CHAPTER 23- LUNA QUARTZ

LUNA QUARTZ

The sun rises in canopy of gold, bright amid the blue, bidding the stars to take their night rest, as darkness surrender, every color changer from tinges of charcoal to a vibrancy. The waves were carelessly dribbling onto the sand.

The breeze brushed my hair to the side of my face and I tuck them through behind my ears.

I pressed my eyes shut and heave a deep sighed because my chest is so heavy. It feels like someone lit a fire inside. But the nature embrace me, soothing away those burdens. I'm shouldering those pain alone.

The leaves dances as the wind began whistling to the trees. The crunches of those dried leaves on my feet, signifying the end of the Autumn season.

I watch the river stretches to the Great tree, where garden and water nypmhs guarding the river of deceased. I released some petals on the air and the nymphs extracted those petals and it's turns into a water Lily. This flower are the light of our beloved one that left the world. The memory still hurts like it just happen yesterday..

THE SOFT MELODIES started as we push the boat of his corpse to the land of the spirit passed to our sacred river for burial. My tears keeps on falling to the rivers. This river signifies the sorrow of pixies; who cried for the lost of their loves one. And now my tears fell for the very first time on this river.

Nagtapon naman ng mga bulaklak ang mga piexes habang papalayo na Ang kanyang kinahihigaan. Si luna eva lang ang nailibing ng maayos ang ibang lunarian hindi. Nailagay narin ang kanyang puntod sa taas ng pixies memorial garden.

Parang bilang nalang kami.  Parang halos mabiak sa dalawa ang puso ko habang palayo na ang bangka at nawala na sa ming paningin. The ability of luna ziegler is not enough to heal him completely. We can't find any Gadalean anymore in Zendalia. Healing fairies are rare to find.

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Nakaupo lang ako sa river habang tanaw ang statwa ng aming guardian at the edge of the river bend. There's a lot of flying lantern after been release and send there deepest condolence upon lunarian. The Empress didn't knew because we don't want her to worry.

I am completely drained away and there's no emotion now. Just blank my tears can tell those pain in my chest. I look up to the cloudy night and rain fell down from the sky. I stayed soak wet sitting beside the river. I slightly glance my fellow lunarian and seen their grievance like mine. Lahat sila blanko ang mukha at natuyo nalang ang aming mga luha sa buong gabing pag iiyak at pagluluksa sa pagkawala ni kuya eva.

Tumayo ako at humigop na malalim na hininga "I'll find that princess! I'll avenge kuya eva"

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I went to the majesties at di na ako magpaligoy ligoy at mamaalam ako upang hanapin at pagbabayaran ng tangang prinsesa'ng iyon ang nangyari kay kuya.

As I entered the hall I saw ate Vanessa talking to someone at dun biglang akong nakaramdam ng sobrang inis at muntikan ko siyang saksakin pero pinigilan ako ng prinsepe at nabitawan ko ang hawak kong kutsilyo. Di niya ako napigilan at nasapak ko ang prinsesa at napahiga siya sa sahig at balak ko na siyang paslangin ng may pumigil sakin at hinawakan ako ng mga kasamahan ko.

"What are doing!! get away from me"

Napaatras sa takot ang prinsesa at di ko alam pero nawala na ako sa katinuan habang nakatingin sa kanyang kasuklam suklam na itsura. "Bitawan nyo ako!"

"Luna Quartz tama na!"

"Bitawan nyo ako hayaan nyo akong pugutan siya ng ulo!!"

"LUNA QUARTZ I SAID STOP!!"

Nagpumiglas parin ako at bumalik ako sa katinuan ng sampalin Ako ni ate sa mukha. Natigil ako ng sigawan ako ni ate at napaluhod akong umiiyak. "Bat Wala man lang kayong ginawa para parusahan ang prinsesa na iyan. Itong ginagawa nyo para nyo na akong tinatraydor!" Galit at puot nalang Ang nasa puso ko at mas naragdagan pa. "Bakit?! di nyo ba bigyan Ng hustisga Ang pagkamatay ni kuy..."

"I said stop!! don't make me repeat myself Luna Quartz!!"

