Batafurai

Even though Ivy had been so sure the prana-covered trees she had seen from the lake had been the border of a forest, she could not have been more wrong. They only walked on the small path that led them through the trees for a few minutes when the trees gave way to a large valley. Ivy gasped loudly when she saw the valley. The valley was covered in flowers in every possible color. Near the back of the valley, where more trees were growing than in the front, was a rather tall hill. The road led up the hill, circling around it as it did, and eventually led to a large mansion on top.

The mansion was made from shiny white stone which also seemed to give off a small pink glow. Ivy could see even from here that the large windows had no glass in them and were completely open. The large door also appeared to have no actual door. She glanced at her sister and she could read the tension on her face. So that must be it… The place where her daughter lives, Ivy thought.

Through the valley flowed a number of small streams, each filled with the clearest water Ivy had ever seen. She could see the bottom, the water plants and the fish without any trouble. She could see the streams all originated in one single spring from the centre of the flower field, and most likely the centre of the island.

Without saying another word, Taira stepped forward. Ivy followed her sister, but stopped cold when she heard a voice.
“I have not seen this face before.”
“Neither have I.”
Ivy looked around, looking for ponies, but she saw none.
“What…?” She said, but her sister did not seem to pay any special attention.
“Over here.” The voice said, and Ivy realized it came out of the flower field.

She looked closer, but she did not see anyone, except for a rather large butterfly. And another one.
“Yea, over here.” Ivy literally jumped up when she realized it was the butterfly who was talking.
“Taira!” She yelled.
“What is it?” Her sister asked.
“That… Those… Over there…” She pointed at the two butterflies who sat on top of a large magenta flower. “Yes… butterflies. Did you really think that ponies were the only intelligent species to walk on this earth?” Taira asked.
Well, yes, Ivy had to admit. She had not once thought it would be possible that other creatures apart from ponies would be able to talk and think.

“You could introduce yourself, you know.” One of the butterflies said to her, “Or are you unable to talk properly?”
“Well, of course I’m not.” Ivy replied. “I just… never saw another speaking creature apart from ponies before.”
“Well, that is to be expected.” The other butterfly said, “Ponies have taken over the entire continent, after all. Not many of my kind survive out there now… But alas, let’s not dwell on these things. My lady…” The butterfly turned towards Taira now, “I have to admit I had not thought to see you again.”

Taira did not reply, but only smiled faintly. She obviously did not know what to say, and Ivy wondered if she even remembered who these butterflies were. Had she really regained all of her memories? Throughout their journey, Ivy had begun to doubt that more and more.
“When I left, I told prince Fjaril that one day, I would come back to him. Here I am. I assume he is in the mansion?”

Though her words were strict, the kind tone in Taira’s voice was something Ivy had not heard before. This was Taira’s home… in more ways than one, Ivy realized. This was the only good home Taira had ever had. Of course, she had been born in the old lands, but Ivy did not think Taira remembered very much from that time. Those two years of her life she had spend here… they have to be one of the few happy memories Taira holds on to, Ivy realized.

“Yes, my lady. He is there.” One of the butterflies answered. “We will escort you there.”
The butterflies got off their flowers and flew up into the air. Taira followed them, and silently, Ivy followed too. This place truly was magical, she thought as she walked through the flower fields. Taira’s daughter had grown up here… would she be as magical as this place? Ivy somehow could imagine she would, if she had never left this island…

The path curled through the flower fields to eventually reach the hill. The mansion stood on top of it, looking out over the fields. From the hill the view was even better. Ivy had never seen so many flowers in one place before. The pink trees surrounded the field, and Ivy was unable to see the lake anywhere. The trees completely blocked her view, though Ivy had the idea they should not, as they were not higher than the hill she was standing on now.

Her gaze shifted from the flower fields to the mansion. It was large, but not as large as her own castle. It was very open. All the windows had no glass in them, and there were no doors. It was almost as if the ponies that lived here did not have to be afraid of rain or wind or cold. “Please wait here.” One of the butterflies said, and he flew inside.

The light pink stones used for the mansion looked really neat and clean, as if they were never even touched by the elements. The two wooden benches that stood on either side of the doorway looked exactly the same, untouched by anything but the wood they are made of. Ivy did not dare to sit down on them or touch the mansion, for she was afraid nothing had ever touched it before.

A few moments later Ivy heard the sound of ponies walking from within the mansion. They got closer, and Ivy felt her heart beating in her throat. Was she finally going to meet Taira’s daughter? However, Ivy felt her heart sink when she saw that neither of the two ponies that were approaching them was Taira’s daughter.

