Mine Imagination: Flight of the Hummingbirds
By: T. M. Ashley
Flower 14: All Together Now
The bodoluu of Olympus were countless, a number overlooked by those in the past and present. On this day, the Sisters of Olympus would have benefited from such information if it were available. The horde of bodoluu poured through the archway, seemingly endless. Despite not having crystal weapons at their disposal, the Sisters of Olympus valiantly defended their home. The gold-trimmed sisters demonstrated impeccable command as they organized their units to protect the dormitories.
Sister Lo’Ve took the youngest sisters to procure replacement weapons. Sisters Mas and Zoya directed the larger sisters into a defensive position, allowing Sister Nisha to issue orders to her burden-wielding comrades. Elemental attacks were unleashed in coordination with the sisters' defenses, taking down bodoluu, but their relentless onslaught continued. Sisters Obella, Sarini, and Nozu efficiently handled the stronger bodoluu that managed to push past the defense.
On the side of the archway, Kyan and Gilda engaged in genuine competition, creating piles of unconscious bodoluu. All the while Ryder crouched behind them with his head between his knees still muttering his mantra.
“That’s fifty for me,” Gilda shouted to Kyan as she knocked another out with the butt of her dagger. “Fifty-one.”
“I’m already at sixty, sis,” Kyan said, breathing heavily and sitting on top of the pile he had created.
Gilda narrowed her eyes, “Cheater.”
Kyan laughed, “Don’t be a sore loser, just switch up your weapon.” He punched another bodoluu in the face as it lunged at him and growled, “You’re delivering non-lethal blows with a lethal weapon. Go with something blunt.”
“How?” she asked, as she leapt up and slammed the butt of her blade into another bodoluu's temple, knocking it unconscious as another tripped over it. She countered by flipping and stomped on the back of its head. She twirled the dagger to no avail and whined, “I don’t get it.”
“Adju-” Kyan started to say but was tackled by another bodoluu.
“Adjust your grip,” Doro said, making her way to Gilda, sweeping the legs of the bodoluu beneath them and knocking them out effortlessly with the handle of her broom.
“Don’t talk to me,” Gilda snapped, flipping over Doro’s head and doing as she was told. The black crystal dagger transformed into a hammer, propelling her forward as she brought it down with devastating force. The ground beneath her cracked and split, and the bodoluu halted.
“Gil, don’t be that way,” Doro said in the momentary stillness. “I’m sorry. I was only following ord—”
An ear-splitting roar echoed through Olympus as the Shoko bodoluu emerged from the archway, and the smaller raging bodoluu began to cheer. The Shoko wielded crude and basic crystal armaments with jagged edges, and their longer manes were neatly braided, unlike the messy locks of the older bodoluu.
Sister Lo’Ve’s return coincided with the arrival of the Shoko bodoluu. The gold trims ordered the Sisters of Olympus to retreat to the city as each of them brandished their chosen crystal armaments and faced down the behemoths before them. Sister Akik’ibe stepped forward and dragged her red crystal sword across the ground and glared up at the Shoko bodoluu.
Doro’s eyes started to glow and three swirling pools appeared behind the gold trims. A gangly scarecrow with emerald crystals shards jutting out of its body appeared wielding a crystal scythe. Beside him emerged a man made of metal with crystal spikes lining the helmet and wielding a crystal axe. From the last pool emerged a small boy wearing a lion onesie with crystal shards weaved into the crochet mane and a crystal crown tilted on his head. She commanded them to assist the gold trims while she took Gilda back to the city. The Sisters of Olympus with gold trims and Doro’s summons faced the Shoko Bodoluu and proved to be on equal footing.
From the archway an enormous hand reached through and grabbed Ryder. Violet popped off his head and flew away as Ryder started to scream, cry, reach, and claw for any hold that could prevent him from being taken by the monster.
“I don't wanna die! Somebody help me! Please!” Ryder cried out, “Please! I don’t wanna die!”
“I got you bro!” Kyan called out and grabbed Ryder's flailing hand.
