My Sudden Monster Convergence

“There’s something you need to see, then there’s something only you can do.” Grandpa said before leading me to the left of where we entered this area of the forest. 

But instead of getting darker or eerier, this section was growing brighter and there were a few miniature huts that either hung on thick vines or were nestled between branches. Many of the huts had moss roofing with odd arching flowers that had orbs of some honey or nectar hanging off the bulb, some had the random metal reinforced doors or corners. Here and there were swinging benches made of pencils, needles for walking sticks and electrical wiring looped around wooden ice cream sticks into a fence. The huts looked like the bark of the trees grew into the circular huts, though many were still braced with vines, loops of metal or thick stick like pillars. Curtains and canopies were made of cloth, leaves or what looked like ketchup packets. Some outdoor tables looked to be made from large container lids with pen caps as legs. I even saw a few dvd and clipboards covered in posters, restaurant ads and several notes that read something about roles available to play.

Many of the fairies, pixies, petal people, moles and monkey headed vines were all just living here. Many of the flying sprites zoomed around like a hive of both lazy and angry bees, some chasing each other and others floating around tooting whistles and flutes. There was even a few near what looked like a garden of flowers growing up between a tree’s branches. But some of the flowers had petals that folded up and popped off which a nearby pixie picked up and sewed some oval beads into it and a fairy put it on afterwards. It was a pink dress! In another area there were several fairies in what looked like leaf armor while some pixies made weird faces at them. I also saw vines growing between huts or platforms, growing, twist and stretching into what looked like bridge made of spirals and cursive like lines. That’s when I noticed the monkey headed vines seemed to be the ones doing this as each time a bridge was formed they were bobbing their heads side to side.

 Walking deeper in I even spotted a modern house, square shape, glass windows and white walls. Even the pixies living there were dressed like they came from the fifties, though all of them were wearing dresses. One wore a business coat as a top for some reason. 

I wonder what a modern sprite town might look like. I bet They could probably even have a whole city in the space of a single house! Though would having a fully furnished house with plumbing and wiring that small cost more?

“Heh.” Grandpa chuckled as I was staring at the different houses. “You've always loved tiny buildings.” He smiled at me though I couldn’t help but notice the pixies and fairies riding on top of his head. He just gave a cocky smirk as he looked above my head. “I think I might have something you’ll want to see later.” With that he moved on, leaving me to look up.

There floating in the air was a light blue orb with a silhouette of a fairy with a strangely familiar and thick tail. The fairy in question looked down at me then shifted their hips, waving the tail and their rear at me. The fairy then strutted off like they were walking on air, putting extra effort to sway their hips as far as they could.

“UH-UH.” I was so mortified that my mouth was left hanging open.  Slowly looking down, I followed Grandpa, trying my hardest not to sway anything but I could still feel my tail swinging with each step.

It wasn’t long until the lush forest began to change. Green leaves, traded for dark yellow ones. Full untapped trunks now had cracks, some were black and some were pure white. The grass below our feet began to crunch and snap like crackers. The soft but dense soil was now sandy and colored a ghastly gray. The canopy of leaves above us was now full of huge gaping holes as if something took a bite of it and it only grew thinner and thinner the farther we went.

We kept going and Grandpa didn’t say anything. No explanations or warnings, he just continued with a face so stern I thought he was made of stone. Gone was the smile and replaced with the familiar strong and proud back. A man’s posture and yet, he looked a thousand miles away. Just a dot on the landscape of ashen trees. 

It wasn't until we stopped in front of a few bright pink trees did he say something. “What do you think happened here?” He asked as he pointed at the surrounding burnt trees.

“Magical fire?” I asked, not sure if it was asking about the cause or the reasoning behind it.

He shook his head. “No.” He sighed. “Someone used magic here, yes, but it wasn't used properly. Tell me, what powers magic?” He asked.

“Mana does, right? Is there something else besides mana?” I returned his question with my own.

“Aether. It's the leftover from magic and sometimes the exhaust from powerful focused magic.” He knelt over and grabbed some of the ashy dirt. “Magic was used here. The caster let a spell loose, one that was meant to rage like a monsoon.” He looked at the dirt in his hand with a deep frown. 

“They didn't intend for the spell to be long, they wanted power. But this area was filled with such an abundance of mana that ended up feeding that spell. Any aether it spit out was just sucked right back in. What the spell was doesn't matter, it’s the thought that went into it that matters.” He opened his hand. Letting the dirt fall and the wind to scatter it around us. “If we’re not careful magic can and will gain a life of its own. Always consider what you use your magic for.” 

