05: Forest Party

Branches Of Sunshire

Chapter 5

Forest Party

Madelyn sat on a tree stump on the edge of the woods behind the mansion, holding her staff over her lap. Beams of sunlight poked through the pine leaves with a chorus of cicadas chirping around them.

Madelyn: “Ready?”

She smiled at Ashley as their head peered over the red and orange geranium bushes.

Ashley: “Yes!”

They nodded eagerly. Madelyn smiled and waved her staff towards Ashley. A warm, floral breeze swooped the red and orange flowers into a whirlwind around Ashley. The flowers formed into a red bell-sleeved shirt with gold trim and orange velvet bell-bottoms with gold trims running up the sides. Ashley stepped out from behind the bushes, spreading their arms out as their belled sleeves hung beside them. Their eyes widened at the bold, vibrant colours.

Ashley: “Wow! It’s SO red!”

They chuckled.

Madelyn: “Ooh, very cute!”

She beamed at them.

Ashley: “Oh my stars! The colours are SO pretty! I love it! Thank you!”

They chirped, pulling her into a hug.

Madelyn: “You’re very welcome!”

She reddened and beamed widely.

Madelyn: “Okay, my turn!”

She skipped over to the white daisies and red geraniums, waving her staff over them, kicking up air around herself, transforming the flowers into a red mushroom dress with white spots. A white ribbon was tied around the red velvet corset, and the skirt resembled a toadstool with white lace frills underneath it. A tiny mushroom with a white ribbon sat in her hair like a tiny hat.

Ashley: “Oooh, so pretty!”

They chirped.

Madelyn: “Thank you! Thank you!”

She bowed.

Ashley: “Why are you dressed up like a giant mushroom?”

They tilted their head with a laugh.

Madelyn: “It’s a surprise for Juniper’s birthday today!”

She beamed.

Ashley: “OH, wow, she was born just after the Sole-Solstice?I”

They gasped.

Madelyn: “I guess so! We’re not in Sagittarius anymore, though! We’re in Capricorn now! Capricorn is an earth sign!”

She clasped her hands together.

Ashley: “Huh?”

They titled their head.

Madelyn: “Well, you know how you’re born under a fire sign as a sole-wielder? Harvestials are born under earth signs, Hivernals are born under water signs, and Vernals like me are born under air signs! I’m a Libra!”

She explained, waving her hands around as she spoke.

Ashley: “Oh, I wasn’t born under a fire sign! I’m a Pisces!”

They laughed awkwardly. Madelyn paused to stare at them.

Madelyn: “...What do you mean? How can you be a sole-wielder if you were born under a water sign?”

She asked them. Ashley stroked their chin.

Ashley: “I dunno… I guess it’s because we aren’t pure sole-wielders? Only our mum is Majique! Blake was born in May, and Taurus is an earth sign.”

They explained.

Madelyn: “Then you should be a Hivernal, and he should be a Harvestial… if he even is a Sortilege!”

Her head spun with confusion and curiosity.

Ashley: “Oh, he’s Majique, too! I know it!”

They beamed.

Madelyn: “Then why does he say he isn’t?”

She asked. Ashley drew a breath.

Ashley: “I don’t know… he won’t talk about it.”

They sighed.

~

Blake stood in front of a tall mirror, looking at himself in a sleeveless black shirt and charcoal jeans with a studded belt.

Andreas: “So, what do you think?”

He peered from behind him.

Blake: “...It's perfect. Thank you.”

Blake smiled a bit and nodded in approval.

Andreas: “You look good.”

He smiled at him. Blake blushed.

Blake: “...Thank you.”

He replied softly.

Blake: “I've never worn black before… I like it.”

He explained. Andreas quirked an eyebrow at him.

Andreas: “Really? Why is that?”

He asked.

Blake: “Darkness was forbidden for us.”

He stated.

Andreas: “I see…”

His voice trailed off.

Andreas: “Darkness isn't something to fear.”

He stated. Blake swung his gaze to him in the mirror.

Blake: “I'm not afraid of the dark!”

He declared as he turned to him, looking around the room.

Blake: “So, uh, why are we in Craig’s room?”

