Mine Imagination: Flight of the Hummingbirds

  By: T. M. Ashley

  Flower 15: Wine and Resolve

  The message in the sky was clear to all the Sisters of Olympus, and the roar of Suzuko was felt and grasped by the bodoluu. The war in the city ceased as both parties understood the commands of their leaders. They immediately formed up and began to search the city. Queen Zeus appeared in the city perched on Chief Suzuko’s shoulder, creating a symbol of their union. The bodoluu and Sisters of Olympus acknowledged their monarchs, and a rallying cry echoed through the city.

  Everyone in the city was privy to Zeus’s message and the outcry of support and Mine couldn’t help but laugh as his party moved through the forest that bordered the moat.

  “They figured it out already, dear.” Mine said.

  “What do you mean?” Kyan asked as he leapt from one tree branch to another with Molly clinging to his head with her eyes tightly shut. “What did they figure out?”

  “When the alarm went off and announced the arrival of a man. Your mother must have assumed it was you,” Doro said riding her broom, weaving in and out of trees. “She wouldn’t have anticipated three other men appearing at the same time.”

  “Meaning my presence was masked by her guilt,” Mine said, “Hiding your existence made your mother paranoid and dismissed the idea that I could be here. Everything falls into place as it should, dear.”

  “The prophecy is about you?” Gilda asked as everything started to make sense. She used her fog to fly through the forest and to keep Ryder on his feet.

  He tripped constantly and lagged behind everyone as they made their way through the forest. He was out of breath but grateful for Gilda’s aid.

  Trey rode on Ruby’s back and laughed at Ryder’s struggle, “You okay there dude? You look a little shot.”

  “I’m fine kid,” Ryder managed, “Your just talking cause you got a ride.”

  “Nah, I’d still out pace you any day of the week,” Trey said.

  When they stepped through the trees they all stopped and stared out at the the calm glistening waters that sparkled under the moons gaze.

  “How are we supposed to get across?” Ryder asked as the forest behind them was suddenly filled with the sounds of trees breaking, the grunts and growls of the bodoluu and the war cries of the Sisters of Olympus. A dust cloud was kicked up behind them and Ryder started to scream. “I don’t wanna die.”

  “We know,” everyone except for Molly and Ruby said in unison.

  "They keep doubting me and chasing after something beyond their grasp," Mine shook his head and started to laugh. "Haven't they grasped the essence of who and what I am? The masterpiece of presence. The king of chaos. The provocateur of fate. The instigator of fires. I am the Nowhere-Man, Mine Heart."

  He snapped his fingers, and everyone else vanished from the shore. Tossing Nectar in the air, as it descended, it transformed into Mae. Catching the cleaver sword handle, Mine executed a clean horizontal swing. An emerald blade surged forward, expanding as it moved through the forest, cleanly cutting down the trees in front of him.

  The dust cloud was blown back by the sheer force of Mine's swing, and the emerald blade fizzled out before reaching the army. Those closest were forced to defend against the aftershock of the flying blade. The Sisters of Olympus and the Bodoluu outnumbered Mine a thousand to one, but none of them dared to move or encroach upon the man wearing the midnight blue suit wielding the giant emerald-encrusted cleaver.

  From behind the army, a shadow rushed toward Mine as Suzuko and Zeus appeared behind their united front. The two monarchs looked down at the man on the shore and immediately understood that he was probably the most dangerous entity either of them had ever encountered.

  When a turquoise fog settled around Mine he raised his eyebrow, “I thought I sent you two ahead.”

  “You did,” Kyan said as he kicked his kanabo up onto his shoulder. “However, we got somethings to settle.”

  “We?” Mine asked.

  “Yeah, Zeus owes us an apology,” Gilda hissed as she twirled her dagger masterfully between her fingers.

  “I came to make sure no one interferes,” Doro said as she hovered overhead on her broom.

  Mine smiled and said, “Well then, maybe there’s no need to lift a finger.”