He walked up to me and grabbed a rock, it was the first one he shaped in front of me. He walked over to a nearby tree, dug a hole with his hands and placed that rock in the hole. Then he buried it and patted the ground with his hands until the soil was packed and firm. The moment he stood up, I could sorta feel something fuzz in the air but I couldn’t tell what the feeling was.

“These stones we shaped together. They feed off aether, almost like a filter, leaving neutral mana. It’s like a magical mulch for plants.” He turned to look at me, his eyes studying me, looking at me for a few long seconds. “Can you help me with this magic?” He pointed at the rocks I was still carrying.

I nodded. “Yeah. Of course I can. Let’s find the best places.” I gave him a serious look, ready to help and ultimately be here with him.

He chuckled and gave a wide smile. And my chest felt warmer.

We spent the next hour or so finding the best locations to plant these filter rocks. mostly near trees that were still holding on. These trees were thicker around the trunk and still had leaves growing in patches almost like they were balding. The only place that wasn’t a plant that got a rock was a large outcropping of larger rocks you’d find near a mini waterfall or stream. Even the stones in the dirt here were smoother than the rest.

“Those claws are super useful.” Grandpa said as we dug holes. The claws in question were easily slicing and splitting the harder soil and rock under the ash. It was like using a straw to poke holes in really wet mud and having scales made the grimy sensation of dirt like soft grass.

“I guess…though I'm no Comando Roo.” I chuckled.

“Hehe, hahaha. That you aren't! But you're a close third, na, probably a good forth. His sidekick can turn into any vehicle after all.” Grandpa laughed at my comparison to his favorite cartoon.

“Of course I'm not. His hands can change into a op meteor busting jackhammer!” I eagerly agree.

Grandpa rubbed his chin at that. “Hey did you ever think how he'd match up to mecha force? Like the XL-Giai?” He asked.

I rubbed my forehead in thought. “That's a hard one. That mech might not be the best one but it had one hell of a laser beam. cut half of the M9 fleet before they could even act…. If Roo can get inside its joints then he'd win.”

“That's if he can get close enough!” He pointed out.

We talked like that for a while before returning home. I did ask who did cast the spell but he said it was something that happened two hundred years ago. He went quiet after that.

That, that is scary. One mistake, one angered influenced thought and I could make something that might last as long. Maybe longer. At that point I might as well be a dragon of apocalypse.

The thought only served to mix and tangle my emotions more than they were before. If one dragon could destroy a city then what could a really angry one do? I looked at my claws. What could I do? I just closed my hand causing a pinch of pain as I held my claws in my palm.

Looking up I saw my Grandfather, he was still wearing the flower crown. His muscular frame and the fragile, weak, frilly hat. I couldn’t forget the smile he wore as the sprites played around him. He might’ve started dancing if I wasn’t there. I looked at the ground. What am I doing? I’m not….

I grabbed a lock of my hair, it is a rusty orange color. Long, somewhere between curly and wavy. It is kind of a mess. Yet it is feminine, right? My body is feminine, breasts, new parts down there, even my hips are wider.

I looked away and took a deep breath.

Let’s just get back and look up something about this place. Maybe get a souvenir for my friends?

“Mom? What are you doing?!” Cole nearly shouted.

“Nothing much.” She lifted a box of candies under her arm. “Just making sure your grandfather’s health is good. Besides, one candy is enough.” His mother said with a knowing smirk.

“Come on! You can’t do that to Grandpa! He needs-” Cole began to argue only for his mother to look him straight in the eyes. The action stopping him dead in his tracks.

“You know your Grandmother wouldn't want this.” She leaned in closer, her stern look melting into one of worry. “He knows you love him. Even I don't blame you for what happened.” She tried explaining but Cole only looked at his shoulder.

“I know…. But I can't sit around.” He looked at his mother with pleading eyes, searching for some block of hope or kindness. “I want to make sure he's doing better than good.”

His mother held back a sigh as she looked at her son. It was hard for her to hold firm, his large eyes could calm the bubbling anger in her heart in an instant. How easy it could be just to hand the candies over and let Her sweet Cole indulge his Grandpa's sweet tooth. But…

“Tell you what, Grandpa’s going to be super hungry when he gets back and I happen to have one of his favorite meals in mind.” She slightly looked away with a worried face. “But the prep calls for two people and I'm only one girl. If only there was a strong, charming and goddess sweetheart to help me.” She said in false exasperation. 

Cole rolled his eyes at her obvious plea. “You know I suck at cooking.” He warned her, the corners of his lips curling. 

“Oh, Cole. You just need to practice more and you'll be as great as me. Besides you're prepping it, I'm cooking it.” She said, her worried voice disappearing instantly for one of encouragement. 

“Fiiiinnnee.” Cole finally agreed with a small but warm smile.