Chapter 42: Unsuccessful Prank

"Our relationship really did improve, ha?" From the moment I met Gaia, I had a lot of mixed emotions about her. On one hand, she was Mother Earth, a being of immense power which I didn't know limits of. On the other, she was a young playful girl, who I became friends with.

She was a mystery to me, especially after interacting with her mature self, which to say the least, didn't leave the best first impression.

But it was the complete opposite while meeting the young Gaia. She had no resentment towards me. (Well...Kinda.) She had no harmful resentment towards me. She just didn't like my smile and even that became more of a joke, than an actual fact.

With her, I felt like I returned to my youth, with no worries about the future or dangers of day to day life in my new reality.

A teenager who was still exploring world and learning about it, with me being her companion on those colorful adventures, doing the same thing.

I saw how Gaia changed in this year, how she matured, even so slightly.

It was a great time for both of us, in which we grew closer, sharing our feelings and thoughts about almost everything we experienced so far. The only subject we avoided were our pasts.

Mine, because I couldn't tell Gaia that I appeared in this world out of nowhere and that Adder wasn't mine name. My mouth prevented me from doing so, every time I tried.

And Gaia's past was a secret, which I never asked about again since the moment I saw her reaction to my inquiry about it.

When I asked about her origins, she became pale, almost as if my question made her sick in an instant. It was also the first and only time Gaia asked me to go home early. So I did, and acted oblivious to the events in front of me.

I thought it would be better this way, knowing that Gaia will reveal it when she's ready to do so. There was no need to force her into giving me an answer.

(I wonder if that reaction was caused by her being Mother Earth, or by something entirely different? Or both?) Her reaction could be connected to who she is, as I didn't know how people react to Mother Earth.

Do they worship her for being essentially the one who allows them to live by creating the nature?Do they hate her? Or do they want to use her power to their own advantage in different ways?

(Human nature knows no limits, so each one of them is a possibility.)

"I'm already here? Why I'm even surprised?" I smiled helplessly when the long distance I need to overcome every time I head to Gaia felt like seconds, once more.

When my head is filled with thoughts on this dirt road, I don't feel passage of time. The distance, no matter how long, meant nothing to me.

Then I looked at the spot Gaia usually sits on, a part of Earthguardian's trunk which resembles a bench. She even takes naps in it and often forces me to sit next to her, acting as her pillow. Be it my shoulder or my thighs.

"Come to think of it. I want the same treatment! Gaia can't be the only one to enjoy it." I sounded like I a child throwing a fit. (This being young again is having a bigger effect on me, than I thought.)

After a quick reflection, my eyes fall on the Gaia's favorite spot, but instead of feeling joy like I usually do, I become alarmed.

The seat was empty, something that never occurred before. Gaia always waited for me in it, even if her mood made her turn her back to me. She could be ignoring me in this way, but not being in that spot was something else.

"Gaia! Where are you?!" I rushed forward, scared that something happened to her. And my fear only accelerated when I recalled the old fool's words of him taking the next step of his plan.

(Could he have lied to me and acted on his own?) A lot of scenarios were going through my mind. Each being worse than the previous one.

Conflicted about what I should do next, I arrived at the spot and noticed a strange thing. On the seat laid a white flower bracelet, belonging to Gaia.

I slowly reached my hand toward it and grabbed it "Who would leave you here?" I knew Gaia always takes it with her, making my fear grew immensely.

"Got you!" Suddenly a voice rang out above me and before I could recognize the owner of it, someone fall on to my back and clasped his arms around my neck.

Influenced by my feelings, I squeezed this person arm and said in a threatening voice. "Where is Gaia? Tell me, or I won't be so nice."

But instead of getting the reply I expected, I received a happy laughter, followed by a voice I knew too well. "You should've seen your face. It was so funny."

Gaia continued laughing, while I was stunned at what just happened, unable to utter a word.

"Hahaha...Don't squeeze my arm so much, it's turning numb."

Because I was still processing everything, I didn't realize that I didn't let go of Gaia's arm. "Right. Sorry." I let my grip loosen, slowly moving my hand downwards.

But while doing so, I noticed a red mark my palm left on Gaia's forearm, showing just how much strength I used when I thought she was in danger. (I did that?)

"You really hold me tight. But it's good you let go, otherwise I wouldn't be so nice." Gaia was clearly making a joke out of my previous sentence, but I wasn't laughing.

I untied Gaia's arms from around my neck before turning around and setting her on her favorite spot. Then I turned to her, saying "You think it's funny?"

"Not funny, it's hilarious. You looked like you were worried that something happened to me. And your voice, it sounded like you really wanted to hurt me when I jumped on your back from Earthguardian's branch...I got you good. Won't you agree?." Gaia seemed proud of making me worried about her.

"Because it was true! I thought your life was in danger and when you fell on my back, I thought you were of the people responsible for that." I felt how anger filled my voice, turning it into a yell.

"Come on, there's no need to be angry. It was just a prank. We do them all the time." She didn't understand why I acted this way, even trying to downplay the situation.

"There's a big difference between pranking each other and making someone worried about you. I trurly thought you were in danger. I was scared. Do you understand, Gaia? I care about you, and I was scared someone hurt you when I wasn't around." I let my voice die down, as the anger got replaced by the worry I felt for Gaia.

"I'm not that weak, you know? I can take care of myself. I don't need you to do that." Even now Gaia tried to show me how independent she was.

"Is this how it is? You don't want me to care about you? Is that what you're saying?" Each question left my mouth with more agitation in it.

"Exactly. I can take care of myself and I don't need YOU to do that." She pointed at me at the end of her words.

"Ok. Point taken." I simply nodded before taking a step in the direction I came from.

"Where are you going? We haven't played yet." I could hear shock coming from Gaia, as I never turned my back to her, no matter how mean she was.

"You don't need me you said. So I'm leaving." I wasn't in the mood to play after what she did. I felt like everything I did up to this point, every moment, every feeling, meant nothing. (I know it's me being influenced by my emotions, but I can't help it.)

I knew it was a prank and at the end of the day, Gaia didn't mean what she said after it, but the damage is done. I wanted nothing more, than to relax and let all of my emotions simmer down.

"Wait! Stay! I didn't mean it." Gaia caught up to me, which wasn't hard as I took only couple of steps.

"I know." My tone was neutral, showing neither joy or anger.

"Then why would you go?" She spoke quietly, with her eyes full of regret.

"Because no matter if you meant what you said, words still hurts." I closed my eyes, remembering how much words can hurt someone, even when you don't mean them. Even if they were spoken recklessly, or by being influenced by emotions.

With my eyes closed, I felt how a small, warm hand touched mine and grabbed it gently.

"I'm sorry. Please don't leave me alone." This was the first time I heard Gaia at the brink of her tears.