Chapter 15

Fall 22, 2003

As the Witch princess sleeps, she has a dream. Or rather, another painful memory of her past. In her dream, she sees a small group of children playing in a field. She can also see a smaller version of herself hiding behind a tree at the young age of 8 years old. During this time, her mother and father are still alive. Even though her parents told her many times to stay indoors where it's safe, she doesn't listen. She only wants to make friends like the other children.

Watching them laugh and play makes her feel envious of them. Since birth, Princess' only friends were the books of alchemy that her father no longer uses. She knows what will happen if she leaves the house without her mother and father knowing. She knows that she is different than the other children, and it has nothing to do with her blond hair or reddish eyes. But still, she hopes that the others will accept her anyway.

She's trembling, but she slowly walks up to them, hoping that she could join in on their game. It doesn't take long before the group of children notice her approaching them. They quickly stop playing, and stare at her with an awkward glare. From the look on their faces, they are almost offended by her presence.

Princess stops about 15 feet away from the other children. There are four of them, three boys and a single girl. Normally they are good children, but their parents have taught them to hate Princess. She has done nothing wrong, but she is still the most hated person in the entire village.

Everyone knew that Princess' parents could not have children. But with little to no explanation, her mother gave birth to a healthy little girl. Her father also lost his right hand right before the villagers found out she was pregnant. Before long, the villagers started spreading rumors that witchcraft had a hand in Princess' birth, and she was labeled a demon.

“Hi there. . .” said Princess with a nervous tone. She was nervous, but she still wanted to be accepted by the other children.

One of the young boys crossed his arms and says, “Well, well. If it isn't the little Princess. What does the demon girl want with us?”

Princess remained quiet for a moment. She knew that she had to run before things becomes ugly, but she still wants to try. So she gathered up her courage and says, “I noticed you were playing. I was wondering if I could play with you. Maybe we could be friends?”

The expression on the children's faces does not change. They just remain silent looking at her waiting for her to do something. Princess believes that she might be making some progress with them, so she takes a step forward to join them. However, the children frowns angrily which frighten her enough to take two steps back. They quickly grab any nearby stones, and start throwing them at her. She tries to shield herself, but they were throwing them so hard, that the stones would injure her arms. Some of the stones miss her, but the ones that didn't leaves horrible bruises on her arms and face.

“Stay away from us you monster!” screamed one of the boys.

“We don't want to get cursed by the likes of you!” yelled the little girl.

“Why don't you just drop dead and die!” cried the other boy.

Princess has no choice but to give up and go home. She covers one of bleeding wounds on her arm as she returns to her home on the top of the hill. On the way there, she sees the other villagers stare at her with malice in their eyes. She can also hear them whisper horrible things about her, calling her names and starting new false rumors Every now and then, someone would throw something at her reminding her that she is not welcome in the village where she was born.

The Witch Princess wakes up in the morning. She places a hand on her face trying to forget the memories of the past. These memories may be centuries old, but no matter how much time passes, they still haunt her. A constant reminder that she will never be accepted within a group of normal people.

Later that day, the five young bachelorettes Celia, Muffy, Nami, Lumina, and Flora pay a visit to Yuki's farm. This time, they are not visiting to put another one of their devious plan into motion. The girls decided that they want to take a trip together, and they wish to take the sixth member of their club along. Yuki's daughter Choco.

They arrive in front of his house, and knock on the door. It only takes a moment before Yuki opens the door and looks at the five girls waiting. He smiles and says, “Hi there, what can I do for you all?”

Everyone giggles for a moment after looking at Yuki's face. After they've settled down, Muffy steps forward and says, “Hi Yuki! We are wondering if Choco wants to hang out with us today! It'll be a girl's day off!”

“Hang out? Where?” asked Yuki.

“We're gong to the hot springs together as a group.” answered Celia.

“Oh sure! I'll call Choco, and you can ask her yourselves.” answered Yuki. He then steps back in the house to call Choco over to the front door.