He groused at the odour wafting from the dirty socks and jocks on the floor and the waxy surfboard against the wall. The bedroom looked out onto the backyard, where the collapsed stage and HillsHoist clothesline with goon sacks were in full view. A queen-size bed on wooden slats was at the centre of the room with black bedding. An entire drawer of ‘Nuklear Intoxikation’ shirts spilled over the sides with vinyl records crammed on the top. Posters of muscular action men hung up on the walls.

Andreas: “This is my room, too…”

He corrected him. Blake's eyebrows rose, surprisingly.

Blake: “Then where is all your stuff?”

He pressed him.

Andreas: “Over here.”

He gestured to the black trunk in the corner of the room on the other side of the bed, containing his tarot cards, clothes, jewellery and trinkets. His guitar leaned up against the wall beside it.

Blake blinked mutely at him.

Blake: “Why is all your stuff packed away?”

He asked. Andreas quirked an eyebrow and knelt to his trunk.

Andreas: “It's not packed away…”

He paused. Is it? He pondered to himself.

Blake went to speak when the door burst open, and Craig barged in behind him.

Craig: “Well, well, what do we have here?!”

He clicked his tongue at Blake. Andreas froze.

Craig: “What are ya doin’ in here, hot stuff?”

He grinned widely as he approached Blake from behind. Blake turned around to gape at him, and Craig’s grin contorted into a deep scowl.

Craig: “YOU! What the fuck are YOU doing here?!”

He rasped, grabbing his collar. Andreas rose to his feet from behind the bed.

Andreas: “CRAIG?!”

He furrowed his eyebrows at him. Craig froze when he saw him, dropping Blake to the floor.

Craig: “A-Andreas?! I didn't see ya! I-I didn't know it was him!!”

He stammered, waving his hands.

Andreas: “So, if it weren't him, it would be okay?”

He challenged him, folding his arms across his chest.

Craig: “...Uhh?”

His mouth opened and closed like a fish.

Blake: “He did that to me when I first met him, and he knew it was me then.”

He added. Andreas froze and turned to Craig.

Craig: “WHAT?! No, I didn’t Fuck off, ya liar!”

He scoffed and glared at Blake.

Craig: “I was talkin’ about the WEATHER! Hoo-wee, it’s hot stuff today!”

He laughed awkwardly, fanning his face. Blake gaped at him. Andreas paused to give Craig a long look. Craig shifted his eyes with a grin. Blake shifted awkwardly.

Blake: “I’m gonna go. Thanks for the clothes!”

He ran his fingers through his hair and left. Andreas kept his cold gaze on Craig as he sweated.

Andreas: “I need to be away from you right now, Craig!”

He threw his arms up in frustration, marching out of the room. Craig knit his eyebrows.

Craig: “ANDREAS! Wait! What’s wrong?! What did I do?!”

He cried and went to follow him out of the house, when Andreas shut the door in his face.

~

Andreas stepped out of the house and drew a long breath. He turned to see Blake heading towards the woods behind the mansion.

Andreas: “Hey! Wait up!”

He called out to him, following after him. Blake turned his heel to face him.

Andreas: “Thank you for shedding some light on something I needed to see…”

His voice trailed off into pensive thought. Blake tilted his head slightly.

Blake: “What? That Craig is an asshole? Aren’t you a psychic?”

Andreas laughed bitterly.

Andreas: “I don’t know anymore…”

He sighed sadly, bowing his head.

Andreas: “Craig always said I’m not psychic, because if I were, we’d be rolling in money because I would have predicted the lottery… as if it works that way.”

He groused and frowned.

Andreas: “I started to wonder if he was right… until the day of the Sole Solstice. I drew the Sun and The Tower tarot cards, and then Sole-Wielders appeared on Celestial Crescent, and then later that night, the band stage collapsed, and it was as if the sun shed light on what I needed to see.”

He flicked his gaze to Blake. Blake's eyes widened, and he froze up thinking of the day of the Sole Solstice, and all he could see was fire. He covered his Sunshire tattoo over his thumb.

Andreas: “Are you ok?”

He knit his eyebrows, feeling his unease. Blake froze.

Blake: “Huh? Yeah, I’m fine!”

He nodded. Andreas gave him a dubious look.

Andreas: “Perhaps that reading wasn’t just about me…”

His voice trailed off. Blake froze again.