“I don’t wanna die,” Ryder said with tears streaming down his cheeks and snot spilling from his nose, “Save me.”
Kyan couldn’t help but laugh as his grip slipped and a turquoise fog coiled around their hands up Ryder’s arm. The fog consumed all of Ryder and Kyan felt him vanish. The giant hand thrashed about and shattered the archway severing the giant arm in the process.
“What the?” Kyan said as he looked at his hand then the giant hand as it fell motionless.
“So heavy,” Gilda groaned behind him, “Why’re you so heavy?”
Kyan whipped around to see Ryder and Gilda struggling with her cloak to get off the ground. He started to laugh and said, “That’s cute.”
“Urgh,” Gilda groaned and she pushed Ryder, “Get off me dude.”
“Oh my Flow, you saved my life. I'm so happy. Thank you so much, you have no idea how much it means to me,” Ryder blubbered as she tried to get off of the girl but was caught under her cloak.
Kyan helped pull them apart and laughed, “Ryder this is my sister Gilda. Gilda, this is Ryder. He’s getting me off this planet.”
“Can I come?” Gilda asked immediately.
“I ummm…” Ryder began.
“Absolutely,” Kyan said, cutting Ryder off, “I didn’t think you’d want to leave home.”
“Are you kidding me?” Gilda scoffed, “I’d do anything to get away from Zeus.”
“Don’t you mean Mom?”
Gilda rolled her eyes, “If that’s what you call her.”
Kyan laughed, “I freakin love you. Ryder isn’t my sister the best.”
“She saved my life, of course she is,” Ryder said as he nervously looked around at the piles of unconscious bodoluu that the twins had managed to stack up. Doro appeared and looked at Ryder then to Kyan and Gilda and sighed.
“Come with me,” she said.
“No,” Gilda snapped, “You lied to me.”
“I was doing my duty,” Doro hissed and grabbed her arm. “We have to get back to the castle. I’m sure your mother won’t leave this intrusion unanswered. We need to leave before she does.”
“I’m not going back to the castle and you can’t make me. Neither can she,” Gilda growled, “She lied to me.”
Doro sighed and said, “I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you.”
“I’m not even mad about Kyan,” Gilda said, waving him off. “I’ve always known about him. My fog enhances my taste, touch, feel, and hearing. I just can’t smell or see anything.”
Doro scowled, “You think I’ve always underestimated you. I didn’t think you knew about Kyan. I didn’t want to keep it from you.”
“Our heartbeats are synced,” Kyan said, “Always have been. I’ve felt Gilda everyday since we were apart.”
Gilda smiled up at her brother and said, “Don’t get mushy on me.”
Doro looked at the twins and her eyes started to well up. She sighed and said, “I need you two to come with me.”
“What about me?” Ryder asked raising his hand, “I don’t wanna die.”
Doro took a deep breath and nodded her head, “Come on, I’ll help you.”
“Really?” Gilda asked, clearly surprised.
“It’s the least I could do.” Doro waved them toward the dormitory.
Suddenly the sky darkened and thick clouds crackling with lightning covered the sky like a blanket. A blue orb appeared over the dormitory and descended rapidly with tendrils of lightning dancing all around it. The bolts gouged out the ground as they struck all over the courtyard. The lightning struck both friend and foe alike. The sisters did their best to protect one another to avoid their monarch's haphazard and undirected attack.
“All who dare enter my city with violence will be met with the same multiplied by ten!” Queen Zeus’s voice boomed like thunder.
“Foolish lightning bitch,” Suzuko’s gnashing voice growled as the giant chief bodoluu’s head emerged from the side of the mountain. “Your rule is propped up by the support of what dwells beneath you.” Suzuko was a hundred times larger than he had been and climbed Olympus as if it were a tree.
Zeus directed her attacks toward the giant bodoluu's head, but they were absorbed by a crystal. Suzuko retaliated by hurling a crystal boulder at Queen Zeus, who effortlessly maneuvered the orb to avoid it. Suzuko pulled himself up and stepped into the courtyard, causing the gold trims and Shoko bodoluu to scatter. The two rulers of Olympus confronted each other, and their auras clashed violently.