After a minute, Choco walks out the door carrying her favorite toy Uma-Kun. She looks up at the five women curiously and says, “Hi. You need to talk to me?”

Lumina kneels down and pats her head saying, “We want to invite you to go to the hot springs with us. Want to come?”

Choco's face beams with excitement. Even though she has busted into the hot springs once while Yuki was inside one time, but she never had the chance to enjoy a visit yet. She quickly runs in, and runs back out in her favorite swimsuit. Choco shivers from the cold Fall air, but she knows that the hot springs is warm enough to bathe, even in Winter.

Everyone laughs. Then Nami says, “Choco, you cannot wear your swimsuit to the hot springs! Everyone is taking a bath, so we won't be wearing anything.”

“Oh, I see.” said Choco just before she runs back in, and changes into something warmer. After grabbing her jacket, she joins the group of single women and starts walking towards the hot springs.

After Choco leaves, Yuki takes a deep breath of relief. This is the first time that Choco will be out in several days. Since Yuki is rarely alone, he tries to relax as much as he can when he is. He throws himself on the couch in front of the television set, and opens a book to read. But after a few minutes of reading, Yuki realizes something.

He puts the book down and says, “It's far too quiet without Choco. I wonder when she will get back home. . .”

Inside the hot springs, Choco runs out of the changing room wearing nothing but a towel to take a look around. Her eyes glow with excitement. The view of the autumn leaves, and the old fashioned hot springs compliment each other very well. It may be getting close to winter, but the spring warms the air enough to walk around comfortably.

The other girls walk out of the changing room also wrapped in towels. They find Choco running around like an excited schoolgirl who has taken a field trip for the first time. “Choco, the floor is a bit slippery. Stop running, or you might hurt yourself,” said Flora.

Choco stops running and says, “sorry about that. I’m just so excited!”

“This is not the first time you've been here you know.” said Celia. “The last time, Yuki was here as well.”

Choco cheered and yells, “I remember!” She then thought for a moment and says, “But dad didn't want to stay, and the lady who lives in the big house passed out.”

Lumina's face turns red remembering the embarrassing vision from that Spring day. Rather than talking about the past, they dip inside the hot springs one by one. They all tied up their hair, and placed their towels on their heads. Their stress that they've built up over the year quickly melt away into the hot spring water.

Muffy stretches her arms and says, “Wow! This feels great! I'm so glad I came, my back was killing me!”

Nami looks at Muffy with envy and says, “yeah, I bet it's because of that full feminine figure. Standing around serving drinks all day with extra weight up front must be a burden on your back.”

Muffy waves her index finger left and right saying, “do I sense a little jealousy?”

“Not really,” said Nami crossing her arms and looking away. “I was just thinking of what's the point of a body like that without a man to enjoy it. You're just going to grow old and wrinkly complaining that you're still single.”

“You don't know what you're talking about!” yelled Muffy angrily. “Someday this body is going to belong to Yuki, and we will have a lot of children!”

Nami then looks at Muffy angrily. And Muffy snarls at Nami back. Even though they are friends, they are also polar opposites and rivals. The only thing that they have in common is their love for Yuki. The same goes for the other girls, their common interests brings them together as good friends, and friendly rivals as well. They sometimes fight and argue, but they all make up in the end.

“Hey, has anyone seen Choco?” asked Celia after noticing that she is not in the spring water.

“Wheeeee!” screamed Choco as she jumps in the hot spring. She crashes into the water, and splashes it all over the place soaking everyone else. They all are annoyed, but they remember that she is still just a kid trying to have fun. Choco starts walking out of the water and says, “I want to do that again! That was so much fun!”

“Choco!” called Muffy. “You're in a hot spring, not a pool. Please don't jump in the water.”

Choco tilts her head to the side and asks, “I can't jump in the water? Then what can I do in a hot spring?”

