Hey please don't hate me. I had an absolutely horrible, stressful day yesterday and fell asleep before I could post the next chapter. Sooooo guess what? YOU GUYS ARE GETTIN' TWO! That's right, I'm posting chapters 3 & 4 tonight! So I hope that makes up for feeling crappy yesterday, and sorry, I am just human.
Also, like I said I'm gonna try and post chapter 4 tonight too, but I;ve been struggling with wifi problems tonight too, so if it doesn't load, then again, REALLY sorry, and will update twice tomorrow or something.
Alright enjoy!
Chapter 3:
Forgive me?
(Several months later)
(MK's POV)
"Hey Larry!" I greeted the enthusiastic taxi driver as I tossed my backpack in and hopped into the backseat of his little yellow car. Kids were excitedly exiting the school, thrilled for summer to finally ended the school year, but that was all behind me as the taxi began to speed off.
"Well hey there kid! Glad to be outta school aren't ya?"
I smiled. "You have no idea."
"Wasn't this your last year of school?"
"Yup Senior year. I am done, and I can't wait to get home."
Larry laughed. "Well that's good. Sure different from when you first got here."
"Yeah, well I actually got to know my dad better so it's not bad anymore." I said. Larry just smiled and hurried down the street. I was practically bouncing around in the backseat, ridiculously eager to get home. With the start of summer began the start of my stay down in Moonhaven.
After my first visit to the hidden kingdom in the woods, I hadn't returned for several months, deciding to focus on my last year of school more. It was difficult, considering how almost dull and pointless school seemed compared to the crazy adventures I'd just been on. Still, I stayed away for some time, focusing on school and only seeing Nod through dad's cameras.
One day however, just a couple weeks ago, Ronin had been the one to set off the cameras and not Nod, which was unusual.
At that time he asked me if I would like a position as personal guardian of the queen over the summer, since she was so young. I wouldn't actually be body guarding her, he explained; that was the Leafmen's job. I'd simply be a companion of sorts. If I liked the position over summer, I could have a permanent spot in Moonhaven.
It was crazy and unexpected, but I didn't have any plans for the summer, or college afterward, so I figured it was worth a shot, but just for the summer. I couldn't possibly take a permanent place... It was still nice though. Not to mention it meant I'd be able to stay close to my dad, while still being with my boyfriend.
"So you got any summer plans MK?" Larry asked, as if reading my mind.
"Uh yeah I'm umm...I'm staying with some friends nearby for the summer." I said, smiling.
"Oh really! Well that sounds fun. No boys right?" he said jokingly. I laughed.
"Well just one..."
"Oh no you'd better be careful missy!" He laughed, being his typical, overly chatty self. I rolled my eyes and replied almost mockingly.
"Oh no, he's a total gentleman."
Larry smiled, before looking ahead. "Well it looks like we're here! You have a good summer MK."
I grinned, giddy with excitement. "Thanks, bye Larry!"
I then grabbed my backpack and ran across the lawn and through the front door. Ozzie was sleeping in the corner, drooling over everything, and my dad was at his work desk as usual, typing away on his dinosaur computers. I smiled and tapped his shoulder.
He turned to me and smiled. "Mary Katherine! You're back! How was the last day?"
I sighed a sigh of relief. "Long-awaited, that's all I can say."
Dad laughed. "Oh well umm all your stuff's packed so uh I'm sure you'll wanna be leaving soon..." I could see him trying to be happy for me, but you couldn't deny the hint of sadness. I sighed and hugged him.
"Dad I'm going to be right across the street. And if there's any type of emergency I can come right back. It's totally fine."
Dad sighed. "A-Alright. But if there is the slightest sign of any trouble, you are coming right home young lady, is that clear?"
I groaned. "Yes dad now can I go?" He smiled and hugged me once more, before I took off upstairs to get my travelling backpack and change into a pair of shorts, a red Coke t-shirt, and a pair of grey sneakers. After fixing my ponytail, I headed downstairs, where dad was waiting.
"Alright, I'm already to go. And I'll set off the cameras as soon as I can, I swear."
"Good! Good, good. Now just be careful and have fun making the forest grow!"
I laughed, gave him one final goodbye hug, and hurried into the woods, when I had lost sight of the house, I set my suitcase down, and pulled from my pocket, a small, glass bottle, filled with an elixir from the queen.
She had made it as soon as she realized I would need to travel here often. One drop of it would instantly make me small when I was big, and vise versa. Much more convenient than some crazy whirlwind.
I took the cap off, and used the applicator to drip one drop on my tongue, and stuck the bottle back in my pocket. I closed my eyes, as a warm fuzzy feeling enveloped me.
Before I knew it, I was a tiny person on the forest floor. About ready to burst from excitement, I began walking and let out a whistle to call for a bird. Nod had taught me a special whistle that would immediately send a bird right to me.
I whistled, and waited, and whistled, and waited some more, but no one came.
