Zinnia's Tree - Day 5

#### **2 Days Remain**

They enter the temple, read the book, and leave with the seeds, following Cyrus like usual. The only unusual part was that he didn't go to the normal direction he liked to. He went straight out into the desert, and there it was. A meteor. It was long, black, and freckled purple light around it... it was so similar to... the shard... It was the point where Zinnia entered the world. When they were done, They were all asked: "Are you ready?" Upon agreeing, they were taken to the Tree of Sadness.

They gazed at the tree, this tree was unlike the others. On one half, it was dead, and black. It was like half of the tree was melting from a withering effect. Where's the other side, was full of life. The trunk had an opening. When you enter, you can see the 'core' of the tree. The core was shaped like a heart, half black, the other half glowing. Edelle threw the seeds at the heart, and they faded from existence. The heart started to beat, and their sight faded to black...

They awaken in a room, two corridors leading into separate hallways, each blocked off by a wall of glass. Cyrus stood in between the hallways. "In order to complete this trial, you must split into two teams, Illios and Edelle being your leaders. Both teams must do their part in order to complete the trial." They were then teleported in their respectable hallways: Edelle, Sytamni, and Kasumira on the left. And Illios, Michael, and Chizzy on the right.

The trials were challenging, each player having to help one way or another. Lots of thought was put into the trials, each one getting them closer to finishing. Though, as humorous as it may be, Michael had little patience with his crew...

They completed the trials, and Cyrus appeared once more. Though, this time, he spoke with the voice of an older woman. They were told to step into the circles upon entering the Dream Chamber. They blinked, and with that, they were in an empty void, darkness surrounding them, a black crystal barely visible in front of them. They all stepped onto their respectable circles, and waited for Sadness's presence. A little girl appeared in the black crystal. She looked up- except she wasn't really looking... for her eyes were sealed shut. The girl looked around... gazing into the eyes of each person. She stopped at Edelle. The girl gave a warm smile... then disappeared.

Suddenly a sound as if the air was sucked out of the room came about in the room, then a single whisper spoke:

> *You have been warned, yet we go unheard. We reach out, but we are unseen. We try to pull you back, but we are without a grasp. But you have been given a final chance. Come forth, save yourself, and those who have chosen to follow you. Touch the crystal... and receive your final truth.*
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They all touched the crystal in unison, and the crystal began to glow- just a little bit. Sadness greeted them, her voice was low, and unironically, sounded as if she was done crying. She told them of their "Final Truth" that they shall receive.

> *The vessel chosen by our mother... a body of youth for the beauty of youth... a mind with vast wisdom... the mental strength to endure a soul such as Zinnia...*
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This vessel is the same one Zinnia will use to walk the Earth again. Zinnia no longer needed Illios's offer, Zinnia had no body to give. The body that she died with was used to give birth to her children, thus leaving no body to give. Zinnia wanted to see "The Bloom", the term used to describe the curse she'll befall on the world, changing it to her bidding. They felt a feeling of their hearts dropping, they looked at each other, but one was missing. They looked into the crystal, and there she was.

> *Zinnia... dear mother... I offer you a vessel of your choosing... Shall your end begin...*
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Edelle was sealed within the crystal. They started to panic. Chizzy and Kasumira started to thrash at the crystal. Illios stood with the look of guilt. Michael looked with a grim face, knowing what was to come next. Sytamni only confused... and as for Edelle, she was scared.

Illios's offer... no longer meant anything to Zinnia at that point. Zinnia wanted only another vessel, she didn't want to waste any time. Though, for the offer that was granted to her, Zinnia was willing to put Illios's soul at peace, one with a tree that is. She will see The Bloom as it takes place, though Zinnia wanted to have it where she could use necromancy at will, for having Illios's soul intact...

Kasumira... she held the stones in which they apparently "needed."

> *Still have all the stones? If only you gave me the Stone of Sight yesterday... maybe things would have changed. You might not have had to see your friend's soul be ripped from her mind.*
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Maybe things could have changed if she was given the stone of Sight... though would this stop ZInnia from wanting another vessel? Chizzy... her sister was dear to her. She didn't want to see her sister be in danger, though for how Chizzy was, she didn't know what death was, nor did she know what was to come for her sister...

> *But alas, your time is nigh, Edelle. As said by Sadness, I'll leave you in the deepest part of my mind. Oh and don't worry about you not seeing your friends again, because you will. I'll be there to watch each of my children eat them. Goodbye, Edelle. It was fun! But don't worry...This isn't the end for the two of us. I'll see you later... in the Nightmare.*
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Edelle was moved to the bottom of the void... her friends trying to reach, but unable to break through. Zinnia's soul appeared, and descended to Edelles' level, slowly, with a evil smile plastered on her face. The trident she used floated slowly beside her. Edelle trembled in fear, Kas and Chizzy screaming for it to stop. "I don't... I don't want to die..." And with that, the trident flew at her, ripping through her chest, and falling to the ground. The Void below began to fill with blood, and continued to fill... until the group was walking on blood. Though as impossible as this seems... it was all a dream... or was it..? The world around them began to enclose around them, threatening to crush them, before they woke up, Kasumira with the dark stone in hand. They looked around frantically, it was a dream, everyone should have been alright, right? They were sleeping on the ground... nothing could have happened... Everything should be ok... But Edelle was nowhere to be seen.

> ***I await you... to Happiness.***
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