“Everyone sits down, and relaxes. The hot spring is to relieve stress and muscle aches, not for jumping and playing. If you do play in the hot springs, the hot water may cause fatigue and you might pass out. Do you understand?”

Choco nods. After everything has settled, everyone sits and breathes heavily trying to relax. Choco is much shorter than the other women, so she needs to sit in the shallow end of the springs. It doesn't take long before Choco becomes very bored just sitting still. So she stands up and walks up to Muffy.

Choco nudges on Muffy's arm and says, “lady, I'm bored. Can we do something fun? Can you please tell me a story?”

Muffy sighs and says, “I know that we should have said something sooner, but please don't call me 'Lady'. It's impolite. I do have a name you know.”

Choco stares at Muffy and says, “so, what is your name?”

Everyone stares at Choco awkwardly. Muffy then says, “are you serious? You don't know my name?”

Choco places her index finger in her lip and says, “I never really paid attention. I've been calling everyone 'Lady' or 'Mister' ever since I came to live here. But I really don't know anyone's name.”

Muffy sighs again. She then places her arm around Choco and pulls her close. She points at Celia and says, “okay, let's start learning everyone's names. She is Celia, can you remember that?” Choco nods. Muffy moves her fingers over to the other girls one by one saying, “she is Nami, then Flora, and finally Lumina.”

Muffy then points at herself saying, “you can just call me your future step-mother. After all, I'm going to marry your father, so start practicing that.”

Choco puts her finger on her lip again and says, “step-mother? I don't know. . .” She then points at Muffy saying, “you look more like an auntie than a mother.”

Muffy becomes furious. She grabs Choco, and places her in front of herself. She then starts drilling both her knuckles into Choco's skull yelling, “auntie!? How dare you call me that!? That's something you call an old lady! I'll have you know that I am young enough to be a mother! And I am damn sure that I am young enough to YOUR mother!”

Celia pulls Choco away and says, “stop doing that! You're hurting her!”

Muffy crosses her arms and looks away saying, “brat!”

Celia pats Choco's head trying to relieve the pain caused by Muffy. Choco looks up, and she couldn't help but smile at her kind and caring face. “Don't worry, I won't let Muffy hurt you any more.” She then points at herself and asks, “By the way. If Muffy is like an auntie, then what am I?”

Choco thinks for a moment and says, “you're like a big sister!”

Celia blushes and says, “oh my, a big sister. How cute!”

Nami then approaches Choco and asks, “what about me? What am I to you?”

Choco stares into Nami's face for a moment, then answers, “you look more like a big brother!”

A vein suddenly bulges on Nami's forehead. She then starts running after Choco yelling, “come back here and get your spanking kid!”

Choco runs around yelling, “why are you so mad? You wanted to know so I told you!”

The other girls laugh at both Nami and Choco as they run around in the hot spring. It doesn't take long before Nami tires out from fighting against the hot water, and nearly passes out. But as Choco is running, Celia sees something unusual in her hand. Between Choco's fingers, she can see a small round amber colored crystal with a leather rope tied around it.

Celia waits until the commotion subsides before asking, “hey Choco, what's that in your hand?”

Choco stops moving, and opens her hand to reveal the crystal. “You mean this? This is my pendant.”

“Can I see it?” asked Celia. Choco places the crystal in her hand, and Celia takes a good look at it. “Wow, it's so pretty. Did Yuki give this to you?”

Choco shakes her head and says, “no, I've always had it.”

“Can I have a look?” asked Nami. She takes a close look at the crystal in Celia's hand, and then continues, “Oh, I've seen that before. That day when Yuki and Choco were staying in the Inn last Spring, Choco was wearing it. I guess that she wears it under her clothes.”

Celia gasps and asks, “Choco, did you get this from your mother?”

Choco takes a moment to think hard about her answer before saying, “I don't remember how I got it. I think I've had it since the day I was born. I don't remember at all.”

