The Wart meets the Flower
Over the next few days Arthur adjusted to his new home and those he was sharing it with. But he was greatly welcomed and well-liked by everyone. And they saw fit to help him in any way they could. From Nine in the Morning until Five in the afternoon Arthur was studying with Merlin in the living room which acted as their classroom.
Arthur was now in the middle of a lesson with Merlin by the chalkboard and Archimedes overhead in the rafters.
"Now my lad." Said Merlin tapping the chalkboard with his cane." Look here." Arthur picked up his head and looked at the board. Merlin had drawn two circles next to each other." Now let's say that this was our world." Merlin pointed to the circle on the left." And this is the world we are in now." He pointed to the other." We traveled from our world to this one by means of my magic, do you understand me son?"
"Yes, sir. "Arthur nodded." That I at least understand but how can two different worlds exist."
"Oh it's not just two boy." Merlin said as he flipped the chalkboard over to reveal the other side which had dozens of circles on it." There are hundreds perhaps thousands of them out there."
"And you've been to them all?" said Arthur amazed.
"Ah yes." Merlin answered quickly but jumped up when he understood the question." No, No!" he yelled waving his arms." I have only been to a handful and yet still there are thousands more left unexplored."
"But what controls them? How can there be so many different places."
"Why what controls everything my lad. Darkness and Light. These two forces are what control the very fabric of existence."
"Really?"
"Yes. Two very separate but very powerful forces that everyone in the world are divided into."
"And which side are we?"
"Ha!" Archimedes laughed from above.
"We are on the side of Light, dear boy." Arthur breathed a sigh of relief." But there are those like Madame Mim who are the side of Darkness."
"And is everyone on the side Darkness like Mim?"
"Yes." Merlin replied fixing his glasses." And there are some far worse than her." Arthur shook in his seat at the very thought of someone more frightening and more powerful than Mad Madame Mim.
"Oh that's all magic hocus pocus." Commented Cid as he walked in the room and stood in their 'classroom'
"What in thunder did you say?!" yelled Merlin as he bounced around in his place. At that moment Archimedes flew down and onto Arthur's shoulder.
"This should be good." Commented Archimedes.
"I ought to turn you into a minnow!" he shook his cane in the air.
"You've been boring the poor boy on this nonsense for the past few days on this stuff." Cid continued. " Give me a bit of a break." Merlin prepared to continue and yell at Cid but instead looked to Arthur.
" Alright, Alright." He said." Arthur." He said as he put a hand on the boy's shoulder, helping him up and walking with him to the door." You out and get yourself a bit of fresh air." So Arthur did as he was told and stepped outside. He realize since he first arrived he hadn't seen much Radiant Garden so he thought he'd go and take a look around." Oh and Arthur." Said Merlin who stood in the open doorway. Arthur turned around and looked at his mentor. The old man looked at the ground struggling as if to find what to say." Don't go beyond the borders of the town." Arthur nodded acknowledging Merlin's request and then headed off on his way.
So with that in mind Arthur started on his little journey and headed off into town. His first stop was the Market Place. He was both in surprise and awe at the dozens of different little shops that all seemed to be owned by the same duck. The place which interested the boy the most was the ice cream shop but sadly he had no money to buy any. But owner and elderly Scottish duck gave it to him for free upon learning he was Merlin's pupil.
So Arthur continued around town licking his ice cream as he went. He went as far as he could to the edge of town just where the town ended. The houses, stores and roads all ended and turned into a dirt road which led towards a large, dark forest. Arthur stood on the border here looking out into the forest.
No one had told him much of it and what they spoke of was spoken in whispers. The only one who gave him a straightforward enough answer was Archimedes who only said "Stay away from there!" And standing there looking at it now Arthur understood why. Because as he looked at it he felt something looking back at him.
He didn't let it keep his gaze for long and instead began scanning other areas just beyond the town. He looked out in the valley below and there he saw a large flower bed with different colors of yellow, red, and purple all shooting out from the ground. The Pleasant sight drew Arthur to it but it was beyond the borders of town where Merlin had told him not to go. But the lovely allure of the colorful flowers drew him in and Arthur walked down towards them. He walked down and began walking amongst the flowers brushing his hand against the top as he walked by, a soft wind blowing with him.
Arthur now turned his head forward and that's when he saw someone else. Looking straight ahead of him he saw a little girl in a blue dress with blonde hair. Arthur stopped in his tracks as he continued to look at her. She was down on her knees picking the flowers, and after a couple seconds she turned around to realize he was there.
"Oh, hello there." She greeted him with a smile. And when she smiled at him Arthur suddenly felt strange. He was weak in the knees, his head in a whirl and he felt an extreme sensation as if he was walking on air.
"H-Hello." He replied." W-What are you doing out here?" He took a step closer to her.
"I'm Alice." She said." What's your name?" And in that moment Arthur was so confused his mind and his mouth were on different frequencies.
"Wart." He said.
"Wart?" repeated Alice as she scrunched up her face." That's a very odd name."
"Uh no, no!" He waved his arms around." Everyone calls me Wart but my real name is Arthur."