One of them was certainly Fjaril, even though he was different from what Ivy had imagined him. His dark purple coat glowed in the soft sunlight. The first and third parts of his mane were even darker purple than his coat, and the middle part of his mane and tail seemed to be as yellow as the sun. His green eyes looked like they were made of the roots of the flowers that grew on the island. He was different from all the men Ivy had met before. He definitely seemed nicer than the men in the west who seemed to regard her as a secondary species, but he was not as soft as the men she knew from the west, either. He had an important place in this world, and he was very much aware of it, yet he did not seem arrogant.

The other pony was an elderly woman. Ivy had no idea who she could be, but she did resemble Fjaril a little. Though her coat was light purple she had the same yellow color in her mane and tail as Fjaril had. She looked nice and kind, and Ivy suspected this was Fjaril’s mother.

“Taira… you have returned to me.” Fjaril said with a shaky voice when he saw it was indeed Taira who was standing in front of him. He seemed honestly moved.
“Yes… I have. I am sorry it took me so long to get here.” Taira said.
 “I am sure you have a good reason on why it took you so long. Even though I have to admit I had lost all hope of ever seeing you again… You are here now.” Fjaril smiled.
“I am.” Taira confirmed.

Fjaril’s gaze shifted from Taira to Ivy.
“Fjaril… this is my younger sister, Ivy. She escorted me on my journey here. Ivy, this is Fjaril, and his mother, Daiyin.”
“A pleasure to meet you.” Ivy said, but the ponies only nodded to her.
“Fjaril… Ruki… is she not here?” Taira asked.
The delight instantly disappeared from Fjaril’s face. Ivy’s worst fear was immediately confirmed; Taira’s daughter Ruki was not here on the island. Taira seemed to have understood it as well, as her eyes grew big with shock and disappointment.

“Taira… I am sorry, but Ruki is not here. She left… almost two years ago.” Fjaril answered. Almost two years ago…
“Where? Why did she leave?” Taira asked, concern flowing from her voice. Fjaril did not answer immediately. He closed his eyes as if he wanted to find some place where he could be alone to sort out his thoughts. When he opened them again, he said
“I think it is best if I tell you alone. I have a lot to tell you, and you have a lot to tell me. A lot has happened, Taira, to both you and me. Why do you not come with me to the garden, where we can talk in private?”

Ivy did not feel excluded by Fjaril’s answer. She knew Fjaril and Taira had things to discuss together and she would find out when she was meant to. Taira nodded and followed Fjaril into the mansion. When they had disappeared out of sight, however, Ivy did not really know what to say to Daiyin. The old pony had not yet spoken a word, and Ivy did not know how to address her.  Thankfully, Daiyin broke the silence with a sweet smile.

“Girl, you look tired and weary. I am sure you have had a long and tiresome journey. Would you care for some strawberry juice?”
“That would be wonderful.” Ivy smiled to the woman. Strawberry juice… She had never had it before, but it seemed tasty enough, and she would love something different then water and random bread.
“Very well. Please take a seat on one of the benches, I will go and get your juice.”

Daiyin also disappeared into the mansion, and Ivy carefully sat on one of the wooden benches, afraid to harm them. It did not take long for Daiyin to return with four glasses of juice, two large and two small. She put down the smaller ones and the butterflies immediately began to drink from them. Ivy looked at the butterflies while they devoured the juice. They seemed to like it a lot, so she took a small sip herself, and she found she loved the sweet drink, too.

“I take it you have never seen butterflies like this before?” Daiyin said as she watched Ivy look at the butterflies. Ivy blushed.
“I’m afraid not. I’ve never seen a talking creature apart from ponies before. I have to admit I never thought other intelligent creatures existed.”
“Oh, but dear, that’s not so strange. Once upon a time, long long ago, even before the time of the guardians, lots of different species lived on this continent, but not many of them could adapt to the changes that took place in the world. And when one day the Goddess appeared, ponies learned how to use the magic of the earth, which all creatures needed to survive. But because the ponies used the earth’s powers for their own good, most of the species disappeared from this world.

This island is one of the few places in the world where this power still flows freely and uncontrolled. We are only here to make sure this stays so. My son’s magic, and his father’s before him, protect this island and make it invisible for anyone except those we want here. If you were not with Taira, I do not think you could have entered this island. You would have ended up on the other side of the lake.”

Wow… so this island was even more important and special than Ivy had thought at first. Concealed by the world by ponies that lived here just to protect this island…
“I never heard a story like that. I wonder if even my mother knows.” Ivy sighed.
“I do not think she does. These things go back so far… But there is no turning back to that time anymore. My ancestors once protected this place so they could one day restore the balance of animals living in this world, but I do not think that will ever be possible. One day, this island will vanish, when the king needs more prana than the western lands can give him. When that day comes… the butterflies, this island, it will all vanish.”