A Boy, a Dog Girl and the Way Things Are: Part Four

Why do we do the things we do? Why do human beings struggle against the inevitable, screaming at nature and fate and physics about how they are right and reality is wrong?

Zack’s pentagrams team was taken out in the semifinals of their playoffs run. He played his heart out, but the sheer reality of Zack having only learned the sport weeks earlier ground him down.

“Hey, I’m not pissed!” Zack said as Honey embraced him after the game. “Only real downside is I don’t get to play more. But I know what to work on next year, and I’m one step closer to runeball!”

“See, Twigbert! Your daddy is strong both physically and in his head! Daddy is a good daddy!” Honey said to the small, far healthier looking tree in a pot Chista carried with her.

Chista took Twigbert everywhere.

The girl saw her C rank everywhere. Zack, who adapted so well to being dragged into her world. Honey, who created her humanity day by day. Her father, a legendary hero. Baltz, the rich boy who constantly reminded her what she was.

A failed experiment.

A C rank.

But Twigbert was alive.

Honey was alive.

“I can do this,” Chista said softly to Twigbert at night as she lightly brushed his leaves, pouring her magical energy into him. She had learned much about plant biology the past few weeks. She knew where to target, how to make his leaves blossom and turn green.

It wasn’t healing, but it was a start.

“But is it enough for the competition?” Chista asked the night before. The tree in the pot rested on her stomach. She felt the crush of fate barreling down on her.

Am I good enough?

*

Within the gym at VanVeer Academy, Baltz conducted a show of fire and energy. Flames shaped like dragons and knights clashed as he moved his arms, making them dance like a conductor with an orchestra. His elemental talent was turned into artistry, and as the dragon exploded in defeat the crowd of spectators also detonated.

“Gotta admit, it was cool,” Zack said as he, Honey, Chistos and Chista stood off to the side with the other competitors.

“Young Baltz has an incredible talent for showmanship. He demands the best of himself and others,” Jelks said.

Honey looked around as Jelks talked. “Where are they?” she finally asked.

“Who?”

“The mean boy’s parents. I thought you were saving a spot for them this whole time, but they’re still not here.”

“The Maridans are exceptionally busy. I am happy to be his support.”

“Oh…” Honey clearly wasn’t happy with the answer.

Baltz walked over confidently, smirking at Chista. “I cannot wait to see what you do with your plant.”

“Why don’t you go to hell,” Chista said bluntly.

“Why don’t you quit?”

“Why don’t you tell me why I piss you off so much?!”

Baltz looked at Chista carefully. “You disgust me. It isn’t the failure. It is the constant repeated failure. It is your stubborn refusal to admit you are simply not good enough. You waste your time. I loathe waste.”

“I am good enough. I’m winning today.”

“I will bow to you if you prove me wrong. Come, Jelks. I anticipate being vertical the rest of the day.”

Two other students went before Chista’s turn. During their performances, Honey kept reassuring both Chista and Twigbert. Chistos put his hand on her shoulder gently.

“No matter what happens, I’m proud of you.”

Chista nodded, smiled.

Then Zack approached her.

He knew what to say.

He whispered into her ear. Her eyes went wide as he talked, her hands gripping Twigbert’s pot tightly. Then he spun her, pointed her towards the demonstration area and lightly pushed her away.

“What did you say to her, sweetheart?”

Zack watched, silent.

She took her place in the center of the gym, placing Twigbert down. The gym was mostly quiet, with a few laughs rippling out. Nobody expected anything.

Nobody but Chista.

Her hands glowed blue. She motioned towards Twigbert. Each branch, each leaf, each root was in her mind. The plant had a body, and the body was open to her.

“I am a healer…”

Each cell in the tree's body was hers to command. The strain was immense. Her mind and body poured energy from herself into Twigbert.

She would not stop.

She could not stop.

“I am not a C rank wizard…”

The tree grew. It quickly burst forth from its pot, its roots crawling across the gym, embracing Chista like a child would its mother. Its branches reached for the ceiling, leaves sprouting, not only green but red and orange and bright blue.

“I am not a failure!”

Zack and Honey held each other. She started crying at what she witnessed. He kept saying yes over and over, softly and proudly. Chistos smiled wider than he had in decades.

Baltz felt something crack in him.

“I AM CHISTA SOLLEI!”

She fell to her knees, exhausted. The great tree stood before her, its branches reaching the ceiling, its trunk sturdy and proud. Twigbert was healed.

The crowd roared with approval.

Chista only saw her friends clapping for her and her father mouthing three words.

I’m so proud.

*

Sixth place.

She had failed.

Chista stood before the final scoreboard, her legs feeling like they might give way. Tears fell freely from her eyes. She didn’t care. After all her work, weeks of training, making Twigbert into a champion…she still failed.

“Guess this proves it,” Chista said softly. “I’m not supposed to be a wizard. I’m a…”

“Chista.”

Baltz stood before them.

She waited for him to rub his fourth place finish in her face. To call her a failed experiment, disgusting, a loser.

Baltz bowed to her.

“What…what are you doing?”

“Baltz Maridan always keeps his word.”

“But I failed. I didn’t make the top five.”

Baltz stood straight again. “I believe the bet wasn’t on your winning. It was for you to prove me wrong.”

Baltz turned quickly and left. Zack noted the redness on his face.

“I don’t care what anyone says. I am so incredibly proud of my talented daughter,” Chistos said, holding her. She collapsed into his arms, crying, whether from sadness or joy she did not know.

Zack thought of what he whispered to her.

“They think I’m giving you advice. I’m not. You don’t need any. You will do this. And do you know why? Because you want it. Not to prove your worth. Not to prove yourself to your dad. Not to spite Baltz. You saved me and Honey because you wanted it. Nothing distracted you then. So go kick ass. Be Chista Sollei.”

Why do humans struggle against the inevitable? The answer, Zack discovered, was simple. Because there is no such thing. A dog can become a girl. A boy can fall in love with her. A man can find happiness. A girl can become a champion.

One simply needs the right motivation. Give a human a reason, and they will transcend impossibility.