Baskets of different dried flowers stood outside the doors to “Tym’s Flowers.” Kaioshin studied the building; it was small with two windows on either side of the door. When Nishi opened the door, a bell that was installed over it rang. He made a face at the smells of the flowers coming together. Flowers didn’t bother him, but the horrific smell did.
“Hello, young Nishi,” an elderly voice said.
Nishi turned around and respectively bowed to the older man. He was around 90 years old or so, but still filled with much energy and knowledge. He had a little bit of white hair on top of his purple head and a small mustache under his nose. He hunched over a little bit, using a cane for balance as he walked.
“What can I do for you?” He asked, making his way over to a small table with a stool. Kaioshin figured this table was used to make his flower arrangements, seeing it had pieces of petals and whatnot scattered all over.
The old man pointed to a few other stools standing off to the side. Nishi took two and both she and Kaioshin sat down. “Mr….”
“Uncle,” the old man quickly reminded.
“Uncle Tym,” Nishi corrected herself. She knew that everyone in town called him uncle, but she wasn’t sure if it was proper or not. “I want to introduce you to…”
“Prince Kaioshin,” Tym acknowledged before she could finish. “Yes, I know who he is.”
Kaioshin looked at Nishi, a bit impressed. Nishi smiled at her companion and continued. “Mrs. Oltenier had told me something about an evil sorceress at the Kai Castle. Kaioshin had sort of met her and she called herself Queen Zenika.”
The old man slowly nodded his head up and down for a moment. “Ah, yes. I figured that the witch would be back.”
“So you know about her,” Kaioshin said leaning forward.
“Yes, I know her quite well. I had the wonderful pleasure of meeting her when I was working at the castle years ago,” he said sarcastically.
“You worked at the castle?” Nishi asked.
“Long before either of you two were born. Yes, I was—believe it or not—a sergeant in the King’s army. When you’re father was your age, maybe a little older,” he said to Kaioshin, “Queen Zenika had come to take over the planet to add to her growing collection.” He coughed a bit and took a sip of water that was sitting in a large glass next to him.
“She tried to do to him exactly what she wants from you. However, he was able to resist and overcome her evil power. You do recall that your grandfather died before you were born, correct?” Uncle Tym questioned the prince.
“Yes. My father didn’t talk of it much though…he really never told me anything of his past.”
Tym shook his head. “No, my boy. I’m almost certain that your father tried to tell you, but you just wouldn’t take the time to listen. He knew that Zenika would be back as soon as you were old enough.”
“Why wasn’t she destroyed though?” Kaioshin asked demandingly. “I thought you said my father resisted her evil desires.”
“He did resist. She wasn’t able to enslave his mind because he was a pure hearted young man. Your father was very caring and protective of those around him, which reflected her negative energy. However, she was too powerful to destroy. King Kaioshin, your grandfather and the one you were named after, tried to protect your father. She killed him in the process.
“Before then many of the guards, along with myself, tried to stop the queen before she could advance to the prince. Almost the entire room of guards was killed, except a select few who, including me, were injured seriously. Why do you think I must use a cane like this?”
“It must have been terrible,” Nishi sympathized.
“Oh, it was my dear. It truly was.”
“What happened to make her leave though?” Kaioshin said, trying to get back on the topic at hand.
Tym took another sip of water as he observed the anxious boy before him. He’s not like his father…that’s why she’s come back so soon. He’d be easy to ensnare into a trap. “Your father was so upset and mad at what Zenika had done that he used his own powers to wound her enough that if he threw another blast, she would’ve died. However, knowing that she would be defeated, she vanished and hasn’t been heard from since.”
Kaioshin frowned on the whole matter. “So you never said exactly why she came back.”
“Zenika kept a close watch on this planet. Its one of the more sacred planets in the universe, the Kai’s being one of the oldest races. She knew when you were born and everything you did, I’m sure. She learned that your heart isn’t as pure as your father’s, therefore she’d be able to get what she wants.”
“But why does she need me?”
“Because you’re the heir to the throne. You’re just not the prince of the planet, Kaioshin; you are its keeper and protector. Basically what you say goes, and if Zenika had you under her control, you’d be able to break the balance this planet has.”
Kaioshin barely understood about what he meant by the “balance,” but he never knew that he was so important to the planet’s safety. Uncle Tym took a flower and held it in his hand, studying its silky petals. “Unfortunately Kaioshin, you were spoiled as a young boy by those around you and never took the time to hear what your father was trying to tell you. He wanted to protect you, knowing that there was a chance Zenika would be back for a second try.”
Nishi glanced over at the prince. He held his head down in shame, with his eyes tightly shut. “What must I do?” he asked.
Uncle Tym got up and made his way over to a door that led to a room in back of the shop. Nishi and Kaioshin looked at each other, questioning his actions. The old man returned with a long narrow box under his arm. He placed it on the table and pushed it over to Kaioshin. “This was your grandfather’s.”
Kaioshin looked at both of them and then reached for the box. He opened it up to see a shiny, fancy sword lying on blue velvet cushions. “My…grandfather’s?”
Uncle Tym brought himself up to his stool again. “Yes. Your father gave it to me to hold onto. I was to find you and give it to you; that was if you were alive.”
“He knew…he knew that this would happen and he’d die, didn’t he?” Kaioshin couldn’t believe it. He quickly shut the box and left the shop, not even shutting the door behind him.
“Kaioshin!” Nishi turned quickly to follow him.
“Nishi,” Tym stopped her. “He will get over it. Give him time to let it sink into his head.” She nodded and got off her stool. “I’ll help you with his training. He’ll need all the help he can get to defeat her.”
Nishi met Kaioshin standing outside. “I want to go back to your place,” he said as he started to walk off. Nishi followed, and they remained silent the entire way.
---
Kaioshin sat on the edge of the bed when they returned the small cabin. He was filled with anger against that Queen Zenika and more importantly, himself. Never had he realized how much he should’ve listened to what his father was telling him. He remembered his father’s words of “with great power comes great responsibility.” Now he knew what he meant. Kaioshin was the most powerful Kai on the planet; therefore he was the one to protect it. If Zenika got by him, the planet was her’s. What he didn’t understand was, why didn’t she destroy him when he was about to escape from the castle? Wouldn’t that have been a lot easier than taking the chance of letting him learn what she was up to?
Nishi sat quietly at the table watching him. She felt bad for him, though she knew that it was almost his own fault for not listening to his parents. But who knew that he was so powerful?
Kaioshin looked down at his hands, which held tightly onto the material of his pants. “I’ve been a fool,” he said softly. “I don’t deserve to be the prince. I don’t deserve to live.”
“Stop that,” Nishi almost scolded. “You can’t change the past, Kaioshin. Stop thinking what’s happened. You just have to change your ways and fight her. If you can do that, if you can destroy that Zenika then the entire planet, not to mention the universe, will be safe.”
“I can’t do it, Nishi. I just can’t…”
“Why not?” She asked bitterly, getting up and standing before him. “Don’t ever think you can’t, because you can. Kaioshin, I know you can do this. You just need to try.”
He looked up at her with tears in his eyes. “I can’t go up to her and blast her away! I don’t even know how to fire some energy blast! How do you expect me to save the universe?”
Nishi sat down next to him and put her hand on his. “Because I have faith in you. Be the man I’ve always seen you being. I know you can do it. Please don’t give up before you try.”
Kaioshin looked at her thoughtful face. Someone had faith in him. “I guess I’ll give it a try then.” He smiled. “Thanks, Nishi.”