Apple's Heart

[dramatispersonae]

Your arrival is marked by the feel of sand under your feet, with the sound and smell of the ocean wafting in from behind you. A dampness hangs in the air and the sky is overcast. Directly in front of you the sand fades into a grassy hill, on top of which a white castle rests. To the left, a little ways off, you can see tall sandstone cliffs. Off to the right is a large field of sunflowers that stretches out into the distance. There are no paths or signs anywhere to be seen.

((#applecore))

Comments

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[fullmoonblooms]

We're fighting back soldiers that are trying to take books away from the people. This is our final stand, to protect the last library in the world.

We can't let them win, can we?

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

There is a collective gasp of outrage.
"No, we can't let them take the books!"
"We'll fight everyone!"
"Take them all out!"
"And hold a dance party to collect money!"

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[fullmoonblooms]

[pulls a fake sword and shield out from the toy box and goes to stand guard]

Everyone! You know what to do! To your places!

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

They all rush to grab toy swords and shields.
"To defend the books!"
"To defend the library!"
"Fight to the last man!"

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[fullmoonblooms]

[rallying them all together and stopping when she realizes something]

...We need someone to play the enemy or it won't be much of a play.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

They all look at each other.
"I don't want to..."
"That sounds boring."
"That's dumb."
"So not cool."

A little girl with blonde hair jumps forward. "I'll do it! I'll be the bad guy. It'll be fun."
Five other kids immediately jump forward.
"Me too, me too!"
"I want to!"
"I want a cool weapon!"

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[fullmoonblooms]

Um...Half of you can be the bad guys and the other half can be the good guys, so long as the bad guys all see the light at the end.

[...How many children are there?]

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

A lot. Two dozen? They seem to vanish when they're not in your line of sight. There are consistently ten of them, sometimes more.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[fullmoonblooms]

[points to the five that volunteered]

All right. You are now the bad guys in this play. Everyone else will fight against you -- but not for real!

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

"Got it!"
"Okay!"
"We'll win!"
"No way, we'll win!"

The children start fighting to determine who will win.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[fullmoonblooms]

[supervising and ready to heal if necessary...]

Um, k-keep fighting! We won't let the library fall!

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

"For the library!"
"For the...not the library!"
There is proper swordfighting, at least.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[fullmoonblooms]

[claps...and I think I've given the children enough things to play with.]

[Is there a way to continue on from here?]

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

There are...more sunflowers. There is a heavy mist off to the right, and a tiny path off to the left.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[fullmoonblooms]

[...tiny path seems safer.]

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

It is. It winds its way around the sunflower fields a long ways, heading towards the back of the castle.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[fullmoonblooms]

[...CASTLE! Lets go to the castle now!]

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

The sunflowers clear, and you find yourself at the back of the castle. There is a crop garden, training grounds where a handful of guards are practicing, and a large greenhouse. There is also a pathway leading around to the front.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[fullmoonblooms]

Ah, wonderful!

[opening the seed bottle and looking for a clear spot in the crop garden]

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

There is a spot near the end that looks ready for planting.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[fullmoonblooms]

[takes out the seed and plants it]

There you are. You can grow more comfortably now.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

The seeds are successfully planted. The spot glows a little.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[fullmoonblooms]

That's better.

[...lets see the greenhouse now.]

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

Inside is, if possible, even larger than outside. Every kind of plant imaginable is here; hanging from the ceiling, in planters and pots, in tall shelves and niches. There are small waterways flowing throughout, bringing all of the plants water. A woman with light hair and a lab coat is there, a playful smile on her face even as she checks on the plants.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[fullmoonblooms]

[oh gosh, so many things!; waving to the woman]

Oh, hello!