  Zeus pointed at Mine and a beam of concentrated light burst from the tip of her finger and pierced his chest. Or so she thought. Gilda’s turquoise fog dispersed the light and protected him from her mothers attack.

  “Gilda and Doro” Zeus said simply, “Are you choosing this man over your sister hood?”

  “I was charged with Gilda’s protection and I’m only here to clear her way,” Doro said as she made a beeline for Suzuko.

  “So mote it be,” Gilda growled.

  “Tsk, foolish girl,” Zeus quipped before she launched another assault this time aiming for Kyan. “Your brother will be the first I smite.”

  “He’s your son and I won’t let you hurt him,” Gilda shouted as she rushed toward her mother and used her powers to help her brother avoid her attacks.

  “Aw…” Kyan said, appearing beside his sister and rubbing her head roughly before he used his kanabo to deflect his mothers attack. “You’re such a great big sister.”

  Gilda moved Kyan out of the way of a stray attack with her fog and growled, “Don’t get mushy on me.”

  “My bad sis,” Kyan laughed as he pulled her out of the way of Zeus’s continuous attack.

  She snatched away from her brother and said, “Let’s finish this.”

  Gilda skillfully used her fog to conceal their movements as they danced between their mother's flurry of bolts. The Sisters of Olympus and the bodoluu were forced to retreat and seek shelter. Amidst the chaotic Titan family feud, Zeus became increasingly frustrated.

  As the Titan family engaged in their internal struggles, they remained oblivious to Doro's heroic stand against the monstrous Chief Suzuko. She skillfully forced him to stumble backward, targeting his eyes. In a desperate move, Suzuko managed to grasp her arm, initiating a rapid crystallization process. To prevent the spread, Doro made a swift decision, cutting off her own arm. Rolling across the ground, she slowed her momentum with a flip and the forceful impact of her broomstick. Upon coming to a stop, she examined the crystal stump that remained, took a deep breath, and exhaled emerald smoke.

  “Never anticipated calling her for something like this,” Doro said, her eyes turned pitch black and her body became rigid. The smoke exploded from her mouth and created an emerald mushroom cloud. A cackle that rivaled the crackle of Zeus’s bolts echoed throughout the city. The silhouette of a woman riding a broom with a pointed hat appeared in the emerald gloom.

  “My pretty Dorothy Zo,” a scratchy voice echoed, “To summon me you must be in a pickle as green as my skin.”

  The smoke poured into Doro's mouth, and she gulped. Adorned in a black crystal pointed hat with a wide brim and a matching black crystal cape, her cloak wrapped around her waist, and her crystal broom flew to her hand. Chief Suzuko beat his chest and roared at his new green-skinned opponent. Doro gracefully jumped onto her broom, maneuvering around the massive beast. While surfing on her broom, she performed an intricate dance, seemingly vanishing and then delivering thirteen blows that repeated thirteen times, shattering the behemoth's armor. Returning to her broom, she completed another dance and placed her palm on Chief Suzuko's chest. An enormous explosion occurred, blasting Chief Suzuko into the air. Doro agilely jumped back on her broom, chasing the falling behemoth, unleashing a barrage of attacks that caused blood to erupt from his mouth. He flew off the edge of the mountain, his cry turning into an echo. Doro dismounted her broom, landing on her feet. Her skin started to return to normal, and her black armaments faded. She fell to her knees, holding her head. Glancing over her shoulder, she sighed with relief. Completely drained of energy, she fainted where she knelt.

  Zeus, growing increasingly frustrated, found herself unable to strike down either of her children. As her bolts failed to hit their mark, she descended to the ground. Gilda's fog rushed beneath her cloak, and Kyan, in his spider monkey form, perched on her shoulder. Flipping off and returning to his hominid form, Kyan smiled at his mother.

  "Hey, ma," Kyan waved at Zeus with a blissful smile. "Getting tired?"

