The Royal Garden, a place like no other. Filled with quite a variety of exotic plant life which every species held an radiant beauty. It could be easily seen why the Queen loved this place, and spent most of her time here. The King rarely came out but she always made him check what she recently grew. However, this time when the king came out it was not to check on the plants but on his wife’s screams.
He found himself sad but only for a minute as grin came over his face. His son was born, Nao. A future Prince to the entire planet of Delray, a planet of only plants. No animals ruled here, no other form of noticeable life really existed. Life forms on Delray are very complex than most. Nao may however be even more special.
Years soon passed the kingdom by as Nao grew older soon approaching the age of 4. He spent most time in the garden with his mother, so much indeed his older sister only 14 grew jealous. The spoiled Princess well taught in the ways of the sword sought to scare so bad, he would never enter the Royal gardens again. She put on a horrid mask and waited till he was left alone till surprised him. Not long she waited till it was only them.
She sneaked up on him holding her sword like she was going to rip him to shreds. Nao twas innocently tending the flowers when his sword shouted “boo!” He turned surprised looking back at her as she slashed downward. Stopping an inch from his head and he didn’t respond like expected. “Hi sis” Nao said with a smile.
His sister who is named Aiko was upset over his nonchalant attitude “Nao...You Alien!”
He kept smiling “ Thank you sis.”
“How did you know?” She asked.
“Know what?” He replied confused.
“Nevermind” She said frustrated just before walking off.
Their mother watching them of in the distance. When the daughter came into the corridor, She was confronted by her mother. “ Aiko?”
She knew, she was in trouble but had no where to run. “Yes...Mom”
“Be nicer to him, soon he may be the only family you have left.” She said.
“What?” She said confused.
“One day you’ll see” The mother said before walking down the corridor.
Two years soon past and in that time. Tragedy had struck a virus has spread throughout the land killing off 46% of the global population in two months. The Castle was quarantined but it was too late for Nao. He came down with this virus now known as Rotting Heart plague. Slowly kills all living plants by rotting them from the inside out. His mother hid Nao, away in the castle to keep him safe from those who would throw him out of the castle.
She slowly nursed her son back to health and miraculously was recovering. While his mother caught the virus and slowly began to die. She held out till the end.
“Mama?!”Nao shouted from his sick bed. Curioscity got the better of him and went looking for his mother. No where in the room, he turned the knob on the door which lead to a connecting bedroom.
“Mom?” he asked.
She saw her resting peacefully on the bed. So, Nao went to the bedside grabbing her hand. Surprised how cold it was, he began to pull his mother’s arm trying to get her to woke up. She had no reaction.
Nao just smiled. “ I understand Mama, you’re sick and need your rest. I’ll help you get better like you did for me.”
So, he waited countless hours till someone found them there. His mother never showed up for dinner as a result they grew worried. When Nao finally learned what had happened. He didn’t truly understand, the only thing Nao did understand was that Mom would be in the Royal garden if he ever wanted to speak to her. A single grave in the Royal Garden by the bed of roses which Nao visited everyday. They talked just like they used to, The way he saw it. Nothing really changed.
Soon, after three more months passed. 77% of the population had rotted away and rumored the rest were already infected. Including the king himself. The virus took over his mind driving him insane. The King didn’t even realize that the sickness was already in him and fearfully had everyone killed who he thought could be a carrier. King Delray became the most ruthless in all history of the planet.
Nao spoke to his mom during this time , while his sister listened in.
“Mom, I don’t understand what is happening” He told his dead mother.
He, waited for a response.
“I know you don’t talk much anymore, but you’re so much smarter than me. Can you explain?” He asked.
He watted before responding as a sad look came over him.
“ I need you, please...”
His sister stepped out out of the shadows. “You’re a bigger idiot than I ever give you credit for.” she said.
“”Sis?” He looked back.
“I know what happened, you killed my mother!” She accused him.
“No I didn’t…” he said.
“You carried that sickness, you gave it to her and she died!” She shouted!
He thought about it for a moment unable to respond.
“No wonder, she won’t talk to you, she hates you!” She said in a harsher tone than before.
He ran away with tears in his eyes knowing she was right. Aiko smiled at what she had done before a voice came from behind her.
“Aiko…” Said in a disappointed tone.
“Mom?” She asked.
“It isn’t his fault.” She said.
“But if he didn’t…” Aiko tried to explain.
“I love all my kids, and would gladly do anything to help them. I as meant to die and he was meant to life… As sad as that is. Its true and I believe you both are destined for great things. You must stop him, before its too late”
“ Stop him?”
Meanwhile, Nao confessed everything to his father but his father only heard one word “sick” Fearing it would spread or that his son was a healthy carrier The King attacked Nao trying to kill him with a single downward slash but he leaped back. The attack missing by an inch,
“Dad” Nao asked.
“Die!”He shouted.
He froze as he accepted this as punishment for causing the death of his mother. The King attacked him ready to kill but Aiko jumped in to save him. Using her knowledge of the ways of the sword to hold off her father.
“ Run Nao, Go to the land where nothing grows!”
Nao ran but his hand was caught by the armoured guards. He screamed out for help distracting his sister. Who looked back at him as the sword of the king plunged into her back ripping through her chest. “Die for your betrayal!” King Delray shouted to his own daughter.
“Aiko!” Nao called out for his sister as he watched her die. His hand slipping from the grip of the guards before charging at his father. Pulling out his pocket knife ready to kill him but when he got close, in one foul swoop Nao was decapitated by one swing of his father’s blade. Nao was dead and soon given a royal funeral. Where they reattached his head and then buried him next to his mother.
Time passed and eventually the entire planet had died all but the Royal garden. Naos and His mother’s grave sat next to each other peacefully but below Nao’s neck and head soon grew back together. The ground around his grave collapsed in on itself. Revived and free with little memory of his own death. He went looking for his father.
On the throne, a rotting corpse sat there wearing the crown. Nao broke down in tears realizing that he was truly alone in the world. As a heavenly creature suddenly appeared before him.
“ Come here child…”
Nao looked up to see an extended hand and grabbed it as he was then swallowed in light.