Floral Ruins
[We open the scene on a patch of bluebells growing beside the railway line that runs through the southern wing of the forest. Henry is shown pulling two red and cream coaches down the track. Coming down on the other line in the opposite direction, with a set of two red mail vans, is Percy. The two engines whistle as they pass one another, a serene theme playing in the background to highlight the feeling of spring]
Percy: [inhales] Aaaaaah…what a beautiful day.
[Henry passes by a set of tall oaks and smiles]
Henry: That's more like it.
[If you were to ever visit the Island of Anima in the springtime, you would be treated to the many beautiful flowers growing in the various meadows, along with the trees standing tall and proud with their fresh green leaves, such as those in the Evergreen Forest. The Berenstain Family is shown walking through the forest taking in the scenery]
[Some people stop to smell the roses or pick them up, such as the case of Panther as he twirls a rose on the grass next to Leon]
Panther: Hmmmm…have you ever seen a more perfect moniker?
Leon: You pick up so many, I'm almost sick of it.
[Panther seemingly takes no notice of this remark as Leon rolls his eyes]
[Other people like to partake in the tulips, such as Kiara and Aleu as they pass a set of them on the trail in Napier Park while the other half of the Heeler Family pass by some lilacs growing by the river]
[Of all the residents in Anima, one of the most knowledgeable people in terms of flowers is Flora, the Fairy of Nature. She has prided herself on taking care of her many plants while trying to make the environment a better place. Outside of her home in the countryside is a beautiful garden full of many different types of flowers and other plants, something that gives her a few visitors on occasion]
[Such as the time she received a visit one day from the three original Disney princesses; Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora. Flora is shown guiding the trio through her garden. Snow White looks over at a set of sunflowers growing nearby and smiles]
Snow White: Tell me, Flora, how is it that you keep such a beautiful garden in order?
Flora: Well, when you have the powers of nature on your side, and are raised in said environment, you pick up on a few things.
[Flora leans down to a set of lilies and gives them a little scritch as if they were a housepet]
Flora: Flowers like to be treated as their own beings, I can sense when they need care and attention.
Cinderella: Sounds a lot like my little friends. Didn't you also say you could hear the trees?
Flora: Oh yes, I can hear what most people can't when it comes to plants, Lympheans are taught from an early age how to empathize with their environment, to better understand it so both sides can flourish.
Aurora: Hmmm, it truly sounds like such a beautiful place.
Flora: It really is, which is why I like to have my garden reflect it, there's just something so…tranquil about the beauty of nature…
[Flora smiles down at her flowers with a sigh…however, something catches her attention, which causes her to scowl]
Flora: Oh no…
Snow White: Oh, is something wrong?
Flora: To your right, a brush of misfortune comes upon us…
Aurora: Whatever does that me-oooooooooooh no…
[Cut to a brown whirlwind fast approaching with incoherent noises being heard amidst them]
Cinderella: Oh, not this again…
[The whirlwind begins to tear through the garden as petals and flowers fly into the air, the women gasp as a whole mess piles around the patches. Flora's eye twitches as a set of violets are tossed about, followed by a patch of daisies. The Fairy of Nature stands still regardless while the princesses cover their mouths in shock and despair. Just as the twister is about to leave the premise, Flora closes her eyes and takes a deep breath]
Flora: …STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP!
[The twister pauses in mid-sequence, revealing the Tasmanian Devil as he slowly looks back to the Latina woman narrowing her eyes at him. The princesses are equally shocked at Flora's tonal shift]
Taz: Ruuuuuuugh, what happened?
[Flora doesn't say a word, she simply points at Taz, then back at the messy portion of her garden]
Taz: [grumbling] Rrrrramamarharam-
[Flora's stern expression takes on that of an almost threatening aura with a SHING cast over it. Taz immediately hushes up, and with a sheepish look on his face, performs the previous twister in reverse with the power of toon physics to put the garden back into its original state, stopping to gently pat down a tulip at the end. Flora gives a grateful smile]
Flora: Thank you.
Taz: Rrrrruuuuuuuuu, you're welcome.
[Taz quickly makes a break for it away from the cottage. Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora glance at each other, then back at Flora]
Aurora: How did you do that?
Flora: It's simple, you just need to get down to someone's level…and perhaps hold the magical aspect over them.
Cinderella: Well…it's certainly worked for you, can't imagine I would have gotten the same response.
Snow White: Flora?
Flora: Hmm?
Snow White: I never knew you had a set of chrysanthemums, in both variants no less. They're beautiful.
Flora: Those? Well, they're a special flower for me. They just speak to me in a way that feels…different, if you will.
Snow White: Hmmhmm, I understand completely.
[Flora smiles back at the princesses as the scene transitions to later in the evening as we cut to the inside of the cottage. Various bits of floral decor can be seen on the shelves, drawers, and countertops in the kitchen as Flora prepares a kettle of tea with a few biscuits on a plate. She has just taken the sugar out when there's a knock at the door]
Flora: Oh?
