Epic (8 page)

M.K. jumped on the play button. Out came a noise that sounded like a high-pitched screech to humans, but to Jinn-sized creatures, it sounded like a low thrumming. It began to attract the attention of the bats. They flew toward the sound; they flew toward Bomba and opened up the moonlight!

With Leafman-like agility, M.K. sprang out of Bomba's hand and aboard her bird again. “I'll find you, Dad,” she called out to him as the bats swarmed her father.

Inside the royal chamber, another battle began brewing. Mandrake had burst into the room on his grackle. A stream of arrows was unleashed, but Mandrake swung his club and batted them away. The Leafmen kept attacking, but Mandrake struck the floor with his club, sending blight to take them down.

Mandrake looked up to see Nim, with Mub behind him, protecting the pod.

“This must be the delivery room,” he said, chuckling wickedly.

“Whoa, boy, are
you
lost!” Nim said, trying to lighten the mood. “Down the hall, make a left, and—”

Mandrake shoved Nim and the slug out of the way and reached for the pod. “My dark prince. Come to Daddy.”

But the pod's tendrils shrank from his touch.

Then Ronin stepped out of the shadows. “I don't think it likes you.”

Excited to see his hero, Mub shouted out, “Ronin!”

“Then again, I don't really care for you myself,” said Ronin. He advanced, wounded and beaten up, but ready for one last stand. Mandrake snarled and furiously attacked. Ronin responded, but it was clear he was weak, and probably wouldn't last long in his condition.

“When I left you for dead, I thought you would stay that way,” Mandrake snarled.

“It's going to take more than a few thousand Boggans to get rid of me,” replied Ronin.

“Then why don't I take another crack at it,” said Mandrake. He pinned Ronin to the floor, and without his sword the Leafman was defenseless.

“What's that little saying you people have?” said Mandrake, as he hovered over Ronin. “‘Lots of leaves, something something'? Very inspiring.” He raised his club. “But in the end, every leaf falls and dies alone.”

Mandrake brought his club down, but a sword blocked the strike!

“No one is alone,” said Nod, revealing himself holding the sword. He looked at Ronin. “Not even him.”

At that moment, an army of Leafmen dropped from the sky and surrounded Mandrake. Moonlight began to stream back into the royal chamber, where it struck the pod, causing it to burst open. A bright light erupted, hitting Mandrake and hurling him out of the chamber and into a tree.

“Nooooo!” cried Mandrake as he landed in his own poisonous rot, which instantly enveloped him whole. Mandrake was finally destroyed by the very thing he loved so much—decay!

M
.K. ran toward Moonhaven, looking toward the moonlight bathing the night sky. She was relieved to have helped save Moonhaven, but she knew it was too late to save herself and return home. When she reached the royal chamber, she stood in the back and watched.

Nod, Ronin, and the Leafmen approached the open pod, wondering about the glow inside. Many Jinn watched, including the mother and daughter Jinn from the pod-selection ceremony. A wind blew through, lifting the glowing flecks of light out of the pod. The Leafmen and all of the Jinn watched as the swirl of light reached the Jinn daughter, who was standing with her mother. The light formed into the image of Queen Tara.

The queen pressed a cheek close to the Jinn daughter's ear and whispered, “Look after them for me.” Then she embraced the girl and dissolved into a bright burst of light.

When the light subsided, the Jinn daughter had been transformed into the new queen, with crown and cape. Her mother was shocked.

“Your Majesty,” Nim Galuu said immediately.

The Jinn all around fell to their knees and bowed.

Off to the side, Nod caught Ronin's eye.

“You look terrible,” Nod told him.

Ronin grinned. “Hey, did you see how many times I got hit? I learned that from you.”

Nod grinned back. “You're not going to make me say all the stuff I learned from you now, are you?”

“Well, you'd have learned a whole lot more from your dad,” said Ronin. “I was a pretty poor substitute.”

Nod shook his head. “Don't beat yourself up. Lately you've shown some real promise.”

Ronin couldn't help but laugh.

“Oh, please, just say you love each other,” M.K. interjected.

Ronin exchanged a confused look with Nod. “I thought we just did.”

Just then Nod realized M.K. was still there—and not big again! He was happy to see her, but he could tell she was trying to put on a brave face.

“I'm sorry,” Nod offered. “But not completely sorry.” He reached out to her, but M.K. started to rise off the ground.

“What's happening?” M.K. asked, a little concerned.

“A queen brought you here,” explained Nim, “How about a queen sends you back?” He gestured to the new queen, her eyes closed in concentration, thrilled to be using her new power.

