Flowers for worm

Once we finished touring Decembertown, we made our way to Normandy, France. There was a lot of historical significance, at least in my era, about this place. According to Irina, there still was, but more so because it was now home to a veteran from the last great war. She explained that a little over a century ago, one final war to end all wars known as the grand finale war was fought, with the forces fighting for a peaceful era prevailing.

"And we're coming here to meet someone who served in that war?" I asked.

"Pretty much.

We then came across a masked figure garbed in old military attire sitting at a chessboard. At a glance, it appeared he was playing against himself, but he was mainly just slamming his king down on the same place, over and over again.

"War... WAR! Worm's at WAR!"

It appeared like the fellow was senile or crazy. Either way, it was probably best to ignore him.

"Hana, this here is old Worm. He's one of the key figures from the grand finale war a little over a century ago," Irina smiled as she gestured towards the masked figure.

Well there goes avoiding him. I respect the service and sacrifice of combat veterans just as much as the next person, but it's also common for soldiers to get nasty PTSD which completely upends their personality. This fellow seems like he fits that bill, but maybe I'm being too-

"WAR!"

Yeah, he's crazy.

"Grandpa Worm, don't scare the poor folks," a voice rang out.

I turned to notice a young girl in a dress holding a basket of floral wreaths.

"Flora... Worm is at WAR!"

"I know, but let me clear the air. My apologies, but could you two step off to the side for a moment?"

The girl's name was Flora Fenningham. She lived nearby and was Worm's granddaughter and caretaker in a sense.

"So what's the deal with him?" I asked.

"It's your partner. They don't have a good relationship. You see, it's customary for denizens of the earth to give him a floral wreath at least once as a symbol of thanks for the era he's brought forth. But Irina..."

"Hasn't given him one?"

"Guilty as charged," Irina said with a somber smile.

Considering what I knew about her, this didn't come as a surprise. But it did make me wonder why she brought me here.

"Ah, my apologies. This is your first time here, so would you care to give a wreath to Grandpa Worm?" Flora asked.

"You're selling wreaths?"

"No, merely providing them. All you need to do is hold one and the wreath will work it's magic," Flora smiled as she held out her basket.

Inside were what appeared to be two floral wreaths, though they were both made up with white flowers. I cautiously grabbed one with Flora then asking me how I felt about the era.

"Hmm, there's some things I feel have been lost to time which saddens me, but overall I can't say I hate it. This era has been a blast, and I wish most of the stuff here had been present in my era."

Flora smiled as the wreath began to glow. The flowers then changed colors to turquoise and black, matching my aesthetic.

"Your feelings are true, now simply deliver the wreath to Grandpa Worm."

I nodded and slowly headed back to Worm. I was a bit nervous, but Worm seemed calm as he noticed the wreath in my hand. I nervously handed it to him as he nodded and graciously accepted it.

"Worm thanks you. Worm will treasure your satisfaction," Worm nodded as he pulled out what appeared to be an inventory menu from a video game and placed my wreath in it. "Now just one human on Earth has yet to thank Worm."

"Irina?"

Worm nodded and began fiddling with the chess pieces once more. "Worm fought in war. War to end ALL wars! We won, and made era of true peace. But Worm can't rest until he knows ALL are satisfied with the era he brought forth. Yet that girl, has never been happy. She seeks to cast herself into slumber, but Worm knows, this is as perfect as the world will get."

"So that's why you were saying 'War'."

"Worm always says "War"."

"Well thank you once again," I bowed before heading back to Irina and Flora.

...

I can already tell Hana's going to ask me about why I haven't given ole Worm a wreath, but the answer's more complicated than it seems. Those flowers will only glow if you're truly satisfied with what you've got, which I've never been. At least, not until now. Today was the last day I'd have my chance to stuff myself in a stasis pod, Hana's stasis pod ironically enough, before it was destroyed and I'd be stuck in this era for good. Yet instead of trying to do just that, here I am in Normandy.

Being with Hana has truly changed me. What I was unable to experience with my father and Selena, I can with Hana. That girl's the missing piece this monotony of an era needed to become enjoyable.

I didn't even give Hana the chance to say a word as I grabbed a floral wreath, the last one, from the basket. Flora stared in shock, but composed herself and asked me the same question she asked Hana.

"Before, I hated it. I was bored every day and just couldn't understand why it was all so special. But Hana was finally the one that made me grateful. So hurry up and resonate. That old asteroid smashing steam punk needs his wreath."

To mine and Flora's surprise, the wreath glowed, springing forth gold, grey, black, and turquoise flowers.

"I... I don't believe it. I- Irina..."

"Yeah, I've finally come to love the era."

...

I simply smiled as Irina twirled the wreath on her finger as she walked past me towards Worm.

"Thank you for your service. I'm glad I can live in such a peaceful world with Hana thanks to you," she smiled as she draped the wreath over his neck.

Worm began to tremble as tears oozed out of his mask. "Worm... Worm didn't think the day would come, when you would be so happy to live in this world... Worm... has never been happier."

"Me neither. For the longest time, I've been suffering from boredom, halting myself from appreciating just what I have, but thankfully, someone from the past came to show me just how amazing it could be. Now you can live with pride knowing every human living on earth is thankful for the peaceful world you helped fight for."

From under his mask, Worm smiled. Now any worry he had about Earth's population was gone. The impossible dream of a truly harmonious and peaceful future he had fought so long and hard for, was now truly here.

"This... is Worm's heaven... Worm can finally be at peace," Worm smiled as he closed his eyes and took a nap.

I began to panic a bit until Worm began snoring loudly, exhaling bubbles with each snore.

"Now this is truly something I've never seen. Well, let's play with the snore bubbles," Irina grinned as she began chasing after the bubbles, popping them as she went.

I smiled and positioned my selfie stick before chasing after her to get my fair share of bubble popping in.