Chapter Six: Into Town

"Hmm." MK rolled over in her sleep as she slowly opened her eyes to see it was nearly time to meet Nod.

"Oh shoot! Rose, why didn't you wake me up an hour ago!?" MK was rushing about her room as her handmaidens quickly went through her wardrobe to find a suitable outfit. It had to be royal yet subtle, since MK and Nod were trying to be incognito.

"Ahh, I'm running out of time! No, not this one, no I've worn this already; ugh no, I don't do pink. This one makes me look fat, this is too casual, this looks like I'm trying too hard." MK continued her search as her handmaidens were frantic, until finally she found the right outfit and managed to do her hair, it was simple yet elegantly pinned up, her makeup was natural and she wore a maxi style dress made of peach colored hibiscus petals and sandals made from bark and vines.

"Perfect! Eee, you guys are the best, ok I've got to go now. Wish me luck!" MK giggled as she skipped to her door just as Nod began to knock.

"You ready? You look great." He held out a bouquet of flowers as MK thanked him and they were on their way.

"Man, I'm so happy to actually be out of the palace and am going to find out about the townspeople, I'm so excited!" MK beamed with joy as she and Nod approached a deer.

"Let's go." He offered her his hand as she accepted and up they went. MK closed her eyes for a moment as she felt the deer's feet coming in contact with the ground, and she swore she could hear the heartbeat of the forest.

MK looked around as Nod showed her around, a few times she had to get pulled a different direction from the crowd when Nod noticed people following them.

"And here's where they make the weapons for the Leafmen and women." Nod stepped into the blacksmith's workshop.

"Amazing." MK looked around as Nod agreed. He continued taking her to several workshops for arts and crafts, botany, masonry, agriculture, music and musical instruments, carpenters, lapidary, and the like.

"This is amazing! There are so many talented residents here in the forest, I hope one day to be able to succeed like they do at all their talents. You know, I smelt something really good earlier." MK's stomach growled as Nod chuckled.

"You hungry?" Nod looked at MK with a smirk.

"Starving." She held her stomach as he agreed. He took her to a hole-in-the-wall mom and pop shop where vegetarian dishes were sold. MK wasn't sure what to order to, so Nod went ahead and ordered for them.

"Good?" Nod asked as he watched MK happily eating out of some freshly baked bred stuffed with delicious curry.

"Soo good! It's curry right? I had no idea you all ate this. Mmm." MK continued eating as Nod chuckled.

"Yea, you just have to know which places have good vegetarian food and which ones don't."

"Hmm, did you ever come here with Ronin?" MK picked up a napkin as Nod looked at his food.

"Sometimes, but my dad was the one who first brought me here."

"Oh." MK paused for a moment.

"It was great, we'd eat here, walk around town and then we'd get some fried ice cream."
"That sounds so fun!" MK reached her hand towards his as she hesitated for a moment, but ultimately decided to gently place her hand over his as he looked deeply into her eyes.

"It was fun. I love those memories, even if it's painful sometimes." Nod's eyes became watery as MK reached out towards him as he abruptly looked up at her.

"I know how you feel. My mom and I were really close, but I always wondered about my dad. It was hard when I decided to move in with him after she passed. I really miss her, but I also wish I was able to spend more time with my dad growing up so I could understand him better. Life is filled with bittersweet moments." MK sighed as Nod agreed. The two finished their meals as Nod changed the subject; once they were finished, they decided to continue walking around town and were stopped by a cloaked mature humanoid who claimed she could tell their fortune.

"Oh, well this is pretty unexpected." MK blinked in surprise as Nod shrugged.

"Yea, fortune tellers usually read tea leaves."

"Tea leaves? That's cool, let's try it." MK happily went into the small shop as Nod followed her, looking around to make sure there wasn't anything or anyone suspicious inside.

"Come in, sit please." The mature humanoid led MK to the back of the shop into a secluded room adorned with a veil and some hanging flowers. It smelled like freshly brewed tea and incense. MK watched as the mature humanoid served a cup of tea, handing the glass over to MK as she looked at the dark substance, blowing on it as she inhaled the scent.

"Thanks-"

"Call me Zeneba your highness." Zeneba took off her cloak as her crystal blue eyes stared at MK's face.

"You, how did you know?" MK looked shocked as Nod had his hand over his sword.

