The Tree That Grew In The Sky

Now, once upon a time

In a land both peculiar and far

Was a set of twins of august standing

Their blood was both kin and foe to the Tsar

See, a century before, there was a nasty falling

Involving tears, blood, and wounds too deep to ever heal

Ever since the branches have been severely estranged

Not a word was exchanged since the ghastly ordeal

The Tsar, without the influence of the ‘white sheep’

Became tyrannical, terrible and traumatic to face

‘Twas at a great disadvantage to speak with him at all

If you feared for your life, if not, you’d meet his mace

Yes, I know what you’re all thinking

‘Why start a tale so glum?’

Well have patience dear friends, as this lore

Is spun more intricately than spider silk in the sun

 

It is common, yet arbitrary ken that once

The heir to the throne clocks thirteen years

A grand gala is held, magnificent, palatial

To honor the next terrific Tsar to fear

 

The families of the kingdom quavered in

Their work-ridden leather boots, because

Only the most honorable clans were invited to feast

The rest just as well may have been liver and straws

 

And so the day arrived at last

The shindig commenced with a great ceremonious bang

The twins were scorned of course, but not surprised

As they’d pretty much known since the central clock clanged

 

Aidan and Nadia, born at the seventh

Stroke of the thirteenth day of the fourth

Month - born from ashes and charcoal

Aristocratic consanguinity, yet shunned from the court

 

Powers of fire, fuse-like tempers of legend,

Assertive of the gullible, yet their abilities

In a fit of dramatic irony, were to remain

Unknown to them, which was truly a pity

 

“I coil at their great gall”, exclaimed Nadia

“I abhor their very blood, their clan”

“Dear sister I could not agree more with thee-

Perchance we could usurp the throne, the clergymen”

 

Agreement spawned between the two

Terrific, odious and yet, beautiful, awe-inspiring

Gathering the masses was facile, child’s play even

The rebellion was built. A schism arising.  

 

She was in charge of artillery, cannons and the trebuchet

The cavalry and infantry, the archers and the chariots

He made the weapons, tamed great Dragons and Beasts

Strategy was his forte, as was training the proletariats

Careful decisions were made with deliberation

Cold-blooded warfare was to take place with no mercy to spare

A general was appointed to lead the ardent troops

Victory felt near. It hung in the air

Alas! They were careless as they had foolishly

Discounted traitors and sight was lost of possible treason

The Tsar was forewarned, his heir safeguarded

Even the royal guard was more ready than reason

 So the first coup failed. The general, Sir Ajamu Kiltic

Miscarried the most paramount advice of surrender

And their side, the Merlins buried or cremated

47 that foiled fortnight. The general became an offender

“Off with his lice-ridden head!”, cried Aidan

For the quisling was not to live. They found another general

More loyal was he, and rooted out the double agents

“Hang the finks”, Aidan ordered, as the twins had become quite feral

Meanwhile, the mighty Tsar deliberated

His second cousin’s third wife’s children were filthy rebels

“Treason”, he thought. “I'll frame them guilty of murder,

And lock them up in the deepest, doleful cells”

Lamentably, his plan was not to be so

The twins were smart and swung a wide berth

Almost desperately, he sent out many perquisitions

Which turned up null and void. They were hiding in the Earth

“This isn't working. They are needles in a haystack”

A different plan would need to be cultivated

So the Tsar sent for his three wise men and 8 councilors

Perchance a new, more sage idea would be dictated

“Knock out two useless birds with one stone”, cried Edgar the second

“Kill a prisoner along with your foes. We cannot find their

Well hidden fortress, but a criminal always knows. Infect him

With a deadly disease and send him to their midst. Their square.”

“A fantastic idea.”, applauded Elmer, a councilor. “Nothing but

Biological warfare would work.” “I see the appeal”, mused the Tsar

“Fetch Mortimer and infect him with the plague without his knowledge. 

Send him to the tavern, where he shall overhear the plans bizarre.”

And Mortimer did go, feeling his ‘release’ to be Godsent

When he heard of the Merlins, he felt revenge was the best path

He found it easily, tucked between the woods and the meandering river

At least 17 died in the dismal grave filled aftermath

Furious were the twins when they found the poor soul to be a weapon

The next coup was planned to be much more hellbent than the first

Friendship, love, harmony, and empathy were all forgotten

All that was left was bloodlust that could never be nursed

The Tsar tried yet again to rebuke them

But the Merlins stood still, unrelenting and strong

Even when a dam was built further up the river and water supply was nil

Civilians proved their loyal support by showing up in throngs

Anisim, the heir to the throne was quite

Naive a lad. Wandered out of the castle walls did he

Insensitive to the devotion his father had towards his life, he traipsed through 

the woods, and suddenly a branch cracked ominously near a fir tree

A magical nymph appeared to the innocent and pure soul

Who was the only one in the land untouched by pandora’s box

And from her, he accepted a singular pearly white stone 

Its powers were unknown, and the heir had no clue, he was truly flummoxed

The nymph disappeared after having delivered a final dire warning

He wasn't to bequeath the stone to any other creature or being

The results would be terrifying. Alas this warning was not to be for Nadia happened 

Upon him in the wood, sword in hand. He was foolish by not fleeing

And coerce him she did, into giving her the stone, for she

Could sense its consummate power, though she knew not why

She realized he was the heir, but couldn't find it in her cold heart

To extirpate his measly existence. She let him live, an unlikely ally.

Aidan was furious. How could his asinine sister betray him ? The one  

With whom he had unfortunately shared his mother’s womb

Oh the opportunity she had wasted, for the heir could have been

A hostage. What folly had she committed? They could have been doomed

“Worry not”, Nadia insisted. “It was not without gain. I have taken the

Gift bestowed upon him by a forest dweller. A stone having

Powers beyond mind’s measure. It may very well be the key against the enemies

We have made. To make up for whatever we are lagging.”