Ashley and Madelyn approached them. Blake and Ashley exchanged looks as they observed their new outfits.

Ashley: “Hey, Blake! Oh wow, you look like the night!”

Blake was pleasantly surprised by their encouraging comment on his dark clothing.

Blake: “Thanks. You look like… a flower.”

Ashley brightened and beamed.

Ashley: “Hehehe, thank you!”

They clasped their hands together.

Blake: “Can we go home now?”

He asked Madelyn.

Madelyn: “Block-Shield is still up! I dunno how we're gonna do Juniper’s surprise party now!”

She sighed.

Blake: “...What?”

Blake frowned.

Nari approached them from the back gate.

Nari: “Come along, Madelyn, we can't keep Juniper waiting!”

She waved her over.

Blake: “YOU!”

He turned to her with a glare.

Blake: “Let us back into our home!”

He snapped at her, marching towards her.

Ashley: “Pretty pleeeeeease!”

They pleaded with Dewey cerulean eyes. Nari’s eyes widened as she scurried back behind the fence, closing the gate between them.

Nari: “NO! It's not yours!”

Blake: “It IS! It's been in our family long before you came along! Don't test me!”

He countered. Nari recoiled.

Andreas: “If this is also their home, you can't keep them block-shielded forever. It will backfire on you tenfold. You know what happens to Sortileges who cast spells to the detriment of others.”

He warned her. Ashley tilted their head with curiosity. What does he mean by that, they wondered.

Nari: “That's a risk I'm willing to take!”

She countered.

Madelyn: “Come on, Nari! It's Juniper’s birthday!”

She stomped her mushroom heels.

Nari: “Shhhhhhhhhh!”

She placed her finger to her lip to shush her. Juniper peered out from behind the tall oak tree.

Juniper: “Shh, it's a surprise!”

She pressed her finger to her lips, and they all turned to her. Juniper froze like a deer in headlights.

Juniper: “Oh no, I'm standing right behind you, aren't I?”

She cupped her cheeks.

Madelyn: “Nooo! It was supposed to be a surprise! Thanks a lot, Nari!

She pouted.

Juniper: “It was very surprising! Thanks a lot, Nari!”

She smiled dumbly.

Nari: “Yes, well, let’s head back home for the party then.”

She turned back towards the mansion.

Juniper: “But the party is already here!”

She beamed, spreading her arms out, gesturing to everyone and the woods surrounding them. Nari twisted her mouth.

Nari: “What?! You want to have your party HERE, with THEM?!”

She snapped and gestured to Ashley and Blake.

Juniper: “Yes! We’re all connected in nature! It’s perfect! Oh, and his boyfriend is invited, too!”

She beamed, pointing at Andreas. Andread froze, and Blake reddened.

Blake: “Oh, he's not–”

He stammered. Andreas awkwardly fiddled with his braid.

Madelyn: “Woo, forest party!”

She raised her hands above her head. Ashley beamed brightly.

Ashley: “Yay!”

Blake frowned, and Nari drew a long breath.

~

They all sat amongst the winding pine trees and lush greenery with a full view of Selene Valley below them. Juniper sat under the tree between them all, gently tapping on her bongo drums. Ashley sat beside her with Blake on the other side of them. Andreas sat by the creek, tracing his fingertips along the water. Nari sat on the other side of the creek flowing between her and everyone else as if it were a divider.

Ashley: “Wow, so that's Selene Valley, huh?”

They marvelled with awe at the view. The Sun beamed down on the tree-lined mountains, houses, and coastal line in the far distance. Blake gazed at the town below with curiosity. They had never seen a town this large before. Madelyn jumped down from the tree above them.

Madelyn: “Yep, it sure is!”

She remarked.

Madelyn: “Ta-Da!”

She spread her arms, presenting the flower decorations she had wielded, draping them from the surrounding trees.

Ashley: “Ooh, that's so cool!”

Juniper clapped her hands together.

Juniper: “So pretty!”

She beamed.

Ashley: “I'm glad you're here for the party, too, Blake.”

They smiled up at him.

Blake: “I'm not! I'm here to keep an eye on you!”

He declared. Ashley frowned.

Madelyn: “Don't worry, the Hamburgeress isn't here!”

