Classified Ministry of Defense Research Facility, Rangerville Crater, Monday, May 17, 2021, 6:45PM
It towered over them, glowing with its own inner luminescence, vibrant with life.
The Ministry of Defense engineering corps had clearly built the massive chamber around it, carving space out of the bedrock of the crater to house and contain what they had found here. It was just as clear to Molly that all their work and ingenuity hadn't been up to the task.
This plant, this being, this eldritch horror, was beyond them all.
"What... what is it?" Molly asked, her mouth dry.
"A creature of the Farthest Realms, at the very edge of the Outer Darkness," Lucius answered. "A Mother of Flowers."
"That... doesn't sound so bad," Molly said hopefully.
"Oh, it's much, much worse," Lucius said brightly. "We... everyone in Rangerville... are in terrible danger. This is the worst possibility that I suspected and desperately hoped I was wrong."
"Great," Molly chuckled nervously.
"Well, let's introduce ourselves," Lucius said, starting across the massive chamber.
"Sure... wait, what?" Molly said, following him.
The platform had probably been built as a place to study the titanic being, to observe and take samples. Still, Molly imagined it was ideally suited for tiny creatures like her and Lucius to try to speak with this giant.
"Mother of Flowers," Lucius said formally. "Know me as Taranis Stormcaller of the Tuatha de Dannan. I would approach and speak with you."
The giant plant, ancient being, Mother of Flowers, rumbled and shuddered in response.
"You have slept long, Mother of Flowers," Lucius continued. "The war is ended and by the Treaty of Moy Tura, this Realm was ceded to the Tuatha de Dannan. Your people have withdrawn once more to the Farther Realms. I offer you safe passage, to return to your home."
"TUATHA DE DANNAN!" The Mother roared. " DIÚLTAÍM DO THAIRISCINT."
"The Formoiri and their allies were defeated, Mother of Flowers," Lucius replied. "A second time, I offer you safe passage back to your far Realm."
"IS LIOMSA AN RÉIMSE SEO." The titanic horror bellowed.
"No longer!" Lucius yelled back. "Thrice and done. Return to whence you came!"
"GHEOBHAIDH TÚ BÁS!"
"Others have tried and failed," Lucius sneered.
-------------------------
"OK, what the Hell was all that?!" Molly demanded. "Wars and treaties and tuatha de something or other? What is going on? Who are you?!"
After Lucius's tense exchange with the Mother of Flowers, they had retreated to the Project Orchid lab.
"I am the same person you've known," Lucius answered. "Over the centuries, I've had other names, but I remain myself. As for the rest..."
"My people - the Tuatha de Dannan - come from another Realm. We were explorers once, sailing in our silver ships amid the sea of stars and crossing the Void between Realms.
"I was little more than a youth then... what you would call a teen... though among my people I was considered an adult and a warrior. I followed my king, Nuada Silveroak, and Manannan, his sworn brother. In our travels we visited many Realms, many worlds... including this one.
"This Realm, when we came to it, was fair, and green. Some of us longed to make a home here... but others had come before us.
"They were the Formoiri... our kin but also our rivals. They claimed this Realm for themselves and, under the rule of their cruel king, Balor of the Poisoned Eye, they had already begun to conquer and enslave your people.
"The war between us was terrible. I had left my home a youth, full of dreams of glory and honor. I found the reality of battle to be... much different than my dreams.
"In the course of our war, each side called upon allies and friends made in our travels. The pixies aided us as scouts and a messengers, and svartalf artificers forged for us dreadful weapons. The Formoiri too had allies... and among them were the Mothers of Flowers, whose sweet scent could bespell even the strongest wills and turn friend into foe.
"In the end, at the Second Battle of Moy Tura, we overcame the Formoiri and forced them to accept our terms."
"The Formoiri and their allies were made to abandon their claims to this Realm, and they retreated to the edge of the Outer Darkness, where they wait still," Lucius concluded. "This Mother is, I hope, the last of her kind here.... a survivor of that ancient war. She does not accept her defeat nor acknowledge the Treaty. She was promised rich, green fields to grow her flowers and rule, and she will take what she was promised, if she can."
"So, to sum up, you're an ancient magical warrior and she's a mind-controlling eldritch horror looking to conquer the world," Molly said. "This is, what, Elves vs Flowers, Grudge Match 2021?"
"I rather like the sound of that," Lucius chuckled.
"But you can beat her," Molly said. "You did before, right? You know what she is now. You know her Name. You can beat her."
"Perhaps," Lucius nodded. "I have an idea."
--------------
Author's Note: Translating the Mother of Flowers (via Google Translate and with apologies to native Irish speakers).
DIÚLTAÍM DO THAIRISCINT - I reject your offer.
IS LIOMSA AN RÉIMSE SEO - This field is mine.
GHEOBHAIDH TÚ BÁS! - You will die!
No comments:
Post a Comment