Rocky's Story: The Search for the Huskanaso Fruit

Chapter 2: Clues

It was before dawn when Rocky woke. He'd been having a dream about a woman for the past few days. She had long, dark brown hair and the most beautiful green eyes he'd ever seen. When he looked over at the bed that sat across the small room, he saw his sister, Pooky, was still fast asleep. So, he got up and got dressed in a simple shirt and pants, and headed downstairs to grab a quick meal. But when he arrived in the kitchen he found Sarah already at the table with some bread and butter

“You’re up early” she smiled and he sighed as he sat next to her and grab a slice of bread. “What’s wrong?” she asked

“I’ve been having a dream about a woman for the past few days” He watched as Sarah raised her eyebrows

“Do you think it could be something do with the ball tonight? Or something to do with the fae?” she asked

“Who knows” was all Rocky could say as he started eating.

When everyone else had woken up, they started getting ready for the ball that was to take place that night. Once they had finished, they called a carriage and made the hour ride to the palace. When they had arrived and announced, Rocky and his sibling were free to wander the ball room. While Henry and Helen went to talk with a noble, Pooky rushed off to the food table. While Sarah and Jane went off with their lovers. Rocky decided to wandered around the outskirts of the dance floor. Hoping to spot the woman from his dreams, or to talk with the queen if given to opportunity.

“Looking for y our mystery woman?” Pooky asked as she walked over with a plate full of food

“I don’t know what you are talking about” Rocky bluffed and his sister rolled her eyes

“Oh, come on, Sarah told me everything, don’t try and blow it off”

“Fine yes I am. But I don’t know if she even exists or not” he sighed

“But?”

“But my heart says she does”

“What if you talked with the queen about it, I’m sure that she would know”

“The queen?” Rocky asked as he rose his slender eyebrow and she nodded and started pushing him towards the front of the room. “Woah Pooky, I can’t talk to her” he said as he pulled away and she rolled her eyes at him and he sighed. “Fine” and walked the rest of the way to see the queen, alone. When one of the guards announced him and he had bowed, Rocky pulled up his courage to voice his question. But before he could say anything, he became distracted by movement next to the queen, and that’s when he saw her. Her long, chocolate brown hair, high cheekbones and fair skin. But what he noticed most of all, were her luminous green eyes. His stare didn’t go unnoticed by the queen.

“I see that you have seen my daughter, Rain” she smiled, and Rocky snapped out of his trance and looked down.

“Forgive me my lady” he bowed “I didn’t mean to stare.”

“You're forgiven” Rain giggled as she went to him. “Meet me out in the garden after you speak with my mother” she smiled as she placed her hand on his shoulder. Then vanished into the crowd. The feeling her hand left on his shoulder last long after she removed it.

“Now child, what is it that you wish to speak to me about?” the queen said after a moment. It took Rocky a moment to remember why he’d come up, and when he did he cleared his throat.

“Your majesty, I have heard rumors about Huskanaso Fruit” Rocky said. Trying to keep his voice low enough so that no one else could hear their conversation. Before he could continue, the queen spoke

“Somehow I knew that you would ask me that question one day” she sighed

“Your majesty?”

“Come with me” the queen said as she rose and led them to a private room. “Rocky, what have your parents told you about where you and your sister come from?” she asked after a moment

“Your majesty, what has our lineage got to do with anything?” Rocky asked

“I will explain everything, as long as you answer my questions with nothing but the truth” she replied. Rocky got the feeling to not question her further. “Now what have your parents told you?”

“Well, your majesty, my parents told me that they had found my sister and I in the middle of the forest as babies”

“What if I told you that everything that you came to believe about your parents was a lie” Rocky was silent for a moment

“What do you mean a lie?” he asked

“Your birth parents never abandoned you and your sister in the forest”

“But then how did I come to live with my adopted parents?” he asked, though he felt that he already knew the answer

“18 years ago, your birth parents, Celaena and Vulwin, had recognized and gave birth to you”

“And Pooky?”

“Her birth parents were Rolim and Shyilia, and they had Pooky only a few months after you were born.”

“My lady how do you know all this?”

“Because both of your parents were very close friends of mine” Rocky noticed a sad look in her eyes

“What happened to them, your majesty?” his stomach quenched.

