
"Why are you here?" she asks as if I am the trespasser. Now I remember who she is. I pointed my blade at her once before in a hotel room when I had to wake her up and she was trapped in that queer setting.
"That is what I am asking you."
"Just put the sword down and let's talk this out for literally five minutes." The request is issued and my sword hand must obey. But I do not know whether or not this girl has come here to seek revenge on invading her "space". It is a possibility, but by judging by the fear in the girl's eyes, I doubt a little of it, too. "Come on, think about this before you do something you might regret."
"A quick five minutes," I niggardly lower the tip to her feet. "What are you doing here?"
"Sightseeing," lies the girl with her eyes to the sword.
"A very terrible lie," I shake my head. "You have to try harder."
"You probably wouldn't believe me." I wait silently for her truthful explanation. "Alright, alright, I'm looking for Chaos Emeralds and I believe that you have one of them here." A Chaos Emerald? I have yet to hear anything about that. Knuckles would know more about it.
"You are mistaken, this is no Chaos Emerald."
"But it's so-aww man. I was so close. I tried to…never mind. But it looks like a Chaos Emerald, well except it's huge, so I guess it's not. So what is that?" Her manner of speech and her movements remind me a little of Clancy. Why have I not found him yet-what am I doing with myself? I turn to the Master Emerald, wondering why it has not done anything to help me find my friend.
"It is-"
His furious voice echoes throughout the island. "Hey, who do you think you are? Another outsider?"
"Just what is needed," I whisper sarcastically, stepping in front of the girl. He always likes to jump to conclusions without analyzing the situation properly. I should have figured that this is the norm earlier. Knuckles sprints up the altar steps like he never has before and has his face in a gnarled expression.
"How come every time I leave, someone has to try and take the Master Emerald?" he demands, showing some annoyance at me for an incomprehensible reason.
"You tell me," I sarcastically reply, which angers him further. "Knuckles, you are sadly mistaken-"
"I know I'm right, don't tell me otherwise!"
"If she were trying to take it, she would have escaped by now. Or the alternative, she would have been severely beaten." The true statement makes the girl shudder. "Do not be so rash."
"Well-" he utters reluctantly, still suspicious of her activities "-what're you doing here?"
"I was just looking for Chaos Emeralds," responds the girl guiltily, like a child who has her hand caught in the willow tree stealing knowledge. Knuckles does not budge.
"I'm still suspicious."
"No kidding." That was actually amusing.
"She means no harm. Abandon your mistrust please."
"Fine, but she can't stay here either!"
The girl heaves a sigh of relief as Knuckles turned away from both of us. I face her and ask, "What is your name?"
"Mizuki."
"Mizuki, if you value your young life, you will not return to this island. Understand? Promise and I will ask Knuckles about your 'Chaos Emeralds'."
"I swear it. Thank you so much Hoodie."
"I introduced myself to you before so there is no need to call me by such a name. Risa Willow-Greenhorn."