She assured him with a laugh.

Blake: “I hate that woman.”

He groused.

Madelyn: “Me too!”

She laughed.

Ashley: “Why don’t you guys like Makayla? She seems nice!”

They knit their eyebrows. Madelyn parted her lips to make a farting sound.

Madelyn: “PFFT! No, she’s not! You’re literally under her spell! That’s not nice!”

She laughed bitterly.

Andreas: “People aren’t always what they seem.”

He chimed in. Blake glanced over at him and nodded.

Blake: “No, they’re not…”

His voice trailed off. Ashley gave Blake a look.

Ashley: “Why is that?”

They titled their head.

Madelyn: “Because they’re shaggy parasols!”

She pouted.

Blake: “...Umm, what is that?”

He gaped at her.

Juniper: “Oh, they’re mushrooms that look like they’re tasty, but if you eat them, you will get sick, so be careful!”

She explained with a smile.

Madelyn: “Yeah, like Makayla! It’s Sortilege slang for a person who is not what they seem!”

She added, waving her arms around.

Ashley: “Oh, I see…”

They stroked their chin, looking pensive, trying to take it all in. Is Makayla a shaggy parasol? They pondered.

Madelyn leaned into Ashley’s ear.

Madelyn: “Psst, Hey Ashley, can you bake a birthday cake for Juniper?”

She lightly nudged Ashley’s arm, presenting them with a bag full of ingredients. Ashley’s eyes widened.

Ashley: “Oh my stars! I’d be delighted to!”

They beamed, summoning their staff under the sunlight above them.

Nari: “What are you doing?!”

She hissed at Ashley. Ashley awkwardly shifted their eyes to Juniper.

Ashley: “It’s a surprise!”

They waved their hands around.

Nari: “I don’t like that answer.”

Blake stepped forward, grabbing Ashley’s staff out of their hands.

Blake: “No, Ashley!”

He said firmly.

Ashley: “Why not?”

They knit their eyebrows.

Blake: “Because it’s dangerous!”

He said firmly. Nari gave Blake a look.

Nari: “That’s right. You will burn down this forest!”

She nodded. Ashley tilted their head.

Ashley: “Huh? No, I won’t! How could baking a delicious cake be dangerous?!”

They knit their eyebrows.

Blake: “Because Majique is dangerous and I told you not to use it!”

He sighed. Ashley’s bottom lip trembled. Andreas turned to Blake and bowed his head, thinking of Craig.

Madelyn: “Dangerous? Come on! Go on, bake that cake, Ashley!”

She laughed and encouraged Ashley, placing her hand on their shoulder. Ashley smiled a bit.

Juniper: “Ooh, you’re baking a cake?”

She beamed. Ashley looked to Blake, who shook his head with a disapproving look.

Blake: “No.”

He replied flatly. Andreas looked at him and then turned to Ashley.

Andreas: “What do you want to do, Ashley?”

He asked them. Blake arched an eyebrow at him. Ashley shifted their eyes and ran their fingers through their hair.

Ashley: “...I wanna bake a Majique cake for Juniper.”

They pleaded beseechingly. Blake shook his head.

Andreas: “Then that is what you should do.”

He smiled a bit. Ashley’s eyebrows rose surprisingly. Blake and Nari both gaped at Andreas.

Nari: “WHAT?!”

She threw her arms up.

Blake: “...What?!”

He gaped at Andreas.

Andreas: “What?”

He turned to them both.

Nari: “You of all people should understand what!”

She countered.

Andreas: “I do understand.”

He said firmly.

Blake: “Do you? Ashley is my responsibility, so my say is final on this! Don’t encourage this! They don’t know what they’re doing!”

He countered. Ashley pursed their lips and grabbed their staff.

Suddenly, a warm beam of golden light surrounded them as Ashley waved their staff, combining the various ingredients together into a triple-layered cake with deep orange icing and edible Autumn leaves gathered around the base of the cake. They all paused to turn in their direction. Nari buried her head in her arms, shielding for cover as she felt the temperature heat up around them. Blake gaped at Ashley.

Ashley: “I KNOW what I’m doing, Blake! I know how to bake a cake!”

They pouted, tapping their staff on the ground.

