Chrysalis — The Dawn of Mooland Tales

UPDATED: 2024-11-21 1541 WORDS

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WORK IN PROGRESS! — v0.8/15

3. Grandma's Cloud Orchard of Mysteries ¶

Izzy's dear grandmother, Ammoolia, was a wise and lively old lady who lived near the Highlands Grand Orchards. She had planted more fruit trees than anyone in her village could count or remember! In her younger days, she spent her summers at an ancient monastery on the Island of Mū in the Deeplands. The community there are dedicated to studying the Scrolls of Mū and "tuning" into the echoes of unity from the dawn of the universe. It's a sort of spiritual order there. Long story short, Ammoolia had deep insight and wisdom.

"I was expecting you", said Ammoolia, her gaze still fixed on the extraordinary cluster of clouds she was tracking. "It's all written in the clouds you see, your arrival, the quest that looms ahead." In the outskirts of the Highlands, the oracles believed that the trails of future were painted across the sky. Izzy's grandmother was one of these oracles, exceptionally gifted in the art of reading symbols in the clouds. "Go ahead though, Izzy," she added with a smile, "I do love to hear your stories!"

Izzy and Manny bubbled on about their time with Moopheus and shared a number of stories — and finally reached the actual question that brought them here. "Grandma, we have no idea where to even begin," Izzy admitted. "All these stories we'd like to share with everyone — in a way that's meaningful. It's all a bit much to handle. Even Manny's head is spinning. Is there something written in the clouds that could help us? Maybe some guidance from the wisdoms of Mū — and please, in a way we can actually understand?"

Tuning into the deeper essences of life was second nature to Ammoolia. At this point in her life, it was arguably her first nature. She was living and breathing in the flow of the universe. "Let me tell you a story from the beginning of time, girls. You've heard about Mū, the primordial cow, haven't you? Mū was born from the churning of the ocean of milk — a cosmic dance by the positive and negative spirits of the universe. Time itself was still, the universe filled with emptiness. It was a peaceful time, yes, but also melancholic. This was the very dawn of everything yet to come, waiting in their turns."

Manny had actually browsed the Scrolls of Mū in Ammoolia's library once or twice. She'd read the creation myth — the cosmic void, the ocean of milk, its magnetic churning, and how the first cosmic cow, Mū, became the countless flavors and realms of the universe. Izzy had never taken much of an interest in interest in deep and abstract ideas. To her, it felt distant from the touch and meaning of real life. Manny's uncle was a good example: his head was full of knowledge, but none of it seemed to connect to anything real or useful.

"Grandma, please, we know that you can tell us deep stories from the beginning of time for days on end. But it would take us years to digest all of that, and we could really use something that helps us today and tomorrow!" Ammoolia was well aware that she could get endlessly lost in these cosmic legends, and understood that not everyone shared her patience to journey through the countless mind-bending realms that were second nature to her. "Alright then", she said, "Let me distill all of that into a simple compass that you can carry with you on all of your life's journeys. It'll still take a bit of patience, so please stay with me for the moment."

This "simple compass" of Ammoolia is none other than the teaching of the Mūltifold Ancient Elements, usually reserved for the senior moonks and wizards-in-training at the monastery. She had her way of making these sorts of profound ideas accessible — even for children who were yet to learn how to read or write. She brought distant concepts into familiar environments, shared simple stories full of insight, and even doodled some pictures — it's like she poured flavors of philosophy into the tea-cup of daily life.

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"Let me tell you about the Elements of Mū that existed a very very long time ago. They moved among each other in the vastness of space, churning in the womb of the universe, before our world with its shapes and creatures was born. These ancient elements are still with us today. They are everywhere, they influence everything at all times. If you understand these elements and mindfully tune into their presence, you'll find support in every situation, and guidance for every quest and mission you may ever undertake."

Manny already had an idea of what's coming. "Are these like the heavenly Mantigels that the Mantisian priests speak of?"

Ammoolia chuckled. "Something like that, yes. When you spend enough time at a lonely mountain top or at the bottom of the ocean, pondering the deeper realities of life, your mind has a way of dressing up the abstract into something you can hold on to. Everyone needs friends and companions, imaginary or otherwise, and that's a part of the beauty of life. As for you two, you don't need to believe in spiritual holograms in the outer space. Our elements are more universal and more present than that. This is all a part of you."

Manny hadn't seen that coming. "Like seriously wow!", she exclaimed. "Did you learn all this at the Essence Islands, Nana Ammy?" Ammoolia chuckled again. "I did learn many fantastic and meaningful things during my time there, but it is life itself that directly teaches us — if only our hearts are open and sincere, tuned with nature. Only Earth can teach you of the peace of the pastures beneath. Only Water can show you the joy of the flowing rivers. Only Fire can reveal the warmth and clarity of dancing flames. And only Air can give you of the freedom of the wind across the skies."

"That's all wonderful, Grandma. But I know about the pastures that support us. We hang out at the rivers almost every day. We've been to the Heatlands and felt the sun shining all day long, There's plenty of wind at the Highlands! How's that going to help us write and sort out our stories?" Izzy was not shy to speak her mind, especially when she felt a distance between her heart and whatever that was going on. This habit of hers often annoyed people, but Ammoolia didn't mind. She knew Izzy's doubt came from the right place, and she was also incredibly patient. It happens when you spend enough time watching and learning from the clouds.

"Now look Izzy, that's all true. But have you ever paused to wonder — what is the pasture of your inner being? Whence do the rivers flow in your sensitive heart? How is the sun shining in your brilliant mind? And how vast is the great atmosphere of your understanding? You see Izzy, these ancient elements didn't simply become the physical world. They are also present in your inner world. They are even in between the inner and the outer worlds — present in every experience you ever have in this life."

"Wow alright. Well that's a new angle." Izzy fell silent for a moment, digesting and comtemplating. Manny too was silent — way out there, exploring and redesigning her inner world. Ammoolia enjoyed dropping lines that make your mind spin. First disorienting, to snap you out of your usual way of thinking — and then giving you fresh bearings. The girls were still wrapping their heads around the idea of cosmic elements in their hearts and minds and lives. "As soon as Manny returns to Mooland, can we please continue?"