Episode 10 "The Blossom Tree"
Thankfully the prickling of my arm began when I actually had no more classes or places to be.
Vincent and I already were on it disappearing to the shack.
"And what do you think? Can you get more than one Trumptus piece?"
"I would, but so far it only leads me to one at a time, it looks like it follows a certain order as well", the order of the show. Unless there were different things happening with blue for example, it unfortunately as I realized still followed the order. Not that it was much of a deal, considering why would they change, if the locations of the pieces mostly stayed the same.
I wasn't ignoring it anymore despite it being incredibly weird to live in a show I watched but being the person from the show. The fore-knowledge it gave me wasn't something I was going to ignore. It was incredibly useful.
"I don't think I trust these elves to get the pieces themselves, because of them I lost Lyria", I muttered under my breath.
"They just had one job and failed", I added in a hiss.
"But at least they are helping you now, right?", he offered but I only huffed.
"They would just have let the baby dragon die", the dragon we would need so very often.
"Point taken", he returned as we entered the shack.
"They contributed absolutely nothing last time, and they always make such a fuss whenever I want something. At least the dark elf Gargona the other time we met just answered my question, just straight up! These elves make a fuss every time I talk, as if I'm not the one and only reason why they even had the Trumptus in the first place, seriously so ungrateful."
"Well if you say it that way it sounds really bad."
I just made a weak laugh as I rolled my eyes. "It sounds bad because it is bad."
"But I have no choice but to work with them", I sighed while reading the oracle, though my face lit up upon reading. Finally another normal oracle!
"Maybe it'll get better?", he suggested as he scooted closer to me.
"Sure", but I didn't mean it.
"Anyway, before this bracelet gets impatient let me just", I tapped the bracelet.
"Hello Mia, what is your password?", it ever so responded as normal.
"Unicorns come and unicorns go, their reward is found within a unicorn's glow."
Gold erupted and numbness spread throughout my body as per usual. Not that I would ever get used to this.
"See you later-"
His goodbye was cut off as I was already gone.
The golden void being us unrelenting as always my wings being just as noticeable and getting flung at ridiculous speeds. "Seriously doesn't this thing know I can't fly!?"
Something blurred in my vision and I crashed into something- pain erupting-
- :O
My cheeks stung I noticed first.
"C'mon wake up", some deeper voice muttered. I groaned my head was hurting all the while.
I swatted the hand away that was so eagerly slapping my cheeks.
"Finally, he is awake, Yuko!", someone exclaimed with… was it relief?
Sitting up shaking my head I finally saw who had… been kneeling next to me.
The elven prince Mo, with Yuko fluttering up next to him.
"Oh hey", I greeted with a small wave.
"Where is – Oh-", before I could question where Onchao was, he already nudged my stinging cheeks.
"Hi Onchao!", he nickered back happily in response to my greeting.
My wings stung, now I noticed, but considering I already sat up it elevated the dull pain I started to ignore more successfully.
"How are you feeling?", the prince asked while offering me a hand to take.
I for a moment considered taking his hand, but decided not to.
"Just peachy", I muttered as I got up a little wobbly but on my own.
Some yelling distracted me.
We turned our heads, Yuko shouting back. "He's awake!"
The white splotch came closer fast, oh!
"Phuddle! Hey!", I kneeled down, opening my arms for a hug that was very much welcomed by the fuzzy pan.
"Mia, are you okay? That was a pretty bad crash! I brought the King and Queen to help you… but I guess you don't need it anymore", and true to his words the golden splotches coming closer, turned into the king and queen coming towards us in a flutter.
I let go of my best friend and sheepishly scratched my hand.
"Yeah it was pretty bad if it wasn't for Onchaos tear-", but Yuko got interrupted by the King speaking.
"Mia, I see you are doing better."
I shifted in my position. What were they even talking about? What tear?
I decided to ignore it, I had better things to do after all.
"Your majesties", I made a light bow, reminding myself of my manners… just this once.
