Oh, my day was lovely. Night, please fall, for the darkness brings
not only my happiness; but also my love. Love. What a word. Am I really in
love? Why do I ask myself that? Love can't be explained, because it is
already self-explanatory. It teases you. It tickles your feet. Does it just
come naturally? Along with maturity? So what if I just can't sleep at
night. I see his face in the starry sky. The way he feels…it just makes it
right. Is that love? The tug in your stomach and flutter through your
throat. A dizzy head and goo-goo eyes. Just one kiss makes me float on air.
It is pleasurable, every minute. Every second! I can't wait for his return…
"Misty! Misty!"
"Huh? What?" I open my leisure eyes and see green. I sigh. "Gustav."
"Gustav?"
I open my eyes wider. "Oh, I'm sorry."
"Moss?" Juniper asks happily. Freesia sits upon her head, cleaning her antennae.
"Sure, why not." I reply. It was late afternoon, around five o'clock. I learned how to read the sun. I had fallen asleep, thinking of Ash.
"You don't look good." Freesia points out.
"Ask Pippin." I reply. "This will be the first time his little observations are correct."
"Oh dear." Freesia sighs. "Really, Misty, you trust in this boy to return to you?"
"I—."
"Just don't get your hopes too high. I'd hate to see your heart get shattered." Freesia cuts in.
She is doubtful. But deep down in my heart, I have to admit I'm doubtful too. Please come, Ash. Don't leave me alone here. It's hard to believe that the previous night was true. Call me naïve, but I believe. He was here. Everything was too real, pure, and natural. That kiss, I can still taste. That night was no dream.
"Whattcha doing?" Penelope bounds into view followed by her brother, Pippin. He whispers in her ear. "Pip wants to know what that kiss felt like."
"Penny!" Pip shouted. "You weren't supposed to say I wanted to know!"
I laugh. "It's like a warm spring day, right when the run rises. Your heart melts and pours out freely into a pool of everlasting love."
"In other words, she liked it." Juniper gave them all a summary. I blush, but my heart is burning in a different way…with excitement. The sun is slowly setting in the west sky, making the clouds pinkish-purple marshmallows that dance with delight.
"Okay Pip." I say. "You can say it now."
He sighs with relief. "Aww!"
"I just hope;" I begin. "He comes."
"Oh dear." Freesia says once more and falls down my neck like a slide, since she was sitting on my head. Such a drama queen.
"Is that what love is?" Pippin wonders. "Waiting for that certain someone, no matter what? And that someone is special enough to come. I mean, this boy, Misty. Is he really coming back? With what happened after he left before—."
Penelope covers his mouth with both of her little, squirrel hands. "Don't listen to him. He's a nut."
I stand and head for the lake. But before I enter the water, I turn and say with a smile. "Thank you for your advice." It was sort of a joke though, I hope they understood.
As I enter the lake, I could feel my heart glow with the last rays of sunlight. I felt proud, hard to believe. I was glad to live the life I was. For being a gentle deer by day, only to be feminine again when the moon is out; I feel special. To have Ash's love, I am also lucky. What my eyes await will be pleasant, for sure. My heart is already full of love, it's about to overflow. Oh please! I love you. I love you! I surface and see a swish of two tails. Pippin and Penelope just left. I come out of the lake and watch the thumb-nail moon slowly climb up the stars to its nightly thrown. My long lost mother smiles down on me. She led me here. I am Mother Nature's child. My soul is full of joy, but there was still room for worry. It is still early. The moon has plenty of time to shine. Hours pass, and I still wait. I now sit on a small cliff over looking the lake's shore. I dangle one foot off the side, and hug my opposite knee. Such a peaceful night. The owls hoot long, sweet, and strong. The bushes rustle and my heart leaps into my throat. Oh…it is only a skunk searching for a drink. I sigh mournfully. Another hour or two goes by. My eyes droop. No, I cannot fall asleep. I must stay awake, so when he comes, I'll be able to greet him. Juniper hops to my side. Her ears down and her face sad. She can read my thoughts. That feeling is coming back. The pain that tickles the back of my throat. A signal for tears. I try my best to hold them back. The pain worsens. Oh, it hurts. How long can I keep this up? He didn't come. I can see the sun's head emerging over the trees. I must go.
