Chapter 1 – Roots
“Pilot, what’s your status?” A strong female voice spoke through the communication device. She was rather a tall woman, well-proportioned and quite busty indeed. Her voice denoted a tone of frustration, mostly because her clothes were to constricting and the equipment she had to wear for the trip was quite heavy one her body.
The pilot smirked under his breath, enjoying the female antics that have been happening so far. From her mess up with her garments, to a fall when she tried to board the vehicle that was being used at the moment, they were hilarious to him. Still, a man has to demonstrate a composed and calm behavior even among old friends. Taking a soft calm voice but with a flirty tone he replied “Ma’am we are in the destination you have requested.”
“Sakura has requested an immediate landing, is it possible for you to have a safe landing here?” The female replied, staring at her companion for a while now. She was pouting at the creature, jealous that her “nakedness” looked rather comfortable at the moment. This creature just had flowers and vines adorning her body, including one big chrysanthemum on her tail. It was a beautiful sight indeed, and yet, Sakura seemed to be lost in thought once more.
The pilot just remembered the hilarious fall once more, it made him chuckle and cough a few times to feign his actions a little. Regaining composure, he spoke once more. “Yes Linda, we will be able to land a few clicks from here, please stay put and enjoy the ride ladies.”
“Ronald, don’t get silly with me or I will whip your ass back to China!” She snapped at him furiously, she had enough of his laughs at her mistakes on this trip. Not only he has audibly giggling but, making snappy remarks and joking tones at her. Even IF he was a friend, there’s a limit for everything and she just expressed that it was enough for now.
His smile turned into a blank expression, he just had hit a nerve and she was being overly serious even for her own good. Ronald took a good look at her and coldly replied “Alright alright! Geez…You can’t even tolerate my comments now?”
“Just concentrate in bringing us down safe and sound, understood?” Linda coldly spoke once more.
He decided to let the subject fade away and concentrate more in the destination he has to arrive soon. His voice sounded like a drone when he said “Affirmative” before ignoring the duo completely.
Just a few minutes of flight and the helicopter landed on a relatively flat patch of grass, effectively scaring most of the fauna around the place. Sakura bonked Linda gently and apologized for the rude behavior of her friend. She closed her eyes and felt the damp and fresh grass that was beneath her feet, knowing they were in the right place indeed. Urging Linda, she started sprinting south from their landing zone. Her eagerness was apparent and for a good reason, she was close to arrive to the place she was born.
After a long trek that seemed endless, there she was, finally on that patch of land that she was a seedling and grew into the being that she was now. Sighing, the kind hearted creature felt nostalgic when her feet rubbed the soft soil, untouched, unharmed from any outside intervention. Then something clicked in the confines of her mind. Her memories of the past were suddenly opened to her, as if someone opened a door and pulled her from the ignorance that she was in just a few moments ago. The overwhelming influx of information sent her into a daze, everything around her blurred into a prismatic tunnel of infinite proportions, the wind carrying it like she was a feather.
Suddenly everything went dark for her, it took her several seconds to regain composure and stand back up again. Her daze gone, her eyes darted into every possible direction possible. Something was off because she could not perceive neither Linda nor Ronald. A gasp escaped her mouth; she was back in the past! “This was impossible! It has to be a joke” she thought to herself. She quickly went to touch one of her comrades, her hand just phased through like she was some kind of ghost. It was then when she realized her own body detached her mind from the real world and transported here to relive her past. Her present self, was unable to understand why her memories were flowing back into mind at this moment when she was unable to even gather a single recollection of the past without suffering severe pain and loss of consciousness as if she was ready now to cope with its great weight.
There she was staring at a large field of Giant Dandelions, her eyes never left the spot where she was born millions of years in the past. It was a happy place, nothing but flora as far as the eye could see. It was a moment when plants ruled the world and filled the landscape, contrary to where she was now. She was free of any worries, just lying on the grass staring at the sky as if she could grab it with just her soft alabaster colored petals.