"Don't worry Leafman, your secret's safe with me. Though I cannot see as you do, your identities are clear as day. I was born with the gift of sight of the past, present, and future. I suppose you humans would call it fortune telling and 'magic,' though to us it's far more spiritual and complex than simply reading one's body language and paying attention to gossip and researching information in order to swindle people." Zeneba smiled as MK blushed, Nod sat next to MK with a serious look on his face.

"Don't you ever smile?" Zeneba teased as Nod continued to stare her down.

"I'm sure he'd be much more handsome if he smiled, oh well, please continue drinking your tea. Slowly and methodically as you simply relax and don't think too hard. Leafman, would you care for a cup?" Zeneba looked over at Nod.

"No thanks." He staid sternly as Zeneba shrugged, taking MK's cup once she was finished.

"Wait, if you can't see then how-"

"Simple, I feel the leaves. Just as the Council is teaching you how to feel the forest and respond to its signs, I too am able to feel the energy and signs the leaves give me."

"Wow, that's amazing!" MK smiled as Zeneba nodded her head and began to focus closely on the cup and its contents.

"Hmm, it seems your future will be determined by a decision of the heart when you reach a fork in the road. One way will lead you to happiness, while the other is dedication to your role as the Queen of the Forest. Choose wisely my dear." Zeneba looked up at MK as she blinked at her in confusion.

"What fork in the road? I thought I was just in training to become the new queen?"

"Yes you are my child, but things are never as they seem and life tends to complicate itself when we lose sight of what it is we're after, what our hearts desire. At times we are unsure if we are following our hearts or the roles we must play in life. You have a great responsibility to this forest and its inhabitants, but do not forget that you also have a responsibility to yourself and your happiness." Zeneba said as MK thought for a moment and was about to pay her when Zeneba shook her head.

"I would never take payments from those who truly wish to know their future, especially from my queen. I know you will be a great queen in time. Leafman, protect her at all costs for she will be the last queen the pod chooses." Zeneba said in a serious tone as Nod's eyes shot open.

"We gotta go." Nod stood up abruptly as MK nodded her head and followed him out. The two managed to sneak back to the castle without being noticed.

"Well that was interesting." MK walked into her room as Nod followed her.

"No kidding, I guess I never know what'll happen when I spend the day with you." Nod teased as MK rolled her eyes.

"I'm going to take a bath and head to bed, I'm pretty tired." MK yawned as Nod nodded his head, sitting in the corner of the room where he was able to see the doorway of the washroom, though he was unable to see where the tub was. MK went to start the water as she began undressing, Nod was able to see her back reflected in the mirror as he flushed and turned away.

"Have you ever met Zeneba before?" MK asked as she slipped into the tub as Nod looked into the mirror, no longer able to see MK.

"No, she kind of gave me the creeps." Nod cringed as MK laughed.

"She was sweet, and very helpful, but not at the same time." MK turned the water off as she began to wash herself off, thinking of what Zeneba told her.

"I feel like a lot of citizens who are attached to the forest are like that, very enigmatic and mysterious and crazy." Nod made circles around his head with his index fingers as MK giggled.

"So is that what I'm going to be like when I finally reach that level of enlightenment?" MK joked as Nod chuckled.

"Maybe, but please just make sure you brush your hair, I swear that woman had her own forest living in her hair." Nod smirked as MK burst out laughing.

The two continued chatting as MK drained the water and stepped out, taking a towel as she walked into her room to get her nightgown.

"Uh, um I guess I can head to my r-room now." Nod flushed as MK turned to look at him.

"You're my personal guard, why are you getting all bashful on me now hm?" MK raised a brow as Nod turned away.

"I-I'm not bashful! I just don't think it's appropriate for me to see you with . . . so little clothing on. Or none at all actually." Nod stuttered as MK rolled her eyes.

"What are you, twelve? We're both adults here and I'm sure you've been with other girls, flowers? Humanoids?" MK thought about it as her towel slipped down slightly as Nod's head was entirely red.

"N-no I haven't! I've flirted but I've never really . . . dated before." Nod stood up and faced the wall.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to get you all flustered." MK dropped her towel and threw her nightgown on.

"Ok, I'm dressed, you can turn around now." MK smiled as Nod slowly turned as his heart stopped when he looked at MK wearing a sheer white nightgown, her hair dripping slightly as the light from the washroom gave her a glowing aura.

"R-right. Well, sleep well my queen." Nod bowed as he walked out, practically running into his room as he cursed.

MK giggled as she hung her towel up and got into bed, though she didn't sleep well when she continued to think about what Zeneba said.