"Maybe…Last night was a dream." I say to Juniper.
She starts to talk in her squeaky, yet chittery, rabbit voice. She then lets her eyes get all soft and gives in 'aw'.
I get it. "Pippin."
Juniper nods and then points to the sky. My bare feet run down to the shore. Why don't I get to watch the sun rise for once? I'll die of course, but it may be worth it. Juniper pushes my leg, urging me to go in the water. I finally obey.
"He didn't come back for me." I sob on shore as a doe.
Juniper pats my back. "It's okay Misty. You deserve a lot better then him."
"But…I love him Juniper. I love Ash." I reply. "He seemed so perfect." After a while I remember something. "Didn't you say something about Pip?"
Juniper groans. "I tried to tell you before the sun set, but I couldn't squeeze it in."
"What? What is it?" I ask.
"I hope it doesn't make too big of a deal…but maybe he would explain it better then I could." Juniper nods. She then bounds off into the woods.
"Juniper." I call after her.
"Yes?" She turns around.
"I feel so deprived." I finally finish crying. "Of one of the most important things in life."
She hops back over to my side and rests her paw on my black nose. "It'll be okay, Princess. But please, to make us all happy, talk to Pip and Penny."
"Thank you." I say and start waiting for lunch time, when the two squirrels arrive.
The morning air was sweet, but very tick. I am tried, but yet I cannot sleep. My eyes seem to be so big now that my eyelids can't cover them anymore. Hours that flew by the previous night, now are like a turtle on land. The sun rises slowly to its peek. Another hole is to be punctured in my heart. For the first time, as I lay on shore, watching the sun rise, I think about death. I think about home. My father. My life. How my attitude got me here. How me not giving into my feelings cursed me for life. The other half of my brain counters with hate. That I had the right to run away. I wanted Ash to say he loved me more then just for my beauty. Even if I were ugly. I wanted to hear him say he loved my soul, not my face. I hear the chick-chick-chick of the brother and sister. Pippin and Penelope arrive.
The second they catch my glance, they back away. I stop them "Wait."
"You look slightly devastated, Princess." Pippin says.
"He didn't come." I begin.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Penelope sympathizes.
"And you two know why." I finish.
Penelope's jaw drops. Pippin slowly puts his paw under it, and closes her mouth. He is the first to speak. "Princess, we only…"
"Just tell me why."
Penelope starts into the woods. "Follow me."
Pippin follows his sister up a tree and I run along my paths. They traveled through branches a lot easier then on the ground. I keep my eyes on them, and finally they stop. It's still in the middle of the woods. What does this have to do with Ash not returning? Pippin and Penelope hang their heads over a branch to talk to me.
"Uh…what happens when you human people…uh…" Penelope had to stop and think. She was sort of slow. "Hit your head?"
Pippin sighs with annoyance. "After Ash left two nights ago, he was running back to the path. And, he must have been distracted by something, because he ran into that tree."
"Oh, my poor Ash." I reply instinctively. "Please, take me to his castle! I don't care how long it takes. I don't care if I die."
They bow their heads. "Yes, Princess."
And we're off. I follow them in the trees once more. I should have gone with him when he left. I should have made sure he could make it back alright. Poor, Ash. I can't wait to finally see him again. Pippin and Penelope lead me on and on. The trees never see to end. Clouds form at my mouth. Winter is coming quickly. Soon, it will be three years. Three long years since I've ran away. Since I've been living like this.
"Almost there, Princess!" Penelope informs.
