Date: Fri, 15 Jan 2016 09:32:16 -0500 From: David Mathenge Subject: A Memoriam Of Trees 12 A Memoriam Of Trees I, Alexandre Savoie, Alias Romantyke or David Mathenge, claims ownership to this story. Readers are to be reminded that donations are greatly generous and accepted with many thanks. This is part twelve. There are only three parts left after that one, and the second book will follow. Again, I have written most of the whole story. The problem is taking the time to make sure they are all done before sending them to Nifty. There are also my travels which cuts free time a lot. My man misses me... I also have to remind everyone that this story is exclusive to Nifty. Personally, I don't mind money, fame nor anything about writing. If you share it around, I don't care. But first, think about what it might involve. However, I doubt Nifty does have the same opinions, as they give publishing bindings to their authors. And I respect them. It is up to you all to either respect the publisher, or throw away the works of both author and its manager. July 31st 2009 Vallee-de-la-Rouge Quebec, Canada Ever since Amethyst's Graduation Ball, and the incredible euphoria it has brought to her, Todd and me, a great sentiment of froideur was spreading throughout the whole farm community. Though summertime was at its best, it seemed no one wanted to be happy anymore. Something was obviously uncanny, as Amethyst arrived with Todd holding her hand, at the Ballroom's doors. There has been a sudden hush, and Amethyst had just taken her time getting down the staircase with her dance partner. Most people did not seem to recognise her at all. As if Vinbieth's magic did far too well. I had merely the time to hide in the crowd, to hear the bad girl's whispering urgently between themselves. 'Elizabeth! Look! It's HER!' The leader of those girls, Elizabeth, the very same who dared to destroy Amethyst original dress, had got pale and her face was all blanched with utter rattling. 'It's impossible...' she had managed to mutter. Her voice had the purest hatred, the maddest jealousy and the most murderous want I ever had heard. Another of the girls had turned to her. 'But, there has not been time! It has been only a few minutes! It did not even took time for us to have the first dance and a drink, and back she is!' The first girl who spoke added: 'The Black man with her... who is he? He looks like the one we saw earlier in the carriages, but he changed too... well, maybe he has a brother?...' Elizabeth had tears of rage on her cheeks. She merely hit the two others on the back of the head. 'Don't you see, you fools?! She has evidently got help! Ahh, if I ever find out who did this...' 'Not for that hairstyle, Eli!' retorted the third girl. 'It would take forever for that hairstyle! Look, it's gorgeous! And yet so... medieval!' 'The dress!' added the first. 'That is the best dress I have ever seen in my whole life! Not even in the richest women's dress magazines!' 'And she seems to sparkle! Like diamonds being put on her!' 'Eli, that peasant and her Black both look the best in the whole room! Aren't you mad? What say we rip her again?' Elizabeth did not answer. Staring with slitted eyes at Amethyst's dress skirt as the first dance began, she seemed to be racking her brains. Nobody dared to go on the dance floor. There was some magic left within the place, because no one dared to move at all, they just stared, as Todd started to dance with Amethyst. Again, Vinbieth had magicked Todd and Amethyst's dance skills. And perhaps he had gone even further, cause instead of music coming from the speakers, a full orchestra had just appeared out of thin air and started to play a love valse. No one seemed to notice, except me. Then the dance began. The only thing I had eyes for was the dress's skirt which seemed to fly, flutter and swirl as if there was wind, and yet not a breath was to be felt. It seemed to last for hours, but at the end, Todd and Amethyst had finished before I even noticed, and they had bowed to each other. No one dared, or thought, to applause. A twinge of magic prickled my body, and everybody began applauding. Vinbieth yet again did some of his magic. Elizabeth had remastered herself, but still seemed very stricken. 'Girls, I am sorry. But what happens tonight is just impossible. It takes magical powers.' 'Why?' asked the other two. 'Look there.' She was pointing at the orchestra. Yet Vinbieth seemed to have gone even further, because the whole ballroom had been completely remade by magic. From a modern fashion, it had slowly, very slowly taken the shape of a eighteenth century inspired ballroom, from the second colonial empire. Everybody was looking around, some looking very confused, some utterly terrified. Another touch of magic, and everybody seemed to forget everything and the real dance started. Elizabeth and her friends had no dance partners. Several other graduates had, though, and joined Todd and Amethyst for the common dance. The orchestra entamed a champagne valse, and everything became a swirl of smokings, dresses and shoes. Of course, Amethyst and Todd were the center of attention, and they both radiated so much magic that they were standing out from the crowd. The evening went on and on as drinks followed, then the dinner, and finally, the goodbye ceremony. Amethyst, Todd and I were climbing the staricase back up, when Elizabeth barred the exit, flanked with her two girls. 