"Huh. I wonder where they are?"
I was about to let out one more whistle, when suddenly I felt the ground disappear from beneath my feet, and I was flying up into the air at ridiculous speeds
"AAAAHHHHH!" I screamed, pinching my eyes shut as I felt myself go higher and higher. What the hell was going on?!
Suddenly, I heard the amused laugh that I knew so well, and my eyes shot open.
"Well sheesh! If this is how you're gonna react when I come to pick you up, I'll let you walk next time." My two-inch tall boyfriend said. I looked up at his face, and was instantly lost in his chocolate brown eyes. He had on his trademark smirk. "Now did someone miss me or what?"
Snapping out of my trance, I punched the leafman hard in the arm.
"Oww! What was that for?!" He protested.
"For almost KILLING me! Nod, what the heck is your problem?! I could've had a heart attack! That was so not funny..."
"Actually, it was pretty funny...Aww come on!" He whined as I faced my back to him, arms crossed, huffing. He landed the bird on a nearby tree and tried to reason with me.
"C'mon MK I was just joking."
"Yeah, well I didn't get it. You almost gave me a heart attack..." I muttered, trying to hold back my smile. I was never very good at playing mad.
"Hey MK...?" He said softly, and I felt his hand under my chin. I turned toward him and was instantly met by his lips on mine. My heart suddenly fluttered in my chest. My eyes softly drifted shut as I reached to hold his cheek. His arms wrapped around me, one wrapping around my waist, the other resting at the base of my neck. Both my arms snaked around his neck as I pulled myself closer, sliding into this perfect little dream...
Eventually we broke apart for air, and he pressed his forehead to mine. "You forgive me?
"Yeah, sure..." I said, still a little dazed. He was just too adorable to be mad at...and boy did he know how to kiss.
He laughed and hugged me "Good. C'mon let's get back to Moonhaven! Everyone's been dying to see you." I hopped behind him and wrapped my arms around his waist. Then he grabbed the reins and took off towards the other.
"And yes, I did miss you..." I muttered, squeezing him tighter.
We soared among the trees and leaves. I laughed, and raised my arms like I was on a roller coaster, basking in the summer sun, breathing in the clean air. Suddenly, the bird jerked to the side, causing me to quickly wrap my arms back around Nod. He laughed. "Too much for you?"
"No!" I said stubbornly. "Just scared me is all."
Nod just kept laughing. He seemed so happy and alive. I smiled, and snuggled against him. It was so good to see him again...
After having been separated for so long, I had been starting to doubt that Nod would even want to keep this going. I mean, I'd heard of long-distance but never across 'dimensions' as dad put it. I'd have figured he'd stopped going to so much troule for us. I mean... It was only me...
We reached Moonhaven within minutes, and boy was there a welcoming party. Ronin was the first person I saw, followed by the queen nearby, who was smiling and waving frantically. She was so energetic; it was hard to consider her as the elegant queen figure she was. Nim Galuu was there too, followed by basically the entire population of Moonhaven.
"Well what do you think? Some welcoming committee huh?" Nod asked.
I blinked a couple times. "Yeah, I guess but why are there so many people?! Did you guys seriously invite everybody?"
"We didn't invite anyone! They just all came to welcome you."
I smiled, feeling some sort of tug on my heart. These people all cared about me that much? Why? All I'd done was play some bat tunes. It was the Leafmen who'd fought off the Boggans. They were the heroes here. Still, it was nice to have them all here. It felt like my second family.
The moment we landed, the Queen basically sacked me. Had it not been for Nod steadying me, I probably would've fallen over. "Woah!" I cried.
"Oh my gosh! Mary Katherine I missed you so much! Why did you have to leave for so long?! Thing's have been SO boring with out you!" She yelled, before starting to babble on at a hundred miles per hour. I smiled. I guess we had started to form a sort of sister-bond, which was good since I'd be spending a lot of time with her.
"It's good to see you Mk. How's it been?" I then heard General Ronin say, as he shook my hand.
"Same goes for you General. And it's been great. I'm so glad to be back."
I was greeted by more than a hundred more people, and everyone was so kind. It was such an incredible feeling... However, there were a couple of faces I had been expecting that weren't there.
"Wait, where are Mub and Grub?" I asked.
The queen had the answer to that one. "Well as the Royal Pod Caregivers, they sort of have to be at their job 24/7, unless there's some sort of emergency."
"Aww. Well I'm sure we'll see them eventually."
Nod grinned, probably a little relieved that Mub wasn't there to irritate him anyways. "Well let's head inside. I'm pretty sure they're throwing a party to celebrate."
I groaned. "Really? A party?! Guys this seriously wasn't necessary."
"Of COURSE it was! I planned everything too!" The queen said, tugging at my arm and pulling me inside. I sighed, looking back at Nod and mouthing, "Help Me". He just laughed. This was gonna be a long night...