"No need to bow Mia. We are all friends here", the Queen softly spoke and I stopped my bow.
"Bet", I nearly spoke it out loud, but I noticed fast enough to not voice my thought.
Uncomfortable silence stretched between us, the others glancing at each other, though I really did not understand what they were thinking at all. The meaning of those glances being lost on me.
The king cleared his throat.
"Well… now that you are finally here, come, we have much to discuss", he turned, motioning for me or rather us to follow.
Though I had many questions lingering on my tongue I said nothing.
I noticed a hushed whisper between the younger elves, a stare, but nothing I could make from that.
- :O
"First I'd like to hear the new Oracle Mia", the king spoke as he settled into his throne. The queen settled into hers. Meanwhile we stood there idly.
"Of course, it's", I took a deep breath, "Unicorns come and unicorns go, their reward is found within a unicorn's glow."
The royal pair nodded at each other before turning back to look at me.
"Mia, you who has the unicorns' trust, I want you to bring them a message."
I raised my eyebrow. "What kind of message?"
"You see, every year the unicorns of all centopia meet up in the same tree once a year to eat its blossoms", the queen had stood up walking towards us before stopping.
So did her husband pointing his finger up. "It is one of a kind."
"I see what… What makes you think the unicorns would listen to me?", I questioned, but I wasn't really asking to get an answer.
Though I hummed while cupping my chin with my hand thinking hard.
"I remember that Onchao found the piece in one of the blossoms. I can recall the earth unicorn being needed to persuade them. There was no way they'd listen to some random elf, especially since the ferngrass herd wasn't the only one going to be there. But really do I even need to remember how it all went?"
Apparently, the king had spoken to me because he cleared his throat looking at me.
I blinked and blurted "Earth unicorn", with absolutely no further explanation.
There was a pause before I coughed into my hand.
"I mean uhm-" I gestured with my hand though what I was gesturing escaped even me.
"We need the earth unicorn", and still not elaborated further.
"What part of the oracle tells you that?", I blinked at the king's question.
"None?", I bluntly returned.
"The unicorns are never going to listen to an elf of all things. But the earth unicorn is someone they'll listen to. The oracle only says that the part is found within the blossoms of that tree."
A smile spread across the king's face and the graceful queen hummed.
"I know where the entrance is to the land down below", the elven prince chimed up.
"Yeah, we could go, like right now", Yuko already fluttered up pointing to the exit.
Onchao already crouched down letting me sit up on him. Hopefully that wasn't bad for his back.
"I think I'll pass with this one Mia!", Phuddle waved his hand dismissively, winking at me. Oh? Was he planning something? Sly little goat man.
- :O
Free from the elven crater we much to my dismay, flew all the way to the cave where the earth unicorn resides.
"Are you sure the earth unicorn will talk to us?", Yuko asked us.
"No, but I bet they'll listen to him", Mo meant me with that.
"The earth unicorn hasn't been spotted in decades, I'm not sure if it'll show for us", he added, but it seemed not really directed at anyone.
We landed near and I kept being on Onchao, no need to risk crashing with my shaky legs.
"I'm sure it'll be fine, look I doubt it'll kill us as long Onchao can vouch for us", I said but I only got grumbles in return.
"Good for you", the elf girl spat back.
"I bet you two would leave us to fend for ourselves", she added in a huff and I merely shrugged.
"When have I ever?", I replied but- "Oh! I never actually not helped them. Ha take that you miserable elves even I do your job better than you!"
"Yuko c'mon, remember what Queen Mayla said", the elf girl only sighed at her friend's words.
She talked with them?
"So, Mia uhm", the elf girl began, then clearing her throat.
"How are your wings?", she then asked.
I blinked.
"Oh", I didn't expect this question at all.
"Like usual", I replied, and said elf I responded to just groaned.
"You mean… they are hurting right?", the prince pried some more.
"Is that important to the task at hand?", I glanced back at the prince with a raised eyebrow.
"Why do you care?", lingered on my tongue but I didn't say. He slumped his shoulders.