  Zeus moved so fast that Kyan couldn't evade her attack. She placed her palm on his chest and tapped her fingers, causing the buildings behind Kyan to crack and crumble from Zeus's formidable power. Kyan, looking down at her hand, made eye contact with her just as she smiled. The resulting shock wave caused blood to spring from Kyan’s mouth, his eyes turning white as he was sent flying through the city, crashing through several buildings that collapsed beneath him.

  "Ky—" Gilda started, producing her fog, but a white-hot crackle filled the air and crept up her arm. Zeus had grabbed her shoulder and unleashed fifty-five volts of electricity. Gilda howled in pain and collapsed to the ground in a smoking pile.

  Royal had recovered from Zeus’s shock and was helped to his feet by Tor. He made it to the scene just in time to intercede. When Zeus completed the same dance that Doro used on Suzuko and touched Kyan, he had Tor shatter and transform into a breastplate to absorb the initial shock. When Zeus grabbed Gilda, he used the remaining bits of Tor to line the inside of her cloak, dampening and spreading the shock. Zeus looked to the heavens, and two clouds formed over Kyan and Gilda. She raised her hand, and the clouds crackled with lightning. She was ready to bring her hand down and strike them with the full brunt of her power.

  “No more!” Royal roared. “Enough! You’ve proved your point!”

  Zeus tilted her head surprised to see Royal partially recovered despite his singed clothes. She took a deep breath and directed her attack at Royal instead. The sound of crystals clashing filled the city as Zeus' attack struck true and created a cloud of debris from the strike. As it cleared crystal hominid golems surrounded him and protected him.

  Zeus’s eyes lowered and she watched Royal emerge, “I don’t want to fight you.”

  “Ha, you’ve built an army to face me,” Zeus spat, “As if you could match me.”

  “I’ve recovered my family treasure,” Royal said, he extended his arm and Poinsettia materialized in his hand, “I have access to my full capabilities. I can resurrect your fallen army with crystal golems.”

  “They were weak,” Zeus quipped, “Your power isn’t necessary.”

  “But I’ve lent it to you several times,” Royal noted, “In the garden, on the battlefield…” he grit his teeth and growled, “In your royal chambers.”

  Zeus's face became flushed at his comment, and her aura exploded. She vanished from where she was standing and reappeared in front of Royal. She blasted the golems that tried to intercede, sending them flying in every direction. She palmed his face and slammed him to the ground. Zeus's irises flashed like lightning bolts as she looked down on him. Their eyes met, and tears started to well up in hers.

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  “Why’d you expose yourself?” She managed to ask through quivering lips. “You were my greatest secret.”

  “I just wanted to serve you,” Royal said as tears spilled from his eyes as well. “My power, my person, my being is for Zeus. To serv-“

  Zeus looked away and unleashed her power through her hand, causing Royal's body to spasm and then become still. She let go, wiped her tears, and stood back up, surveying the devastation around her. The sky still crackled as her clouds danced with her white lightning.

  SNAP!

  ***

  A huge shadow appeared over Zeus, forcing her to use her power to dash out of the way of Chief Suzuko's falling body. It crashed into the ground, leaving a hole in the shape of his body. Zeus huffed and brushed off her clothes as she looked around.

  “I didn’t you to move, dear,” a voice echoed.

  Zeus whipped around, searching for the source of the voice. “You're still here?”

  “Of course,” Mine said, sitting on his shadow throne on the other side of the hole Chief Suzuko’s body made. He brushed himself off and smiled at Zeus. “Hello, dear.”

  Zeus grimaced and asked, “Where’d you come from?”

  “El Dorado,” Mine said simply, “I was there for far too long.”

  The only reason Zeus listened to Mine was the fact that he continued to exude the same force that stifled her before. She couldn’t help but feel unease in his presence. She recovered moments later and didn’t waste her breath. She just directed her attack at him. The white lighting struck Mine square in his chest and his body began to spasm as the voltage moved through him. Zeus clenched her jaw, despite her irrefutable strike the man’s aura didn’t waver and in fact seemed to bloom. She tripled the output of her attack and Mine’s body burst into flames. As she continued her onslaught he managed to raise his hand. His snap was muffled by the crackling lightning and while his doll received the full force of Zeus’s attack he reappeared behind her.