A red crystal pillar burst through the ground, capturing everyone's attention. As it opened up, purple smoke slowly rolled out. Royal emerged with Poinsettia perched on his shoulder, gazing up at the giant bodoluu and Zeus encased in the orb of lightning.
He glared up at Chief Suzuko and raised his axe, “Know your place beast.”
“Know yours,” Zeus hissed. She threw her hand down and a torrent of lightning bolts rained down and struck Royal where he stood. When the bolts faded Royal collapsed to his knees in a smoking heap. “Men, have no place here.”
A collective freeze settled over everyone as Zeus' brutal attack struck Royal point-blank. The gold-trimmed sisters stared at their monarch in awe, while the Shoko bodoluu glared up at their chief and his new opponent. Doro and Ryder were horror-stricken by the scene. However, Kyan and Gilda were engulfed in rage.
“Hey ma,” Kyan yelled, “Long time no see.”
“Insolent boy,” Zeus hissed and dropped a lightning bolt where he was standing. A swirl of turquoise smoke surrounded Kyan and he was moved out of the bolt's trajectory.
Gilda emerged from the fog, her middle fingers raised defiantly. "Fuck off, Zeus!" she shouted.
The monarch's eyes flashed as bright as the lightning that cascaded around her. She looked down at her daughter and smirked, "Ungrateful brat."
Doro grabbed Gilda's cloak, and Ryder snagged Kyan's tail, pulling the twins out of the monarch's line of sight. As they started to fight, Ruby appeared behind Doro. The smooth red crystal golem bowed her head to them and jerked her head toward the dormitory archway that led to the city.
***
Mine dabbed his cheeks with his handkerchief and offered one to Molly and another to Trey. Gunther used Mine’s tie as a tissue and blew his nose. All of them sobbed as the Fate’s shared the prophecy of Olympus.
“That’s so sad,” Trey said, “My mom would rescue you guys if she were here.”
Despite knowing the prophecy, Molly was still brought to tears and accepted the handkerchief. She dabbed her cheeks and looked up at Mine and noticed he was smiling despite the tear that fell from his eye. Trey was upset and soiled and defiled his handkerchief with his snot and tears. Gunther was much the same but he used Mine’s tie which made her smile despite the sadness she felt.
The Fates told their story in the form of a song and by the time they were done performing Mine had heard all that he was going to listen to. He stood up and cracked his neck, “Well now, that’s all said and what’s to be done will be. Excuse me while I fulfill my part of the prophecy.”
The Fates sighed collectively. Verda pulled back her hood and asked, “Not even the prophecy can deter you from your goal?”
“I made a promise and I intend to come through,” Mine said.
“Let him,” Ember said. “He’s made up his mind. The prophecy wouldn’t be changed on the whim of a man who’s goal has transcended time and space.”
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“What comes next will be for us,” Astra stated. The Fates stepped aside as Mine proceeded toward Neblina’s grave.
“Wait,” Trey called out and ran after Mine, “Do you have to return it. Wasn’t bring the cloak here enough?”
“I want to go home,” Mine said, “To visit would only be a tease of what I have longed for. Neblina deserves to rest and taking the cloak would do nothing but disturb her peace.”
Trey was stifled, “She should be at peace.”
"Precisely, dear," Mine continued up the path to Neblina's grave. Upon reaching the grounded royal crystal, it glowed dimly, and he extended his hand toward it. Closing his eyes, he fell silent for a moment, took the cloak from around his neck, and waved it in front of him effortlessly. Draping the cloak over the crystal, it was as if a light switch had been flipped. The crystal started to glow so brightly that everyone present was blinded momentarily. When the light faded, the crystal was floating beside the other two, with the cloak draped over it, fluttering in the wind.
The wind swirled around Mine as if in gratitude for his actions. Everyone stared at him as his clothes changed; he now wore a pristine midnight blue suit with a silver trim that matched the intricate design adorning Neblina’s cloak. Adjusting his sleeves, he turned to the others.
"How do I look?"