Blake: “It’s not about the cake, Ash.”

He sighed and folded his arms across his chest. Andreas gave Blake a pensive look.

Ashley: “See, I didn’t burn down the forest! I told you, we don’t wield fire! Why don’t you come and have a slice with us?”

They assured Nari with a smile, cutting the cake into slices with rays of light from the sun above them.

Nari: “No thanks.”

Juniper felt the vibrations of the tension between them all under the soles of her feet.

Juniper: “Oh dear, everyone needs to chill out! Good thing I have the remedy for that!”

Juniper leaned over Ashley’s shoulder.

Juniper: “Psst, hey, Ashley, can you bake some special cookies, too?”

She lightly nudged Ashley’s arm, presenting them with a moss green silk pouch with green herbs inside it.

Ashley: “Ooh, special cookies?”

They chirped with excitement and curiosity.

Juniper: “That’s right!”

She nodded in confirmation.

Ashley: “What is this stuff?”

They sniffed the pungent herbal aromas and observed the glistening speckles of gold in the sun.

Juniper: “Oh, I got it from my friend, Brad!”

She smiled at Ashley. Blake and Ashley exchanged a look with each other.

Ashley: “Brad? The guy who went missing?”

They tilted their head.

Juniper: “...He went missing?”

She gaped at them.

Ashley: “Yeah, Makayla’s been looking for him for months…”

They sighed. Madelyn interjected with a laugh. Andreas drew a long breath.

Juniper: “Oh? Really? I saw him yesterday! It was his birthday!”

Ashley arched their eyebrow.

Ashley: “...The day of the solstice?”

They titled their head.

Juniper: “Yeah, he came into my work that morning and gave me special herbs he grew!”

She smiled. Ashley glanced down at the herbs with curiosity.

Blake: “You work?”

He asked dubiously.

Juniper: “Yep, I sure do! I work at a vegetable restaurant in a giant greenhouse!”

She declared.

Blake: “Riiiight.”

Ashley: “Well, let’s see what’s so special about these special cookies then!”

They exclaimed, waving their staff over the pouch of herbs and mixing the flour, eggs, and butter within a warm light, blending them all together.

Blake: “Ashley!”

He protested. Ashley baked the ingredients together, turning them into cookies.

Ashley: “Enjoy!”

They chirped, serving up the plate of cookies to them all.

Juniper: “Thanks, Ashley!”

She tickled their sides as she took a cookie and bit into it.

Ashley: “HehehehHAHAHAHAHEHEEHHEHEEH! You’re most welcome!”

They beamed and took a bite of their cookie.

Blake: “Wait, Ashley, you don't even know what that is!”

He held his hand up.

Ashley: “Yeah, I do, it's a special herb grown by Brad!”

They smiled.

Blake: “That raises more questions than answers! You don't know what it is or who he is, and you're eating it?!”

He groused.

Ashley: “Yes…”

They pouted and bowed their head, taking another bite. Madelyn took a bite from a cookie and frowned at Blake.

Madelyn: “Maybe you should have some! It will help mellow you out!”

She laughed, placing a cookie into his mouth.

Blake: “Don't do that!”

He groused, spitting it out.

Andreas: “Don't worry, Brad and his 'special herbs' are harmless. It just makes people sleepy and hungry.”

He assured Blake. Blake arched an eyebrow.

Blake: “Why would anyone want to be sleepy and hungry?!”

He asked.

Andreas: “Search me.”

He shrugged.

Ashley: “So, uh, how did you guys meet Juniper?”

They looked at Madelyn and Nari. Juniper smiled.

Madelyn: “We met in a forest!”

She beamed.

Ashley: “Ooh, sounds whimsical! Whimsi-cool!”

They chirped, feeling a warm light surround them as their minds and muscles relaxed.

Juniper: “It was! It was in this forest, actually! There was a party with lots of friendly faces, colours, and music!”

She explained and scrunched her toes against the tree roots.

Juniper: “It was in THAT direction!”

She turned around, pointing in the direction of the edge of the mountains. Ashley’s eyes widened, impressed that she could recall those details.

Madelyn: “I got lost in the woods, looking for frogs!”

She laughed.

Ashley: “Oh, why were you looking for frogs?”

They titled their head.