[Flora heads out of the kitchen and towards the front door, opening to reveal a surprise guest on the other side]
Flora: Oh, Helia, so nice to see you.
Helia: I hope this isn't an inconvenience, I wanted to see how you were doing…I assume I'm not too late for tea?
Flora: Now how did you figure that?
Helia: The sound of the kettle gave it away.
Flora: Oh! I'll get everything sorted, you can take a seat and make yourself comfortable.
[Flora guides Helia into the cottage, past the living room and into the kitchen as she reaches over to the stove to turn it off. Helia takes a seat by the table as Flora sets the tea down on a wooden stand. She then gets two cups to be filled before wrapping it up with the plate of biscuits between the two]
Helia: Ah, seems you've thought of everything.
Flora: Of course, need to be prepared whenever there's guests around. By the way, how's the poetry business coming along?
Helia: I would say it's coming along very well, I have a new verse if you wanted to hear it.
Flora: By all means.
Helia: AHEM…Let me compare you to a bold cherry.
You are more random, fluxional, and smart.
Ice bites the debris of February,
And wintertime has the old purple heart.
Flora: Hmmmmm, sounds lovely, Helia.
Helia: Thank you, Flora. And I take it that the gardening business has treated you well?
Flora: Well, being that it's now spring, you could say that business has gone very well. It's just so nice to see everything growing once more, after all the cold and bitter from winter.
Helia: Hmmhmm, just don't let Icy hear you say that.
Flora: Oh, I believe I can handle a bit of sass from her and then some.
Helia: Hahaha, aaaaaaah, you amuse me sometimes, Flora.
Flora: Well, sometimes you need a sense of humor to brighten up the day. [sighs] I like this…
Helia: Hmm?
Flora: You know…this. No fighting, no drama, just…peace. I like that.
Helia: Hmmmmm…I agree, I like it too.
Flora: Sometimes, it only feels like yesterday when we first met. Things were quite different back then.
Helia: Oh yes, I seem to recall a certain fairy being rather flustered to speak with me.
Flora: Heh, those were certainly the days…I hope this doesn't come off as…arrogant, but I feel we managed for the time…
Helia: In comparison to some of our friends, I would certainly say so. Still, I'm happy to see you've formed your own path since then.
Flora: Thanks, I appreciate it…
[The scene transitions to later in the evening as the sun has just about set over the horizon. Flora is seen arranging books on a shelf. As she puts two books together on the top shelf, there is a knock at the door]
Flora: Oh? Who could that be?
[Flora goes over to the door and opens it, revealing a lady with long green hair and a navy blue jacket, carrying a set of books in her hands. She smiles as sweetly as she can in Flora's presence]
Selina: Good evening, ma'am. I'm making rounds for a charity endorsing books. May I interest you in any?
Flora: Oh, books? Well, depends on what you have to offer.
Selina: Here…
[Selina picks a book from the top of the pile and gives it to Flora. The Fairy of Nature looks down at the cover; Chrysanthemum. It shows a little white mouse in a pink flower pattern dress holding a yellow Chrysanthemum flower]
Flora: Hmmmm, this looks like an interesting read…how much for it?
Selina: Hmmhmmhmm, no need for expense, it's, how you say, on the house…
Flora: Well…I appreciate the gesture, thank you, I-
Selina: A pleasure doing business with you.
[Before Flora can say another word, Selina walks off completely unabashed from her abrupt departure]
Flora: …Oh.
[Flora looks down at the book before closing the door and taking it over to her bedroom. With the lamp on, she sits down on the bed and opens the book to begin reading]
Flora: "The day she was born was the happiest day in her parents' lives. 'She's perfect', said her mother. 'Absolutely', said her father. And she was…she was absolutely perfect…"
[Flora's soft smile lowers a bit as she reads on until we transition to her reading a section towards the middle of the book, a more concerned look on her face]
"Chrysanthemum wilted. She did not think her name was absolutely perfect. She thought it was absolutely dreadful…"
[Transition to Flora reading the last few pages of the book, while hopeful in text, her expression doesn't mirror it as she has a solemn look on her face]
"Chrysanthemum thought it was wildly funny and she giggled through the entire Dance of the Flowers. Eventually, Mrs. Twinkle gave birth to a healthy baby girl. And of course, she named her Chrysanthemum…"
[Flora finally closes the book…she sets it on the drawer next to her bed, stands up, and looks out the window…she sighs as a memory of childhood comes back to her…]
[Transition to the past as a group of Linphean children are shown running and playing with one another before it pans over to a young Flora, hiding behind her parents' legs with a shy expression on her face]
[Another transition shows her standing in front of a classroom as her eyes gaze over at the other students. The teacher gives Flora a kind smile, but some of the other kids give her an odd look as Flora walks over to her dress, holding her books in hand]
[We are then shown another transition of Flora looking up at two adult figures as they overshadow her…Rhodos and Alyssa lean down over the girl to give her a hug, whispering for her not to worry…we see the same thing happening with Flora's younger sister Miele as she walks into her older sister's room and sees her lying down with a sad look on her face…Miele goes up to Flora and sits up on the bed before reaching over to hug her sister…]
Miele: Are you okay, Flora…?