  He cleared his throat, “Excuse me dear, if you’re done with me over there let’s have a conversation over here…” he adjusted the cuffs on his midnight blue suit and sat down. His shadow transformed into a throne again and he crossed his leg. “I just got this suit, so please.”

  Zeus whipped around at the sound of Mine’s cool voice and was startled by his presence, “How?”

  “Sway provides incredible abilities. Your lightning for instance, the Bodoluu’s crystallizing touch, my ability to be anywhere I choose. It’s amazing how it manifests in those who are blessed enough to have access to their sway, dear.”

  Zeus’s lip quivered, she wanted to attack but Mine’s demeanor and demonstration of power informed her that it was unwise. Instead she took a deep breath, “Sway is truly wasted on men. Their inability to harness what they possess infuriates me.”

  “I’ve clearly mastered some aspect of myself, dear.”

  “A rarity,” Zeus snapped.

  Mine cocked his eyebrow, “You really aren’t a fan of men are you?”

  “Fan? I detest men and all they represent,” Zeus said.

  “I met a woman like that once,” Mine said, “but then she fell in love with me.”

  Zeus scoffed, “She must’ve been desperate.”

  Mine failed to hide his amusement, “Ha, I’m better looking than Royal.”

  “Especially after I maimed him,” Zeus noted.

  Mine smiled, “You do have a sense of humor.”

  ”It’s reserved for the darkest jokes.” Zeus looked down at Mine and asked, “Why are you here?”

  “Honestly, I was simply passing through, dear. I made a promise and fulfilled it. Now, I’m on my way home.”

  Zeus scoffed, “What promise did you fulfill?”

  Mine shrugged, “Prophecy apparently, dear.”

  Zeus looked around and couldn’t protest Mine’s statement. “It would seem so…” she paused for a moment and looked into the distance before she said, “Why is it that I can have a cordial conversation with you?”

  “Perhaps it’s the fact that I’m just an old man, and you’re trying to figure out what my presence really means to you. Or you're stalling while you charge some kind of maser cannon to blast through me. I’ve got no idea why you’ve chosen to entertain me. To be honest, I was tired of exercising. I’m glad to have a conversation, though. I can tell you’re far from spent, but it’s nice to converse with someone with a sway as deep as yours, dear.”

  Zeus was intrigued by Mine and willfully entertained him, especially since the area was vacant of potential witnesses to their conversation. She unleashed the charged attack she had been brewing into the sky, parting the clouds and revealing the full moon, with dawn peeking over the eastern horizon. She summoned her throne made of lightning and asked, “Who are you?”

  “I fear my name doesn’t bode well so I’d rather not share it at the moment. You may call me Mr. Nowhere for now, dear.”

  Zeus chuckled at his comment and nodded her head, “That’s fine. You know, I’ve worked tirelessly to prevent your arrival.”

  “I believe you,” Mine said, “However, when you fight against a prophecy it tends to unfold as if assisted and willed into reality.”

  “Is that what happened?”

  “It would seem so dear,” Mine said, “I just want you to know that what follows really has nothing to do with me.”

  Zeus nodded, “The Titan family was tasked with the guardianship of Thessaldonia. In the last two centuries my family has united the planet, thwarted the Galva incursion, overcame two plagues, and averted a cosmic disaster.”

  Mine took a deep breath, “I believe you and as I’ve stated what brought me here was a promise. I had no desire to fulfill prophecy or put anyone in jeopardy.”

  “You seem well versed in the mythology of Thessaldona’s prophecy. You would think it would make you want to stay away,” Zeus said with the threat of a smile.

  “I didn’t find out about it until I got here,” Mine said in his defense, “I was on my way home. I really ended up here by Flow’s design.”