It's been at least a half an hour, I know. I grow tired. I slow to a walk, not wanting to run. But I know I must. The quicker I get to his castle, the quicker I can get back to the lake. My life will be spared. But time is too precious to loose. I can't just stand here and let it bruise a violent indigo. I think of him and I think I can fly. Into his arms, and he'll soothe my weary soul. Pip and Penny land on my back and my weak knees buckle.
"Almost there, Princess." Penny whispers in my ear. "Keep on walking."
"I believe I'm stretching this rubber band beyond its tolerance." I pant.
"What do you mean by that, Princess?" Pippin asks me, but I don't reply. My answer can wait.
Penny gasps and grips a tiny bit of my fur from amazement. "There it is!"
I step out of the wood to see a tower sticking high into the air. I look down the grassy hill on which I stand to see a castle in the valley. It was beautiful over here. Whenever Ash and I saw each other, when we were young, he'd come over to my kingdom. I've never been to his. Hills surround it on three sides, the fourth is a flat plain leading to the port. At the port waiting was his ship, which he always rode over to my castle. Every summer I had to greet that ship, but I haven't seen it for a while, of course. A lone carriage sits at the front gate. A Spanish flag flaps in the wind on top of it. They visit yet again. I sigh with awe. I love it here already.
"Pippin, Penelope…thank you." I say.
"You're very welcome, Princess." They reply in unison.
I giggle and bound down the hill full of glee. The sun shines bright in its past-noon position. I get near the bottom of the hill and come to some hedges. I peek my head though and see a spectacular garden. Queen Delia walks through the small cobblestone paths, sipping on a glass of wine. Her high-heels clicking against the stone. If I ever get back to normal, this will be the first place I go. I could lay on these hills and watch the clouds go by for hours on end. I hear a loud scream come from the castle.
Suddenly, Ash runs into the garden yelling. "Mother!" I can't help but laugh.
"Espera, Señor! Venir atrás." A girl around my age runs after Ash in a ravishing burgundy and gray dress. Her black hair curled and in a ponytail, high on her head. She snickers playfully and continues to chase Ash around the small paths in the garden. I have a strange feeling who she is, and again, I can't help but laugh myself.
Queen Delia covers her mouth with one hand, trying to hold back a giggle. "Esmeralda, please." I was right.
Esmeralda stops running after Ash and curtsied before his mother. "Si." She straightens and walks off.
Ash sighs from exhaustion and relief. "Thank you Mother."
"You're welcome, sweetie." His mother smiles.
"Who needs an exercise plan when you got her around." Ash pants. "Three times around the library, once through the west wing, across the north field, and then to you."
"Esmeralda has a certain, yet strange, relationship with you, Ash." Queen Delia observes.
"I can agree with that." Ash says.
"She really does like you, Ash. She'd made a wonderful bride. Your marriage will increase our trust and trade with Spain."
Ash groans. "Mother, I tried to tell you…"
"Oh, no!" said Queen Delia, annoyed. "Not that story again! Ash, you can't dwell on dreams."
"It wasn't a dream, Mother! I saw her, I really did." Ash protests.
"You're lucky that Bradley waited that long for you, Ash. When he found you, you were unconscious. That just goes to show you that you should never run and daydream at the same time, while running through a thick forest." Queen Delia replies.
"But, Mother…" Ash looked to be panicky.
"Don't you 'but' me, mister! How am I supposed to believe your absurd story? Misty hiding in the woods, only to be deer by day and woman by night. It's preposterous, Ash! Preposterous!"
"But…it's true." Ash moans.
"That bump to your head must be more serious then I thought. Look dear, whether you like it or not, Misty is dead." His mother almost yells. That makes me feel so good…not!
Ash sighs in defeat. "Maybe, you're right. How could anything like that happen?" I'll just have to accept that Misty is never coming back. She's dead."
"It's been two years, Ash. Let her go." The queen sets her hand on her son's shoulder.
