The fog of my mind parted into a deep blue sky with sparsely placed clouds. Looking up at it was my infant form marveling at the beauty it exuded. To my junior mind, it was the most perfect work of art I had ever seen. The gentle breeze that made the clouds move, the various light refractions that made up the color... My thoughts were simply enraptured by its continued existence. I couldn't fathom how such a simple thing contained itself above me.

Father: "A nice day out isn't it?"

Interrupting my thoughts was my father and a smile crossed my face. I looked towards him giggling at his return as he laid his large hand on my stomach. His touch excited me greatly and I couldn't hold in my laughter as I bellowed it to the wind.

Father: "Enjoyed that didn't you? That's why you're my favorite you know that?"

I felt him lift me from the thin sheet and press his face against my cheek. His face was always kind of blurry and I couldn't make out many fine details about it but ma had always told me that he had a nasty accident with some weird fire. I didn't feel any burns back then though....

Untou: "When are we gonna see Aunt? She's gonna let me have tons of ice cream!"

Father: "We're going to see her soon, just stay quiet ok? Can you do that for papa?"

He spoke calmly and with a certain gentleness that I couldn't want less of. Even with that, I felt a strange sense of foreboding that I couldn't quite describe or pinpoint. It was as if he was preparing himself for something that I couldn't place at the time. I wish I knew what was to come since that was the worst day of my life, the day he disappeared...…

"You don't wish to feel that pain do you?"

I felt a hollow voice in my mind penetrate through this blissful recollection. It was sudden and jarring, snapping me away from my happy memories yet it sounded eerily familiar.

Untou: "Who are you?" I spoke to the sky and to my surprise, it spoke back

"I am you.. a better you I should say"

Untou: "That doesn't explain anything!! Show yourself! Or uh, your memories."

Whatever it was, it was speaking in my mind. I was accustomed to this since all the time I spent in that bunch of flowers but this felt different. I couldn't feel any of the others, not that it mattered if I did since I was the only one left. At least that Flower was kinda nice...

"You speak of that monster so fondly when all it has done is threaten and breach your memories."

Untou: "Don't speak as if you know it. It's rude sure but all it had done was what was best for us to get out of here."

"Like the sacrifice our mother? She learned the truth but at what cost? Are our ideals, our emotions not important when faced with the truth?"

I was silent as my thoughts raced. I never believed it was right to give mom to that demon. No, I had always known that it was a stupid decision. Logically, it never made sense! Who would a trust a demon for crying out loud? And look at the result, she's gone and a bunch of people were killed!

"Noting our silence, I suppose we're thinking that its unfair. The cards we were dealt was unbefitting of the weight we had on the outcome. We voiced our concerns, begged for them to reconsider but it all fell of deaf ears."

They wouldn't listen to anything I said. Just like always, when something important happens she just ignores all my words. It's like I'm talking to a brick wall.

Untou: "Yea it is unfair! I had no choice in any of what happened, if I had a choice then I would've found a better option! Just like I always... Have"

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

It took some time to utter that last word as I considered what options I thought could save us. Fine manipulation of the earth, wishing for more powerful bodies for each of us so we can go our separate ways... But I could always see the flaws in these plans. They had to be a reason that I'm turned down so often, maybe if my plans were better, more presented! I could've.... I could've showed them why it was the best course of action!

"We think its wasting its power don't we? Many many times when we discovered the wish granting capabilities of the Genie Sprout, it was like a new spark had lit in our eyes. The wonders of magic that had been tainted by our past had come back to us. All for a bit of blood, you can manifest your desire. Of course it was dulled a bit when we realized that Briarheart had limited our blood supply for her own gain then Samwise and Tyler came in the picture, throwing their weight around causing us to shy away from the moonlight with our mother."

A newfound confidence came as I remembered those brief moments of astonishment played out like a film in my mind. The looming shadow that developed was stripped away by that Flower and he thrusted me into adventure. We were chased by bad guys, outsmarted our captors, gained new powers. It was all so thrilling and despite the pain, despite whatever hardship we came across, I would often jump at the chance to help when I could.

Untou: "Then the Flower came! It threw out those two and broke us out!"

"Yes, it forced out those who recklessly threw around their authority but only to put us under new leadership. It still forced his control upon us. It still viewed our values as lesser than his."

Untou: "But if I were to choose from those guys and the flower, I'd choose the flower! It treated us way better and didn't threaten to silence us that often"

"Indeed but that is an active denial of the truth and we know that. Is being under active threat of death really excusable if its in lesser quantities than before? The threat itself is still very real and judging by its actions with our mother, we know that we're nothing more than expendable tools to use for its own survival."

My tone grew confident as I heard this. Does he really believe that it would get rid of me so readily? Maybe he did for my mom and I'm still not sure how I should feel about that but it had a good cause! We made it out because of its decision so.... I should be happy about it. Mom always said to appreciate things as they come to you, not just when they leave you.

Untou: "See that's not true, this is how I know you're not me because it'd never get rid of me. I helped against those scientists! I basically saved its life! And I'm positive I could do it again. It's not the brightest tool in the shed so my brains with its power is an inseparable combo."

"Hm.... A truth opens the mind but a self-told lie can keep it closed forever. I must show you how deep your lie goes"

Untou: "What!? What are you gonna do to me?!?"

"I am opening your mind, see the truth with your own eyes if you're so convinced in your lie."

I saw the blue sky drain into a purple starry night as the sun beaming overhead began to crust, shrivel, and discolor. The gray stone covered the burning layers with shallow holes visible as it came closer. It resembled the moon in story I've heard before the monsters came. Featureless, a simple ball in the sky with no creepy grin and uncanny face. A ray of moonlight descended upon my infant form as my mind was filled with various images and sounds of the Flowers journey. It showed me when the Flower gave me up.