Death?

No…

Death does not smell pleasant. The dead do or rater cannot smell. So what is this terribly intoxicating scent?

Breath

The dead cannot breath. Yet, I can inhale. The air is fresh and crisp.

Warmth

The dead, they do not feel heat. So what is this warmth I feel?

These thoughts coursed through my head like the roots of a plant in soft soil. The questions sought the harder earth to grasp but my brain held no so such soil. My eyes flutter allowing me only snap shots of the colors about me. My ears absorbed the rushing sound of air in grass. It was all so bright. Too bright.

I made a slow but successful attempt to sit up. Shading my eyes, I looked around. Wherever I was, it was gorgeous. Suddenly I noticed the woman standing over me.

"Hello?"

Her hair was long. I do not recall the color anymore. But her accent seemed strange to me at the time. It was very proper, like Wendy's and the other children of London in Peter Pan's World. I remember thinking she seemed out of place. Almost more beautiful than anything around her. The woman also seemed to glow brilliantly. Unfortunately, I do not recall her name, but I remember it was the first time I had met Roxanne's mother.

"Are you alright dear," she asked bending over.

"Your highness please, you mustn't run up to stranger's like that."

"Oh Crystal hush. I have a feeling about this one. She's important."

"Your majesty," said Crystal. " You can't be serious. She…"

I could not hear the rest of what is said. But some time ago I found out she made a comment on my state. A nobody.

"Silence Crystal. We discussed this."

"Umm. Excuse," I said politely.

"Oh! Where are my manners," said the Queen.

"I am the queen of a land called Kingdom Heart; this is my guardian for this trip Crystal. And your name is?"

I thought about this for several minutes. I panicked as I realized all I could remember were slides of my death.

"My dear it's okay. You more than likely won't remember a thing for a long while now," she said calmly holding out a hand.

I felt compelled to take it. We sat and spoke in a local café. I had arrived in the land of Cinderella whom the queen had been visiting.

"And that's how Cinderella found her prince charming. Now on to you. There is no easy way of ever telling anyone this. But dear you are what we call a nobody. You are only half of whoever you used to be. The reason you are only half is because your heart was taken. By whom or why, I cannot tell you. Nor can I tell you your past present or future. I can only offer you help in getting through the present and to the future."

The queen stopped and inhaled, then sighed. Still in shock, I asked the first question that came to mind.

"Can I get my heart back?"

"Yes. How, I don't know. I know that you will have a choice when you are reborn. You will have three options. You may return to what your past was, start all over again in the future, or stay in the present as you are. No matter what you will remember all that has ever happened to you and you will gain all emotions back."

I swallowed hard. It was a lot to take in.

The queen looked at me sternly.

"What will I do," I asked running my hand through my milk chocolate hair.

Tears welled up in my clear blue eyes.

"There, there dear. You'll figure it all out. Told you that I would help you and I will. But you need to remain here for a bit longer," said the queen, her face softening.

She arose from her seat and came over to my side. I stiffened, unsure of her intents. The she patted and rubbed my back.

"Come on now. You are a beautiful young woman. You need not shed tears."

I looked up at the queen. Her words were kind and soft. Unlike any, I had ever heard.

She held out a hand to me.

"Let's get you dressed properly. Then I will take you to Cinderella, she will surely help you."

The queen led me to a white horse drawn carriage. Together we rode into town were I was bought new clothes. Well not just new clothes but furniture, and a wardrobe.

In the last shop, the queen quickly picked out what became my favorite outfit. It was a long green flowing skirt. The same color as a roses stem. The top was a white peasant blouse, light and airy but not revealing. My shoes were tan sandals.

She paid the owner the money and told me to go change.

I eagerly changed out of my tattered rags and into the new clothing.

As I exited the changing room, the queen took the clothes I had on when we met and had them disposed of.

"You'll understand someday my dear," was all she said to me.

She then proceeded to take me to the castle where I waited in the entrance as she had tea and talked with Cinderella until I was called in.

"Marabelle," said the queen as I took a seat. "How would you like to be the gardener for Cinderella?"

"I'd love to," I said eagerly turning to Cinderella. "If that's alright with you."

"Of course. Let's get you set up," she said with a large smile.

Cinderella then led the queen and me to the gardener's house where I would be staying. The fairy godmother, who had appeared out of nowhere, moved the trunk and vanity set that the queen had bought me into the bedroom.

Both of the items had hand carved roses, and where made from cherry wood.

The queen whispered something to the fairy that I could not hear, and suddenly the little cottage was decorated to my tastes. I smiled at the queen and the fairy godmother.

"Well my dear, I must be on my way. I shall return for you as soon as I can," said the queen. "Cinderella, do take good care of her. She has a role to play, a very large role."

"I promise I will your highness. She will be well kept."

-To be continued-

Elizabeth Rose Austin