05: Selene Valley

Branches Of Sunshire

Chapter 5

Selene Valley

Ashley sat at the dining room table with Juniper and Blake, eating their freshly cooked pancakes. Juniper had set out various toppings to choose from. Blake cut a lemon into wedges and squeezed a drizzle over his pancakes, and sprinkled brown sugar on top. Juniper delicately placed strawberries on her pancakes. Ashley eyed the cold tub in Juniper’s hand, intrigued.

Ashley: “Ooh, what’s that creamy stuff from the cold room?”

They asked, looking over towards the frozen butler’s pantry.

Juniper: “Ice cream! Want some?”

She chuckled and handed them the container.

Ashley: “Yes, please!”

They scooped up a big spoonful and plonked it onto their pancake. Blake turned to them.

Blake: “Maybe you should try it first before taking a big scoop, Ash.”

He said, cutting up his pancake and taking a bite.

Ashley: “Why is that?”

They asked, turning to him as they drizzled maple syrup on their pancakes.

Blake: “What if you don’t like it? Now your breakfast is ruined!”

He groused.

Ashley: “But what if I like it?! Then it made my breakfast better!”

They assured him, taking a spoonful. Their eyes widened as the cold, sweet combination melted in their mouth. It was unlike anything they had ever tasted, or even thought possible, back home.

Ashley: “Oh my stars! I love it!”

They grabbed the tub and plopped another generous scoop onto their plate. Blake shook his head.

Blake: “I think that’s enough, Ash.”

He held up his hand.

Juniper: “You know what goes amazing with ice cream?!”

She smiled at Ashley.

Ashley: “What?”

They turned to her, eating their ice cream.

Juniper: “Sprinkles!”

She picked up the rainbow sprinkles and scattered them over Ashley’s ice cream. Blake gaped at her. Ashley eyed the rainbow colours curiously, then dug in, took another bite, and relished the sweeter flavours.

Ashley: “Oh wow, this IS better!”

They reached for the rainbow sprinkle container, but Blake swiped it away. Ashley gave him an incredulous look.

Madelyn skipped into the dining room and joined them at the table.

Madelyn: “Shoes on, Ashley! We’re going on a quest!”

She announced, drizzling maple syrup all over her pancakes, then adding a scoop of ice cream, chocolate syrup, and sprinkles.

Ashley: “Oh, uh, I don’t have any shoes, haha! Quest?!”

They glanced down at their bare feet. Madelyn shovelled a mouthful and swallowed.

Madelyn: “Not a problem! What kind of shoes do you want?”

She raised her hand and summoned her staff.

Ashley: “Hmm, something where my feet are showing!”

They pondered, finishing their pancakes.

Madelyn: “So, like, sandals? Okay!”

She picked up the vase, then dumped the flowers onto Ashley’s feet.

Ashley: “Hehe!”

Chuckling as the icy water and flower petals splashed over their toes, Ashley watched Madelyn swirl her staff in a sweeping motion. The petals stretched like vibrant ribbons of silly string, weaving around their feet until they blossomed into a pair of custom burgundy sandals.

Ashley: “Ooh, I love them, thank you, Madelyn!”

They smiled down at the sandals, admiring her craftsmanship.

Ashley carefully slipped the shoes off their feet and set them aside.

Madelyn: “Wait, why are you taking them off?”

She gasped, looking dejected.

Ashley: “Because it’s bad luck wearing shoes inside the house!”

They explained.

Juniper: “It is?!”

She gasped.

Madelyn: “Oh crap! No wonder I’m so unlucky!”

She laughed. Blake rolled his eyes.

Blake: “It’s not bad luck; it’s just poor etiquette.”

He took a bite of his breakfast.

Blake: “Nothing bad is going to happen to you for wearing shoes inside the house, Ashley.”

He assured them. Ashley looked uncertain.

Blake turned his attention to Madelyn and folded his arms.

Blake: “What do you mean by a ‘quest?!’”

Madelyn shifted her eyes to Juniper.

Madelyn: “Oh, we just need to pick up some things from Selene Valley…”

She busied herself with her pancakes, avoiding their gazes.

Ashley: “Selene Valley?!”

