Aura - The Pure Truth: The Song of Mana [2]
Feb 14 14:21:57 2005

Aura stood there, wondering what they honestly could mean. She
didn't know any song. She sang to herself on occasion, and even
then, it didn't have any words. It was just a melody she didn't
even remember having for the longest time. In unison, a medley
of tiny voices began a high-pitched vocal ensemble.

"I heard a nostalgic song, somewhere far away..."

Why... why does that sound familiar? It's my melody... but
those words...

"It touched deep in my heart; a young force spoke about the
song of life..."

The former feeling of awe came back to her in a rush, a hidden
memory of these lyrics before unknown to her pecking at the back
of her mind. She -knew- them, too! But from where..?

"I am born from you, and I returned; enclosed in a song, both
kind and cruel..."

Numbly, Aura was only vaguely aware of the world around her
becoming a bit brighter. Lost in her own fighting for a grasp
of the memories she knew she should have, she was less-than-
observant of what was happening; the song was quickly taking over
almost any thoughts she was capable of having.

"My life took a turn..."

And there it was.

"... I am born, again!"

Her entire world was a blur of white light. All around, the flow
of some unseen energy grew into a tangible presence, the voices
and feelings of all things combining into a single source of
power, the song that spun freely through the air around her. All
she knew, just then, was that she had to sing with them.

"Hurrying... to get to be close to you..."

"Again and again, we long for you..."

"I hurry, to get to be close to you..."

"Again and again, we long for you..."

The shimmering forms of the three spirits of mana phased into her
sight for only a moment, silently laughing before fading away
again. She felt herself smile, a true feeling of contentment
forming in her heart as she sang.

"Our longing is no diamond..."

"Just a tiny crystal!"

"One grain of sand in the desert; one drop in the ocean..."

"But with pride, I come..!"

And then, she saw it; if only for an instant, the image of a
massive tree, surrounded by an untold number of spirits. It only
lasted for half a second, the song quickly retaking her.

"Seasons come and go!"

"And I follow in their wake..."

"All we want is to sleep, embraced by your song..."

"All I want is to wait, curled up in a dream..."

A sigh escaped from her.

"My longing carries me on to you..."

As the last note was sung, the world once more became still, the
vivid green jungle of foliage once again wrapping about her, but
in a new sense; as the harmonic voices quietly faded away, she
could only recognize now where she stood.

It wasn't the gleaming sword wedged into the base of a tree stump
nearby. It wasn't the ring of dryads encircling the enormous
trunk of wood just feet in front of her. No.

It was the feeling of bliss she felt, just from standing where her
two feet were, so strong that she didn't have to think twice. The
feeling of extreme comfort, and also of long-hidden memories that
still refused to let her in. Of a need, a want, of someone close
to satisfy those needs, those wants.

A mother. And with realization mixed with confusion, fright, and,
more than all the rest, (prominent as always) shock, she knew just
who it was.

Her mother, the Tree of Mana.