Once upon a time

King Tree

My story begins many eons ago, at the dawn of existence when the Sun and the Moon were young and danced with the stars in the sky, while the earth below was bathed in their brilliance. Mother Nature was at the peak of her youth and took pride in her offspring that flourished and bloomed under her watchful eye. She was proud of every aspect: the plant life, the animals, and the entire living world that extended across its vastness.At the very heart of this world emerged a mystical woodland,the supreme creation of Mother Nature,where each flower,each branch, each drop of water,every being exuded magic.Deep within a lush forest,where the treetops reached towards the sky like a green sea,there existed a sanctuary.It was a haven where the air was filled with the symphony of life,a harmony created by the rustling of leaves,the melodies of birds,and the gentle murmur of the wind.The inhabitants were as diverse as the foliage on the trees. Deer moved gracefully through the undergrowth, their eyes shining with curiosity. Squirrels darted from branch to branch in a playful dance, while birds adorned the sky with their colorful plumage. Towering trees, like silent guardians of the forest, stood watch over a tapestry of ferns dotted with vibrant wildflowers.The fairies,beautiful guardians of the woodland, offered their assistance to those with pure hearts. The mischievous Fauns, with their wisdom and cleverness, were invaluable guides through the mysteries of nature. Dryads, protectors of the depths of the forest, nurtured the growth and well-being of the woodland. And the powerful Elementals maintained the balance between earth, air, fire, and water.At the center of that forest lived King Tree, a wise tree with gentle eyes. His canopy was dense and expansive, providing shelter for numerous avian and arboreal inhabitants. His roots, deeply embedded in the earth, resembled branching pathways through which news and knowledge flowed, allowing him to help any who sought his wisdom and protection. He was revered and respected, a symbol of kindness, a focal point of harmony where both magical and non-magical beings gathered peacefully.As time passed, the world changed. It matured. Time moved on. The Tree King aged and became wiser. Time passed... something shifted. And change was like the wind that always finds a way, even through the densest canopy.King Tree, a venerable patriarch, felt the changes in his roots. He found the feeling unsettling. An unprecedented unease overtook him. Anxiety and fear seeped into his very core. He harbored a fear of the approaching era. It troubled him, causing sadness in the heart of the benevolent ruler. Anxiety marked his bark and bent his branches. Dire forebodings haunted him.In the midst of the cold that enveloped the land, dark clouds gathered over the forest. They obscured the Sun and the Moon, turning day into night, joy into fear. Fear grew as the clouds thickened and the undergrowth closed in, blocking the paths that led to the heart of the woodland. It seemed as if the entire world sought to erase the memory of the magical forest and the enchantment it held.Sparks dimmed in the dark forest as inhabitants anxiously awaited the outcome under the cover of darkness.In that dark and fearful time, the benevolent king called all his inhabitants, imparting his final advice:

-Leave, depart from the forest while there is still time. Take with you the memories of this place, of the magic we shared together. Hold them in your hearts as the most precious treasure. Pass on those memories, for as long as they endure, so will the spark of magic, however small.-

They obeyed as they always had.

With the last of his strength he held back the darkness until the final of his companions left. And then, shrouded in darkness, he closed his wise eyes. The forest was cloaked in darkness.

The enchantment had vanished.In place of the most beautiful magical forest ever created stood ebony petrified trees, surrounded by thorns and ivy.

It marked the end not only of a magical woodland, but an era, a time filled with love, joy, unity - enchantment. Mother Nature wept quietly. Tears flowed down her face trickling onto the earth. Where they touched the ground, flora of extraordinary beauty sprang forth, silver blossoms shaped like stars. The breeze swirled the remaining leaves and sadly scattered raindrops. A single silver bud broke off and drifted far away on the wind.

An old woman with white hair sadly witnessed everything falling apart.

From an ancient realm where rivers whispered and mountains hid secrets, Father Time a kind elder as old as eternity itself, with eyes that had gleamed on with joy for a millennium, now looked upon her sorrow with regret.

-Keep hope alive - he assured her - Memories of the magical place and stories of the King Tree will sustain the enchantment. It will endure in the hearts of those who remember.-

He blew a handful of sand, creating an hourglass with multicolored grains.