Soon we arrived, Onchao sniffed the air, and I got off of him, with a little help from him.
"He is growing fast, I wonder how much time passes when I am not here."
Onchao neighed, asking if anybody was there. Almost immediately the earth unicorn appeared, it greeted Onchao as it approached in a dip.
I next looked over to me, the earth unicorns gaze unwavering before studying me, I bowed.
And it greeted me just the same as it did with Onchao.
What? I was surprised as much as I was confused. I was sure she'd be more hostile towards me seeing I was an elf-
She stomped her hoof at the other elves as they shrieked back in turn.
"They are with me, us, I mean", I quickly placed myself between the two.
The earth unicorn looked between us before asking in a huff why we would disturb her.
"The blossom tree", I quickly said, catching her attention. "The unicorns are in great danger", I started to explain.
- :O
The earth unicorn was surprisingly reasonable, but what was I expecting? She wasn't an elf after all. She listened to me as I explained, avoiding as much as possible to show that I understood what she said.
She definitely gave me the side-eye when I rode on Onchao, but Onchao explained the situation about my wings and I had the feeling the earth unicorn had already known about it.
It just struck me as odd the way she looked at Onchao when he explained it to her.
Though maybe I really just imagined it, I could not tell.
Or maybe I was still weirded out by the fact she greeted me friendly despite the fact I was an elf.
Regardless we made our way to the blossom tree, it was huge, no wonder all the unicorns would come here.
Looks like we were here early, because no unicorn had made a move up to here yet.
But, elves, lots of them were positioned around the tree.
"I can't help but ask Mia… but do you maybe speak unicorn?", I snorted at the prince's question.
"No? That is silly, why would I understand unicorns?"
The earth unicorn's side-eye was strong I could tell, but she said nothing as we waited.
Even Onchao snorted amused, knowing I had so far kept this a successful secret.
Nah, I was never going to tell anyone. Not even Phuddle, as much as I loved my fuzzy friend, I doubt he wouldn't just accidentally blurt that out. Besides… I kinda already missed the window of opportunity to tell him.
Our plan was one thing, talking to unicorns was another.
"Mhm what exactly led the unicorns to the elven crater again? We had the earth unicorn… Why exactly did they go there again? Urgh if only if it hadn't been so long when I or whoever it was that I was? Whoever watched it!"
Thankfully I didn't have to think of it long as the first herds started to arrive soon after.
One of the few I recognized, and so did they, us. Rando the moment he noticed us dipped his head in a greeting, and so this we.
Was I imagining it or did the elves side-eyed me too? Anyway…
Though he did not stop nor did the rest of Lyrias- no our herd. The earth unicorn roared and stomped her hoof.
Cracks appeared until suddenly an earth wall spread around the tree as a whole. I could only stare in a mixture of awe and fear. No wonder, the earth unicorn was powerful.
This didn't even look like it took her any effort, like it was a breeze for her.
But the unicorns were undeterred.
"If you ask me, if I heard that, saw that, I'd at least stop to see why. And not trying to get in anyway."
For some reason I couldn't help but feel a little offended on the earth unicorns behalf. That was incredibly disrespectful. Like imagine ignoring one of basically your gods.
Mo appalled, had flown to try and get the unicorns to turn, Yuko ushered them too, but for such shy creatures, they just huffed at the elves and stubbornly ignored their attempts-
"Oh woops", the elven prince petted the tail of one of the unicorns as he had yanked it to get to leave, it reared at him, and I petted Onchao.
He understood and hurried between the elf and the multiple unicorns that pointed the horns towards him.
"At ease!", I shouted, and only one of the unicorns looked up, then nudged the others. It was one of the ferngrass herd, but despite the green mane, I didn't know its name. But it seemed to recognize me and dipped its head, I automatically dipped mine, just as Onchao did.
"Uhh what is happening? Mia?", the prince pleaded to know.
"Oh, just one of the ferngrass herd", I supplied without explaining further.
The groan coming from the prince made me grin. Served the elf right for messing with one of ours.