Juniper: “You weren't looking for frogs, Madelyn, you were lost, looking for yourself!”

She smiled at her, placing her hand on her shoulder. Madelyn shifted with an awkward laugh.

Madelyn: “Haha, but then I found you!”

Ashley hyperfocused on them closely, noticing shifts in their demeanours.

It then dawned on Ashley that Nari hadn't replied, and they turned in her direction.

Ashley: “What about you, Nari? How did you guys meet?”

They smiled.

Nari: “We met in the year 1875, on a giant purple toadstool.”

She deadpanned. Ashley's eyes widened.

Ashley: “Wow! Really?!”

They smiled.

Nari: “...Are you really that gullible?”

She laughed.

Nari: “Why do you care anyway? Trying to gain our trust to manipulate us later?”

She asked. Ashley's head spun with confusion.

Ashley: “No… I just want to be friends…”

They sighed.

Blake: “You were right the first time, Ashley really is that gullible, so they're incapable of manipulation.”

He replied. Ashley bowed their head in hurt. Nari paused and pondered.

Nari: “Perhaps you're right. You two are gullible.”

She stroked her chin. Blake twisted his mouth.

Blake: “What?! I’m not fucking gullible!”

He huffed. Nari laughed.

Ashley: “Serves you right, Blake…”

They pouted under their breath. Andreas overheard Ashley, giving them a sympathetic look.

Nari: “Speaking of gullible, I block-shielded your stupid boyfriend from finding us here.”

She said to Andreas.

Andreas: “Oh? Thanks.”

He nodded.

Nari: “You're glad?”

She arched an eyebrow at him.

Andreas: “...I need space from Craig right now, so you did me a favor.”

He frowned.

Nari: “I'd say you need eternity away from him.”

She furrowed her eyebrows.

Blake: “She's right.”

He added. Andreas sighed and glanced down at his reflection on the water's surface.

Andreas looked up at Nari.

Andreas: “Well, it looks like I owe you another favor now.”

He held his hand away from the sun, summoning his staff from the creek water.

Andreas: “Name it. You get two now.”

He said to her. Nari smiled with delight. Ashley looked at Andreas, noting how suddenly he shifted the topic away from Craig.

Nari: “Two fortunes, huh? Go on then.”

She gestured to Andreas. Andreas nodded and shuffled his tarot cards. The Queen of Swords and the Moon jumped out of the deck, and he glanced down at the water's surface, where he viewed a vague reflection of a vision about Nari and those cards.

Andreas: “...Now it makes sense.”

His voice trailed off at what he saw.

Nari: “What?! What did you see?!”

She queried, shifting her eyes. Andreas drew a long breath.

Andreas: “Those who fight monsters should see to it that in the process they do not become the monsters they fight.”

He warned her. Nari frowned.

Nari: “Really? That's it? Can't you tell me something, like if I will meet a beautiful girl to tickle or something?”

She groused.

Andreas: “My Majique isn’t strong enough for that… but I know that isn't what you really want to know…”

He turned to her, boring his gaze on her.

Andreas: “You don't want to know what I just told you, but… You need to know it. The universe is pushing you to face and heal the past wounds that cast a shadow over you. Those shadows are obscuring your view of the light.”

He stated. Nari’s shoulders tensed up as she went turgid as if she knew what he meant.

Ashley: “Who hurt you?!”

They knit their eyebrows at her. Nari turned to Ashley.

Nari: “It was one of YOU!”

Her voice rose with anguish as she bore her cold gaze onto Ashley and Blake. Ashley knit their eyebrows, and they sank into themself. Blake quirked an eyebrow at her.

Ashley: “...What did Blake and I do?”

They knit their eyebrows.

Nari: “Not YOU two! The so-called light-bearer!”

She snapped. Blake froze.

Ashley: “Light-bearer?”

Nari swung her gaze to Ashley, looking pensive.

Nari: “You remind me of them, actually…”

She narrowed her gaze on them.

Ashley: “Me?”

They stammered, placing their hand on their chest.

Nari: “A seemingly beautiful androgynous being powered our homes with their light and warmth…

She began.

Nari: “Until they burnt it all to the ground!”

She trembled, narrowing her gaze on Ashley. Ashley swallowed hard.