'It's you, right?' she simply asked to Amethyst. Amethyst, who seemed to have had the time of her life, lost her smile right away, and backed away a few steps. No way... They could not rip apart that new dress. 'You did not heed our command, peasant. It's really you, huh?' sneered Elizabeth. Her eyes were examining her rival. 'Who helped you? huh? Answer me!' Todd did not dare to interfere. He simply exchanged a look with me. 'I don't know!' Amethyst replied very honestly. 'Liar! What are all these things on yourself? Huh? What happened to this... room? How did that orchestra appear? You have supernatural powers, do you, peasant?' 'No... I... fled away after you ripped my dress... and as I was crying... stardust flew all around me... and when I came to, I was like this.' Elizabeth and her girls gaped. But Elizabeth took herself back very quickly. 'You are far more than meets the eyes, peasant. Now quit babbling, and tell me who is your dress maker, your hairdresser, and your shoe maker. Now!' I decided to interfere at once. The time had come to shut up those horrible girls and just scare them for life. I took a step forward, silently asking Vinbieth for another bit of magic, and just spat: 'I made the wish for Amethyst to have the best evening ever in her life so far, and this is what happens. You stupid girls, you ever have wondered why magic never comes to you? Because you are evil, cruel and arrogant. Wishes are not granted to evil hearts. All what happened tonight are for true, and yet it had been the results of a wish, my own wish. See this Black man here, Todd, he never had long hair, nor any beard, and he certainly doesn't ever wears that stuff. The ballroom transformation and the orchestra are also magic effects of the same righteous wish. And no.... God had nothing to do with that. It's been granted by a tree shepherd. So just beat it, and may you live someday what Amethyst did live as she was running with her heart torn in shreds!' Elizabeth had gone pale again, but rage overcame her and she had taken a step forward to destroy yet another time Amethyst's dress. Amethyst screamed, lost her balance, and her shoe flew away, but Todd caught her just in time. The silver slipper landed with a glassy cling clang on the ballroom floor. Elizabeth and the other girls had started to scream as well. Whipping around, Todd, Amethyst and I saw no longer the ones we just faced, but three horrors. Their dresses were no longer dresses, but rags, and true peasant rags. Grey, frayed, ripped, dirty, and strongly smelling of excrements. Their hair were cut with such violent magic that there was no other options for them than having it shaved to the skin. From evening girls, they had become true peasants, the very insult they gave to Amethyst. They were gone in a flash. All three, horror struck, crying, and heart torned. Magic had done justice yet again. Their mothers back home would have a fit... Todd had recuperated the silver slipper and had given it back to Amethyst, who put it back on her foot. Then we all came outside, where a carriage was waiting for us. Surely another piece of Vinbieth's good deed. The carriage was a simple one , yet carried by four beautiful white pegasus charges, and snow was falling directly on the whole thing. Todd helped Amethyst climb inside it, and I went inside after them. And it took off to the air, towards home. 'I am gay, you know, Amethyst. So you will forgive me if I can give Maxime here a good kiss.' Amethyst simply smiled, as Todd gave me a sweet kiss with his thick brown lips. Unlike Cinderella, the magic did not disappear completely at all. We arrived at the farm, and the carriage was gone again to the skies as we came inside the house. It was why, maybe, froideur seemed to have taken the farm. Yes... maybe. Amethyst had put her magical blue dress on her original pink dress support in the middle of her room. She also had taken the care of placing her silver slippers near the wardrobe. The hairstyle she had was gone after her shower. The sparkles on her face and her skin also washed away. Yet, it was obvious that, after that unforgettable night, Amethyst was no longer a farmgirl, but was now a woman. And the only beacon of happiness on the place. Todd and I smoked over ten cigarettes while we made love, before we fell asleep. The toffee coloured cat, the vortex coloured cat and Chaya, the Siberian Husky dog, came to join us afterwards. That froideur seems to grow intense... Did it really had anything, anything at all, to do with Amethyst's graduation ball? Night has begun to fall on the propriety. The real quest is due to happen soon, I deem. To be Continued... Boutigny-sur-Opton France Europe