"Alright." Ash gives in, and my heart shatters. He thinks it was a dream now as well. Please, Ash, don't deny it! Don't deny it! What is this I feel? Rage. Burning and boiling inside. I close my eyes and grit my deer teeth. I fear that I can't hold it in for long.
"Princess." Pippin and Penelope tug on my ear. "Calm down."
"Get back to the lake." I say through my gritted teeth. "I'll get back soon. I'll be fine."
"Yes, Princess." Pippin and Penelope say reluctantly. They hop off my back and run op the south hill.
The rage breaks. I tear through the hedge. I shake the extra leaves off of my head and back. I stomp my hoof on the cobblestone and cry my deer cry. I look first at Queen Delia, hoping she can read my face. For it says, how can you make your son deny me? He told me himself he loves me. I still want him. Her wine glass slips from her hand and ruins into tiny pieces of glass on the garden floor. The deep purple liquid trickles out. I then look at Ash, hoping for him to notice my eyes. He's seen me like this before. I wanted him to notice my eyes. He's talked about them before. Please perceive them again. Neither of them moves. They are both frozen from shock. I then remember. Queen Delia's flowers are like her second child. I fix my teeth around some carnations and rip them from the soil. The queen lets out a squeal and points at the 'thing', who destroyed a part of her beautiful garden. I look back at her, as if to laugh in her face. Ha! But also, her signal was for Ash to go after that 'thing'. So, as planned, Ash starts to run after me. I bound through the hedges and up the south hill and into the wood. So far, so good. My plan is working. I can hear Ash's feet pounding the forest floor behind me. I will return to the lake. He will be there again, to see me transform. Oh no. That weakness is returning again. My head feels light. I gnaw on the flower stems for no reason. My hooves no longer feel the ground, but I know I am still running. I look through the almost bare branches of the trees and see a purple sky. Night descends quickly. I am in trouble. The first star of the night as already shown. It is a bad omen. A great sign of foreboding. Danger, my life may not be spared, threatened. I may not make it back. I am going to die. I am going to die. Oh no! My legs finally go on the blink and I collapse to the forest floor. My eyes start to roll to the back of my head. My brain is shutting down. My heart is deliberate. I love you Ash.
I black out…
"Misty! Misty!"
"Huh? What?" I open my leisure eyes and see green. I sigh. "Gustav."
"Gustav?"
I open my eyes wider. "Oh, I'm sorry."
"Moss?" Juniper asks happily. Freesia sits upon her head, cleaning her antennae.
"Sure, why not." I reply. It was late afternoon, around five o'clock. I learned how to read the sun. I had fallen asleep, thinking of Ash.
"You don't look good." Freesia points out.
"Ask Pippin." I reply. "This will be the first time his little observations are correct."
"Oh dear." Freesia sighs. "Really, Misty, you trust in this boy to return to you?"
"I—."
"Just don't get your hopes too high. I'd hate to see your heart get shattered." Freesia cuts in.
She is doubtful. But deep down in my heart, I have to admit I'm doubtful too. Please come, Ash. Don't leave me alone here. It's hard to believe that the previous night was true. Call me naïve, but I believe. He was here. Everything was too real, pure, and natural. That kiss, I can still taste. That night was no dream.
"Whattcha doing?" Penelope bounds into view followed by her brother, Pippin. He whispers in her ear. "Pip wants to know what that kiss felt like."
"Penny!" Pip shouted. "You weren't supposed to say I wanted to know!"
I laugh. "It's like a warm spring day, right when the run rises. Your heart melts and pours out freely into a pool of everlasting love."
"In other words, she liked it." Juniper gave them all a summary. I blush, but my heart is burning in a different way…with excitement. The sun is slowly setting in the west sky, making the clouds pinkish-purple marshmallows that dance with delight.
"Okay Pip." I say. "You can say it now."
He sighs with relief. "Aww!"
