Contributing Author: H0st

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Trey sat quietly in a lotus position atop a slab of marble, facing the grass fields extending in front of him like an ocean of greens and golds, each blade dancing in the mountain breeze like a choreographed audience at a concert where he was the main event. He had never been one to enjoy being the center of attention on anything, in fact, he was the kind to shy away from it, always calling in sick at the office on his birthday just so he could avoid any surprises or awkward candle blowing with colleagues he barely knew and that were only performing such things because upper management believed it would “strengthen bonds” and “improve teamwork” in the office.

Fixing the break room’s coffee machine would have achieved a lot more of that with much less effort.

But yet, Trey found himself cherishing his growing role as the center of attention a lot more now. Slowly, little by little, he started to believe those around him truly valued him and cared for his betterment. From the chaotic aphids inside to the unlikely troupe of misfits outside. Much more than those office co-workers who simply shared the same daily penance, or those old college friends who barely recognized each other during the one or two times a year they mingled, Trey realized those surrounding him now genuinely were what he seldom had: friends.

With a winsome smile, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, inhaling the pure air and delicate floral aromas around him as he calmed his mind and waited patiently.

The excitement was challenging to contain. After having finally found how to better synchronize himself with the aphids, Trey could hardly wait to try it again and see how far he could progress.

It would just be a matter of waiting, meditating, allowing time to flow through him like the river that feeds the soil where his roots reside, until…

Trey smiled even wider.

There it was, that gentle pull at one of his roots, like the smallest of tugs from the tiniest of beings, announcing they were ready.

He opened his eyes and exhaled steadily, both his mind and body prepared to welcome the next aphid and—

“YAAAAY, TREY!” a childlike voice shouted from the young man’s mouth, sending out ripples over the wavy sea of grass. “It’s been so long. I missed you so much!”

D-Daizy? The confused host asked, suddenly finding himself pulled to the backseat of his own mind.

“What is this place?” she asked, spinning Trey’s eyes around at dizzying speeds. “How long has it been since we played with the weird pirate? Where’s the funny potato? Why are you in your pajamas?”

I… you… they’re not pajamas, they’re my sect vestments! And we are in the Du'Ra-eem Realm.

“The what now?”

It’s the home of the DREAM Sect.

“Oooh! You could have just said that. I love dreaming! It’s my favorite thing to do while napping!”

How are you fully in control again? I thought things worked differently here.

“Dunno,” Daizy said with her usual nonchalant shrug. “You just said it’s a dream world. Mama always told me we kids know how to dream better than you boring adults, so maybe that’s why.”

Trey contemplated a retort, but strangely, what the little aphid had just said made some sort of sense to him. Or at least he thought it did. It was hard to tell.

“Ah, there you are, my young disciple,” said a familiar voice that would have sent shivers down Trey’s spine, were he still in control of it.

Daizy turned with a look of curiosity on her face.

Ghostface Pill-Ah was calmly walking down the stairs, his movements so smooth they made it seem like he was gliding, the tips of his mustache gently bobbing in a breeze that seemed to exist only around him.

“It is time for your training. Surely you were not trying to evade your duties, were you?”

“Who’s the grandpa over there, Trey?” Daizy asked in a loud voice that made Trey wince. “He looks funny.”

The elder’s eyebrow rose in a way that caused the aphid’s host to shrink within his brain, anticipating the worst.

“Does the young disciple forget himself?” he said in a stern and authoritarian tone. “Perhaps he needs another hundred laps around the sect to remind him of his place?”

Vines and thorns erupted from Ghostface Pill-Ah’s sleeve and, with a flick of his Fu Manchu mustache, they were set ablaze by the same flames that were now burning in the elder’s eyes.

“Start running, maggot!”

“Woah, woah, WOAH!” exclaimed Daizy, putting both hands up in front of her chest and approaching the elder. “That’s no way to talk to a kid. You’re mean!”

“W-what?” Ghostface Pill-Ah stammered, the fire in his eyes dimming slightly as he blinked in confusion.

“It’s not nice! You can’t discipline children that way anymore! Do you know what year it is, old man?”

Daizy, please… Trey whimpered from the furthest reaches of his brain. You shouldn’t—

“Plus, Mama always taught me that you shouldn’t play with fire. It’s dangerous!”

“Who do you think you are to speak in such a way to me, child?” said the indignant elder, his confused gaze morphing into a frown.

But Daizy did not waver, instead choosing to stand her ground and stare the old master straight in the eye.

“Hi, I’m Daizy, and I think you should treat Trey a little nicer.”