Tumagaktak nalang ang luha ko.

"Ang gusto kolang naman mabigyang hustisya ang pagkamatay ni kuya" Halos manggigil Ako sa kakatingin sa kanya. Nanginginig ako sa galit pero sinaksak ko nalang ang kutisyo sa ang sahig at dulas Ang kamay ko at napapikit Ako Ng maramdaman ko Ang paghiwa nito sa'king balat. Pero wala narin akong pake sa sugat na natamo ko sa kutsilyo hanggang sa maging pula ang sahig na kinaluluhuran ko.

"We can't kill her luna Quartz. Accept the fact.."

"I can't!"

"The Empress told us .."

I hopelessly glanced them and tears filled my eyes "Even the Empress is on her side.." I'm murmuring under my breath.

"If we lay out fingers on her, the Empress won't forgive us"

"I can't, that won't change. She took my brother away from me. I still hate these arrogant human being. They hate us throwing some rumors, spreading them like they were gospel. Killing our people treating us like as an animal... !" Pagkakasuklam ko na pananalita.

Di ko ramdam ang lalim ng pagkapasok ng kutsilyo sa kamay ko dahil sa galit. 

Di ko natiis at inatake ko siya at nagawang ibagsak sa sahig ang ulo niya ng malakas. Hinila nila ako palayo habang nadungisan ko Siya sa mukha ng aking dugo.

Pumiglas ako sa mula sa paghawak nila at muli nang tumalikod. Pinipilit ang sarili na hindi magwala sa galit. Binalingan ko ng tingin ang prinsesa na puno ng puot sa kanyang pagkatao "may araw karin sakin babae ka. May araw karin gatgatin ko rin ang leeg mo Kasama ng mga tao sa monarkiya!"

Umalis ako sa harap nila at pumunta sa lawa at nagiwan ng mga bakas na dugo sa lupa. hinugasan ko ang sugat ko na patuloy lang sa pag agos. Ang init niya at nang ibabad ko sa tubig dun kolang naramdaman ang sakit at hapdi na nagsabay at napangiwi ako habang kagat kagat ang tela at sumigaw sa sakit.

As I scream all the pain I felt wear out and lie down beside the water while my bleeding hand are soaking in the water. Hinayaan ko nalang ang pagdaloy ng luha ko sa king pisnge. Di ko ramdam na sa tagal kong palihim na umiiyak ay napapikit nalang ako.

A L E X

Damang dama kong sakit na galing sa kanyang mga galaw at emotion. Ang sakit parang puputok ang puso ko. Sa galit niya muntikan na niya akong patayin pero kitang kita ko parin ang pagpipigil niya sa sarili.

Nanuyo saking mukha ang mga dugo niyang nakatatak sakin. I tried to swallowed the exlamation that trying to get out of my throat and blink my eyes several times just to stop my tears from falling out.

Kaharap ko ang mga ibang lunarian at tahimik ang mga itong nakatingin Kay Luna Quart. Wala itong malay at ginagamot siya ng isa niyang kasamahan. Nakikita ko na galit at kinapupuotan nila ako pero sinubukan nila paring pigilan at respetuhin ako. Ket di ko iyon ginawa pero parang ramdam ko ang guilt. Even I tried to apologized I can't change everything. I can't change the fact that one of them died on my hands. I murdered someone. Those crimson blood still stained on this hand.

"Ito lang ang unang pagkakataon na di man lang tumalab ang kapangyarihan ko sa sugat niya" alalang wika nung lalake.

Nakita ko ang paglingon sakin ni Luna Vanessa at tahimik lang ito pero sa tingin palang parang alam na alam kong kabaong ang malalagyan ko.

"Di yan mahihilom hanggat hindi pa niya natatanggap ang lahat ng nangyari" napalingon naman ako sa nagsalita at bumaba ang Reyna sa palasyo and she gracefully scooped Luna Quartz in her arms "She's too young for revenge. My poor child. Di nyo siya dapat hayaang mamulat sa galit mula sa tao. Ket sumusobra na sila we must not start any war. War can't chance anything" she narrowed her eyes to me "I trust you but don't take it for granted, you have my respect despite having different in race. I'll treat you as equal as my people.."

