The Power in the Seed

1

Bold thunderheads rolled over the rocky mountain range, which were simply known as the Imperial Walls, due to the fact they shielded the Emperor’s Palace. A bolt of lighting split the humid air, and raindrops started to pummel the grasslands in front of the Palace grounds, and the broad-leafed forest that lay before them. The Palace itself was a warm, but not in the least friendly or safe. It’s curved, red roof let rain roll off, and silent stone warriors gazed solemnly out into the downpour. Inside, incense burned and a small group of musicians played an odd, high-pitched tune on instruments made of the finest gold. Cushions were spread over the floor, and the thin walls and papery windows were covered with fine silks. In one corner was a desk, with parchments sprawled all over it, a bottle of ink and a quill at a precarious angle over the paperwork, threatening to fall. In the opposite corner, in a room hidden by a red wall adorned with portraits, the Emperor lazed, his every want attended to by his servants. He, like everyone else in his Empire and beyond, was a Japanese marten; his head and neck were the snowiest white, his paws charcoal black, and his body the most luxurious canary yellow. He wore red silken robes, as silk was considered the only material fit for an Emperor, belted with a broad golden sash, in which resided permanently a sheathed katana, a long, narrow, rectangular sword. Upon his head was a crown, three-pointed and made from pure gold, mined from Kana Land, the bordering territory, which he, or rather, his Imperial Guard, had plundered. The sides and back were garlanded with scarlet feathers, to protect the back of his neck from cold. He wore white socks, and sandals made from rare flax, which his people grew on the other side of the forest. The Emperor Katsu cut a fine, honourable figure, although he was not. Katsu was a short-tempered beast, who would stop at nothing to gain what he desired, as trivial as a roasted henbird or as important as a neighbouring Empire to rule over. His troops, the Imperial Guard, still somehow found it in themselves to adore him, and were loyal, if not very, very stupid. In his chamber now waited two Guards, his favourites; Captains Minoru and Arata. Also with him was his Advisor, Chika, and his Scribe, Yosu. Chika, being the only female allowed in the palace, was a snooty beast, whereas Yosu was disgustingly meek.. Minoru and Arata were typical Guards; they wore elaborate and flashy steel armour, but their heads weren’t quite as bright. Katsu, who was nibbling daintily at a roasted henbird, placed his meal back down on a plate and dabbed at his lips. He had a miniscule beard and an even smaller postage stamp moustache, both clipped and neatly groomed. Katsu beckoned to Minoru. “Here, Minoru, take this back to Zuki in the kitchens. Tell her that if she ever presents me with something so foul again, she will be fed to the eagles.”
Minoru obeyed with a stiff bow, exiting the room. Katsu’s dark eyes bored into the remaining martens, who squirmed at the thought of being given to the Emperor’s eagles, who loved to eat those who disobeyed. Chika had seen it happen; it wasn’t pretty. She went almost everywhere with Katsu, even on the journeys he sometimes made on his ship, the Sakura. After his latest voyage, however, Katsu had sworn never to near the ocean again.