Elder Ghostface Pill-Ah’s eyes widened and the fire in them faded like embers doused by a deluge. The thorns and vines retracted into his sleeve faster than a turtle retracts into its shell when it feels the first breeze of a winter storm.

The tips of his mustache trembled and an expression of pure dread grew on his face as he stared down into Daizy’s eyes, like someone staring into the deepest of abysses and finding no end to it.

He took a hesitant step back, seeming to struggle to keep himself together. “Heavens above… Such… potential. Such… raw power. Who… What are you?!”

“I just told you, I’m Daizy,” the young aphid said, tilting her head and looking at the elder with a bemused expression. “Are you gonna be nicer now, or what?”

The old man’s chin quivered, and he turned back to the stairs in a hurried motion, catching the edge of his robe in one of his sandals and nearly tripping over the first step. Fumbling to regain his footing, he hastily made his way back up to where he had come from, this time with none of the grace from before.

“Take some time for yourself. We can continue the training later. I… will go submit our final roster for the Centennial Legacy Omnipotent Unity Tournament,” he yelled out from the top of the stairs, before disappearing through the nearest doorway in sight.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

What… in the world… did you do to him, Daizy?

“Nothing?” she responded with another shrug. “I was just trying to tell him not to be mean. Mama always taught me we should stand up to bullies, and if we see someone being mean to our friends, we should be brave and say something.”

Trey paused for a moment while the little aphid looked quite proud of herself.

Thanks… I think?

“You’re welcome!” Daizy replied, striking a cutesy pose and making a quick horizontal V with Trey’s fingers in front of his winking eye.

Once again, the host hoped nobody was around at that moment to see him do that.

But, while we’re at it–and since the tournament is coming up soon–do you think we could talk about your powers and our synchronization?

“Our synch-o-what?! Is that a dessert?”

No, it’s… just don’t worry about that. What I’m trying to ask is, how come our progress is still at zero when I’ve been advancing with all your cousins in some way or another?

“Oh, that? I don’t know, Trey, maybe we’d work better together if you ever actually tried to complete the side quest I gave you?”

Trey winced as the aphid brought the quest prompt up in front of his eyes.

[Side Quest]: Snack Break!

[Description]: Locate and consume pancakes with maple syrup.

[Optional]: Add extra maple syrup!

[Reward]: Unlock [Daizyness].

Ouch. That one was deserved, I guess.

“Speaking of that,” said Daizy, “do they have kitchens around this place? Do you think they could make us some pancakes?!”

Sure, the kitchen is right down those stairs over there, first door on the left, but I don’t—

“Hooray! Let’s go check!”

Before Trey could say or do anything about it, he found his body hurrying down the steps towards the kitchen.

Determined to at least learn something that helped him make some kind of progress, he probed further. Listen, Daizy…

“Yes, Trey?” she said, trotting her way to the cooking area, the smells of a thousand delicacies flooding their nose all at once.

Why do you always take full control of my body when it’s your turn? Why am I always completely pushed to the back and you never let me do anything?

Daizy stopped a few steps away from the door.

“Because…” she started, in a tone that lacked her usual excitement and glee. “Because it’s my turn and I don’t want to have to sit back and watch while doing nothing if something bad happens again.”

Oh… responded Trey, uncertain of how to proceed. Again? Did something bad happen before?

“Yeah…” said the young aphid, her gaze shifting down to the ground.

Despite not being the one piloting his body, Trey felt as if a cold, bitter breeze had run through his entire being.

“Who goes there?” a brutish voice shouted from the other side of the door.

The wooden door swung open and Stew’s burly figure appeared on the other side, scowling, his face shiny with sweat and his white apron covered in stains of many colors and textures.

“Stew guy!” exclaimed Daizy, her voice suddenly sounding like her usual overexcited self again.

Stew’s scowl turned into surprise. “Hey, I remember you! You’re the little girl, right?”

“Yes, Daizy!” she said. “Is the big kitty here too?”

“Cheetah Brains? Nah, he’s out there rolling in the bushes with his master, or something. What are you doing here, anyway? Is Trey there too?”

“Yep, he’s right here. Say hello, Trey!” She raised Trey’s hand and waved at the cook, something the host couldn’t help but note wasn’t an action from him at all. “We came down to the kitchen to see if someone could help us in our food quest.”

“Well, come in, come in,” the large man said, stepping aside to let his guests pass. “If it has anything to do with food, you’ve come to the right place.”

Wiping his hands with a rag, Elder Eis Q Be came closer to meet them. He was stocky, not unlike Stew, but Trey could tell there was serious muscle beneath their senior brother’s apron. The man’s strength, combined with his sharp goatee, radiated a keen sense of danger.