Everyone sighs. They all believed that it was a clue to Choco's mother, but now they are not sure anymore. Flora stares hard at it and says, “can I examine it a moment?” Celia places the crystal in Flora's hands so she can examine it. She plays around with the crystal checking it's density, clarity, and texture. She raises the crystal in the air, and looks through it toward the sun. She then says, “how unusual. It looks like a piece of amber, but it's definitely not. Amber is much more clearer, and this rock is as hard as diamond. But at the same time, it feels like it weighs nothing. In the many years I've studied rocks, crystals, and minerals, I have never seen anything like this.”

All the other girls stare at it in awe. But Lumina sees something else unusual yet familiar on the crystal. “Can I take a closer look?” she asked. Flora gives the crystal to Lumina to take a good look at the small circular engraving somewhere close to the bottom of the crystal. It's hard to see, but Lumina can see a double helix pattern and strange characters that resemble an ancient language inside the circle.

Everyone else notices the tiny strange circular engraving. They stare at it for a while trying to make some sense out of it. “What do you think that is?” asked Muffy ending the long silence.

“It's a transmutation circle.” answered Lumina.

“And what exactly is that?” asked Flora.

“Not exactly sure. But I do know that it has something to do with alchemy.”

“Alchemy? Like in the periodic table, and the elements?”

“No, that's chemistry. Alchemy is something like chemistry, but much more advanced. Alchemy is the process of breaking down matter, and rebuilding it into something different using spiritual energy.”

“Spiritual energy?” asked Muffy. “That sounds more like witchcraft than science.”

“How do you know about this stuff?” asked Flora.

“I read it in a book when I was younger. I was kinda interested in wizards and witches when I was a kid, so I did a little research on it,” answered Lumina. “You see, many things that we call folklore or fairytales usually is based on something that is true. A long time ago, witchcraft was something we all called something that we did not understand. When something happens, but science cannot explain how it happens, we usually think it's magic.”

“I don't get it.” said Celia.

“How can you not get it? It's so easy to understand,” said Nami. “Look, when a magician pulls a bunny out of his hat, we all think it's magic because we do not know how they do it. But after we learn that there is some sort of hole or some other trick, it's no longer magic because we know how the magician performed the trick.”

“That's correct,” said Lumina. “However, alchemy is different. This practice was the closest thing to magic than anything else people has been able to achieve.”

“How so?” asked Flora curiously.

“It's quite complicated how alchemy works. To even perform the basics of alchemy, you need to be gifted enough to tap into the essence of your soul, channel it onto a transmutation circle, and use that energy to change something into something different. Only one out of every ten thousand people are born able to practice alchemy.”

“I don't quite get it,” said Muffy.

Lumina continues with her explanation, “imagine this. What if you could take sand, draw a circle around it, make a pattern and write some sort of incantation around it. Then you touch the circle, and turn that sand into a glass statue. The funny thing about alchemy is that you don't need to use fire, or any tools to do it.”

Celia shivers and says, “Wow, that does sound like witchcraft. That's so spooky!”

“Alchemy is not all that bad,” continued Lumina. “Alchemists can do a lot of good things for people. Like make medicine using herbs. Make lumber out of straw. Some people even believed that the pyramids were built using alchemy!”

“That's really interesting,” said Flora cheerfully. “But if alchemy is that useful, why doesn't anyone ever practice it anymore?”

“Just like there is good alchemy, there is also forbidden alchemy. Also known as 'Black Magic',” answered Lumina.

“What kind of Black Magic?” asked Celia nervously.

“Just like the things that we believe the witches do. Like make poisons, or burn villages to the ground. Some alchemists were believed to be able to open up gates to the netherworld, and speak to demons. Some alchemists actually know how to break their own bodies down, and reconstruct themselves elsewhere making them look like the can teleport through walls. And some alchemist want to play god, and try to create life.”

“Wow, that does sound scary!” yelled Muffy.