Trey’s eyes were wide, “You look awesome, Mr. Heart.”
Molly rushed over to Mine, and he noticed she too was wearing a midnight blue jumper with intricate white trim around her ankles and collar, similar to his. She leapt into his arms with a big smile and hugged his neck tightly. He raised his eyebrow and asked her, “Who are you?”
“I been askin, the same thing,” Gunther stated as he appeared on Mine’s shoulder. “Ya should have seen what she did earlier.”
“Hmph,” Mine noted. He tapped Molly’s nose and said, “There’s more to you than what meets the eye, isn’t there?”
Molly giggled silently and nodded her head as if she’s been trying to tell him that. However, before they could engage two powerful auras clashed and caused a chill to fill the valley.
“We must return to the Queen,” Verda said.
“Go to the city,” Ember said, pointing to another archway behind the royal graves. “You can depart from the castle.”
“What about you?” Trey asked, “Isn’t there supposed to-”
Astra covered his mouth, “You remind me of my brother before he was sent away. Worry not for the Sisters of Olympus are strong. Go forward with the journey you began. Your mother will be proud.”
Trey’s bottom lip quivered as he nodded his head and hugged Astra. He squeezed tightly before he turned away and followed Mine and the others toward the archway. When he caught up he looked back to see the Fates vanish almost instantly.
“I don't think this is fair,” Trey said.
“Life isn’t fair, that’s why it’s meant to be a surprise. No good ever comes from knowing the future. In an effort to avoid the unavoidable we bring upon that which is destined for us regardless,” Mine said as he placed his hand on Trey’s head, “I’m sorry, dear.”
They stepped through the archway and left the valley behind, only to find themselves in the city engulfed in chaos. The Bodoluu infested the streets, terrorizing the citizens. The Sisters of Olympus, who had arrived to defend the city, were overpowered. The stronger sisters were engaged with another group of Shoko Bodoluu that had infiltrated the city and were directing the smaller Bodoluu. Mine, Molly, Gunther, and Trey arrived at the wall overlooking the city, intended to protect them from external threats. However, the Bodoluu were already there, residing just beneath the city, waiting.
“What do we do cap’n?” Gunther asked.
“Find Ryder,” Mine said, “He’s our only way off this rock.”
“He’s probably hiding under a rock,” Trey said as he pulled himself onto the walls edge. He whistled and said, “Whoa, this is crazy.”
A large Shoko bodoluu with a crimson and purple mane spotted Mine and the others overlooking the city. It growled and hurled a chrysler boulder at them. In a flash Mine switched Molly from one hip to the other twirled Nectar and summoned Mae. With a single downward stroke he cleaved the boulder into a million pieces and glared at the bodoluu. He put Mae away and wagged his finger at the awestruck behemoth below. It swallowed visibly and turned away from Mine and charged off in the opposite direction.
Trey started to laugh, “You sure we can’t change anything with you around.”
“According to the prophecy, me being here is the reason everything is going the way it is. Best we can do is retreat, dear.”
***
Ruby did as she had been directed by Royal. She collected a sack and covered Kyan so she could smuggle him into the city without setting off any of the citizens and garnering unwanted attention. Kyan couldn’t help but peek at the crystal city as they emerged from the archway. The bodoluu had been busy and their conquest of Olympus had begun.
“Where are they all coming from?” Doro asked.
“The tunnels reach the city,” Gilda said.
“The Bodoluu have been raising their numbers,” Kyan said, “They’ve waited for this.”
“For what?” Ryder asked, “What’s happening? Why now?”
“The prophecy,” Doro whispered. “This can’t be that.”
Ruby led them through the back alleys of the city toward the castle making sure to avoid the Sisters of Olympus and the bodoluu. She held up her fist to stop them as a bodoluu over twelve feet tall casually strolled by. Everyone watched as the bodoluu walked by dragging a blood stained crystal club behind him. When she waved them forward the bodoluu crouched down to peer beneath the curtained alley. As Ryder crossed the alley he and the bodoluu made eye contact and Ryder immediately started to weep.