“Both your parents had a very violent death, not long after your sister were born, and you were both kidnapped”

“Kidnapped? By who my lady?” Rocky pleaded. But when the Queen looked at him, he knew exactly who “No, they couldn’t have done it” he chocked. After a moment, the queen continued talking

“The prophecy says that two Fae children will be born under a full moon in the Fall. One boy, and one girl. They will rise into their own under the eyes of human parents. One will use the power of the Huskanaso Fruit to save Edrait from destruction. While the second fae child will use its power to save the one she loves most from the clutches of Death itself. They will join forces with a young princess, who is eager to prove herself. Together they will vanquish the greatest evil this land has ever known. Once two souls become one, a challenge will be cast from a great evil. It will set in course a war, and a journey of self-discovery. Three young souls they will be, they will be the ones who will save Edrait from evil’”

Moments later, one of the queen’s guards came into the room. “My lady it’s time” announced and she nodded and led Rocky back into the ballroom. When he was back on the dance floor with his sisters, Pooky saw the look that he had

“What’s wrong?” she asked as they watched Rain stand next to her mother

“I’ll explain later” he whispered as the queen started talking. Once she had finished Rocky pulled Pooky to a corner of the room and told her what the queen had said.

“Do you think she is lying?”

“I don’t think so. But we should confront our parents about this tomorrow. But for now, I need some fresh air” he sighed and went outside. When he was under the stars, he tried finding peace and sort everything that he’d learned in the lush garden. He didn’t want to believe that man that had taken him and his sister in had killed their parents, and for what? Revenge? Jealousy? Money? He hoped that it was an accident, but he felt that it wasn't. Or was it something to do with this prophecy. He would confront them later.

“You seem troubled” a clear young voice said from behind him. Making Rocky jump as he turned, only to come face to face with the queen’s daughter, Rain.

Rain. He couldn’t help but look deep into her eyes and soul, but before he could go any further, he averted his eyes. “Your mother told me about my birth parents, and I’m not sure on how to make of it all” he sighed and Rain smiled at him

“Here walk with me, and tell me everything that she told you” she sighed as she took his arm.

“Why would she tell something like this Rain, why?” he asked once he’d finished his tale.

“My mother likes to tell things as they are. She did not lie about your parents Rocky. But she did not tell you everything”

“What else is there to know?”

“I will tell you what I heard from my mother and those who saw the event, what you do with it is up to you. You were born as Cyran Rocky Eline to Celaena and Vulwin Eline. Your sister Pooky was born as Elasha Pooky Imra to Rolim and Shyilia Imra. Your adopted father Henry had at one point been in love with your mother Celaena. But when she recognized your father, Henry became jealous. Though Celaena had long since broken things off with him, Henry wanted her for himself. So when you were a few months old, he came to the palace and killed your parents”

“And what of Pooky’s parents?”

“They were visiting with your parents when Henry attacked and got caught in the crossfire.” Rain sighed as she finished her tale. Rocky was silent “I’m sorry” she said as she placed her hand on his

“No Rain, it wasn’t your fault, thank you for telling me. But what of the Huskanaso Fruit, and the prophecy?”

“I am afraid that I don’t have any answers for you. Forgive me” she said as she averted her eyes, and Rocky sighed.

“Rain, what about you? Why have I been dreaming of you?” he asked as he stopped walking and stood in front of her, and she blushed

“In truth Rocky, I too have been having dreams of you. I have heard that those who are about to recognize have dreams about each other.”

“So you think that we” Rocky paused “But do you know how long after they meet that it happens?” he asked and Rain shook her head

“I wish I knew, it can be unpredictable. But when it happens, we need to accept, and what we do after is up to us” she sighed. Before Rocky could say anything, a guard arrived

“My lady, her Majesty wishes to see you” he said as he bowed

“Thank you, I will be right there. I must go Rocky, I hope that we see each other soon” she smiled as she left. Rocky smiled to himself as he followed after a moment. Back inside the ballroom, he found Pooky and explained what Rain had said. But before she responded, the queen made one last announcement before the ball ended.

“Before this celebration ends, I would like to make one more announcement before you go to your homes. I want to introduce my daughter’s new fiancé, Jandar from our neighboring country of Froinia.”

As the crowd applauded, Rocky stood in the corner, in shook. He looked at Rain, and saw her face go red with anger, shock and disbelieve. So, the celebration ended with a strange note for Rocky and Pooky. When they returned home, they started making plans on leaving for the palace. But they needed to confront Henry first, and get answers from him.