Lumina nods and continues, “After a while, the common people decided that alchemists were becoming too powerful. So they started the 'Witch Hunt', and labeled any alchemists into witches or warlocks. They were all killed, even if they didn't do anything wrong.”

“That's so sad once you think about it. Why would they do that to innocent people?” asked Celia.

“It's because the people were scared,” answered Nami. “Every time we feel that something is too strong or scary, we usually destroy it. It's what people do to protect themselves.”

“That can't be right!” said Muffy.

Nami looks at Muffy and asks, “Okay, let's put that to the test. When you see a bug in the bar, what do you usually do?”

“I'd kill it of course!” said Muffy. “Bugs are so ugly and scary and . . .” After that, she finally understands what Nami was trying to say.

“Maybe it's about time we change the subject,” said Flora.

Everyone nods in agreement, and starts to think about a new subject to chat about. For a while, everyone remains quiet as they think about what to say. Muffy looks down at Choco, and notices that she seems like she wants to say something. Muffy then smiles at her and says, “sorry, did you wanted to say something?”

“Actually, I have a question. I asked dad a few times, but he tells me that he'll answer me when I'm older.”

Muffy pats Choco on the head and says, “go ahead, you can tell us what's on your mind.”

Choco hesitates for a moment, then asks, “where do babies come from?”

Everyone sweats nervously at her question. It's not the question that make them feel uneasy, but it's her situation that makes things complicated. With the exception of Nami, everyone looks at one another wondering what to tell her without making her feel bad about herself.

Nami is the only one who tries to give an explanation. “Let me tell you how it's done. Have you ever seen your dad make the cows give milk? First he needs a bull to-”

Muffy and Flora quickly covers Nami's mouth tightly. Muffy then yells, “are you insane?! You can't explain it that way!”

“So then where do babies come from?” Choco asked again.

“Well, you see. . , ” said Muffy sheepishly. “When a man and a woman love one another, they are supposed to get married. After living with each other for a while, a little baby grows inside the mother for a while, and gives birth to a baby.”

Choco thinks hard about Muffy's vague explanation, and asks, “So, does my dad loves my mom?”

They all start to look at one another once again. Everyone knows that what Choco wants more than anything in the world is a complete family. She has Yuki as a father, but no mother. Any of the girls would be more than happy to become Choco's mother, but Yuki still has no interest in marriage.

Flora walks up to Choco and pats her head. She lifts her chin up and tells her, “Choco, what Muffy said only refers to what is ‘supposed' to happen. But sadly, this is not always the case. Yuki doesn't remember your mother, but we all know that he cares deeply about you. Just remember that, and everything will be okay. After all, we are not related, but you are like family to all of us as well.” Flora then looks at the other girls and says, “am I right?”

Everyone smiles and nods cheerfully. This makes Choco feel very happy. When she arrived in Forget-Me-Not Valley, she only wanted to find her father. But she found an entire village who are willing to care and protect her as family. She still wishes she knew who her mother is, but she is content with what she has right now.

They continued to talk for a while. After they had enough time in the hot spring, they all leave and deliver Choco safely to the farm. Then they all part ways to their own homes. It's still early in the day, so they have a lot to do before the day ends.

In the villa Lumina looks through her collection of books. After what they talked about in the hot spring, she feels that she needs to check on something. She takes a book titled “History Of Alchemy” out of the shelf and opens the page about transmutation circles. She remembers the pattern on Choco's pendant clearly. The book lists many different patterns used for different types of alchemy. However, none of the circles illustrated in the book resembles a double helix like the one Choco's pendant has engraved on it.

She flips the pages looking for any information on that transmutation circle, but she doesn't find anything. She then shuts the book, and says to herself, “How strange, this book says nothing about this type of alchemy. But I shouldn't be surprised, nothing that has anything to do with Choco had ever made any sense. I don't know why, but I can't hep but to worry. What does this all mean? Is there a link between Choco’s mother and this forbidden art?”