*

Atsuko grumbled unhappily to herself as the rain fell. Her rough, undyed tunic was sodden through, and the seeds she had in her green sash’s pocket were ruined. She pulled a large leaf from a tree as she stomped through the forest and held it over her head for some shelter. Blasted Emperor, she growled inwardly. He doesn’t need any more softfruit trees, so why has he got us flipping well getting seeds for him?
She arrived at a mound in the forest floor, about twice her height high, and extremely broad. Atsuko abandoned the leaf and pushed open a concealed door in the mound, lightening up as a rush of warm, fragrant air wafted around her. The room was lit by a fire in the centre, the smoke of which exited through a hole in the roof, and fish from a nearby stream hung in the hole. The kitchen was in one corner where another, smaller fire burned. Atsuko nodded at the marten attending that fire. He nodded back, waving a small sack. “Greetings, Atsuko! Here’s the heated loam you asked for. Why do you need the loam heated, anyway?”
Atsuko strolled over and retrieved the bag from her brother. “ I need it warm so my plants will grow better, Ryuu. I explained yesterday.”
Ryuu shrugged and returned to attending an urn full of stew on the fire.
Atsuko nodded, and went to her corner of the mound, which was concealed by plants of all kinds. Atsuko stroked them fondly, and a female who was sewing, whilst attending a cub, chuckled. Without looking back, Atsuko said, “Suzume, you aren’t much better, you and your cloths.”
Suzume raised a brow but turned back to her work as Atsuko entered her domain. A sack, stuffed with henbird feathers, served nicely as a bed. She plopped onto it and fetched the seeds from her sash pocket. “Ruined,” she spat, throwing them on the floor. Her foul mood had returned. She selected some more seeds from a jar, opened the sack of warm leaf matter, and popped them in. “There you are,” she told them, sprinkling some water on them. “drink up.”
Suzume poked her head in. “Atsuko, will you please take these to the Palace?”
She held out a bundle of silk scarves. “I’m busy with Rikuto. Please?”
With a sigh, Atsuko agreed. On her way out of the door, she grabbed an umbrella of ugly flax, mostly to keep the Emperor’s silks dry.
The forest was dark, even though it was only midday. Treebirds fluttered in the canopy, letting out eerie calls, and making the leaves rustle in a frightening way. Atsuko’s temper was cooled by the fact she was spooked. She turned onto the main path, which was all muddy and foul, and became more at ease. Other martens were travelling, some in groups, some in pairs, some, like Atsuko, by themselves.
One gang of about six, dressed in multi-coloured rags and tacky finery, watched Atsuko quietly. One Itsuki, who seemed to be the leader, giggled. “Ooh, preddy silks, eh, mates? I bet dat dey’re for de Emp’ror, eh?”
Another, a female, snorted. “Ah, yeah. I likes me that purple ‘un.”
Itsuki pawed his kama, a short, scythe-like weapon. He snuck up behind Atsuko and raised it. Just in time, Atsuko spun around, realised what was happening, and ducked out of the way. Itsuki cursed, which caused her to wag her paw and tut. “Tch, language!”
Passers-by walked faster or slower, anything to get away from the scene before the Guards came.
Too late. Marching down the street in full armour was a score of Imperial Guards. Itsuki and his gang moaned. Things were only going to get worse.