Their eyes lit up, eager to explore the town beyond the manor’s gates. Blake’s chair scraped against the hardwood as he rose.

Blake: “NO! Ashley is NOT going!”

His voice cut through the conversation like a sledgehammer. Ashley and Madelyn turned to him.

Ashley: “But I wanna go, Blake!”

They protested, rising from their seat and grabbing their sandals.

Blake: “Are you serious after last night’s incident?!”

His voice rose, trembling with frustration and worry. Ashley’s shoulders slumped.

Blake: “No, you’re not to leave this house again!”

He shook his head. Ashley recoiled with a sting.

Madelyn: “What, like freaking Rapunzel?!”

She laughed bitterly.

Ashley: “I’m an adult, Blake; you can’t tell me what to do! I can make my own decisions!”

They snapped.

Blake: “You clearly can’t! Look what happened last night!”

He fixed his gaze on them. Ashley bowed their head.

Madelyn: “Don’t worry, I’ll ward off Makayla!”

She swung her staff in a crooked arc to reassure them. Blake turned back to her.

Blake: “I don’t trust you either!”

He glared at her.

Juniper: “Oh, Madelyn can take care of herself! And Ashley!”

She gave him an encouraging smile and a confident wave.

Blake: “I very much doubt that.”

He shook his head at Madelyn as she shovelled pancakes into her mouth.

Blake: “Besides, that isn’t the point!”

He drew a breath, sat back down in his chair, and locked his glare on the women.

Ashley sighed, tuning out the argument as they glanced out the window and admired Selene Valley's silhouette in the distance, framed by the mountains. We’re going to be here all day; Blake won’t stop arguing until everyone agrees with him, they thought bitterly, looking back at the table to see Blake’s attention fixed on Madelyn and Juniper.

Blake: “The point is, I don’t trust you, and I know what’s best for Ashley!”

Ashley looked at Blake, hoping he would reconsider, but deep down, they knew he wouldn’t. Ashley gripped their sandals tightly. Well, he can win the argument without me. I don’t need his permission, and I don’t need a babysitter, they thought, slipping out of the room quietly.

Juniper: “But you don’t even know us, so how can you trust us?”

Madelyn noticed Ashley heading down the hallway, and she quietly followed them.

Blake: “That’s exactly my point!”

He threw his arms up. Juniper leaned forward and clasped her hands on the table.

Juniper: “Then let’s get to know each other!”

She held his gaze.

Juniper: “What kinds of stuff do you enjoy doing, Blake?”

She smiled at him.

Blake: “What do you care?”

Nari came up from the basement further down the hallway. Observing Ashley and Madelyn quietly slip outside, a smirk appeared on her face. She strolled to the dining room archway, using her wide, elaborate sleeves to hide the entrance behind her.

Nari: “Happy birthday, Juniper!”

She presented her with a neatly wrapped gift in black paper. Juniper and Blake turned to her, standing behind him. Juniper’s face lit up.

Juniper: “Thank you, Nari!”

She beamed and unwrapped her gift to reveal tiny glass mushroom earrings.

Juniper: “Aww, that’s super cute! Thank you, Nari!”

She rose and pulled her into a hug. Blake barely registered the exchange. His gaze drifted to the hallway, and Ashley's absence made him pause.

Blake: “...Ashley?!”

He shot up from his chair, scanned the dining room, then looked toward the hall.

Juniper: “Oh! Where did Ashley and Madelyn go?”

She released Nari and looked around. Blake turned sharply toward the front door. The argument came rushing back to him, along with Ashley’s obvious eagerness to go to Selene Valley. His expression fell as he put two and two together.

Blake: “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!”

He hurried down the hall towards the door.

Juniper: “Oh, they must have gone to Selene Valley.”

She shrugged. Blake’s face crumpled.

Blake: “That’s NOT going to happen!”

He barged through the door and stormed into the garden, searching the grounds for any sign of Ashley or Madelyn. Juniper followed after him. Behind them,

Nari stayed near the dining room archway, watching.

~

Blake: “ASHLEY!”

He called out into the lush garden, but no one answered.

Juniper: “Why don’t you want Ashley going to Selene Valley?”

She asked him.