"Arthur." She repeated." Well it's a much better name than Wart." She bent down and continued to pick flowers.
"What um.. What are you doing?" asked Arthur.
"Picking flowers of course, what does it look like I'm doing?" she chuckled. Arthur stepped back and began rubbing the back of his head nervously." Would you like to help me?" she smiled.
"Yes!" he exclaimed jumping up but immediately calmed himself down." Yes." He said calmer." I'd be glad to help." So Arthur kneeled down next to her and together the two began to pick flowers together." So um." Stammered Arthur hoping to continue a conversation." What are you doing out here, picking flowers for, Alice?"
"Well I just had to get away from my elder sister. So I came here to escape to a world all my own."
"A world all your own?" Arthur said confused.
"Yes. You see when I'm by myself it's like I enter a world limited to the extent of my imagination." Arthur continued to look at her confused." It's like this you see animals can read, write and talk. The flowers can as well. And things that are, are exactly what they're not." Arthur scratched his head.
"I'm afraid I still don't follow." He said. Alice opened her mouth to continue but then another voice calling out got her attention.
"Alice, Alice!" Alice and Arthur turned and looked to the top of the hill where they saw a woman probably as old as Sir Kay standing there." Alice, come along dear. It's time to go."
"That'll be my sister." Alice said with a sigh." Thank you for helping me Arthur." She turned to him.
"Y-Yes, Your w-welcome." He said standing up and handing her the flowers he'd picked.
"Goodbye Arthur." She said. And the boy's throat suddenly felt dry all of a sudden and the only noise that came out was a squeak." Maybe I'll see you again, some other time." Then she turned and left the field.
"Goodbye." He finally said after she was long gone.
Arthur decided then to conclude his littler adventure there and returned back home. But he felt the strange the whole time. His legs wobbled and shook making it hard to walk, his chest was pounding like a drum.
He stumbled back home and stumbled through the door, using tables and chairs as support as he walked deeper into the house. And these strange antics caught the attention of several others. Sitting at the table nearby were Leon and Tifa, sitting across from each other. Leon reading his newspaper while Tifa ate her cereal. Although she would occasionally slurp much to Leon's annoyance as he could flip his paper down to glare at her smirking face. But when Arthur walked in the two turned and watched him stumbled into the house.
"What are you doing?" asked Leon as he looked up from his newspaper.
"I-I-I don't know." Arthur replied in a soft voice." I feel strange."
"Strange?" Leon asked." What are you sick?"
"I-I think so. My chest feels funny."
"Come here." Leon motioned for Arthur to come close and the boy did. Then Leon laid his hand out on Arthur's chest and he too could feel Arthur's heart pounding like a drum." You're not sick." Leon told taking his hand away." Something's just got your blood flowing, what'd you do go for a run or something?"
"No a-a walk." Arthur told." But I-I met someone."
"You met someone?" repeated Leon as both he and Tifa looked at Arthur confused.
"A girl." He replied. Leon looked on with a blank expression on his face as Tifa jumped up and squealed causing both men to jolted in surprise.
"Oh Arthur, that's wonderful!" she squealed as she jumped up and hugged him." What was her name, where did you meet her?!"
"H-Her name is Alice." He replied." I met her while I was walking around town in a field of flowers."
"Ah!" Tifa sighed with her hands over her heart." How romantic." And she fell back onto Leon who made no attempt to catch her so she just stood there like a pole up against him. He turned and squinted his face at her.
"So what should I do?" asked Arthur.
"Oh!" said Tifa jumping back up and hitting Leon in the chin with her elbow in the process." You've got to go see her again!"
"This is all happening so fast." Said Arthur holding his head.
"Ah young love." Sighed Tifa.
"Young Love?!" questioned Arthur.
"Yes Love." She continued." It's a special kind of feeling that only two kindred souls can feel for each other." She reached her hand back and laid it on top of Leon's. He slowly averted his eyes from his newspaper and turned his head to Tifa with a raised brow and a look of confusion.
Everyone's attention was called to the sound of a door opening and closing, they looked up and saw Merlin with Archimedes on his shoulder.
"Ah there you are boy." He said looking at Arthur as he descended the stairs with Archimedes flying down next to him." I was wondering where you got off to. But now we can resume or lesson."
"But Merlin." Said Tifa." Something has-"
"Not now my dear." Said Merlin fanning her away." The Wart and I are in the middle of a lesson. So be off you two be off." He said shooing Leon and Tifa away. The two did as they were asked and left the room." Now then boy." Merlin said to Arthur." Where were we? Ah yes, light and darkness." He turned to the chalkboard and his back to Arthur.
"M-Merlin?"
"Yes lad."
"What is love?" Merlin suddenly stopped what he was doing and slowly turned back to his pupil.
"Love." Said Merlin. Arthur nodded his head." Well." Merlin said as he ran one hand along his beard." It's hard to explain. It's a powerful thing but a very simple thing. It is… well it's… do you remember being a squirrel back home?"
"Yes." Arthur nodded.
"Well remember than and remember it well."
"I don't think I understand." Said Arthur.
"You'll understand one day my boy." Said Merlin." But for now we must continue with your lesson."