"Your so merciful mahal na reyna" the lunarian bowed and kneel in her wake.

"And also, a princess must always protect her subject as a future queen not letting arrogant and greed comes first. You know the seven virtue princess? If you knew then, better heal the history"

I bowed my head gently "I fight together with you, your majesty"

"But.." one of the lunarian became anxious but someone ease those fears. One of them stand and face the Empress

"We trust you your highness but this princess.. "

"She knows everything, Sister syrinx told me so, she saw the possibilities. Ever since she came there this flickering feeling inside me, maybe this girl will be the key to our freedom.." she didn't continued and soon left us

"We lunarian will have no choice but follow our Superiors wish but we still despised you we still have the power to end your your life" said Luna vanessa

"I know.. gagawin ko ang lahat para mapatawad nyo ako"

"You see. Your kingdom is dying and your parents didn't deal about these disaster. My knight lunarian have visited your land just to steal from your cruelty ruler, soldier who was asking for taxes..."

"I know it's the lower aristocrats doing"

"Funny for a princess knew such disaster and didn't even started to stop it. You knew your people in the court are killing your own land. And you still believe that my lunarian stole something from you and making your people suffer" she scoff at me and slightly laugh at me

"I have no power. Even as a princess those people in the court can exile me. That's why I'm here to have someone to help me, cause I don't want to fail. Because I believe that Zendalia will co-existed together with humans.."

"Those words aren't lies" Luna Crest interjected and The two lunarian began to scowl at him but Luna Crest defend his word "I too wants to end her life but I trust her.."

"How can you be so sure?!"

" I've seen it"

"Those marks on his wrist!"

"This marks are a long story" he said and pat my head. A slight smile slip my mouth "This is between me any my princess"

Lumapit naman sakin ang isang lunarian na babae "We'll gonna send her back, she can't stay her. Tatanggapin namin ket parusahan kami dahil ket baliktarin ang mundo kami parin ang masama. Our fairy moondusk is dying without our dwarf fairies to taking care of it. Your people stolen something precious from us"

"My fairy workers are still missing, give them back and were moving away. I won't send my soldier to war. I can't let them lies dead there. I love my people" said the Luna Vanessa.

"Trust my princess. If she made one wrong move she'll die on my hand. And she herself say so"

Lunarian narrowed their eyes to me and I slightly bow my heads to them as a respect "Then you have our respect even you became her Erebus"

"Erebus or not my loyalty is in Zendalia. But on one condition. Respect my princess and treat her the same as everyone or be my enemy" Walang ket anong bakas na pagsisinungaling ang makita at narinig ko sa kanya. Seryoso lahat ang kanyang sinabi at nahiya ako sa mga binitawan niyang salita.

We went to the room where Luna Quartz still unconscious. Gusto kong magsalita pero nanginginig ang mga labi ko. But I must do something ket anong gawin ko para lang tanggapin at patawarin nila ako sa malaking kasalanang nagawa.

"I'll do everything para lang mapatawad nyo ako. I'll stay here and learn about the history trust me I have no one else to turn to"

"We tried dear princess. But your history marks the blood of our people"

"But your majesty trust me. If ever I've done one mistake please don't hesitate to kill me" I glance at Luna Quartz and di parin ito nagkakamalay.

"If that's your wish then you have the half of my trust I'll leave my lunarian in your care"

Umalis naman ang reyna kasama ang mga iyon at apat lang kami naiwan sa kwarto. Binalot nung lalake ang kamay ni luna Quartz ng puting tela. Nakatingin lang ako sa sahig at di sila matingnan ng diretso sa mata. Nakita ko ang paggalaw ng daliri niya at nagkamalay na siya. Napanatag naman ako at masaya ang mga kasamahan niya agad siyang hinalikan sa noo. Pero ng magtagpo ang mga mata namin nandun parin ang tingin ng isang taong gustong maghigante.

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Lumabas siya ng palasyo at hinayaan nila akong sundan siya at bumaba siya ng hagdan na walang kasing taas at nanlumo ako ng marating kuna sa ibaba at napaluhod ako at gumapang pakiramdam ko nabali ang tuhod ko sa sobrang taas.