  “There’ no place like home,” Zeus said with a sigh looking up at the brightening sky.

  “Here’s to home,” Mine raised a glass and Zeus looked down at the one that appeared in her hand. “Cheers dear.”

  Zeus raised her glass and took a whiff. Her eyes shot up to meet Mine’s, “Is this Afterberry Wine?”

  “You’ve got an excellent nose, dear,” Mine said as she swished his glass and took a sip. His cheeks puckered and he refrained from spitting. “So, tell me more about your hate for men. When did it begin?”

  “Mmm mmm…” Zeus took a big gulp of her wine and wagged her finger, “We aren’t doing this. How about you give me a reason not to kill you instead?”

  “Come now,” Mine smiled, “You’re far too invested in this conversation at this point dear.”

  Zeus’s cheeks reddened as she took another sip and started to laugh. When she snorted she clapped her hand over her mouth wide eyed. “You didn’t hear that,” she started to laugh and did it again. “Oh my Flow! What have you done to me?“

  “Just shared a bottle from my private collection, I got it from my reaper. She’s quite the fan.”

  “‘Tis be a good vintage right?” Gunther asked.

  Zeus looked down and was surprised to find the purplish-blue plush beaver sitting in her lap with a glass of his own. He raised his and she tapped it with hers. “You are adorable.”

  “It’s a boy,” Mine pointed out. “Careful she doesn’t send you to the quarry Gunther, dear.”

  Zeus rolled her eyes at him and sighed, “Not every boy incurs my wrath.”

  “Then why hide your son and treat the men who come to your planet like criminals?”

  “Because those who came from the stars all came for a reason. I will never allow another man to tarnish the women of Thessaldonia,” Zeus clapped back before finishing her glass, it immediately refilled. “Kyan needed to be hidden.”

  “What if you were making assumptions and imprisoned or executed innocent men?”

  Zeus scoffed, “I’ve seen enough to know what comes across the minds of men. They paint flowers and tell tales of grandeur only to leave a woman’s belly swollen, her innocence shattered and wanting what she thinks is love.”

  “What she thinks is love, dear?”

  Zeus continued to drink as she spoke, “You know… men… they create abstract masterpieces and call it love. They make these…” she waved her hand in the air and continued, “False promises, tell you they want to show you the universe. They make us believe in these grand adventures and epic episodes of leisure living…” she spit and her face turned redder revealing the freckles that decorated her face… “They’re all liars!”

  Mine licked his lips and continued to swirl his drink but hadn’t raised it since their initial toast. He sighed, “What about your son?”

  “My son will not be one of those men,” Zeus snapped, “His needs will be kept by those I appoint. When the time is right a child will be born of his seed and he will care for what’s his.

  “It sounds like you know from personal experience,” Mine said, he looked narrowed his eyes and asked, “Did someone not take responsibility for what they left behind?”

  “Mmmm,” Zeus held up a finger as she took a long drink and finished her second glass. It refilled again but not completely as it had previously.

  “The man who lied to you and hurt you isn’t a representative of all of men, dear.”

  Zeus looked at Mine angrily and growled, “All of you are the same.”

  “Do you honestly believe that?”

  “Of course,” Zeus said. She turned away from Mine and continued to drink.

  “What about Royal? He was the only man other than your son I met with his mind intact. What was different about him that made you not follow through?”

  “He was a gift,” Zeus said, “His home was ransacked and he was offered as a gift to my father. When he passed away I was entrusted with his safety.”

  Mine tilted his head and raised his eyebrow questioningly, “Right. The bit about him being your secret was part of that I’m assuming?”

  Zeus whipped to Mine clearly flustered, “What are you implying?”

  “That you fell in love with someone you were charged with protecting. Royal may have been a gift to your father but he became more.”

  Zeus’s nostrils flared, “Why do you care?”