2

A paw rapped upon Emperor Katsu’s door. “What?” he called out irritably. Itsuki and his followers were thrust in before Lieutenant Haru, a small but rather crafty fellow. “Your Eminence!” he barked out. “Six rapscallions, caught harassing this one.” A startled Atsuko was pushed into the room, the silks used to tie her paws. “Emperor!” She blurted. “Silks! From Suzume! Sir!” Itsuki sneered and aimed a sly kick at his would-be victim, but Haru managed to deal a boot up the behind to him instead. Katsu stood up and stretched. He untied the silks from Atsuko’s paws, and Chika showed her a seat. The Emperor turned his attention to Itsuki. “Well. A bandit, am I right to assume?”
“Ah, er, yeah, I s’pose-“ Another kick from Haru brought the words out. “Yessir! We like de silks, sir! Forgive us, Emp’ror highest an’ mightiest an’ all dat!”
One of his gang sniggered. Katsu stroked his small beard. “I see. Arata, what do you think? Chika, Yosu, any ideas?”
Yosu raised a paw half-heartedly. “Er, ah, well…”
“Get on with it!” snapped Chika.
“… Emperor, perhaps your eagles would not at all mind a meal of the bandit kind?”
Arata scoffed. “Nah, they wouldn’t eat scum like them. Chuck ‘em in the cells to rot, I say.”
Atsuko coughed politely for attention. “I agree. They-“
Katsu went red. “I did NOT give you permission to speak, young one!” he bellowed.
“Sorry.”
“The penalty for carrying silks is prison, you know.”
“Unfortunately.” she grumbled. The Emperor was well-known for his extremely incorrect laws.
“Take Atsuko to the cells… take those bandits too.”
Atsuko was lifted by the scruff of her neck by Arata, and the bandits were shepherded by Haru, who was using Itsuki’s kama, as he had begun to favour it, and they were guided none-too-gently out the door and down a concealed hallway.
Atsuko wrinkled her nose. No wonder it’s hidden, it stinks! She craned her neck against Arata’s grip to see what Itsuki was up to. To her surprise, tears were running down his face, leaving the fur where they had traversed damp and flat. A female gang-marten patted his shoulder and whispered; “C’mon, mate. It’s only the cells. We can get out.”
He sniffed silently. “Aye, I s’pose, Ran.”
Atsuko faced forward and shivered. Why was Itsuki so upset about the cells?
All of a sudden it became pitch black. Arata and Haru had put out their paper lanterns. Arata felt the surprise. “Aha, we don’t want the other prisoners getting any ideas about burning down the doors.”
Haru sighed, rubbing his forehead as if talking to an absolute imbecile, which he was. “Arata, you dolt, be quiet and get them in their cell.”
Atsuko looked around, straining to see. Doors lined the hallway, made of slimy wood which was rotting and giving off the horrific smell. Atsuko sniffed again…no, the smell was coming from behind the doors. She shuddered to think what was there. Haru, who had his paws free, opened a door and urged the bandits in. “Get in, before the other prisoners decide they don’t like you.”
A tall male turned around. “What are you talking about, laddie?”
Arata threw Atsuko at him for a reply and slammed the door. They all moaned as they heard multiple bolts slide into place. When their eyes adjusted to the light, they stood up and explored. There were three sets of bunk beds- Atsuko guessed that she would be the one who didn’t get a bed. There was also a bathroom, sectioned off from the rest of the cell, which smelled dreadful. The bandits didn’t seem to notice the stench, and they plonked down around a table. “This ain’t that bad,” Itsuki murmured, still sounding slightly upset. “Right,” he beckoned to Atsuko to take a seat, which she did, cautiously. “let’s introduce ourselves, considering it’s a truce. Ran?”
The female, who seemed to be second in command, stood up and tipped her rough feathered cap. She dressed entirely in lilac calico, with some satin thrown in.
“Midori?”
Another female took to her feet. She was sturdily built and had only one ear. Atsuko could imagine how she had lost it. She wore a tattered green gown which had been cut to look like a tunic.
“Naoki?”
A male, who wore only a battered black kilt, grunted and refused to stand, but winked cheerfully anyway.
“Kaede and Taiki?”
Two males, obviously twins, bounced to their toes, tipping their straw hats and bulging their muscles comically. Atsuko giggled.
Itsuki grinned. “Dat’s us. We ain’t dat bad. Just… cheeky, ahaha.”
Atsuko nodded and shrugged. Thieves weren’t murderers, after all. “Well, as you may have gathered, I’m Atsuko.”
The bandits nodded, then came an extremely awkward silence.
Atsuko squirmed. “A fire would be great . Anyone have a flint?” she asked, joking. Her breath caught as Naoki produced a flint and a dagger, eyes twinkling. “Yes, dear lassie. We do.”

3

Ryuu and Suzume, Atsuko’s brother and mother, found out about the incident that night. The Emperor’s messenger was literally thrown from the house by Ryuu, who was in a fit of anger and pain. He loved his only little sister dearly, and was shocked by the cruel and impossible law. Suzume had her head in her paws. “It’s all my fault,” she groaned. “If I had gone, she would be free.”
Ryuu was pacing the mound, in front of the fire. He was thinking, stroking his chin. Finally he stopped. Suzume was asleep, so he made sure he was quiet in writing a note explaining his plans, leaving it by her sack, and creeping out the door.
He stalked silently through the forest and grasslands, the cool night air sharp against his bare chest and feet. He straightened his composure as he neared the Palace, straightening the spear he had brought. Ryuu practised his nasty face as he knocked on the barracks door, which was situated right beside the Palace for the Emperor’s protection. Many assassins had tried to take his role. Unfortunately, none had succeeded. The door was answered by a drowsy-looking Minoru. “What d’you want, peasant?”
Ryuu gulped. If he was caught, it was death sentence for sure. “I want to join the Imperial Guard. I am finished with the life of a peasant. I want the glory and honour of fighting for our beloved Emperor!”
Minoru nodded and pulled away from the door, calling out to Arata. “Hey, get here, Arata, brother!”
Arata staggered up. It seemed as if he had gone overboard on drinking the sugarmead. “You swear t’ be good an’… an’…an’…I- I like henbirds, heeheehee!”
He fell backwards onto a sack. Minoru sighed. “I’m sorry. You swear to be good and true, brave and bold, obedient and loyal?”
“I do.”
”Then come on in. You’ll be fitted for your armour in the morning.”
Ryuu strode in. All there was in the room were sacks with snoring occupants, a fire and a bathroom. He found and empty sack, yawned, and slept.