Blake: “Ashley can’t be alone without me! I need to protect them!”

He said through gritted teeth, barging through the iron gates.

Juniper: “Why?”

She asked, scratching her head. Blake stopped to stare at her.

Blake: “Because they’re my sibling!”

Juniper: “I know, but, like… why can’t they go anywhere without you?”

She asked.

Blake: “Do you have a younger sibling?!”

He pressed her.

Juniper: “No, I don’t have a younger sibling… ”

Her smile faltered.

Blake: “Then you wouldn’t understand!”

He said firmly, marching towards the gate.

Juniper: “Why don’t you trust Ashley?”

She asked.

Blake: “It’s not Ashley I don’t trust! It’s YOU!”

He countered, barging through the iron gates and onto the road. Juniper frowned.

Blake: “ASHLEY!”

He hollered for them, looking in every direction, but saw no sign of them.

Blake: “Where the FUCK did they go?!”

He clutched his hair. Juniper summoned her wooden mushroom staff from below her feet.

Juniper: “I can help you find them!”

She offered with a smile. Blake turned to her.

Blake: “I don’t need your help! I can do it myself!”

He huffed and started marching down the road.

Juniper: “How will you do that?”

Blake turned back to her.

Blake: “Well, what stupid places does Madelyn go to?”

He threw his arms up.

Juniper: “Hmm, let’s see… the arcade, SolarisPark, Voyage Burger, the beach…”

She stroked her chin.

Blake: “Okay, I’ll check there then.”

He turned on his heel and continued walking.

Juniper: “You’re going the wrong way. Town is that way!”

She pointed down the mountain. Blake drew a breath.

Blake: “Okay, thanks.”

He walked toward where she pointed.

Juniper held her staff over the ground and closed her eyes, focusing her energy and feeling the ground beneath her feet.

Juniper: “They went through there!”

She pointed toward a winding path through the trees.

Blake: “How do you know that?!”

He gave her a sceptical look.

Juniper: “They left traces of energy behind in their footprints!”

She pointed to the glowing footprints in the road, leading down a path through the trees toward the town.

Blake: “I don’t see anything.”

He huffed, scanning the ground for something, but finding nothing.

Juniper: “Of course not! You’re not a Harvestial!”

She shrugged, and they approached the winding path.

~

Nari watched them disappear into the woods; a smirk spread across her face as she closed the door behind them. She sauntered down the stairs into her basement apartment, quietly satisfied.

Summoning her staff, she conjured a deep violet haze over the table. Candid photographs of Ashley and Blake in their Sunshire robes spread across the surface.

Nari picked up the photographs, each with their names written on the back in her neat cursive writing.

Nari: “Keep the sun away from here.”

She chanted, binding each photograph with a black silk ribbon.

Nari: “They shall not enter.”

She submerged the bound photographs into a black wooden box filled with water. Raising her staff over the box, she exhaled, and the water froze.

Nari: “As I will it, so shall it be.”

She placed the lid on the box, sealing the photographs inside.

~

Madelyn and Ashley emerged from the bushland, and a living postcard unfolded before them. The salty breeze reached them first, heavy with eucalyptus and a subtle hint of fried food, which made their stomach rumble.

Ashley: “OH MY STARS!”

Their jaw dropped at the sight of the coastline, with winding roads cutting through the mountains. Rows of weathered houses and shops nestled against the lush green hillside. Below, a wooden boardwalk wrapped around the harbour, where a large wheel creaked above the rooftops, its colourful lights strung around its circular frame. Ashley looked back towards town, but a strange buzzing overhead caught their attention. They squinted up at what looked like a tree trunk, with thin black lines branching out and stretching between the treetops.

Ashley: “What are those weird trees?! Where’s all the bees?”

They pointed up at the wires, looking around for the source of the buzzing.

Madelyn: “Haha, those are power lines!”

Ashley: “Power lines…”

Ashley stared at the wires and glanced back at the strange-looking tree trunk, their expression brightening as the idea clicked into place.

Ashley: “OH! You mean elec-tree-city?!”

They grinned. Madelyn laughed and looked up at the power lines.

Madelyn: “Huh… maybe you were onto something about it being like a tree powering a city…”

She tilted her head, looking at the power lines as she pondered.