"I just hope;" I begin. "He comes."
"Oh dear." Freesia says once more and falls down my neck like a slide, since she was sitting on my head. Such a drama queen.
"Is that what love is?" Pippin wonders. "Waiting for that certain someone, no matter what? And that someone is special enough to come. I mean, this boy, Misty. Is he really coming back? With what happened after he left before—."
Penelope covers his mouth with both of her little, squirrel hands. "Don't listen to him. He's a nut."
I stand and head for the lake. But before I enter the water, I turn and say with a smile. "Thank you for your advice." It was sort of a joke though, I hope they understood.
As I enter the lake, I could feel my heart glow with the last rays of sunlight. I felt proud, hard to believe. I was glad to live the life I was. For being a gentle deer by day, only to be feminine again when the moon is out; I feel special. To have Ash's love, I am also lucky. What my eyes await will be pleasant, for sure. My heart is already full of love, it's about to overflow. Oh please! I love you. I love you! I surface and see a swish of two tails. Pippin and Penelope just left. I come out of the lake and watch the thumb-nail moon slowly climb up the stars to its nightly thrown. My long lost mother smiles down on me. She led me here. I am Mother Nature's child. My soul is full of joy, but there was still room for worry. It is still early. The moon has plenty of time to shine. Hours pass, and I still wait. I now sit on a small cliff over looking the lake's shore. I dangle one foot off the side, and hug my opposite knee. Such a peaceful night. The owls hoot long, sweet, and strong. The bushes rustle and my heart leaps into my throat. Oh…it is only a skunk searching for a drink. I sigh mournfully. Another hour or two goes by. My eyes droop. No, I cannot fall asleep. I must stay awake, so when he comes, I'll be able to greet him. Juniper hops to my side. Her ears down and her face sad. She can read my thoughts. That feeling is coming back. The pain that tickles the back of my throat. A signal for tears. I try my best to hold them back. The pain worsens. Oh, it hurts. How long can I keep this up? He didn't come. I can see the sun's head emerging over the trees. I must go.
"Maybe…Last night was a dream." I say to Juniper.
She starts to talk in her squeaky, yet chittery, rabbit voice. She then lets her eyes get all soft and gives in 'aw'.
I get it. "Pippin."
Juniper nods and then points to the sky. My bare feet run down to the shore. Why don't I get to watch the sun rise for once? I'll die of course, but it may be worth it. Juniper pushes my leg, urging me to go in the water. I finally obey.
"He didn't come back for me." I sob on shore as a doe.
Juniper pats my back. "It's okay Misty. You deserve a lot better then him."
"But…I love him Juniper. I love Ash." I reply. "He seemed so perfect." After a while I remember something. "Didn't you say something about Pip?"
Juniper groans. "I tried to tell you before the sun set, but I couldn't squeeze it in."
"What? What is it?" I ask.
"I hope it doesn't make too big of a deal…but maybe he would explain it better then I could." Juniper nods. She then bounds off into the woods.
"Juniper." I call after her.
"Yes?" She turns around.
"I feel so deprived." I finally finish crying. "Of one of the most important things in life."
She hops back over to my side and rests her paw on my black nose. "It'll be okay, Princess. But please, to make us all happy, talk to Pip and Penny."
"Thank you." I say and start waiting for lunch time, when the two squirrels arrive.
The morning air was sweet, but very tick. I am tried, but yet I cannot sleep. My eyes seem to be so big now that my eyelids can't cover them anymore. Hours that flew by the previous night, now are like a turtle on land. The sun rises slowly to its peek. Another hole is to be punctured in my heart. For the first time, as I lay on shore, watching the sun rise, I think about death. I think about home. My father. My life. How my attitude got me here. How me not giving into my feelings cursed me for life. The other half of my brain counters with hate. That I had the right to run away. I wanted Ash to say he loved me more then just for my beauty. Even if I were ugly. I wanted to hear him say he loved my soul, not my face. I hear the chick-chick-chick of the brother and sister. Pippin and Penelope arrive.
