The Secret of the Stone

After the meeting Cloud and I returned to our room. I crashed onto my pallet but I couldn’t rest, I again found myself tossing and turning uncontrollably. I couldn’t help worrying about my mom. I felt angry at Cloud and the king of Enos but I wasn’t quite sure why. I started to wander if the king knew more than what he was saying. They were all too happy for me to stay here. Cloud sensed I was awake.

“Violet you should try and get some sleep,” he suggested. “If I know the captain we will be leaving quite early.”

I didn’t respond nor did I sleep the rest of the night and neither did Cloud we just lay there in silence. When I finally did shut my eyes it seemed like only a few minutes had passed when there was a knock at the door then Storm stuck his head in the door.

“Cloud the captain would like to leave in one hour.”

“Thanks Storm.” said Cloud groggily.

“Is it morning already?” I complained.

“It’s time to wake up Letti.” Cloud tugged at my pallet with his teeth. I eyed him annoyed at morning and that he had once again called me Letti.

“There is some water to wash and a change of clothes. The King had them sent to you, they were Celestia’s from the last time she came and visited us,”said Storm brining in the bundle with his teeth.

“I’ll give you a few minutes,” said Cloud as he and Storm dashed out the door and down the corridor.

I didn’t feel right wearing Celestia’s clothes but at least I would be able to blend in better in this strange place without jeans and a t-shirt. I washed up and put on the outfit. It fit me perfectly and was very comfortable. It consisted of trousers and a long dress with short sleeves. The light blue ensemble included some darker blue rugged laced up boots and a beautifully designed knitted belt. I put on the necklace and by the time I finished Cloud had returned.

“Wow, you look great, much better.” he commented. He saw that I had not tied the belt correctly and pulled it with his teeth until it fit just right.

“Thanks.” I responded shortly, but it did look nice. In this outfit I felt like a princess I felt a little more confident. Cloud smiled at me as if he knew what I was thinking.

“Everyone is waiting for us,” he reminded me.

“Well, lead the way then.” Cloud took off again down the hall and I followed him back through the corridors past the main hall. We did not exit through the main entrance but through a side door that led into the court yard. At the sight to me everybody stopped what they were doing. I felt uncomfortable with all the attention and tried not to return their curious glances. Census dropped the ropes he had in his hand and stomped off in the other direction. Nayr approached us.

“Good Morning Violet.” He was his usual optimistic self even early in the morning. “Did you eat something?”

“No not yet.”

“Come over here!” he led me toward a large table filled with food. “Rabbit food gets a little old after a while,” he tried to whisper but the spotted rabbit walking by overheard him and gave him a queer look. He smiled apologetically at the rabbit. “Groundclaw has been gracious enough to prepare some foods from Nevele and Enos.” However the food on the table looked even stranger to me than the rabbit food I had eaten in our room.

“What do you recommend?” I asked unsure what to take.

“Have a seat and I’ll fix you a plate.” I sat down at the end of the table and Nayr prepared me a plate consisting of a pastry and some sort of blue fruit. He then poured me a glass of juice from a pitcher.

“I don’t suppose you have a cup of coffee, do you?”

“Coffee?” He asked confused.

“Never mind,” I smiled and tasted the pastry. It was very good. Not too sweet but flavorful unlike anything I had ever eaten before.

“Good Morning, Violet.” It was the king followed by two attendants. “I hope you had a goodnights sleep.”

“Oh, Yes.” I lied as I stood up from the table. “Thank you for the clothes your highness.”

He nodded. “There are a few more. They have been packed for you for your trip.” One of the attendants was preparing a plate for the king the other went to consult with Cordum.

“Your highness, Can I ask you a question?”

“Of course my dear,” he replied.

“It seems strange that I would look so much like your daughter. Do you think we are somehow related?”

The king paused for a moment before he spoke. “There are many things that we do not understand.”

“I never knew my father.” I added. “My mother didn’t talk about him much. I think the memory was too painful for her.”

“Celestia is my only daughter and I have never heard of Earth until you arrived. I’m sorry.”

“Right, how could you?” I replied.

“Your Highness,” the second attendant had returned. “I am sorry to interrupt.”

“Excuse me my dear. What is it?” the king replied.

“Everyone is ready. They are waiting for you and the…” he caught himself before he said the “P” word, “…the young lady.”

The King and I headed toward the center of the courtyard where everyone had gathered. I followed behind anxiously. I didn’t mean for the question to come out the way it sounded. Had I just asked the king if he was my father? It was impossible I thought, or was it? If Celestia could send Cloud to Earth then why couldn’t it have happened before?

I found a spot to hide behind a huge column. Cloud found me there. He could tell that something was on my mind.

“Is everything okay?” He asked. I pulled Cloud behind the Column.

“Cloud, do you think Celestia and I could be related.” I blabbed.