Ashley stepped onto the asphalt and ran up to the sign that read ‘Selene Valley - Where the ocean meets the mountains.’

Ashley: “Huh, I thought they referred to it as the Valley of the Moon?”

Ashley glanced down as a deep vibration rattled from under their feet, followed by a metallic roar drawing near.

Madelyn: “Ashley! Watch out!”

Before Ashley could react, something emerged from the shade of the gum trees. It was shiny and red, with dark glass reflecting the trees. Ashley searched instinctively for legs or some kind of hidden creature powering it. Then the roar grew louder, swallowing every other sound.

Ashley: “W-WHAT IS THAT?!”

Ashley jolted back, instinctively reaching for their staff to defend themselves.

Madelyn: “GET OFF THE ROAD!”

She leaped forward, tackling Ashley down onto the grass strip, just as it roared past, kicking up a gust of wind.

Ashley clutched their chest, trembling. For a moment, they could only stare at the road.

Ashley: “W-what was that thing?!”

They coughed through the exhaust fumes as it screeched around the bend and disappeared.

Madelyn: “You never saw a car before?!”

She gaped at them, catching her breath before standing up.

Ashley: “A what?”

They staggered to their feet, eyes fixed on the mechanical wonder.

Madelyn: “It’s like a little metal room on wheels that you can travel around in when you don't wanna walk and wanna get to places really fast!”

She explained, waving her arm in front of her face to show movement.

Ashley: “Ooh! I like that!”

They leaned over the bend to watch the cars cruising along the coastline below.

Ashley: “Then why don’t you have a car?”

They asked, turning back to her as they continued their descent into Selene Valley.

Madelyn: “Because we can’t afford it!”

She laughed, and they continued their journey down the road together.

Ashley: “Oh, that’s a shame!”

Madelyn: “It doesn’t matter anyway ‘cause we’re here!”

She led them to the weathered brick building with a corrugated iron roof facing the picturesque mountains. A sign read ‘Woolcolga Grocers - Selene Valley’ with a teal illustration of the mountains below the text. They moved towards the entrance, where the bulletin board displayed local flyers, job offers, lost-pet ads, and event posters. Ashley watched, amazed, as the doors slid open as if some mysterious force was sliding them.

Madelyn: “This is the grocery store!”

Bright lights and the low hum of pop music greeted them as they stepped inside.

Ashley: “Haha, I know what a grocery store is! We called them harvest markets!”

They explained.

Madelyn: “That’s so much better than ‘Woolcolga’!”

She grabbed a plastic basket and hooked it under her arm.

Madelyn: “What were we here for again?”

Madelyn paused, stroked her chin, and couldn’t remember.

Ashley: “The wine and the calendar!”

They reminded her. Madelyn’s eyes lit up.

Madelyn: “Yes, that’s right! Gotta get that Sweet Peach wine for Juniper!”

She wove through the crowd toward the liquor section in the back. Ashley followed her, taking in their surroundings. It was as if a Sunshire harvest market had been turned up too bright, too loud, and too colourful.

Ashley felt eyes following them. They glanced around and saw several people watching. Do they know I’m a Sole-Wielder?! They wondered, glancing down at themself, searching for something obvious. Nothing seemed out of place.

Man: “What’s up, Red Riding Hood?”

Ashley turned towards the voice and saw a man with a mullet grinning at Madelyn, his attention fixed on her red velvet cloak and dress. Madelyn glanced down at her outfit and the basket, and the comparison dawned on her.

Madelyn: “OH! Haha, hey, dude, what’s up!”

She playfully waved and continued into the liquor section. Ashley watched her go, puzzled. Why were people staring at Madelyn and calling her that name?

Before Ashley could ponder it further, something caught their eye outside the window. It didn’t look like it belonged there, towering against the mountain backdrop and modern buildings. What was a giant ship doing in the middle of a town like this?! Ashley drifted towards it, curiosity tugging them along like a siren’s call.

~

By the time Blake and Juniper arrived in Selene Valley, Blake had grown weary. Lights flashed everywhere. Machines roared past on wheels. A giant metal structure spun in the distance, draped in lights. Why would anyone build something like that? What was the purpose of going in circles? Did people ride on it willingly, or was it some kind of punishment? He pondered.