"They aren't going to leave", Yuko pointing out landing next to Mo, the unicorns already having left as in favor of trying to find a way in.
The sound of horns blasting from afar made the prince shot back up.
"That are the guards, Munculus have been spotted. We need to get the unicorns out of here now."
"What about the elven crater", Yuko quickly suggested.
And then a lightbulb went up my head. Ah, that was how.
Though I wasn't exactly keen on having the unicorns around the elves, the earth unicorn would protect them if anything were to happen.
I looked towards the earth unicorn.
"Can you lead them into the elven crater? They'll be safe from the dark elves there", the earth unicorn studied me for a moment, then walked forward, she reared and roared, not before ending in a stomp. A passage appeared through the shaking earth.
"Can you two get the flower blossoms with the other elves? I'll go with them", I gestured towards the unicorns, after all I was unsure how much help I would be without the ability to fly.
"Of course, we'll distract them too", Yuko yanked the prince and dragged him with her.
And that was that.
The earth unicorn roared, and Onchao followed the moment she started to go into the underground passage.
I seriously thought it was going to be pitch black but no… all the unicorns had their horns illuminated, as well as the earth walls themselves having vines that emitted light, illuminating the tunnel well in combination with the horns.
Though Onchaos horn didn't shine, I was still surprised.
"Everyone has magic, pans, dark elves, elves and unicorns." I had wondered what magic was meant, but I figured they were only talking about the dust of their horn and the tears.
I didn't know they could use their horns to make light too.
"I kinda thought unicorns couldn't do magic unless they were special like Onchao", but it seemed I was proven wrong.
Another unicorn came up next to us nudging Onchao.
Then looking to me. She nickered.
"Hello Onchao, it is good to see you. Hello there Mia, I'm Lavera, your aunt", your aunt, my mind immediately repeated.
She continued though, lighting up her horn some more to make light for the both of us.
"We haven't had the opportunity to speak", she began, trotting next to us.
"But my sister loved you both dearly", my heart sank almost instantly hearing her words.
"And I'd like to get you to know you better as well. You may not be a unicorn, but it matters not to us", I wasn't tearing up, that was merely dust or dirt from the tunnel.
"You all don't care that I am an elf?", I voiced, though I swear there were cracks in my voice.
"No", came from both her and Onchao. No… I think there were more unicorns behind us saying it too.
My heart swelled, unsure what to say or feel. But.
"You guys are so much less complicated than elves", I breathed and Onchao snorted in agreement.
"Onchao told me about your wings the other time he visited the herd", she nickered though it was warm.
"Visited? Oh, I suppose it would have been weird if Onchao had disappeared completely. He must have done it before meeting blue after my scolding… I hope."
"Ah", I responded, not sure what to say.
"Some unicorns and I came together discussing the issue with your wings", I listened intently to her.
"We think that maybe if we try healing it periodically… maybe your wings will start to heal. My sister told me back then, that a tear lessened the pain for you… Onchao said so too."
I hummed a thought occurring.
"This sounds like a treatment plan", but another thought occurred as well on topic. "Combining it with it with movement, it sounded like an awful lot like physical therapy."
"I think we can try that, but I'm not sure if it'll work", I finally spoke after careful wording.
But she seemed pleased all the same.
"Trying is all we're asking, little one."
A smile escaped me.
These unicorns were so unbelievably sweet. The show didn't do them justice… no not even the stories mom and dad told me so long ago.
They were family and they cared about me, even when we barely met.
Silently I made a vow.
I'll protect you. All of you and if it costs me my life and everything I have, I will protect you all.
- :O
The walk towards the palace took a while, but underneath the earth we had nothing to worry about, so I ended up chatting more with Lavera, Onchaos aunt aka Lyrias sister and with Onchao too. Now that I didn't have to worry about being heard by others.
I was reluctant despite calling them family, to call Onchao my brother as Lyria once said or Lavera my aunt, it didn't quite sit right with me, but I did appreciate the sentiment just the same.