Ashley: “Burn? But, we can’t cast fire!”

They gasped. Nari held up her hand and interjected.

Nari: “Yes, you do! I know what I saw that night!”

She snapped and turned to Blake.

Nari: “And it seems I am not the only one who knows this… your brother warns you of Sole-Wielding for a reason, and you should listen to him.”

She bore her gaze on Blake. Blake drew a breath and bowed his head.

Blake: “...I’m sorry, Ashley… she’s right.”

He said in a shade above a whisper. Ashley froze.

Ashley: “W-what?!”

Can we cast fire? Could a Sole-Wielder be evil? They pondered.

Blake: “Sole-Wielding is a curse! Hell, if it wasn’t for your Sole-Wielding, we wouldn’t be in this mess with her right now, and we would be in our house right now!”

He threw his arms up in frustration. Ashley’s heart sank.

Ashley: “B-But Blake, we ARE Sole-Wielders! This is who we are, and we’re not evil!”

They cried.

Blake: “We’re not in Sunshire anymore! We’re not Sole-Wielders anymore!”

He countered, slamming his fist down. Ashley’s bottom lip trembled.

Ashley: “This is who I am, Blake! I’m not hiding who I am!”

They cried, placing their hand on their chest and storming off into the woods.

Blake: “Ashley! Get back here!”

He snapped and went to march after them when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Andreas.

Andreas: “Let them go. They need space.”

He said gently but firmly.

Blake: “What?! I can’t just let Ashley wander off in the woods alone! Are you crazy?!”

He countered.

Madelyn: “No, but you are! You treat them like a child!”

She folded her arms across her chest.

Madelyn: “You guys are making mountains out of mole hills over some cake and lights!”

She shook her head at Blake and Nari.

Madelyn: “I’m sorry a Sole-Wielder hurt you, Nari! But, Ashley and Blake aren’t the ones who hurt you! Makayla is a Vernal-Wielder like me, and she… hurt… me. I don’t hate other Vernal-Wielders, and you don’t hate me just because I’m a Vernal as she is! That’s just ONE rotten shaggy parasol of the bunch! Doesn’t mean the whole bunch is bad, too!”

She spread her arms out to Nari. Nari paused and sighed. Juniper nodded.

Juniper: “Anyone can become a Dark Sortilege, even a Harvestial-Wielder like me…”

Her voice trailed off as she looked pensively into the woods. Nari and Madelyn both looked at her.

Blake: “Dark Sortilege?”

~

Ashley wandered through the quiet forest, huddling into themself.

Ashley: “...Huh, that’s strange.”

They looked around, noting how quiet it was. The flowing creek and the animals fell silent, and not a sound quaked around them, until, suddenly, there was a rustle in the bushes behind them.

Ashley: “W-Whos there?”

They froze and stammered. A tall and slender figure in a crimson hood emerged from the great oak tree behind them. Ashley’s heart hammered in their chest as they watched the woman unveil her crimson hood, her long, flowing crimson hair swaying in the breeze.

Ashley: “OH, Juniper! You scared me, hahaha!”

They placed their hand on their chest and chuckled nervously. She bore her icy cold gaze on Ashley with her sharp eyes, and then a wry smirk spread across her cherry red lips.

Woman: “What are you doing out here all alone, sweetheart?”

She cooed with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. Ashley sighed and bowed their head.

Ashley: “Blake and Nari won’t let me use my Sole-Wielding!”

They cried. Her jaw hung open.

Woman: “...You’re a Sole-Wielder?!”

Her eyes widened. Ashley tilted their head.

Ashley: “Uhh, yeah? You already knew that with your feet, remember?”

They chuckled.

Woman: “Oh… yes, of course I did.”

She smiled at Ashley.

Woman: “What was your name again? You know how forgetful I am with my teeny tiny brain!”

She laughed and waved her hand. Ashley arched an eyebrow at her with an awkward laugh. It must be Brad’s “special herbs,” they pondered.

Ashley: "Ashley!"

They smiled up at her.

Woman: “Come celebrate my birthday with me, sweet Ashley…”

She cooed at Ashley, taking their hand with a smile. Ashley’s eyes widened.

Ashley: “Okay!”

They smiled and nodded.