Juniper: “That’s a Ferris wheel.”

Blake: “I don’t like it.”

He shook his head in disapproval. The roar of an exhaust engine zoomed past them, drawing their attention.

Juniper: “That’s a car!”

She announced. Blake watched the car speed away down the road. That function makes sense, he thought. Why the hell didn’t we have that in Sunshire?

Juniper: “That’s the milk bar, and that’s the video store—”

She pointed around. Blake held his hand up to her.

Blake: “Okay, I don’t need a tour guide.”

He kept walking, taking in everything around him.

Juniper: “Is there anywhere you wanna go?”

She turned to him.

Blake: “I just want to get Ashley and go home!”

He no longer cared to question the madness around him; it all blurred as his tunnel vision fixed on Ashley.

Juniper: “Don’t worry, they will be fine! We’ll find them!”

She pointed her staff at the ground, as if scanning it for traces.

Juniper: “We’re getting close!”

She assured him. Blake’s expression loosened.

Blake: “What the fuck is that?”

First, he noticed the giant ship; second, the hamburgers.

Juniper: “OH! That’s Voyage Burger! It’s a restaurant! Me and Brad go there every week—”

Her face lit up. Blake held his hand up, cutting her off.

Blake: “I know what a restaurant is!”

He drew a slow breath and pointed at the ship.

Blake: “My question is, why is it a ship?”

Juniper glanced at the building, then back at him.

Juniper: “Because it’s fun?”

She shrugged and chuckled. Blake stared at her, then turned his attention back to the ridiculous maritime curiosity. That’s when he saw a familiar face.

Ashley approached the enormous sign that read ‘VOYAGE BURGER’, recognising the horned hamburger logo from Makayla’s bass guitar. Beyond it stood a wooden ship in a shallow moat with a drawbridge. The ship’s ends curled into elaborate hamburgers, and a red-and-white striped sail billowed in the warm breeze. The smell of fried food swirled around Ashley, making their stomach rumble.

Blake: “ASHLEY!”

Ashley jolted out of their daze. Their excitement faltered as Blake’s voice dragged them back to their earlier argument, and they realised Blake had followed them into Selene Valley.

Ashley: “Blake?! What are you doing here?”

They slowly spun around to face him. Juniper approached behind Blake and hung back, keeping clear of the siblings’ confrontation.

Blake: “What am I doing here? What are you doing here?! What the hell were you thinking?!”

He threw his arms up.

Ashley: “I was thinking I wanted to see Selene Valley!”

They sighed.

Blake: “After what happened last night? You can’t just walk out of the house without telling me!”

His voice trembled.

Ashley: “You wouldn’t let me go, and we’d just be arguing about it all day in circles!”

They countered.

Blake: “BECAUSE I WAS WORRIED ABOUT YOU!”

His words came out louder than he intended. Ashley flinched, and a silence fell between them.

Ashley: “I’m sorry…”

Their voice softened, and they wrapped their arms around themself, looking down at the ground.

Ashley: “I know you’re worried about me, Blake, but that doesn’t mean you get to decide things for me…”

Blake’s expression softened, though his jaw remained tense.

Blake: “I’m just trying to keep you safe!”

He sighed.

Ashley: “Safe from what?”

They glanced up at the Viking burger diner.

Before Blake could respond, Madelyn rushed up to them, carrying a grocery bag, overflowing with more than just wine and a calendar.

Madelyn: “There you are!”

She stepped beside Ashley, huffing and puffing as she caught up. Blake swung his glare to her.

Blake: “YOU! This is all your fault!”

He pointed at her.

Madelyn: “Whoa! What did I do?!”

She drew back.

Blake: “I knew I couldn’t trust you to look after Ashley! I was right.”

He snapped. Ashley knitted their eyebrows, jumping in front of Madelyn.

Ashley: “It’s not her fault, Blake! She saved me!”

Blake turned towards Ashley, his anger faltering.

Blake: “...Saved you from what?”

He asked slowly.

Ashley: “A car! It was coming at me, and Madelyn pulled me out of the way!”