Good times indeed, she thought of herself while time moved forward once more. Seasons passed, and the monotony of it all didn’t seem to bother her at all. It brought her to a Zen-like state. One day, just like the windy day that she was back in the present, something or someone covered her bright, yellow colored buddy in the sky that helped her get through her daily dose of nutrients. A chill surged throughout her body and the feeling of despair along the pain that was resurfaced in her mind. She now knows why, something just harmed her beyond any normal means of repair. She felt trapped, desperate, and unable to do anything, she didn’t have a choice in the first place.
Helpless, she was ready to accept her fate but, something warm, caring and gentle lifted her from the ground and tended her back to health. The flower could only be happy that her demise was avoided and her health was in optimal conditions once more. Her feelings blinded her from what was currently happening, she was plucked from her home and taken to a colder and slightly damp location. Despite this, it was the warm feeling that was being emitted from her savior that was like a sun to her. This was her new source of energy that fueled her life from now on.
With certainty, something changed in her. She didn’t know how, but suddenly her feelings became something more, it became a conscious thought! She began to organize collections of processes like it was a computer compiling a program. She was now aware of the world around her just like a newborn child. Such a breakthrough became noticed by the warmth that healed her, it made him even warmer with delight. It took great care and kept giving her more of its “power” to the now unique plant.
Her now primitive mind yearned for one thing right now, to be able to touch this “warmth” and bring it closer, to be able to convey her gratitude towards this kind creature. Day after day she tried her hardest to be able to silently reach IT, her perseverance was indomitable. In a moment’s notice, her intelligence flourished, inadvertently her desire became the purpose of her growth. Days passed and while this being was tending her once more, her leaf moved and grazed The being weakly.

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Weeks passed, her progress was nothing short of astounding. This being did something to her was nothing short of miraculous even if it was just that push that she needed for the change to manifest. She could now move her leafs like it was hands and able to express feelings through the learned movements of her petals, she could move her stem now and have primitive way of hearing. It was like someone turned on an "evolution" switch and left it on permanently. Now she was aware that her caretaker was a being just like her but with a humble and kind heart and an incredible intellect. Every time she could, reach to touch, she did. She was slowly growing to love this being, desiring even more of this feeling with each passing day.
The being was happy; the trials that this flower passed proved that she could change into something even more beautiful, its decision was proving fruitful. They had plenty of time still; they had weeks before they could arrive to its home planet. The being wanted that, by the time that they arrive, Kirinoa (that's how it named her) would be something to marvel the most skeptical scientific entity in the universe. Of course, this desire made the being have an even more caring attitude towards Kirinoa, solidifying a bond between them.
Their last stop before home was past the Oort's Cloud, just near the Proxima Centauri quadrant. Kirinoa wiggled her petals and rubbed her companion’s cheek before it went to grab a few supplies. Kirinoa waited happily, looking at the at the room’s contents, before staring at the starry view with awe. She thought to herself that, even if she lost her home, it was worth it, having a companion and a new view on life was even more that what she had before. It wouldn't get any better even if she wanted to. By Right now she was looking what the earthlings later called a dryad in strictly technical terms. She still didn't have a gender specific shape and she could only see in a sepia tone, her face only showed a rough shape similar to human eyes, was capable of limited speech and she was tall enough to reach an average human's height.
Using her new abilites, she reached the window and continues to gaze upon the marvelous beauty that a myriad of stars provided, focusing in every detail she could lay her "eyes" on. Hours went by, Kirinoa kept her gaze fixated at space till the being arrived and greeted Kirinoa.
"Tishiah Kirinoa! What are you doing near the window?" The being greeted the plant, inquiring about her actions; Kirinoa was doing something that it thought it was outside of her usual behavior. The being has brought all the necessary supplies for the remainder of their voyage.
She kept staring at the beautiful spectacle that was happening outside the ship for a while before replying the best way she could. She just had learned several key words from the alien language and used them often to communicate properly. "Teshireh...I...gaze...sky...lights...beautiful...lights"
"Ah! They are called stars and there a thousands upon thousands of them out there. They can be of all shapes and sizes" The being closed the gates and placed the supplies in a safe place using a machine to move all those hefty supplies. After everything was secured, it approached where Kirinoa was, giving an affectionate caress to her petals.