Sure, unicorns were stubborn, but they were nothing like two certain elves who's path I frequently was forced to cross.
If only these two elves were more like their show counterpart.
Then there was light, we were at the entrance to the elven crater by the waterfall.
Roaring could be heard from above.
"Let's hurry!", Onchao urged us and the Earth unicorn nodded, roaring telling us to follow her and fast.
And it seemed like just in time as we all arrived in the elven crater. Water sprouted from above as lots, like lots of colorful turquoise splotches turned away just as the water dome finished activating.
"Huh wonder how that works."
Seriously with a place with no science, how did they make something so advanced? You know in comparison to what they have.
Seeing some splotches where the water shot out, I figured those might be elves.
"Maybe they also use magic? Or have a magical item."
Elves rushed past, triumphant yells as sacks over sacks filled with flower blossoms were emptied at the stairs to the palace.
And let me tell you when we said all unicorns of Centopia, there was not a space not occupied by the unicorns as we all approached the flowers.
However, the earth unicorn alongside me and Onchao took our place on top of the stairs.
First the unicorns sniffed at the flowers, before stepping back in disgust.
"What's wrong they are all for you", Yuko landed next to us as did Mo.
This, this scene I could remember.
The earth unicorn gave a distraught huff as the other unicorns turned around, angry.
"Great this was all for nothing", the prince breathed unhappily.
I petted Onchao, getting off him finally. My sore butt was gonna thank me later.
"Try your horn with the blossoms", and he understood, trotting to the flowers, he held his horn to them, and in a glow starting to go over every open flower, they closed up the same way they were when I first saw them on the tree.
The earth unicorn neighed, but for once it was good news. The unicorns turned around, seeing and sniffing the now fresh flowers.
The first eating the flower and then many followed, Onchao walked around seemingly joining them after he studied them for a moment.
I relaxed my shoulders.
"Finally, everything goes as planned."
What I didn't expect though was when Lavera joined Onchao up the stairs. Him, a blossom in his mouth, gesturing for me to take it.
In it, I found the trumptus piece he promptly remade to golden. It was snatched out of my hand.
"Another Trumptus piece!"
Onchao huffed and was unhappy but when we exchanged a look we both nodded to each other.
The Trumptus was going to be ours. They may have the pieces for now, but we will have the complete thing.
Lavera nudged me, which shook me out of my thoughts.
But the prickling in my arms had a different idea.
"Want to try it now?", she asked but I shook my head.
"I already have to go home, next time for sure though", she wasn't upset, merely gently pushing against my cheek, I returned it with some brushing through her fur. Onchao leaned in as well.
"Take care and thank you", the last part directed to the earth unicorn as I pressed the sapphire.
If only I could stay longer.
- :O
"You know what I find weird?", Vincent asked after I told him my adventure.
"No?"
"I mean this golden pocket dimension always shoots you out, but when you come back you don't even go there, you don't get shot back."
"Thank goodness for small mercies, right? One of these days getting flown is gonna break me a leg or something."
"That might still be better than letting your bracelet wait for you to go for too long."
"Touché."
Authors note: When it comes to Mias memory about the trumptus pieces location which they know from the show, I go with mine, because I for sure don't remember half of what happened in these episodes, which is why Mia in the previous chapter was so sure, it'd be in the cave, having like me completely forgotten why it would be in the cave in the first place.
I rewatched the series as I started writing going through episode and episode, but I still go with my original knowledge or rather the lack thereof, which makes sense ey?
Also:
Water unicorn to earth unicorn: Yo Lyria adopted an elf with broken wings
Earth unicorn to water unicorn: Cool tell me more
Water unicorn to earth unicorn: They can also understand us
Earth unicorn to water unicorn: They what-
Just popped into my head while writing, because tbf, ever thought about that maybe… just maybe these unicorns would actually talk with each other?
The adoption part gets funnier when we get to the fire unicorn trials trust me hehe
But yeah, this episode was fairly boring to me, it was difficult to write it when it was one of the least interesting episodes to me.