They glanced at Madelyn with gratitude. Blake stared at Ashley.

Blake: “WHAT?! You almost got hit by one of those?!”

His voice rose with concern.

Ashley: “I didn’t know what it was, so how was I supposed to know?!”

They threw their arms up.

Blake: “This is exactly WHY I don’t want you going off without me, Ashley!”

He stamped his heel to drive his point home.

Ashley: “It’s not like you know what a car is either, Blake! Neither of us knows about this place!”

They countered. Blake paused, his mouth opening before closing again.

Blake: “That’s not the point!”

He threw his arms up and glanced toward the road as another car roared past.

Blake: “I don’t know what half the things in this place are, and neither do you! That’s exactly why you can’t just go wandering off without telling me!”

He paced around, surveying his surroundings.

Ashley: “What am I supposed to do, Blake, just sit around the house while you explain the world to me?”

They embraced themself.

Blake: “No, but you could at least tell me where you’re going!”

Ashley: “I did, Blake! You said no! You spoke for me and decided for me!”

Their voice cracked. Blake fell silent.

Ashley: “How can I learn anything if you never let me make my own choices?! How am I supposed to understand anything if you won’t let me experience it?!”

Their voice trembled.

Blake: “I don’t know… but what am I supposed to do if something happens to you and I can’t find you or help you?!”

His voice cracked, and his anger faltered, revealing the fear beneath it. They both fell silent for a moment.

Ashley glanced between them, feeling like they were going in circles like that Ferris wheel.

Ashley: “Can we not do this here?!”

They looked around the Voyage Burger parking lot. A handful of people had stopped to watch the argument, while others tried to mind their own business. Blake followed their gaze, his shoulders stiffening as he drew a long breath.

Blake: “We’re going home.”

Ashley looked back at the enormous ship as its sail fluttered in the breeze. They’d barely begun exploring Selene Valley when they were already being dragged away.

Ashley: “Fine…”

They turned away and left together in silence.

~

Blake, Ashley, Madelyn, and Juniper returned to the manor's black iron gates.

Blake: “We’ll discuss this inside!”

He reached for the gate, but a sudden freezing shock surged through his hand, blasting him backward as though the gates had frozen him out.

Ashley: “B-Blake?! What happened? Are you okay?”

They gasped and rushed over to him. Juniper flinched, and Madelyn’s eyes grew larger.

Madelyn: “Whoa! What the hell was that?!”

Blake clutched his chest. Frost clung to his fingertips, and his face twisted with frustration and bewilderment.

Blake: “Something’s wrong with the gate!”

He staggered to his feet and glared at the gate. Juniper fixed her gaze on the gate.

Juniper: “Hmm…”

She approached the gate curiously.

Blake: “What are you doing?! Get away from that!”

Juniper ignored him and cautiously wrapped her hand around the iron bar.

Ashley: “Oh, no, be careful, Juniper!”

Juniper swung the gate open with no resistance and stepped through.

Juniper: “The gate is fine!”

She assured them with a smile, spreading her arms out. Blake gaped at her.

Ashley: “Huh… that doesn’t make sense…”

They rose and cautiously approached the entrance. Suddenly, an icy force struck their foot and hurled them backward.

Blake: “ASHLEY!”

He scrambled towards them.

Madelyn: “Are you okay, Ash?”

She knelt beside them. Ashley slowly sat up and stared at the open gate.

Ashley: “It’s like… there’s an invisible gate beyond the gate.”

They shuddered at their cold feet.

Ashley: “… and it’s freezing cold!”

They summoned their staff to warm their feet. Madelyn’s expression changed.

Madelyn: “Cold, huh?”

She exchanged a look with Juniper. Juniper paused when it dawned on her.

Juniper: “Oh, this is Hivernal-Majique!”

Madelyn twisted her mouth when she confirmed her suspicion.

Madelyn: “NARI!”

She snapped and marched through the gates with no hesitation or resistance.

Ashley: “Nari? Why would she do this?!”

The front door swung open, and Nari sauntered onto the veranda.

Nari: “Oh, I see my little block-shield spell worked!”

She proudly proclaimed.

Blake: “YOU did this?!”

He snapped at her through the gate.