The bodoluu’s hand grabbed Ryder and dragged him out of the alley and raised him up to his face. The bodoluu huffed and Ryder’s beard and hair was blown back. Ryder wept and only managed to say, “I don’t wanna die.”
“Put him down,” Kyan yelled up at the bodoluu. “That’s my bro and my ticket off this planet.”
The crimson and purple maned bodoluu glared down at Kyan and recognized the beaded necklace he wore around his neck. He growled as he tossed Ryder on the ground and beat his chest. It raised its weapon and brandished it in a challenge to Kyan.
Kyan cracked his neck and brought out his black crystal kanabo. He raised it threateningly and nodded his head. “Your start.”
The Bodoluu dug his feet into the ground and launched himself at Kyan with surprising speed. Kyan swung his kanabo and met the creature’s charge. He was pushed back but managed to keep both feet planted. The bodoluu chortled delighted in its opponents worthiness and braced itself.
Gilda and Doro watched the exchange, neither of them were familiar with the bodoluu traditions and their expectations were thwarted.
Kyan dug his feet into the ground and took a runner's stance before launching himself at the bodoluu. The bodoluu swung its club but was lifted off his feet and launched into a building. Kyan climbed out from beneath the unconscious bodoluu and rolled his bruised shoulder. He groaned as he stretched his neck, “That’s gonna be sore tomorrow.”
Doro exhaled her green smoke and healed Kyan’s arm. “How’s that?” She asked.
Kyan grimaced and said, “That's disgusting.”
“I told you,” Gilda said with pursed lips.
“Where’s Ryder?” Kyan asked as he looked around.
Gilda and Doro did the same and realized he was missing, they shrugged in unison.
“No idea,” Gilda said, “Come on we gotta get to the castle before Zeus decides we’re more important than keeping the bodoluu out.”
“Where’re we going? Ryder’s got our only way off the planet,” Kyan said.
“No he isn’t,” Gilda said clearly appalled, “We’ve got crystal star vessels in the castle hangar.”
“Really?” Kyan asked.
“Of course,” Gilda said, “How do you think–...” She shook her head and decided not to get into it with him. “Nevermind.”
“How do we get to the castle from here?” Gilda asked Ruby.
The crimson golem shrugged and threw the sack over Kyan’s head again.
“We gotta find Ryder,” Kyan said, “We built a whole ship. We got this.”
"Fine," Gilda replied, her voice laced with frustration.
“Thanks sis,” Kyan said with a smile.
“Uh-huh,” Gilda said as her eyes started to glow and fog billowed from under her cloak. “Let me see if I can find him.”
***
When Ryder was thrown down he never slammed into the ground instead he was transported to the wall and crashed at Mine’s feet. He was curled up in the fetal position and whispered his mantra. Trey crouched beside him and poked him and Molly tapped his cheek. His eyes fluttered open and hope flooded him as he recognized Mine’s face. He hopped off the ground and wiped the tears from his blood shot eyes and the snot from his beard. He brushed off his clothes and nodded his head.
“Oh, there you are boss,” Ryder managed to say. “I was worried about ya.”
“What about us?” Trey asked.
“I believe you, dear. You look like you’ve seen better days.”
Ryder scoffed, “You’ve got no idea boss. I don’t think it can get any worse.”
Mine’s eyebrow raised slightly and he asked, “You really love tempting Flow don’t you?”
“What?” Ryder asked.
“Nothing, did you develop a means of escape for us, dear?”
“Yup,” Ryder said as he reached in his coat and pulled out a glass bottle with a star vessel inside.
Mine snatched the bottle and examined its contents, “This doesn’t look like my blueprints.”
“That’s because it’s not,” Ryder said as he plucked it from Mine’s grasp, “I made this last night with my buddy Kyan.”
“The brute from the stairwell?” Mine snapped.
“Yeah,” Ryder said, “Don’t worry, it’ll get us off world and I'll be able to prep the one you gave me while we make our way back to El Dorado.”
“Hmph,” Mine folded his arms and said, “I guess that works for me.”
