The Magic Within ↠ Once Upon A Time

[Chapter 100] The Legend of Tarza: Final Chapter

I arch a brow, looking to Terk up and down. "I don't think you're ready to deal with yourself. You were far from a perfect youngling."

"Oh, and you were?"

"Please," I brush my hair to the back. "I was the best," I say, trying but failing to hide my chuckle.

"Hey, uh, Tarza, have you gotten grey hairs yet?" Tantor interjects. His trunk lingers above his head to feel whatever strands he has.

"Tantor, I may've been going through years, but I'm not that old!"

He doesn't stop scratching his head. "I'm just saying... I think I'm starting to get grey hairs now."

Terk clicks her tongue. "Maybe it's from all that stress you don't need to put yourself under. Honestly, Tantor, how did your mother give birth to you. She's so laid back."

"I'm the spitting image of my father." He drops his trunk, but not before tapping the top of Terk's head. She can only kick at his trunk closer to me. A chuckle rumbles under his breath.

Nothing has truly changed.

If I just set aside the bitter reality of our lives, I'd say that we were still kids with so much anticipation for the future. Terk teasing Tantor. Tantor justifying his worries. And me... just trying to balance out the two. Perhaps, this is how it'll always be. No matter the time and distance, our connection is what makes each meeting feel like it was only yesterday.

I can't help but drink it all in.

"Hey, Tarza," Terk calls to me, taking me out of my thoughts. "I'm still not getting the whole 'magic' thing but... will the change affect the jungle in anyway? Last thing I want is to lose our favorite watering hole."

I shake my head. "It shouldn't. If everything goes like we expect, the jungle will be the same as before. But, if the diner ends up in the jungle, then we'll have a problem."

"And obviously, we don't have everyone in the troop like before."

I can't help but frown. Nevertheless, it doesn't take down my whole mood.

"Speaking of, how are we going to handle the next migration," Terk asks, "Your dad never exactly told shared his routes. Plus, with the changing season, the weather's been affecting the plants and bugs. The food is running low, and the males are starting to get rowdy."

I knit my brows. To be honest, that's never been something that Papa has ever talked with me about. I don't know what she's expecting from me.

"Also, do you have any plans to change the rules for the troop? I know it's usually customary for the new leader to enact some new rule, but..." Terk clears her throat. "This is far from normal circumstances."

"Is there a whole ceremony the troop is suppose to do?" Terk questions. The wrinkles on his head fold over at his curiosity.

I can only keep my mouth shut.

"Some of the males thought that we'd have to find the strongest to take over the role, but let's be honest, there's no one stronger than you, Tarza. You can whoop their butts without even that magic. I mean, it's obvious that you'd be the next troop leader"

Then, my heart drops.

This is the inevitable situation that, for some reason, I was hoping to avoid. I can hope and pray to keep a moment going for so long, but time is the only thing that's the same. It's ever changing. It never stops or goes back. The paradise can only ring on for so long, but reality has to come back sooner or later.