*

“So,” Atsuko asked over her shoulder. “you want me to light the door here?” She pointed at some dry wood near the middle hinge. Naoki, who was crouched behind her, nodded. She pulled the metal along the flint, watching white-hot sparks fly off. She became excited as they hit and blew too hard upon them, putting them out. Naoki relieved her of the tools and took over. His sparks lived longer, singing the wood, but the door didn’t catch. Ran leaned over. “We need tinder.”
Naoki looked at her questioningly. “I’ve never needed tinder before, bonnie lass.”
“Yeah, well, the wood has never been this wet. Here,” she ripped off some of her purple shirt and stuffed it into the hinge, so it sat neatly over the dry patch of the door. “now try.”
Naoki looked dubious but obliged. The cloth caught instantly. Atsuko and the others watched joyfully as it burned. A smell arose that made Kaede and Taiki excited. The twins, who finished each other’s sentences, exclaimed, “The door-“
“-it’s caught!”
“We’ll be out-“
“-in no time!”
Atsuko blinked at the odd duo, but her elation overtook her curiosity in the ways of the twins. “You’re right!” she whispered.
Everyone paused as a deep voice came from the cell to their left, deeper into the hallway. “I smell smoke!” it boomed.
Another voice, this time opposite them, shrieked. “Yez! We’re out of thiz plaze!”
Itsuki whimpered. “I recognised that first voice,” he croaked. The door was almost a quarter burnt down. “Put out de fire, he’ll get us! He’ll get us!”
Midori leaned on her leader. “Haha, you’re such a joker, mate.”
He shrugged her off. “No! I know him!”
Naoki looked away from his fire. “Where from, dear fellow? Your big brother?” he chuckled at his gibe.
“No! Before I met you, I worked wid dat feller, name’s Daisuke. We robbed for a livin’, til he wanted t’ go solo. He… he…”
A gruesome face, crisscrossed with scars, poked through the smoky hole. “I beat you up, you little wimp. I beat you up, I got caught and got thrown in here.”
Itsuki staggered backwards. “How’d you get out?”
Daisuke chortled in grotesque laughter. “Your fire spread. My door was drier. I make sure it is, just in case.” He looked down at Atsuko. “Pretty little thing. What are you doing here?”
Atsuko punched him square in the nose. “Go away.” she said simply. Naoki boxed her ears, apologising. “Sorry for that, my bold lad. You run along now, we’ll catch up an you can deal with the bonnie Itsuki later, eh?”
Daisuke narrowed his eyes fiercely, but surprisingly obliged. Naoki faced Atsuko. “Don’t ever do that to a bandit. We are hagglers, not fighters. See that deal I made, lass? A lie, my dearie. Now, let’s go before the Guard arrives.”
The seven companions clambered out of the hole and dashed down the hallway, passing Daisuke in a flash, startling him. They were almost at the exit when a Guard, a single Guard, stood in front of them. “Atsuko. It’s Ryuu.”
Atsuko hugged her brother, then pulled him through the exit. “No time to explain,” she called to the others. “now hurry!”