[Flora gives an appreciative expression at the gesture]
[Flash back to the present day as Flora gives a sigh and puts a hand to her chest…]
Flora: Perhaps I should get some sleep now…
[On that note, Flora retreats to her bed and pulls her pajamas on before she pulls over the covers to lie down on the mattress. She sighs as she lies back on her pillow and turns off the lamp, a gentle tune plays as she soothes herself to sleep…]
[Transition to Flora on her homeworld of Linphea, walking past a set of large golden flowers hanging over her before two giant ladybugs fly overhead. She looks over to the City of Trees way up in the clouds before passing through the Flower Village]
[It is then that Flora comes across a lone flower sitting in the middle of the path. She leans down to inspect, it appears to be a pink Chrysanthemum, with a shade very similar to the one on her outfit…Flora smiles and tries to move, but finds that she can't]
Flora: What the…[gasps]
[Rising on Flora's legs are roots, wrapping around her as if she was a flower herself. Flora tries to break free of the bondage, but her top turns into petals similar to that of the flower beneath her, sprouting behind her head and around her neck]
Flora: Oooooooooh…
[Much to Flora's shock, the environment around her begins to wither and wilt, trees lose their leaves, flowers lose their petals, and the fresh blue river turns to a dirty brown, only Flora herself, now having turned into a flower, retains her color]
Flora: What's going on?! Why is everything…huh…?
[Flora's eyes dart from left to right as a group of weary and starving Linpheans gather around her, some of them reaching out in desperation]
Man #1: Aaaaaaah…she's so…perfect…
Woman #1: Please…spare us…
Flora: But…how can I…?
Child #1: Why don't you want us to survive…?
Flora: But I-[gasps]
[As Flora speaks, petals come out of her mouth]
Flora: But…I do! I can't move! I…
[Flora notices the people around her fading out of existence. Then, towering above her are Rhodos and Alyssa as the former reaches down to pick her off the ground]
"Isn't she perfect…?"
"She absolutely is…"
[Flora's eyes shutter as both hands begin to pick away at her petals]
Flora: HUAH!
[Flora blinks and tries to adjust to her surroundings, instead of being held by two giants and wrapped in ivy, she is wrapped in a blanket and lying on a bed]
Flora: Oh…thank god…okay, just…relax…go back to sleep…peace…calm…aaaaaaah…
[Flora lays back down on the pillow and slowly closes her eyes as she drifts off to sleep once more]
[Transition to the next morning as Flora is shown opening her eyes…the Fairy of Nature's hair is a mess as she gets up from the bed and walks over to the bathroom, looking into the mirror with a sigh]
Flora: I look like a thorn bush…
[Flora reaches for a comb to brush her as the scene cuts to her walking out to the garden with a cup of tea in her hand, sitting down on the patio table]
Flora: [sighs] Maybe this will soothe my mind…
[Flora looks over to the nearby bushes…but then something catches her eye as a bit of rustling can be heard among the shrubbery]
Flora: Huh…?
[Flora narrows her eyes to see if she can get a better look at what's behind the bush…she nearly spills her tea as a large brown wolf suddenly emerges from the bush]
Flora: OH!
[The lupine stops several feet away from Flora, with his head crouched down and his body arched up. Neither of the two moves for almost a minute…Flora blinks and looks over the wolf in question]
[The lupine's coat is of a golden brown, with a belly coat of white, with white highlights on his legs, feet, tail. He has a large white mane with purplish grey highlights, coupled with his forest green eyes]
Flora: Oh…
[Flora slowly reaches her hand out to the lupine…for a few seconds, nothing happens…then, it moves closer to the woman…before it pauses…and presses its head into her hand, gently nuzzling into it]
Flora: Hmmmmmmm…
[Flora gently caresses under the wolf's muzzle before it draws back and lies down to rest on the grass, no ounce of confrontation in its movements]
Flora: Perfect…
[Flora ponders over what she just said, and the thoughts of last night come back to her…she sighs and sits down once again on her chair, giving a small sip of her tea, before putting her hands in her lap, and looking down at the ground]
[Cut to black]
Character Guide:
Flora, Helia, Miele, Alyssa, Rhodos, Amarok, Icy - Winx Club
Aurora - Sleeping Beauty (1959)
Cinderella - Cinderella (1950)
Snow White - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Taz - Looney Tunes
Leon Powalski, Panther Caroso - Star Fox
Percy, Henry - Thomas and Friends
Aleu - Balto (1995) / Wolf Quest (2002)
Brother Bear, Sister Bear, Mama Bear, Papa Bear - The Berenstain Bears
Kiara - The Lion King (1994) / Simba's Pride (1998)
Muffin Heeler, Socks Heeler, Stripe Heeler, Trixie Heeler - Bluey