“Well.” Cloud didn’t sound surprised. “It certainly is likely.”

“You think so too?”

“I think it has crossed everyone’s mind,” said Cloud.

“But Enos denied it.”

“I have known the king all my life. I don’t believe he would deny his own child. I don’t know Violet but the way things are going the truth is bound to come out sooner or later.”

Cordom approached us. “Come on you two. It’s time we headed off.” Cloud headed toward Groundclaw, Storm and the other rabbits to say his goodbyes. I followed behind him. The King of Enos was standing nearby when he turned to me and took me by the hand.

“Violet, safe journey and I pray you are able to find the princess and the answers you are searching for.” I nodded, surprised by his words.

Groundclaw called out to me. “Violet, I wish you much success on your mission. Cloud won’t let anything happened to you, right Cloud?”

“That’s right.” Cloud replied sincerely.

I nodded back at them. Cloud motioned to me that it was time to go. I followed him over to where the Captain, Nayr and Cordom were standing.

Nayr handed me a pack. “I suppose the princess shouldn’t have to carry a pack.” he joked.

“Everyone has to carry their own weight around here.” answered the Captain sternly. He snatched the pack from him and handed it to me abruptly. “Let’s Go.” I grabbed the back pack from him and hesitantly put it on. We followed the captain to a side door that led to a tunnel.

The tunnel led to the other side of the castle. The tunnel was long and dark with only a few crystals letting off a dim light. The Captain was in front studying a map. Nayr was telling Cordom a funny story and Cloud and I tugged along behind.

“Where are we going?” I asked Cloud.

The Captain overheard me. “If you had bothered to attend this morning’s meeting. You would know that we are headed towards the Obscurian Mountains to reach Jailan’s cave.” He snarled.

Cloud and I looked at each other annoyed by his tone.

“I can see that this is going to be a long trip.” I said aloud.

Once we reached the end of the tunnel, we hiked for hours through the rugged mountains that lay behind the rabbit kingdom. I struggled to keep up. I began to wander if I would collapse with each passing step but I enjoyed being in the mountains that were just as beautiful as the forest of Enos. As we went higher it became colder. The trees were tall, thick and dark. They were teaming with life. I saw animals similar to those on earth but somehow different. Mostly bigger and not as easily frightened nor were they aggressive. As we passed, they didn’t run away. Some stopped to stare at us and others didn’t seem to notice us at all. There were black squirrels that were three feet tall and plump deer, and from a distance I spotted what looked like a neon green and white zebra. I continued to push forward in a tired daze.

“Letti, are you tired?” asked Cloud. I could barely talk I was so tired. I stumbled over some rocks when Cordum caught me before I fell.

“Careful!” he warned. The captain looked back and decided to really stick it to me by moving at an even faster pace.

“Captain, don’t you think we could take a short rest.” suggested Cloud.

“We have a lot of ground to cover before night fall.” He responded and kept climbing.

“I think Violet is tired. She is not used to all this.”

The captain stopped and turned around. He walked down to where Cloud was. He glanced at Cloud and then me.

“Alright we’ll rest. You have ten minutes.” he said. I could tell that I was not the only one who was relieved.

I fell to the ground and stretched out. I didn’t care that it was dirty. I closed my eyes. Cloud sat down beside me.

“He doesn’t like me very much, does he?” I remarked.

“He’s not so bad. You just have to get to know him.” Cloud picked up a stick with his teeth and began to chew on it.

A few minutes later, that I didn’t believe was quite ten, we were on our way again up the mountain. Cloud let me ride on his back which made the captain even angrier. I even took a nap on his soft fur. I was sleeping when Nayr woke me up when we reached the top of the mountain.

It was cold and the wind was blowing. I shivered. I remembered seeing a cloak in my pack. I took it out and put it on. I was ready to walk again.

“Enjoy your nap?” said Cordum jokingly.

“It was actually quite refreshing.” I smiled. I could sense Census’s contempt. I ignored him and walked alongside Cloud petting him on the back.

He wasn’t going to let me get away so easily. He walked up beside us.

“Do you want some advice?” He asked. Not particularly I thought to myself.

“What’s that?” I replied unconcerned. “This is a very dangerous mission that we are on. It’s not a joke.”

“I understand that, Captain.” I replied sarcastically.

“Do you? You should try and pull your own weight and not make yourself a burden to Cloud or anyone else.”

“Is that what I am to you a burden?”

“You don’t have the discipline or the training to be on this type of mission and you place all of us at risk.”

“Now hold on captain,” Cloud interrupted. “We all know that Violet is not a soldier, it was the king of Enos that commanded that she come along. If you had a problem with that you should have taken it up with him. I promised Groundclaw that I would look after her. I will bear her burden.”

“See that you do.” He stumped off.

“Okay he is my friend and all but he is starting to get on my nerves,” said Cloud.