The Fable of the Love Flower

Inspired by Beyoncé, Pharrell Williams, and Salatiel "Water"

South America, Brazil: Amazon Rainforest

Children of a local village cheered and started running happily to Superman and Wonder Woman as the flew down to them.

"Is everyone alright?" Superman asked.

The children continued jumping around in excitement. Soon all the villagers were crowded around them.

"Thank you for saving our village," the cacique, village leader, said.

Superman and Wonder Woman helped Swamp Thing capture Anton Arcane stopping his plans of terrorizing and using the villagers for his twisted science experiment.

"You came back!" The children said in unison.

"Of course! We said we would, little ones," Diana smiled.

A woman that Wonder Woman helped walked up to them.

"Yes, please stay as our honored guests."

Wonder Woman smiled and looked up at Superman.

He smiled back and nodded.

"YAY!" The children cheered.

"We shall have a celebration!"

The women pulled Wonder Woman to go with them.

"Come with us. We are to prepare for the celebration."

Brazilian Indians use many ornaments and body painting. The adornments are made with feathers from birds. Adorned garments, especially with feathers, are often used on special occasions, celebrations and rites, decorating the loincloths, headdresses, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, nose, lip and ear ornaments, masks, and hair ornaments.

Superman was playing with the children with them latching on to his arms and swinging.

"Kal?"

He looked up then double took seeing Diana.

"Wow..."

She smiled and turned around for him. The women painted her and cover her with feathers and small hand-made fabrics. Piece of a cotton quilt wrapped around her bust resembling a tunic.

The body paints were geometric designs, some complex and very beautiful. The choice of colours for body painting is important because it aims to convey to the body the joy of vibrant colours.

"You should change, too."

"Ah, yes! Yes!"

"Diana?"

She giggled. "Go on, Kal."

"Wonder Woman?"

She turned to see a young girl holding up a necklace.

"For you."

Diana kneeled to her and bowed to her for her to put it on her.

"It's beautiful. Thank you."

Kal changed into a traditional tunic, his face painted and a feathered headdress.

Diana smiled proudly as Kal walked up to her.

He smiled and took her hand.

"Join us as we feast."

Traditional foods are fish, cooked by fire and wrapped in banana leaves. Cassava, the hihi, on the outside, is very reminiscent of a mush, because it is wrapped in leaves, but instead of corn straw, it is also wrapped in banana leaves. Imu Yanisa Kiyauriri is a kind of manioc porridge, and lots of tropical fruits.

After eating, Kal and Diana enjoyed watching the villagers dance and sing. First the men dance, then the women. Afterwards they all joined together. The songs told the stories of the tribe.

As the sun set and the moon rose, the children gathered around Yawaná. She is the Pajé of the tribe. The eldest of over 100 years old. She is wise, with eyes that seemed to see deep within the soul. Even the Cacique listened to her.

"Come children, I shall tell you a tale."

Kal and Diana sat with the children. Diana smiled at Kal, latching on to his arm and leaning her head on his shoulder. Kal intertwined their fingers.

"This is the story of the flower, the Victória Régia."

The largest water lily in the world is the Vitória Régia, a native of the Amazon River basin. When floating on the water it can sustain heavy weights, such as rabbit sized animals. When it blooms, its petals are white, often slight pink, with red rims.

This is one of the most famous and traditional Brazilian legends.

"In olden times, on the margins of the majestic Amazon river, the beautiful young women of an indian tribe gathered to sing and dream of life. They stayed for long hours staring at the beauty of the moon, and the mystery of the stars, dreaming of being one of them.

As the aroma of the tropical night pulled at their dreams, the moon laid an intense light on the waters, making Naia, the youngest of the tribe and a dreamer, climb a tree to try to touch the moon. During her childhood she always watched the Moon, remembering the stories her father told her. The Warrior of the Moon was a powerful god who was frightful, but beautiful, and lived in the Moon.

Eventually she fell deeply in love with the Warrior-God. Her devotion was so great that when she became of age she resisted the advances of potential husbands. Her friends and family attempted with all their might to convince her that her Warrior-God was merely an illusion.

When the moon was full, she would remain awake watching the sky, trying to see the face of her fantasy lover. Frequently she would run through the jungle, with her arms outstretched, attempting to catch the rays from the Moon in order to hold her Warrior-God. However, she was never able to capture the lunar rays, and the great love of her life persisted being an impossible dream.

One clear night, in which the full Moon shined like never before, the young Indian maiden entered the jungle, this time determined to hold the Warrior of the Moon and to keep him for eternity. She took the river trails to stare at the river's waters. She arrived at a lake and she saw the Moon resplendent, immense, quietly reflecting its image on the water's surface. She believed that finally her lover had descended to Earth to bathe in the lake. Convinced she had finally encountered the Warrior-God. Naia dove into the deep waters and there disappeared forever.

The Warrior of the Moon really did exist and he grieved for the beautiful Indian girl who had devoted her life to loving him and gave up her life in an attempt to be with him. Without the power to bring her back to life he decided to reincarnate her into an earth-bound star of the Amazon waters.