“This is the master of this kitchen, little one. His name is Eis Q Be. If someone can help you, it’s him.”

“Hiiii,” said Daizy. “Do you have pancakes?!”

Straight to the point, aren’t you? Trey commented, feeling it was better to go with the flow and not press any further on what they were talking about before, at least for the time being.

“Pan… whats?” Eis Q Be asked, looking intrigued. “I’m sorry. I don’t believe I’ve ever heard of that.”

Trey’s shoulders slumped down and his arms hung in front of him.

“Treeeeeeey!” cried the pouting aphid. “Of all the dream worlds to go to, why did you have to go to one where they don’t have pancakes?!”

Damn it. It’s not my fault, I didn’t choose to come here, Daizy! Surely they could learn how to make them, right? How complicated can it be?

She perked up again.

“Mr. Stew, Mr. Stew! Do you think you could tell Mr. Ice Cubes how to make pancakes?”

Stew scratched his stubbly chin while pondering.

“I’m not sure, kid. I’m more of a stew guy, you know? I don’t really do sweets. I never made a pancake in my life.”

Daizy deflated again, and she made puppy eyes in a way that Trey did not know his body was capable of.

“Now, now, young Panawan, have you learned nothing from me?” Elder Eis Q Be said, raising a wise hand. “The arts of the kitchen require constant exploration from us. What have I told you before?”

Stew stood straight, like a soldier suddenly finding himself in the presence of a general. “We cook it until we get it right!”

“That’s it.” The master turned to Daizy with a knowing smile. “I may not yet know what these… pancakes are, but even if it takes me a hundred years, I can promise you I will master them and bring them to you.”

“Really?” Daizy said, with a shine in Trey’s eyes.

“You bet,” said Stew with a smile and a nod. “We got this. No matter how hard it proves, we will master the pancake arts. Ain’t that right, Senior Brother?”

“Damn straight! The Wok Pan Clan ain’t nothin’ to mess with,” replied Eis Q Be as the two cooks fist bumped.

Why couldn’t Elder Eis Q Be be my teacher? I’m stuck dodging thorny whips of fire, while Stew gets fist bumps…

“Yay! Thank you,” said the happy aphid, ignoring Trey’s internal dialogue. “I will let you guys do your thing, then.”

As they exited the kitchen and made their way back to the meditation stone, Trey attempted to find the best course of action.

So, Daizy, I was hoping maybe now we could try to work a bit on our teamwork?

“Hmm, how?” she asked, sitting on the edge of the marble slab and dangling Trey’s legs back and forth.

Well, in my time here, I’ve found the best results through lots of meditation and inner search. Since I’m not really the one in control right now, and you’re not ready yet to let me hold the wheel, maybe you could try it yourself?

The aphid pondered for a moment.

“Okay! It could be fun. What do I gotta do?”

Great! Here, start by sitting up on the slab with your legs crossed on each other.

“Like this?”

Yes, exactly. Now just close your eyes, breath, and try to clear your thoughts.

Daizy raised a doubtful eyebrow, but did as Trey instructed.

Now just relax, let the world flow through you. Empty your mind…

Trey paused for a few moments, anxiously waiting for something to happen, but there was nothing, just silence.

Daizy?

Nothing but silence. An unusual amount of silence for the young aphid.

Daizy!

A startled snort came out of Trey’s mouth, and his eyes opened.

“Huh? Wha?” Daizy’s groggy voice said.

Did you fall asleep?!

“Yeeeeah… sorry,” she said in an apologetic tone. “It’s not my fault your whole medication stuff feels so much like taking a nap!”

It’s meditation, but… yeah, okay, fair point. It is a bit like trying to fall asleep, you’re right.

Daizy stretched Trey’s arms upward and let out a long yawn.

“I think I should go. I’m feeling sleepy now.”

Trey sighed in his mind, but found the inner peace to accept the things he could not change.

It’s alright, go on, we can try again some other time.

“Thanks, Trey,” she said with a lazy blink. “You the best.”

His eyes closed, and he smiled as the numbness faded from his sitting body. The number next to his synchronization with Daizy might still be at zero, but he felt there were other ways in which their bond was growing, even if only little by little. He was certain they would get there in time. Progress was slow, but there. It would just take much patience, calm, concentration, and—

Trey’s entire body tumbled forward like a toppled statue while still stuck in a lotus position, his forehead smacking against the hard marble surface under him with a loud thud that echoed against the sect walls.

Goddamn it, Daizy...