Aidan frowned. “If you say so sister. But keep the artifact

Near thyself at all times. Prithee, I have much more important

Matters at hand, and so do you. Let's get to work, and not dawdle.

Thy actions disgust me. They were abysmally abhorrent.”

Her eyes grew a feral purple. In a jiffy her twin was held at

Swordpoint. “How dare you reprimand me? Thou hast no right!”

As blood started streaming from a cut on his neck, he drew his bow and

Shouted, “Well perhaps I'm tired of our dismal plight!”

“Fight not twins!”, a third voice called. Both were shocked into

Almost ethereal silence considering their less than quintessential quandary  

Though neither surrendered their weapons. “How could you possibly expect

Thy side to win, if there are melees, and fights, and internal mockeries?”

“Where art thou? Show thy face!”, exclaimed the two in unison

A figure materialized from the stars above, eyes like diamonds, hair bluish-black

Yet shimmering, in a floating cloud around her head. “I am Ursa. Ursa Major. 

We have waited a long time for the Aries twins from the zodiac.”

“What is the meaning of this?”, asked Aidan furiously

Ursa Major smiled. “Your purpose on Earth is to defeat the Tsar

To restore democracy in this sad kingdom. To bring peace and prosperity

The era of armistice is certainly not far”

Nadia frowned. “Why us? Why were we chosen for this task?”

“Ye were chosen from those residing in the empyrean. ‘Twas in fact 

A week before we were to have Masala Chai and Chia seeds in my abode.”

“I don't care for Chia seeds,” exclaimed Aidan without tact.

Rolling her eyes, Nadia sighed. “Thou has not spoken about the so-called

Empyrean. What is this seemingly strange place, for we do not recall it.”

“Have patience, child. ‘Tis a realm of fire stationed above the 

Heavens where laughter and embers fly and flit.”

“Helios himself sent you for the aforementioned cause. After 

Completion, you will return to thy hearth to dwell

Along with the others of the star of the Bull. As for the trick,

Harness thy powers of fire, and all will be well.”

With this, Ursa melted into the cosmos once more

And, the two remained in stunned silence, attempting to 

Absorb the precious details of their so-called life, after which

They continued their childish dispute, among the grass and fescue.

Another rebellion arose quickly, very near in sight

'Twas in the black of night that the evil Tsar decided

To strafe the base, armed with a bomb of smoke and tears

It failed miserably, his results were lopsided

The obscure smoke traversed through the lands

Wafted through the ailing King’s mother’s bedchambers

Resulting in her grievous pain, and eventual demise

The heartbroken Tsar swore never to deploy the weapon of failure

Affronted at the expeditious assault, the Twins and the

Merlins marched upon the towering, opulent castle abode 

Swirling with power- strong, tall and true

Eyes blazing with incredible might, and hate for the foe

As half their numbers fought on the battlefield, besieging the fortress 

With the trebuchet, cannons, and commoners. Archers took their mark

Sporadically sniping the guards fighting below

Aidan and Nadia, wielding empyreal fire, neither light nor dark

Her green eyes blazing, bright red hair roiling left, no right, no around her head

Nadia stole inside the palace, flaming sword in hand only to

Meet a chockablock battalion crammed inside

‘To Hell’, she thought whilst charging, whistling for her brother and crew

Aidan was busy when he heard his twin’s call to battle

‘Twasn't his fault the Tsar’s general was poppycock

Blasting the nincompoop from his path, hands glowing red and 

Steaming, he hastened to take on the despotic monarch

Once inside the pair and their militia stormed to the Tsar’s

Next of kin to hold them hostage, the Queen was the prelude

The Heir, Anisim, was to be the second hostage; ‘Twas for the

Best, though the latter was innocent, they must end the feud 

Within himself, Anisim discerned feelings of betrayal

How dare the pretty one from the forest commit treason

He was the crown prince, this was an utter outrage

His captors wouldn't even listen to reason

The two were kept in the deepest, dingy dungeon

Successfully luring the Tsar to the place of brigs

In the fight that ensued, many curses were thrown

The Tsar, though tyrannical, had many crafty tricks

But an entire army against one person and a few

Is not a fight that challenging for the former party

They fought well, credit to them, but the Merlins dominated

In the end. The victory was cemented. Steady.

The once-mighty Tsar was brought to his knees, the 

Flaming sword pointed straight at his unprotected neck

His soldiers not moving, still loyal to the dictator they were

“I forfeit”, cried he, pathetically afraid of his death

“Anisim is to take the throne. He will be a fair ruler”, a 

Voice boomed from above. “Poppycock!”, cried the Tsar in hysterics

“You had your chance nitwit, and you wasted away”, Aidan said gallantly

Added Nadia, “Quiet fool, if your life you cherish.”

 

And so at that very spot, very moment, the stone rolled from

Nadia’s pocket, falling with a great ceremonious clang

And from it, a great tree sprouted, each branch a different 

Species : Banyan, Pine, Mango, Maple, from the stone sprang

The twins floated around it, in heavenly

Flying higher and higher, as their goal was achieved

The Tsar defeated, his lesson learned, the heir was to take

Over, many years of prosperity was foretold to be weaved

The tree was to serve as a reminder and a gift

For those who had both served and opposed

The side of the Merlins, the most loyal for whom

The branches provided power, unrivaled, unopposed

And back to the empyrean, the two went, back to live

Among the stars, where they were to dwell for the rest of

Eternity… until the next time, their names were pulled out 

Of the God’s hat, their luck ever unlucky, but still prevailed their love.