Work Text:
“Sorry dad I have to get back before…” M.K. trailed off as the bats swarmed her giant father, wincing in sympathy as he shouted about them going in his hair. But at least her plan worked, as she flew her borrowed humming bird through the swarm of bats she looked up, seeing the moon’s light starting to shine down again.
She just had to make it back in time for the new queen to be chosen and then… what? Go back to her old life after discovering a whole new world usure of what to do with herself, maybe help her dad with his research. Returning to her old size was what she had set out to do, to get back home, but to do so she would have to leave everything and everyone she had found behind, Mub, Grub, Nod. If her talk with her dad was the norm then it wouldn’t exactly mean they’d be able to talk much.
M.K. flinched and veered her bird to the side as a bat nearly crashed into her, she looked back at the animal that would have sent her tumbling.
“Focus Mary Katherine, just get back in time,” She told herself, bobbing and weaving her way through the swarm as the moonlight grew stronger and stronger.
She had almost reached the entrance when there was a massive pulse of light, for a second MK thought she was too late, then Mandrake fly by her, screaming.
“Okay, guess he’s taken care of,” M.K. noted as she landed her bird. Over a dozen leafmen stood guard as the miniature people started filing back in to see the birthing. MK slid down, looking up at the moonlight shining through, before she noticed two other Leafmen standing together and gasped.
The younger Leafman, Nod, looked a little more beat up than when M.K. last saw him but he seemed fine. What really surprised her though was the older Leadman standing next to Nod, his armor was beat up and blackened in areas and he looked like he was barely able to stand but it was undeniably Ronin.
“You’re alive!” M.K. exclaimed running up and wrapping both Leafmen in a hug.
“Woah, liking this,” Nod joked.
M.K. rolled her eyes and pulled back, still keeping both men close. “How did you…? We saw you get—”
“Might not be as young as I was, but I can still handle myself in a scrap,” Ronin said like he hadn’t just fought his way through who knew how many Bogings. “Good to see you're in one piece too kid. And that you brought my bird back.”
“Oh I uh didn’t even realize that was your bird. I had to get my dad so he could draw the bats away.”
“I’m not complaining, saved the pod.”
“Speaking of which,” Nim Galuu the Glow Worm crawled his way over. “It's about to choose the next queen, don’t want to miss that.”
“Right,” Ronin nodded before looking at M.K.. “Thank you again for everything you’ve done, the forest wouldn’t have been able to survive without you.”
Before MK could say anything in return, Ronin moved next to Mub, Grub, and Nim Nod took MK’s hand and pulled her next to them so they all faced the freshly bloomed pod.
"Ready to go home?" He asked quietly.
"Uh yeah, of course I am," She said with as much confidence as she could, which wasn't much, and just focused on the pod, burying her doubts down.
She stared in wonder as the now open pod sparkled and balls of light floated through the air, swirling and passing by glow worm, slug, snail, and Leafman alike. She waited for them to settle, for the next queen to be chosen, closing her eyes and taking a steadying breath, bracing her heart, as she prepared to say her goodbyes when she grew.
She felt something touch her shoulder, warm and soft, feeling not fully there but still able to touch her. MK opened her eyes, looking to the side and sucked in a breath when she saw Queen Tara, who she saw die, standing next to her made of the shimmering light.
“I’m sorry that I have to break my promise, but something tell me you don’t want to leave,” Queen Tara said gently. “Take care of them for me, please.”
M.K. was speechless as Queen Tara smiled at her, then at Ronin, the old soldier’s face cracking into a small smile of his own.
“There’s that smile,” Queen Tara’s voice started to fade. She cupped M.K.’s cheek, tilting her till they faced each other, the lights started to cling to MK’s skin and clothing as the spirit kissed MK’s forehead.
M.K. closed her eyes as a bright flash enveloped her and suddenly she felt different, more whole than she had ever felt before. Her mind felt clear, when she opened her eyes all the colors seemed a bit sharper, more in focus than before, and she could feel something inside her that hadn’t been there before. She felt like she could do anything, that with a wave of her hand she could raise a tree or create a storm.
“Was not expecting this, you know green and white are a pretty good look on you,” Nod said bringing her back to the present.
“Green and white? What are you talking about?” M.K. asked.
“Uh, look down, seems Queen Tara gave you a bit of a make-over.”
M.K. looked down, her hoodie and jeans had been replaced by a green blouse with white flower sleeves, and green riding pants not unlike what the Leafmen wore but with a white trim, and reaching up she felt something was now resting on her head. Looking at the reflective water pool she could see it was a crown of vines with white flowers. As she looked herself over she wondered what she should be feeling right now, anger about being lied to? Amazed that this could actually be happening? Concerned that any chance of her getting big again had gone out the window with Mandrake?
Before any of those thoughts and emotions could win out Nim Galuu shuffled up to her. “Your majesty,” He said dipping into a bow, followed closely by everyone else in the chamber.