This star is the giant flower of the plant that reigns as the queen of all aquatic plant life. The Victoria Regia, whose large blossoms only open during the night. The Victoria Regia with an inebriating perfume will only fully open her gigantic flowers in all their splendor during a full Moon and when the sky is cloudless allowing her to see her true love, the Warrior of the Moon."

Kal looked at Diana amazed at how she was so engaged with listening to Yawaná. He loved how Diana lit up every time they would go to different places, learning of different cultures.

"How about we take a flight?" He whispered.

"To where?" Diana asked looking up at him.

"The river."

Diana smiled with a slight nod.

The moon shone in the starless sky. A large impressive moon. A pale mirror of perfect circumference. The clear water's surface reflected the soft moon beams. It's presence was strong. The wind blew rustling the trees.

Diana and Kal flew down to the river.

"This is so beautiful, Kal. I longed for moments like this. To explore the world, to experience the truth and the beauty of everything. Oh, the children are so precious!"

"I'm glad that you're happy, Diana, and that we can experience this together." He sighed and took her hand. "I hope that..." He paused again staring into her eyes.

She smiled. "What is it, Kal?"

"I hope that we can experience even more together."

"Oh, Kal! Of course we can!" She jumped into his arms embracing him.

Kal wrapped his arms around her tighter, embracing her back.

"Diana...?" He whispered.

She pulled back with a confused look. "What's wrong?"

"I've learned so much from you. You've opened my eyes to so much. You've been right all along and I regret it took me so long to realize. I spent so much time limiting myself. There are no limits to what we can do and accomplish. What we can learn and what we can teach." Kal caressed her cheek. "Diana, you have the purest of souls, you are this light the world needs...that I need."

"Kal, I-"

Kal leaned in and caught her lips with his own, passion and love residing in the kiss. Diana, shocked, settled down and let him continue, closing her eyes and wishing this moment between her and him would never cease.

And then their friendship sky rocketed to a new level as something bolder and hotter and far more complicated was born.

Both their lips released so they'd take a minute to breathe and catch up to the rush of emotions they were feeling inside.

"Kal, I've learned so much from you, too. Doubts I've had about opening my heart in a way I never thought I would. We've learned and taught each other." Diana took his hands in hers again. "This...this feels natural for us. To guide each other in a way. To move forward...together."

Kal grinned and lips met again in a slow burning kiss, conveying their love for one another at each part of the lips.

They could still hear the rhythm of beats the villagers made. Kal held Diana close, and they ease into the rhythm. Diana's arms wrap around his neck and his hands meet at the small of her back.

They sway to the music, blissfully lost in the comfort of the energy flowing between them, the sound and motion; loitering somewhere between desire and action.

Dancing always had the wonderful charm of intimacy without the social complications that might arise with other acts of intimacy. Their bodies gracefully moving with the moons rays of light, illuminating the beautiful couple as they spun within the large clearing and they remained lost in their own world under the moonlight.

They sway for a few more beats and Kal's fingers now impatiently linger at the small of Diana's back. They don't want to linger; they want to explore, further down over the curving slope of her glorious rear end, all the way down her shapely legs to her pretty painted toes and back up to rest between her sexy thighs.

Diana turned her body gently so her back was pressed against Kal's chest. Kal's arms encircled Diana's form. She sighed as they continued swaying along to the subtle thud, thud, thud. She gave into him, letting him lead her. She wanted him to take control. His hips gyrated against her and she blushed, letting her head fall back onto his shoulder, her arm coming up to grab his neck.

Kal's hands traced her sides. Shivers went up Diana's back as she arched forward and away. He grabbed her tighter and pulled her back to him, smiling.

She smirked and kept moving seductively to the rhythms, grinding backwards against him. He groaned in her ear.

"Kal..." She breathed out, turning around to face him then gives a quick glance at the river.

She pulled away from him.

Kal just watches her as she took off her tunic. It was as if his body was frozen and all he could do was stare at this Goddess that was graced before him.

Fully naked, Diana walked to the edge of the river.

Entering softly, slowly, her toes and soon her feet, she walked into the water. Walking in, it rose up to her knees as she walked deeper. She waded into the water until only her shoulders were exposed. The water bed was nothing but soft wet sand.

She looks back at Kal with a come hither smirk. Snapping out of his daze, Kal quickly undressed.

In a matter of seconds, she finally heard the small sloshing sounds of Kal wading out into the water. A large splashing sound rang out, causing Diana to turn. Kal, however was nowhere in sight. Her heart swooped.

"Kal-El?"

Suddenly resurfaced so close to her, grinning and running a hand through his dark hair.

"Hello, Di," his gaze was intense, his voice deep and intimate.

she giggled. "Hello, Kal."

He grabbed her hand, intertwining their fingers. They held each other's gaze for a few more moments, before he cupped her chin gently, pulling her closer to him. They whispered more soft and gentle words of love to each other.

Diana let her eyes fall shut gently, and felt his warm breath on her face. Kal smiled and captured her lips.

They dipped down in the water and orchestrated another dance. Around in circles they went, that the world, tonight, rotated.

When Kal tightened his arms around her and Diana wrapped her arms around his neck again. They both knew something changed tonight. Their destinies have been combined into one.

And the moon could do no more than shine brightly down upon the two lovers dancing in the river underneath its radiant light.