“It's working!” the new queen said excitedly.

M.K. looked sadly at Ronin and Nod. “I have to say good-bye.”

“What for? You're part of us,” Ronin said.

M.K. remembered the “Many leaves, one tree” motto and felt slightly better. She asked Nod to put his arms around her, to keep her from floating away. Then she kissed him, as they became enveloped in tendrils of bright light, until no one could see them anymore.

Bomba stood in the forest, thinking about the events of the past few hours. His life's work—everything that had ever mattered to him—was real. And his daughter had shown him the proof. He felt a pang of regret that M.K. wasn't here with him now. Where was she? Would he get to thank her for leading him to the Jinn? But more important than that, he wanted a fresh start, and a real chance for them to get to know each other.

The sound of leaves rustling pulled Bomba from his thoughts. He looked up and gasped.

M.K. was standing in front of him, back to her normal size. She smiled. Bomba smiled, too. They were going to get their chance after all! M.K. ran up to her father and gave him a hug.

Ozzy peeked over a bush, then barked, sneezed, and drooled. He ran past them and then doubled back, running in happy circles at the reunion.

Now Bomba had someone to share his research with. And it wasn't just anyone, it was his daughter! M.K. was a great guide to the world of the Jinn! When they got back to the house, M.K. watched over her father's shoulder as he furiously scribbled in a journal.

“Well, what do you think?” he asked finally, showing a naturalist's sketch of a Leafman warrior.

M.K. looked closely at the drawing, admiration showing on her face. “It's perfect, Dad.” Then she added, “Except the boots are higher, and the sleeves are longer. And they wear actual helmets, not acorns.”

“Really? Well, they should seriously consider the potential!” said Bomba. He pinned up the drawing next to the many other sketches of the Jinn.

Ozzy ran up to M.K, panting happily.

“Here you go, boy,” M.K. said. “Grr!” She tossed a small, hand-sewn Boggan toy. Ozzy happily grabbed it in his mouth and shook it.

Suddenly a
beep beep beep
echoed through the house. M.K. jumped up and began to run into the other room, then stopped herself, remembering it was her dad's equipment.

Bomba smiled. “Go. It's always for you, anyway.” He couldn't be happier to have someone as fascinated by this world of tiny people as he was.

M.K. raced into the other room and sat down at a computer. She instantly smiled at the image on the screen: a forest-cam view of Nod. He was wearing a Leafman uniform and practicing a few sword moves.

“Hey,” said M.K.

“Hey,” said Nod.

“How's work?” she asked.

“It's not work when you love your job,” replied Nod. “‘Many leaves, one tree,' that's what I always say.”

“Uh-huh,” M.K. said, smiling to herself, remembering how Nod
used
to feel about being a Leafman. It was wonderful to see that he had learned what it meant to be part of a team.

“What do you think you're doing, leaf boy?” Mub said to Nod.

“Leafman,” Nod corrected. “You know it's Leafman.”

“Hi, Mub,” M.K. replied.

“
We
were talking,” Nod said to Mub, trying to get rid of him.

“There's a big sack of shut-your-flat-face over there by that tree,” Mub told Nod. “Why don't you go pick it up?”

“Listen, slick—”

“Guys, don't fight,” M.K. said.

“Oh, it won't be a fight,” Mub clarified. “I could whip him with both eyes behind my back.”

“I'd like to see you try, jelly butt!” Nod said confidently.

The next instant, Mub scrunched down and opened his mouth wide.
Gulp!

“Ew!” said M.K., hearing Nod's muffled screams.

“Not so tough now,” Mub said to Nod.

“Mub! Get him out of your mouth,” M.K. said. She sighed, then got up from the desk and quickly found her father. “Dad, I've got to go Heimlich my friend out of a slug.”

Bomba looked over her shoulder at the monitor. “Yeah, that looks pretty weird.” Turning back to M.K., he added, “Here, don't forget this.”

He plopped a tricked-out helmet on her head. She thanked him with a kiss on the cheek.

“Tell them about the acorn helmets,” he called after her.

M.K. paused. “Or you could tell them yourself?” she suggested.

Bomba's face lit up with excitement. He slapped on a helmet of his own. Then he and M.K. ran out the door and into the forest, with Ozzy following behind—barking, sneezing, and drooling all the way.

Professor Bomba is a scientist. He believes tiny people live in the woods.

The forest folk do exist!
They are called the Jinn.

The Boggans are the sworn enemy of the Jinn.