Inalalayan ko ang sarili kong tumayo sa mga naabutan kong bagay at sinundan parin siya hanggang sa makita ko siyang nakikipaglaro sa mga batang may pakpak. Nilampasan niya ang mga ito at may mga nakikuta kaming large bird nest at may mga lumalabas na piexe dun. Nagtago lang ako sa mga palumpong at umakyat sa hagdan at bumungad saking paningin ang mga statwa ng mga piexes na nakatayo. Batid kong isa itong libingan.

I still hid and saw her sat down beside the grave. I saw spider lilies planted on each graves. The red spider lily is often linked with sad memories, such as last goodbyes or the death of a loved one. All I know that these flowers are planted on gravesites for protection and to honor the dead.

"Why are you following me princess" nabigla naman ako sa sinabi niya at di parin ako lumalabas "I said why are you following me?"

"I know you won't forgive me but please give me chance to be your Allie"

"The audacity you can't just rush something like that and ask that ridiculous words to me. If I only had a chance. I would have killed you before I met you. I despised more than anything"- pagbabanta aniya sakin. Lumapit ako at humarap sa libingan habang nakatalikod siya sakin. "Di ko mapapatawad ang kalupitan nyong mga tao sa mga katulad namin nananahimik lang. Inangkin nyo ang kalahati ng zethara at halos maubos ang mga pixies sa pagsalakay nyo saming kaharian. Wala kang alam sa history at binubulag ng iyong mga magulang. Natatakot kame na maging reyna kana at di mo pa kami nakikilala. Kapag nabuhay ka parin sa kasinungalingan baka wala na iisang piexe pa ang mabubuhay. Alam ng reyna na mangyayari iyon at balak na naming umalis pero ninakaw nyo pa ang aming dwarf fairies. Di kami pwedeng umalis kapag may kulang pa samin. Di rin kami makakapaglayag nauubos na ang aming naipon na fairy dust"

"I'll help you find them. I know Eastern Moonsune have them. Or maybe somewhere.."

"They're alive??.. that's impossible..."

"Okay then we got ourselves a deal" Bigla akong nakaramdam ng tilang mabigat na bagay sa kamay ko parang may tumali na Hindi ko nakikita "You'll be under our control. Kapag magsusumbong ang mga nakabalot sa kamay mo ang papatay sayo"

"Luna Quartz" napalingon naman kame pareho sa nagsalita at si Luna Vanessa iyon, may dala dalang bulaklak at tinapon sa ilog "the Empress has given us tasks to help the princess in this mission"

She sighed heavily "Guess the Empress is on your side eyy princess? Now you already carve something that will hate you for eternity"

"Hate me I don't mind. I'll do anything for you, until you'll forgive me"

"That'll take Forever"

"Then today is a good start"

She scoff and a small laugh slips her mouth "Whatta weird princess you are"

She added and stood up from her seat. I and she nicked me on my arms. "That's a start..." napaatras siya ng muntikan siyang matamaan ng espada ni Luna Crest

"Lucky for you to dodge that. I warn you already"

"Warn me? You have the gut eh" She scoff "Your traitor of your own kind, Erebus!"

"Being an Erebus is between my master. And I didn't betrayed people. We have our agreement with your fellow lunarian about our deal that who ever lay their fingers on my princess, will be my enemy.." siniko ko naman siya, masyado niya kasing pinapalala ang sitwasyon

"Ano kaba Luna Crest masyado ka Naman masungit Wala Naman siyang ginawang masama.. aray!!" Napaaray ako ng pigain Niya Ang sugat ko

"Eh ano Naman to?"

"Wala lang" Sabi ko at bigla niya lang pinitik ang ilong ko. May kinuha siyang panyo sa bulsa niya at yun ang ginamit niyang pantakip ng sugat ko at bumaba na kami ng hagdan at sumandal nuna Ako sa puno "Maliit na sugat lang naman to e, OA nito" he locked me in the corner and that was shocking. "Hoyy no ba!"

"I won't let anyone hurt you, except for me"