The second they catch my glance, they back away. I stop them "Wait."
"You look slightly devastated, Princess." Pippin says.
"He didn't come." I begin.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Penelope sympathizes.
"And you two know why." I finish.
Penelope's jaw drops. Pippin slowly puts his paw under it, and closes her mouth. He is the first to speak. "Princess, we only…"
"Just tell me why."
Penelope starts into the woods. "Follow me."
Pippin follows his sister up a tree and I run along my paths. They traveled through branches a lot easier then on the ground. I keep my eyes on them, and finally they stop. It's still in the middle of the woods. What does this have to do with Ash not returning? Pippin and Penelope hang their heads over a branch to talk to me.
"Uh…what happens when you human people…uh…" Penelope had to stop and think. She was sort of slow. "Hit your head?"
Pippin sighs with annoyance. "After Ash left two nights ago, he was running back to the path. And, he must have been distracted by something, because he ran into that tree."
"Oh, my poor Ash." I reply instinctively. "Please, take me to his castle! I don't care how long it takes. I don't care if I die."
They bow their heads. "Yes, Princess."
And we're off. I follow them in the trees once more. I should have gone with him when he left. I should have made sure he could make it back alright. Poor, Ash. I can't wait to finally see him again. Pippin and Penelope lead me on and on. The trees never see to end. Clouds form at my mouth. Winter is coming quickly. Soon, it will be three years. Three long years since I've ran away. Since I've been living like this.
"Almost there, Princess!" Penelope informs.
It's been at least a half an hour, I know. I grow tired. I slow to a walk, not wanting to run. But I know I must. The quicker I get to his castle, the quicker I can get back to the lake. My life will be spared. But time is too precious to loose. I can't just stand here and let it bruise a violent indigo. I think of him and I think I can fly. Into his arms, and he'll soothe my weary soul. Pip and Penny land on my back and my weak knees buckle.
"Almost there, Princess." Penny whispers in my ear. "Keep on walking."
"I believe I'm stretching this rubber band beyond its tolerance." I pant.
"What do you mean by that, Princess?" Pippin asks me, but I don't reply. My answer can wait.
Penny gasps and grips a tiny bit of my fur from amazement. "There it is!"
I step out of the wood to see a tower sticking high into the air. I look down the grassy hill on which I stand to see a castle in the valley. It was beautiful over here. Whenever Ash and I saw each other, when we were young, he'd come over to my kingdom. I've never been to his. Hills surround it on three sides, the fourth is a flat plain leading to the port. At the port waiting was his ship, which he always rode over to my castle. Every summer I had to greet that ship, but I haven't seen it for a while, of course. A lone carriage sits at the front gate. A Spanish flag flaps in the wind on top of it. They visit yet again. I sigh with awe. I love it here already.
"Pippin, Penelope…thank you." I say.
"You're very welcome, Princess." They reply in unison.
I giggle and bound down the hill full of glee. The sun shines bright in its past-noon position. I get near the bottom of the hill and come to some hedges. I peek my head though and see a spectacular garden. Queen Delia walks through the small cobblestone paths, sipping on a glass of wine. Her high-heels clicking against the stone. If I ever get back to normal, this will be the first place I go. I could lay on these hills and watch the clouds go by for hours on end. I hear a loud scream come from the castle.
Suddenly, Ash runs into the garden yelling. "Mother!" I can't help but laugh.
"Espera, Señor! Venir atrás." A girl around my age runs after Ash in a ravishing burgundy and gray dress. Her black hair curled and in a ponytail, high on her head. She snickers playfully and continues to chase Ash around the small paths in the garden. I have a strange feeling who she is, and again, I can't help but laugh myself.
Queen Delia covers her mouth with one hand, trying to hold back a giggle. "Esmeralda, please." I was right.