  “I don’t,” Mine said immediately, “Just an observation dear. You don’t hate men, you hate the man who hurt you. Maybe it started off that way, you hating men and wanting to punish them for what he did. Your Sisters of Olympus bought into the rhetoric you were spewing and became a man hating army. You, as their leader, could carry no favor for men so you hid the men you loved.

  “Shut Up!” Zeus roared and unleashed a torrent of lightning in Mine’s direction. She gasped when she realized she attacked him again. Her hand flew to her mouth and she muttered, “I’m sorry.”

  “You're not, but that’s okay,” Mine said standing beside his throne while the doll that sat on his seat still smoldered from Zeus’s strike. “As I was saying…”

  “Your right,” Zeus cried out, the alcohol spurred her emotions to the forefront, “I hate the man who impregnated me and left me…” she wept, “He promised to love me. To care for and raise our children as a unit, but he left me. He called off our wedding and denied the children he left me with. He lied to me. He used me. He took my virtue. He took my innocence from me. Things I can never reclaim. For that all men deserve to pay. No other man will leave the women of this planet to suffer alone, to wish and wait for a dream to become a nightmare. I refuse!”

  “What if you’ve taken men away from families they intended on returning to?”

  “What?” Zeus asked sniffling. She picked Gunther up and began to dab her face with his soft fur.

  Gunther’s eyes widened, “Never thought I’d be used to swab a face.”

  “I’m sorry,” Zeus said, wiping Gunther’s back, “I really didn’t mean to do that to you.”

  “‘Tis be fine yer majesty,” he said as he hopped off her lap and walked over to Mine with crossed eyes, his tongue sticking out and twirling his paw in circles around his ear.

  Mine shook his head and looked at Zeus, “Are you going to answer my question dear?”

  “No,” Zeus quipped and closed her eyes, she pursed her lips and asked, “Why are you still here?”

  “Waiting for my ride, dear.”

  “My head is starting to hurt and I don’t know if I want to entertain you for hours on end,” Zeus said as she pinched the bridge of her nose and waved him off, “You should leave now.”

  Mine raised his eyebrow, “Is Zeus letting a man leave with his head on his shoulders?”

  Zeus cut her eye at Mine and clenched her jaw, “Don’t tempt me old man.”

  Mine started to laugh, he raised his hands and stood up. He dropped his glass and Gunther dove beneath it to consume the contents. Mine brushed off his clothes and stepped in front of his throne which melted into his shadow. He scooped Gunther up and asked, “Can you check on the children and Mr. Gear dear.”

  Gunther hiccuped and stumbled, “Sure thing Cap’n.” He saluted and disappeared behind his leg.

  Mine took a deep breath and straightened out his coat. He walked over to Zeus on her throne and said, “You are truly a magnificent being. Your power. Your desire to stay true to who you used to be is applauable. However, dear it is crucial that you be who you are, not wear the mask that everyone expects you to.”

  Zeus looked up at Mine with wonder that replaced her unease. She threw her arms around his neck and embraced him, her physical strength proved to be just as mighty as her sway. He tapped on her arm and she freed him. Anella and Drizstasia couldn’t believe the conversation they had been privy to and remained silent not wanting to incur Zeus’s wrath.

  “I’m sorry…” she said with a smile looking down, “Thank you.”

  “For what dear?”

  “For the time and effort you put into having this conversation with me.”

  “No worries dear,” Mine said as she slumped back into her throne. He smiled at her and said, “Before I go…” he twisted his wrist and a cloak fell over her. It was a tattered and worn Sisters of Olympus cloak. “This belonged to the woman I love. I returned the last one she created to her grave. I intended to leave with the original but this is a true return home I guess. I hope her essence lingers and she guides you in the best of ways.”

  Zeus’s eyes welled up with tears as she embraced the cloak. She started to weep as Mine walked away. When he passed Royal, she noticed that his face was healed, and his burns were reduced to minor blemishes on his skin. She stood up and slowly made her way over to him, with hot tears stinging her cheeks.

  She looked up in time to see Mine vanish with a snap of his fingers.