Zodiac Story

A Thousand Sparkling Pink Diamonds Part 2

Night seeped into the sky, leaving a deep blue-black colour in the cloudless sky. Mihira thought it was a great time to fall asleep, especially since she had not progressed with unlocking any possible magical powers of the amulet. While she wasn't sure if the amulet was magical, something within her felt that it was magical in some way. Mihira fell asleep and curled around the medallion, initially in a dreamless sleep.

The air was sharp and clear, Mihira noticed. The Morningstar still sat high in the celestial ceiling, but there was no pastel sky or strange cloud-bound structures. Instead, there were pine trees, a clear but sombre sky, and the lapping sounds of cool mountain water. She found that the horizon was bordered by a long series of mountains, each one enhancing the quiet atmosphere. The water stretched into the horizon as well. Walking along the water's edge, Mihira turned around at the sound of a bark. A long-legged dog with a reddish brown coat and some white areas was following along with Mihira. Mihira patted the dog on the head, which the dog appreciated, its tongue lolling. Over a clearing, there seemed to be a miniature castle with bright green roofs and little balconies that overlooked the wide body of water, still lapping at Mihira's feet. There were red chairs in the distance and she had the stirring feeling that this wasn't as fantastical as her previous dreams.

"Beautiful all the same," She spoke aloud.

The dog barked. Startled, Mihira noticed that the beach has turned into pink diamonds. She scooped some of the diamonds and tried to stuff her pockets with them, but a gust of wind issued from the mountains, knocking her down. The sky and the mountains faded from her vision.

'What do you want?'

Mihira wasn't sure who was asking, still dazed from the blow.

'Your desires, your ideals. What kept your life afloat?'

My friends, Mihira thought, Kaori, Hina, and Kaede. Will I see them again?

'Yes, and others, although I can not guarantee you will find any of them agreeable.'

Mihira wanted to ask more questions, but the world spinning in her vision had tired her.

Mihira woke up still clutching that copper medallion. The smell of fresh pine and cool mountain breezes filled her nostrils. Her confidence was restored, and she took the amulet with both hands.

"I know that Kaori would be annoyed if I did not follow all of her directions, but I trust whoever spoke in my dream." Mihira took a deep breath. "I want balance, and I want fairness. I want everyone to cooperate, and I want a partner. Someone to love and cherish, to hold me when I can't hold myself. I don't want to lose my friends forever." She did not often think of the state of the world, but she has seen the news frequently. "There is still love and beauty in this world, and I wholeheartedly believe in this. So, if this is truly a magical trinket, grant me powers to balance this world."

The amulet remained eerily silent until it exploded into a ball of pink and blue light. Mihira felt the wind again, but instead of knocking her over, it embraced her like a close friend. Mihira embraced it too, and the wind spun her harder. Reaching for her glasses, she fumbled around until she got ahold of them and placed them on her nose. Her bedroom was a mess, her blanket thrown onto her vanity dresser, her newly made dresses splayed on the floor, and the door to her balcony was gone. The smell of raspberries and rose petals filled the air, and Mihira took a good whiff. Only then did she noticed that there was a light blue hair strand in her vision. Running over to her vanity, she threw her blanket on the floor. For the first time, she did not make the bed and clean up after herself. No, she wanted to see what happened to her appearance.