Chapter 43 - A Garnish of Holly [END]

There was one aspect of this messed up little world Holly could take solace in: being treated as an object – as a weapon – meant her liability in the damage done was nothing. After all, there were no apple seeds left. There wasn’t anyone that talked to her that could identify the leaves in her hair. There was no proof she caused all that damage.

The idea of a solo Resonator casting ultimate magic was like a fairy tale. So no matter how much the Director pleaded, no one believed him. The words of one man meant nothing when he was shown as the aggressor. Illegal acquisition of a weapon not meant for civilian hands was incrimination enough of his crimes. Innocent little Holly was treated as a victim, especially after she recounted every little detail of her kidnapping all penned and paid for by the Rene Group.

Speaking of things only the Rene Group could afford – it turned out Mysterion Air lost efficacy the more worn down the cryptids were and as a fun little bonus certain lightning spells could also negate the effects as well. The Director’s showing off his possession of a gun wasn’t just captured on video, but was sent to a worldwide audience on something called a “live stream”. Holly didn’t claim familiarity with the concept, but she did understand a lot of people watched a Rene Group executive make a total ass of himself.

“Is that all?” asked Holly.

Across from her sat a man and his Resonator – a uniformed human, and a blonde vixen bearing three tails. The two were engrossed in a mess of notes, forms, and tablet computers splayed out on the table between them and the zalavan. Details of Holly’s kidnapping, and all the subsequent movements of the Rene Group against her were taken down with meticulous care.

“Sera?” asked the man.
“I think that’s everything, Alan.” She reviewed the paperwork in front of her. “Yes, you’re free to go.”

Holly stood from her seat and bowed to the two. “Thank you, Mr. Walsh, Ms. Renard.”

The fire Resonator smirked. “Sure, have fun kid.” A knowing chuckle followed.

And that was it. She was free to go. No fuss, no commotion. Her clothes still looked like she got into a fight with a blender and lost. The thick dark bags under her eyes and her wilted hair told of her exhaustion. Yet, she just left. No one cared to say anything else to her. It felt so anti-climactic.

She hadn’t expected anyone to be waiting for her when she was done with all of this. She had half expected to die out there.

There was no “after”. There was always only the end, her end.

It was something she had wished for, begged for even.

And yet, why did her heart leap when there was someone to greet her when she left the police station?

“Hell of a live stream last night, right?” Vivi smirked.
“Quite the performance if I do say so myself,” Lee added.
“Good morning Holly,” Solana beamed.

Tears flowed so easily, and her lips refused any direction but up. “G-good morning...”

---

“Mmmmpgh…” Holly shook her head as she came to. Her head felt lighter that morning. A quick brush of her head revealed the reason.

“Ah, they’re back,” she smiled. One, two, three, four little holly berries graced her head.

She quickly felt around her bed and quickly found the weights that had fallen off overnight. Two bright red orbs joined her in bed. The little zalavan let out a hot breath on each, polishing them to a shine. “Four seeds. Not bad,” she praised the apples she had grown herself. “Lee will be stoked to make some apple juice with these.”

As much as she wanted to immediately replant the apple seeds to grow her stock-

“I just wanna be me for a little while,” she whispered.

Curiosity overtook the plant though as she rifled through her covers until she found it. “Here it is!” she drew a green tuner from the folds of her blankets. Tapping around the interface like an expert, she found her note-taking app.

“So apples take twenty-eight days from being planted to produce mature fruiting bodies,” she spoke as she penned the same.

The little zalavan paused and briefly allowed her gaze to drift out the window. A cold gray sky greeted her with the rough sea in the distance. “…with how shitty I felt there near the end it’s like having a child,” she grimaced. The zalavan regarded the two shining fruits that were nestled on a pillow next to her. “I wonder if a Grand Malus feels like that all the time? Probably not. I’d choose death over persistent morning sickness.” Holly shook her head and focused.

There was something more she discovered last night, unrelated to her biology.

Bounding from bed, she left her little room and joined the others in the common room of their suite.

“Good morning Holly,” greeted Solana.
“Morning Lana,” sang the zalavan. “Where’s Vivs?”
“On a run as usual,” Lee commented, at the dining room table.

Holly set the two apples in front of the axolotl. “Ta-da!”

The man adjusted his glasses. “Oh my.” He noted the return of Holly’s trademark berries. “They just fell out then?” he queried.

“Looks like it,” said Holly as she took a seat at the table. “They never told us much about how apples work back home, but they seem to operate on their own rules.” The zalavan clicked her tongue. “Was hoping I could just let them sit and spam ultimate spells with Lana’s rhythm,” she added as a quiet aside.

“That does line up with everything we know about them.” Lee picked up one of the ruby skinned fruits. “I’ve never seen a full apple before,” he commented. “Quite beautiful.”

“Imagine a world where these were common,” Holly chuckled.

As Lee studied the exotic fruit, Solana was in the kitchen as she was every morning, making breakfast. Days like this had become so routine that Holly scarcely remembered a time when this wasn’t her life. She drew her tuner from her pocket. It had only been a month since that dreadful day, but she was ready to deliver on a promise she probably dreamt up in delirium.

“I know what I want to do next,” she announced.

At that moment, Vivi returned to the suite. “What are we doing now?” asked the linsang as she shook off the chill that clung to her fiery form.

“Surprised you still went running with how garbage the weather is today,” Holly commented as her fellow Resonator took a seat at the table.

“I hardly realize I do it. Just a habit,” replied the red-head.

Holly nodded. Even at the bottom of the world, Vivi remained consistent. Sud Selvica was one of the most southern cities in all of Riterra, and the little zalavan wanted to see it with her own two eyes.

It was more of a test to see if they really would go with any hair-brained idea she came up with. There were no arguments, so she committed to the bit and rolled with it. Probably a mistake, but she was nothing but determined. That’s who she really was.

Solana began to set the table with a lavish breakfast, as usual. Every day was just filled with food in every possible aspect. It was a life she never could have imagined for herself, but one she had come to cherish.

“Hey, Holly? Make the world a better place – for me?”
<
Even if she did imagine his voice in that moment…

She shook her head. “We’re going to join a guild,” revealed the plant as Solana took her own place at the table.

“A guild?” Vivi raised a brow.
“That certainly is a decision, Lady Holly,” Lee added.
“Which one?” asked Solana.

They really would follow her to the ends of Riterra. Thankfully she wasn’t such a cruel mistress to take advantage of their kindness.“I looked around a ton, and there’s only one that I found that sounded good.” Holly slid her tuner across the table.

Solana claimed the device first.

The Maestro scanned the page and her eyes widened. “To rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome Resonators in crisis, ensure their healthy lives through education, advocacy, and affordable services, and inspire a community where the Maestro-Resonator bond is celebrated and nurtured,” she read aloud for the table.

“Huh?” Lee and Vivi looked between each other.

“There’s a guild like that?” Vivi asked.
“I was not aware there was a guild with such a mission statement,” Lee added.

“Yeah, color me surprised. The entire guild network is nothing but junk, but this one sounds perfect,” Holly said. “I think it’s at least worth checking out.”

Solana wore a warm smile. “If it’s that man, I think we can trust this mission statement.”

The three Resonators looked to their Maestro, who shook her head and returned the tuner to Holly.

“What’s the name of the guild, anyway?” Vivi asked.

Holly regarded her screen with a confident grin. “Says here they go by Pruned Trees Re-Sprout, they’re in Lybertera.”

She didn’t know what fate had in store for her when she left the Selvican continent, but she knew she had found her place in the world. No longer was Holly a lonely sprout, but she was a garnish to the people in her life; and she wouldn’t have it any other way.