4

The group of tired runaways halted when they reached the forest. Atsuko’s side burned where her pocket touched her, but she thought nothing of it. She introduced Ryuu to the bandits and vice versa. Ryuu shook paws and sighed. “What now?”
Naoki shrugged. “We can’t go back. I suggest you remove your armour, laddie.”
Atsuko beamed. “My home! Let’s go there. Suzume will love you lot.” she giggled.
The bandits agreed heartily, Naoki stating; “I’m dying for some good sleep, eh, lads and lasses?”
His group nodded enthusiastically. Atsuko and Ryuu strolled through the forest, bandits in tow. The burn in Atsuko’s pocket grew stronger, and she shoved her paw in, claws closing on a lowly seed. Radiance from the seed surged through her; she felt like she never had before, powerful, strong- unstoppable.
Ran touched her, but withdrew her paw with a yowl. “You zapped me!” she cried.
Atsuko grinned, showing the seed, which was glowing bright white. Her happiness became energy, which sparked from her in bolts. Ryuu was amazed. “Can- can you control it?”
She shrugged. Aiming for a leaf, she shut her eyes and visualised the leaf being hit with a bolt of lightning. A crack rang out; when she opened her eyes, the leaf had been vaporised, as had the entire tree. The bandits were impressed, although not with the fact their fur was frizzed. Ryuu clapped. “You always had a way with plants! I can’t wait to show Suzume!”
A deep, growling, familiar voice chuckled. “Nice, pretty one.”
Without turning around, Itsuki froze. “Oh, noes.”
Ran sighed. “Oh, yes.”
Daisuke gripped Itsuki’s tail and lifted him up. “You got me stuck in those cells for fifty moons. Fifty moons! I think I ought to pay you back.”
Itsuki shivered. “No, it’s okay, don’t pay me back… please!” he sniffled back tears. Midori looked away, disgusted. Taiki and Kaede nudged Atsuko. “A show of sparks-“
“-would be very helpful-“
“-right now.”
Atsuko inhaled, closed her eyes, and focused. She saw Daisuke being struck by a lightning bolt, she saw Itsuki falling away safely. With a nod, she let loose her power in her exhale. The crack was ear-splitting. She waited a few moments, then opened her eyes. Her nose was assaulted with a horrific odour, drifting from a smouldering pile of ash that a startled Itsuki was laying in. Ran gaped. “You… killed him! Haha, feel better now, Itsuki?”
Itsuki nodded. “Thank you, Atsuko, you killed dat beast. Thank you.”
Midori beamed. “That was great! Awesome! Brilliant! Can you teach me?”
Atsuko ignored them, listening to the seed. Suzume can wait, it soothed. Take me, kill the Emperor, and take over the Empire! You could be great, fabulous, a queen!
She bobbed her head. “We aren’t going home, yet. We are going to the Palace, to free the Empire. You all with me?”
“Aye!” came the unison cry. Eight souls tramped through the forest, each with dreams of power.