“Ah,” M.K. said suddenly feeling very awkward about everyone bowing to her. “Thank you I guess. Heh ha, it's an honor.”
Nim Galuu rose out of his bow. “I’m sure this must feel like a lot.”
“Oh you could say that,” M.K. said rubbing her arm.
“Just know that if you need any advice or help the rings of knowledge will have the answers,” He assured her.
“Right, I’ll probably take you up on that,” M.K. said as it really started to sink in for her.
She was the queen, she was the freaking queen! How had her life managed to go this crazy in a day?! For a moment she thought she was going to pass out, as the sheer insanity of it all threatened to overload her. A wave of calm stopped her freak-out before it could truly begin, it felt like a gentle breeze blowing through her, taking her fears away. As her breathing returned to normal she saw Ronin and Nod had sat down and were talking to themselves.
Walking over she caught the jist of their talk, mostly them being guys and not speaking what they meant. With an eye roll, she said. “Just say you two love each other already.”
“I thought we just did,” Ronin said too tired to get up.
Nod stood though. “Sorry, probably should have checked on you first given all this,” He said gesturing to her new clothes and crown. “You going to be okay?”
M.K. shrugged. “After everything I’ve seen today, this, doesn’t really shock me now. Though I think I’ll be having a proper freak out later.”
“Then I guess I’ll have to be there in case you need a punching bag.”
M.K. laughed, but it faded when she suddenly remembered something very important. “So um I just remembered that I still need to explain all of this to my dad, especially now since I guess I’m the queen and all. Think I could borrow another bird?”
“I think,” Ronin said grunting and leaning against a barrier as he pushed himself to his feet. “That we have something for you.”
That something turned out to be a leaf carriage carried by dragonflies, flying her through the forest until they spotted her dad stumbling his way back towards Moonhaven. He stopped when he saw the small carriage coming his way, flipping through the setting on his helmet, to the setting that would let him see her.
“M.K.,” He said, his words slowed by the different perception of time, another thing she’d have to get used to. “What happened?”
“Hey Dad,” She waved. “It’s a long story.”
Time moved on and as days turned to weeks MK grew more accustomed to her role as Life of the Forest. Luckily a lot of the queen’s powers came naturally and with a little instruction and practice, she was able to start undoing the damage Mandrake and his bogins caused. Eventually, the forest looked more alive than it ever had before according to Ronin, thanks to Mandrake being trapped in a tree.
A pleasent surprise was that her relationship with her dad only improved, he managed to set up video cameras that allowed them to speak normally to each other, and he still made regular trips into the forest to visit her and explore.
“So what do you think?” He asked holding up a sketch he made of a leafman for her to examine.
“It looks great Dad, except they use actual helmets, not acorns,” She said pointing to the acorn helmet sketch.
“Really, then you should change that, because these things would make great helmets,” He said holding up an acorn.
M.K. smiled. “I’ll bring it up at the next meeting with Ronin.”
“How have things been going over there, no problems, you're safe right” He asked setting his notes down.
“Everything’s fine Dad, I’ve got the Leafmen guarding me, the bogins are scattered, and my flying getting better.”
After spending too much time bored in the carriage M.K. had insisted on learning how to use one of the hummingbirds the Leafmen had properly.
“That’s good, actually I wanted to just tell you again how proud I am of you, doing all of this, helping the forest. It’s amazing really.”
“Thanks Dad.”
“So I was thinking—”
“Queen M.K. sorry to interrupt you,” Grub said sliding into the throne room, adjusting his Leafman helmet that Ronin gave him after the coronation. “The bogins destroyed a small patch of the forest, the Leafmen are forcing them back but we need your help to repair the damage.”
“Okay I’ll be right there,” M.K. said before looking at her Dad. “Sorry about this.”
“Nono, it’s your job. Good luck out there.”
“Thanks dad, you know if you want you could come and see the Leafmen in action,” M.K. suggested.
“Really! I’ll be right there!” He exclaimed excitedly rushing to get his equipment.
“Grub will tell you where to go, see you soon Dad,” M.K. said rushing out of the throne room, leaving Grub behind to explain where to go to her Dad.
She met up with Nod in the man humming bird stables. “There you are, ready to fly?” He patted his bird.
“Think I’m going to take my own bird today, but you can come if you keep up,” MK joked climbing onto her bird.
“Hey I was the one who taught you all those tricks,” Nod said getting onto his, switching to his, slightly, more official voice. “It’s not a long flight and the fighting should be done by the time we arrive, but try to stick close to me just to be safe.”
“Alright, try to avoid the fancy flying okay, don’t want another mouse situation again.”
“You are never going to let me live that down are you?”
“Nope,” M.K. smirked and took off.
“Yeah I thought so.”
The two tiny people flew through the sky, Nodd unable to resist doing a spin around M.K.’s bird, while far below on the ground her dad rushed towards where the disturbance was. It certainly wasn’t the life M.K. expected when she first arrived in the forest to live with her dad, but she wouldn’t trade what she got for anything.