Esmeralda stops running after Ash and curtsied before his mother. "Si." She straightens and walks off.
Ash sighs from exhaustion and relief. "Thank you Mother."
"You're welcome, sweetie." His mother smiles.
"Who needs an exercise plan when you got her around." Ash pants. "Three times around the library, once through the west wing, across the north field, and then to you."
"Esmeralda has a certain, yet strange, relationship with you, Ash." Queen Delia observes.
"I can agree with that." Ash says.
"She really does like you, Ash. She'd made a wonderful bride. Your marriage will increase our trust and trade with Spain."
Ash groans. "Mother, I tried to tell you…"
"Oh, no!" said Queen Delia, annoyed. "Not that story again! Ash, you can't dwell on dreams."
"It wasn't a dream, Mother! I saw her, I really did." Ash protests.
"You're lucky that Bradley waited that long for you, Ash. When he found you, you were unconscious. That just goes to show you that you should never run and daydream at the same time, while running through a thick forest." Queen Delia replies.
"But, Mother…" Ash looked to be panicky.
"Don't you 'but' me, mister! How am I supposed to believe your absurd story? Misty hiding in the woods, only to be deer by day and woman by night. It's preposterous, Ash! Preposterous!"
"But…it's true." Ash moans.
"That bump to your head must be more serious then I thought. Look dear, whether you like it or not, Misty is dead." His mother almost yells. That makes me feel so good…not!
Ash sighs in defeat. "Maybe, you're right. How could anything like that happen?" I'll just have to accept that Misty is never coming back. She's dead."
"It's been two years, Ash. Let her go." The queen sets her hand on her son's shoulder.
"Alright." Ash gives in, and my heart shatters. He thinks it was a dream now as well. Please, Ash, don't deny it! Don't deny it! What is this I feel? Rage. Burning and boiling inside. I close my eyes and grit my deer teeth. I fear that I can't hold it in for long.
"Princess." Pippin and Penelope tug on my ear. "Calm down."
"Get back to the lake." I say through my gritted teeth. "I'll get back soon. I'll be fine."
"Yes, Princess." Pippin and Penelope say reluctantly. They hop off my back and run op the south hill.
The rage breaks. I tear through the hedge. I shake the extra leaves off of my head and back. I stomp my hoof on the cobblestone and cry my deer cry. I look first at Queen Delia, hoping she can read my face. For it says, how can you make your son deny me? He told me himself he loves me. I still want him. Her wine glass slips from her hand and ruins into tiny pieces of glass on the garden floor. The deep purple liquid trickles out. I then look at Ash, hoping for him to notice my eyes. He's seen me like this before. I wanted him to notice my eyes. He's talked about them before. Please perceive them again. Neither of them moves. They are both frozen from shock. I then remember. Queen Delia's flowers are like her second child. I fix my teeth around some carnations and rip them from the soil. The queen lets out a squeal and points at the 'thing', who destroyed a part of her beautiful garden. I look back at her, as if to laugh in her face. Ha! But also, her signal was for Ash to go after that 'thing'. So, as planned, Ash starts to run after me. I bound through the hedges and up the south hill and into the wood. So far, so good. My plan is working. I can hear Ash's feet pounding the forest floor behind me. I will return to the lake. He will be there again, to see me transform. Oh no. That weakness is returning again. My head feels light. I gnaw on the flower stems for no reason. My hooves no longer feel the ground, but I know I am still running. I look through the almost bare branches of the trees and see a purple sky. Night descends quickly. I am in trouble. The first star of the night as already shown. It is a bad omen. A great sign of foreboding. Danger, my life may not be spared, threatened. I may not make it back. I am going to die. I am going to die. Oh no! My legs finally go on the blink and I collapse to the forest floor. My eyes start to roll to the back of my head. My brain is shutting down. My heart is deliberate. I love you Ash.
I black out…
