Chapter 1    Chapter 2    Chapter 3     Chapter 4    Chapter 5    Chapter 6

Aki and Ani shot out of the other side of this moss‑trapdoor like a couple of drunken bowling balls and onto another soft quilt of pleasantly fragrant moss.  This time, the edge of the crystalline forest butted up against the edge of a small rocky ravine, filled with spotted boulders that smelled vaguely of coffee and chocolate. The tree branches behind them chimed in the breeze like a choir of sugar bells and they heard a gentle tinkling from the blades of silicon-based grass waving and colliding.

Far in the distance, Aki could see mountains rising like chocolate soft serve ice cream piled too high, their peaks swirling with clouds shaped like dollops of whipped cream. Then Aki realized he must be hungry.

Ani took a breath. “Aki… this place keeps getting more beautiful.”
Aki nodded. “And more confusing.”
“Also that,” she agreed. “Let’s climb those hills to get a better look at where we are.”

They crossed the ravine and walked towards the nearby hills, their footsteps sending ripples of color through the grass. Every so often, a plant would wave at them. Or wink. Or sneeze. They crested a small hill, and stopped abruptly.

Below them stood a grove of trees unlike any they’d seen. Their trunks were smooth and dark, like polished mahogany. Their branches twisted upward in elegant spirals, each one heavy with large, ridged pods that glowed a soft, minty green.

Ani gasped. “Aki… is that…?”
Aki nodded reverently. “A cacao tree.”
Ani ran towards the closest tree and plucked a pod. “A cacao tree that glows.”
Aki sniffed it. “And smells like mint! Mmmm!”

Ani cracked the pod open. Inside, nestled in pale green pulp, were cacao beans that shimmered like tiny emeralds. Ani tasted a bit of the soft, juicy pulp. Her eyes widened. “Oh my goodness! This is mint cacao.” Aki exclaimed something that sounded vaguely like, “Incredible!” after scooping a fistful into his mouth, not quite getting it all in. It was cool and refreshing, like peppermint tea on a winter morning, but rich and fruity. The beans were still raw and needed fermenting and roasting so they did not sample those.

Ani clutched the pod. “This is our next Mother’s Day flavor.”
Aki nodded. “This is the flavor that will make our moms cry.”
“In a good way,” he added quickly.

They gathered several pods carefully and respectfully, with only one minor incident where a pod tried to bite Aki’s hand.  As they continued through the cacao trees, they encountered more hybrid plants. Some were delightful, but others were less cooperative.

A strawberry sangria vine draped itself over a speckled coffee chocolate smelling boulder, its fruit plump and ruby‑red, dripping with juice that smelled faintly of citrus and celebration. When Aki plucked one, the vine giggled and offered him a tiny umbrella.
Ani tasted the fruit. “This tastes like a summer picnic.”
Aki smirked, “Yeah, where someone spiked the punch.”
They collected a few… strictly for research, of course.

However, a rambutan‑rose bush glared at them with spiky intensity, a thyme-tangerine shrub hummed ominously, a cardamom apple tree dropped overripe fruit on Aki’s head when he picked a juicy apple it was saving for a friend, and a watermelon‑rosemary vine tried its best to roll away when Aki approached. They were examining a cluster of lavender‑lime mushrooms which were pulsing to an unheard techno beat when a haughty voice behind them said, “Well, it’s about time you two showed up.”

Ani and Aki both froze, then turned slowly. Standing behind them was a creature about the size of a golden retriever, with the body of a rabbit, the tail of a fox, and the wings of a butterfly. Its fur shimmered like opal, shifting colors with every blink.
It crossed its tiny arms. “Honestly, I expected you hours ago.”
Ani blinked. “You… speak English?”
“Well, of course I do,” the creature snapped. “I also speak Parsley, Marmalade, and three dialects of Sparkle, but I doubt you’d understand those.”

Aki whispered to Ani, “The rabbit‑fox‑butterfly is sassy.”
The creature sighed. “I’m not a rabbit‑fox‑butterfly. I’m a Flitterbun. Do try to keep up.”
Ani cleared her throat. “You’re… not surprised to see humans?”
“Why would I be?” the Flitterbun retorted. “It’s not like you’re the first.”
Aki’s eyes widened. “There are others?”
“Oh yes,” the Flitterbun said. “One in particular. A human who’s been here for quite some time. Knows the place better than anyone. And if you want to get home, you’ll need to find him.”
Ani leaned forward. “Really? Where?”
The Flitterbun pointed with a shimmering paw toward a tall hill rising in the distance. At its peak, a cluster of buildings glittered like gemstones with towers of sugar glass, rooftops of spun gold, bridges of caramelized crystal. A city. Floating slightly above the ground, as if gravity had politely excused itself.

Aki whispered, “Whoah… that’s beautiful.”
Ani nodded. “And surreal. And probably dangerous.”
“Almost definitely.”

The Flitterbun fluttered its wings. “If you want answers, that’s where you’ll find them. But do hurry. The city has a habit of… hmmm… rearranging itself.”
Aki frowned. “Huh? Rearranging?”
The Flitterbun smiled. “You’ll see.”
And with a shimmer of wings, it bounded away, leaving a trail of glittering dust that smelled faintly of chai tea and mystery.

Ani took Aki’s hand. “Don’t say it…”
Aki squeezed her fingers while grinning. “Adventure!”

Together, they began the climb toward the floating city with mint cacao pods in their bags, plum‑basil fruit and rosemary caramel blossoms in their pockets, and absolutely no idea what awaited them at the top. Whatever it was, it would definitely be Aki’s fault.

Stay tuned for Chapter 5!

CTO
(Chief Tasting Officer)