Inquiring with a curious tone, she replied softly "Is...Kirinoa...star?" Her petals ruffled while the being caressed them tenderly once more. She extended her leafs to caress it in return.
"Yes, in my eyes you are a star, my beautiful star" It said happily, watching her was simply endearing to it. The being wanted to help her absorb as much information that her relatively infant mind could learn which was still blowing away all expectations daily.
"Wish...know...your...name" Her petals fluttering harmoniously in respond to her words.
“You wish to know my name? I guess I haven't had the opportunity to teach it to you. My name is Shi'er" Shi'er said with a calm tone, trying to put the correct emphasis on the pronunciation so that she could try to learn it in the near future.
Struggling apparent in her expression but, not conceding to give up so easily. After all, this was the name of the one she loves and cares deeply for her well –being. Sh...Shi....Shi'er....Shi'er"
Astonished, Shi'er was deeply impressed that she was able to speak her name in such a short notice. Her brain functions have increased exponentially since the last time that she instructed her last words. Delighted of such a progress, she took a few notes and replied. “That’s Astonishing! You are learning even faster than I expected."
Kirinoa took a moment of silence, deep in thought as she was trying to gather the words to express what she wanted to know next. After a few seconds, Kirinoa’s curiosity got the best of her and blurted out what she wanted. “Shi'er....what...means...kirinoa?"
Beaming, Shi’er replied "Mmm...Kirinoa means 'beautiful bloom' in my race’s ancient dead language.”
"Kirinoa...love...Shi'er" Now trying to close the distance between them and embrace her once more, today was a milestone in her life and she wanted to share her happiness with her beloved Shi’er.
Coming closer and letting the plant embrace her, coolly, responded “I love you too, Kirinoa"
Kirinoa was now more determined than ever to provide Shi’er with this emotion as long as she could, with all the strength that she could muster. With Such a deep bond between them, gave her with the strength to keep pressing forward, even if it was just a small step at a time. Shi’er needed to provide a good report of its findings to the High council though, it took Shi’er quite a while to finish, much to her chagrin, Kirinoa’s innocent curiosity to ask and desire to know more about her savior became a mild annoyance and delayed her from finishing her reports as scheduled.
It was time; they arrived to the ᵞ Cephei quadrant where Shi’er’s home planet, Telemuria IV resided. Both of them were pretty nervous of their arrival in the planet, but their reasons for being so were different. To Kirinoa, every little struggle she overcame, every progress she did from the very beginning, solidified her bond with Shi’er. She already was planning to live in a home together, where she could be the one that brings warmth and affection. She was still somewhat limited in expressing her feelings wholeheartedly but, she figured that, at the pace she was moving forward, she will be able to in a short period of time. For the time being, her intention was to make everything pleasant despite her limitations, until that day finally arrives.
To Shi’er, her arrival means a time for change has arrived, the discoveries and what hope could bring to restore the planet’s population. To change the perspective that, given the right conditions and determination, even a flower can move forward to a new environment and survive. The planet’s sole intelligent race has been stagnant about the decision to reform their traditions and look for a way to survive and lead others to a bright future. The race had a high rate of adaptability, they had a unique ability that they could once in their lives, take another species cells and merge with them. For many, this meant permanently changing their physiology to survive and move on as a new species. Sadly the idea of creating such legacy was nugatory in the minds of most of the race population, despite of being under the real threat of extinction.
Scientists have been unable to resolve the matter, mainly due to their unique physiology and traditions. This (has) led them to continuous in-breeding of the two androgynous body types separately and rendered Shi’er’s race sterile. Kirinoa’s presence on Telemuria was of great importance; her arrival brought a ray of hope for a new future indeed. Since the start of their travels together, Shi’er‘s love for Kirinoa has evolved as well. She felt compelled to save her because not doing so would have violated an oath she took many years in the past. From just feeling the need to correct her transgression towards the plant, to a more filial love as her body slowly progressed into what has become up to this point. Yes, to Shi’er this meant a world of importance, literally….

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Hope you enjoy this, it took me quite a while to get it proofread and hopefully well written to pique your interest, enjoy

Sakura and the author is moi me and of course  seisuke