A turquoise fog crept up the wall and spilled onto the platform they were standing on and Mine felt a familiar sway. He smiled as Gida’s fog filled the area around them. Molly and Trey grabbed onto Mine as they felt the world shift beneath them subtly. When the fog cleared they were in the same alley as Doro, Kyan, Ruby, and Gilda.
“Together at last,” Kyan said with his arms spread.
“Let’s go people,” Doro snapped, “We don’t have all day. If Zeus catches onto what we’re up to she’ll seal off the planet.”
“Where do we need to go?” Mine asked.
Doro glared at him and hesitated to respond, but ultimately said, “We’ve got to get to the castle hanger. I can disarm the security burden from there and provide you a way off world.”
“Lead the way,” Mine said.
“Ruby,” Trey announced, recognizing the crimson crystal golem. “Where’s Royal. He should come with us.”
Ruby shook her head and crouched in front of Trey offering him a piggyback ride. He jumped on and she looked to Doro to lead.
Mine shook his head at Molly and said, “I don’t do those.”
“I got ya kid,” Kyan said as he placed her on his shoulders. She wrapped her hands around his head as she was now taller than everyone else.
Doro led the party through the city fully aware that she was participating in the greatest act of treason possible on Thessaldonia.
***
The monarchs of Thessaldonia were destined to clash in a battle of titans, hence the namesake of the royal family. Queen Zeus Titan's ancestors were once at war with the native Bodoluu, and upon the prophecy of the planet's fate being spoken, they forged a treaty to quell the fire that burned between the factions. In harmony, the Bodoluu lived beneath the city of Olympus in the tunnels. For centuries, they lived in peace, knowing that they would only come to blows when the end of what they knew was nigh. The only indicator of the end was the appearance of the Nowhere-man, but he had not revealed himself to either of the monarchs. In their growing sovereign unease and the siren that provoked the Bodoluu into action, they lost sight of their mutual enemy and instead fought amongst themselves.
Zeus hurled lightning bolts at the massive to no avail and his crystal armaments were stolen by an unknown interceder. Neither of their attacks worked on one another and near exhaustion they took a moment to speak.
“This battle is futile,” Zeus said sitting on Anella’s head while Drizstasia fanned her.
“You're exhausting,” Suzuko growled, leaning against the building.
“The bodoluu invaded my territory,” Zeus snapped. “You allowed my son to ascend to Olympus.”
“Your crystals started ringing and caused a ruckus,” Suzuko stated. “Your son was bound to come up here. You know that just as well as I do. It’s been twenty-two years in the making.”
Zeus took a deep breath and sighed, “I suppose, Gilda went to the quarry today. It was only a matter of time. However, the crystals ringing had nothing to do with me. That wasn’t my fault.”
“Nor was the invasion…,” Suzuko paused and sat up, his eyes brimming with revelation and said, “Mine.”
Zeus shot up with understanding, “Did you see him? The Nowhere-Man.”
“No, I thought he would reveal himself to the throne,” Suzuko growled, “If this is occurring that means he’s here.”
“The aggression of the monarchs should be channeled toward the one who brings about the destruction of our home,” Anella stated.
“Mine should be the target of your majesty’s rage,” Drizstasia said.
“His presence is but a trigger,” Anella chimed, “All of this is a consequence of his presence.”
“Eliminate the cause,” Drizstasia sang.
“Change the result,” Anella asserted.
Queen Zeus and Chief Suzuko looked at each other at the behest of her blues. Anella and Drizstasia knew they had sown the seeds of chaos and smirked at each other. The auras exploded angrily, and the sky responded. The clouds parted and the full moon glared down on Olympus. Suzuko craned his neck to the moon and unleashed a guttural roar that caused the crystals throughout Olympus to vibrate, sending a message to all Bodoluu.
"What was that?" Zeus asked.
"I told the Bodoluu to find the source of our anguish."
"The Sisters of Olympus will do the same," Zeus said as she moved her finger in the air as if scribbling on a piece of paper. In the clear sky, a message appeared written in lightning, issuing her command.
“Find Mine.”