5

The Emperor lounged upon a large aubergine cushion, supping softfruit wine and nibbling yellow treenut cheese. Chika was perched on a mahogany stool, reading a book, as was Yosu, although he had a quill pen in paw, editing it. Arata and Minoru slouched on their spears, sharing a keg of sugarmead over old war stories. Katsu clicked his claws, and Chika stood. “Yes, your Imperial Eminence?”
“Get me a quill pen and parchment. I am going to write a new law.”
Yosu looked up. “I will do it for you, if you want.”
“No. Hurry up, Chika!”
She obeyed and returned quickly, handing him the writing tools he needed.
He began to write. When he finished, he read out, “Half of all crops grown shall go the your Emperor in taxes, as does every second child go the Him for a worker.”
Arata clapped lazily. Yosu frowned. He had many children; he did not want to give up a valuable worker. Katsu beamed. “You all like it? Send it out with messengers now.”
Yosu and Minoru obliged, but as they were almost out of the room, the Palace doors slammed open. Katsu sprang to his feet. “What is the meaning of this?”
A bolt of lightning slammed out of the blue and hit him, flinging him backwards, into the pillows. He groaned and sat up. “The bandits and the silkwearer! Haha, and you found a friend.”
Atsuko snarled. “Bandits, go help the prisoners. Ryuu and I will get this lot.”
She let loose another bolt of energy, this time at Yosu, who was killed instantly. Only his sandals remained. Chika shrieked and held up a paper fan, edged with a steel blade. She lunged, slicing, at Ryuu, who yelped in pain as it slashed his ear. He kicked Chika hard in the stomach, then aimed a slap at her neck. It fell true, and Chika lay paralysed. Arata and Minoru had their spears at the ready, advancing on the siblings. Minoru lunged at Atsuko; she simply vaporised him. You’re getting good at this! the seed congratulated her. We will make great rulers, the Empress and her seed, her servant.
Atsuko growled. Can’t you see? she told it. I’m not going to be Empress! I’m a peasant, for crying out loud!
         Don’t think that way! hissed the seed, angry now. We will be great!
Atsuko stood still. No. We are great anyway. We need to just survive! She ducked the Emperor’s katana blade. Atsuko used the seed, striking the blade. Katsu flinched but fought on. He whipped a silk scarf from his sash, sniggering. “Haha, I’ll strangle you with the scarf that got you here in the first place!”
Atsuko shook her head. How terribly ironic, she grumbled to the seed, not expecting a reply. Katsu, who had tied a noose in the scarf, was approaching, twirling the light, blue fabric maliciously. She gripped the seed and commanded it to fry the scarf with a quick zap, but the seed refused, and just let off a tiny spark that made Atsuko’s tail twinge.
What are you doing?! howled Atsuko. I need you!

*

Itsuki led his group down the hallway, Naoki holding up a burning torch. Moss that had coated the walls was now slightly blackened, and smelled rank. Midori wrinkled her nose, rummaging around in a sash pouch until she found a clump of dry muskflower. She pushed it into the torch, and the sweet aroma wafted down the corridor. Kaede nodded, and Taiki murmured, “Much better.”
Itsuki stopped when the doors began, motioning for each of his crew to grab a doorknob. He counted on his paws to three, as the gang weren’t in the least scholars, and the six all opened their doors, letting startled prisoners trickle out, rubbing their eyes that stung with the light. Naoki and Ran urged them down the hallway, promising them rich rewards if they moved. Itsuki took the rear, scuttling after them in the dark. He slipped on a patch of  algae-like plant and landed on his behind. He leapt to his feet and dashed after his crew, not wanting to be left alone.

6

Emperor Katsu yelped as Ryuu headbutted him from behind, just as he had gone to suffocate Atsuko. With a breathless pant of thanks, she tried the seed again. This time it let too much energy out, in a large fireball that exploded, thrusting Katsu and Ryuu back against a wall. The roof creaked dangerously and swayed.
Are you insane? Atsuko begged the seed. Please, please, listen to me. Please!
         Fine, but as long as you promise one thing.
What? Anything!
         Plant me, or just toss me out of the window. I’ll fix this, as long as I can be free and rule my own patch of dirt.
Atsuko obliged willingly, throwing the seed out the nearest window, hoping fervently it wasn’t lying. Katsu struggled into a sitting position, rubbing his head. He looked up and saw Atsuko at the window. “Trying to escape? I-“
The rest of his sentence was cut off by a huge rumble and the seed’s voice, which was larger and deeper now. A huge softfruit tree was growing past the window, and the voice came from it. Atsuko, get the bandits and Ryuu out, now.
         But…
Now!
Atsuko sensed that she should hurry. She dashed over to Ryuu and literally pushed him out a window. He thudded to the ground and looked up at his sister. ‘What was that for?”
“I don’t know,” she called from inside. “But you’ll thank me!”
She wished she knew herself.
Spotting the horde of escaping prisoners, she dashed to open the main doors. “Out there! Now! There’s… there’s gold out there!”
The mob sped up, and the Palace shook harder. Quickly! the tree yelled.
She knew what the tree was doing now. It’s root system, charged with the magic energy, was going to bring down the building. “Faster!” she howled.
Finally, after long moments, Itsuki stumbled through the door. Atsuko was hot on his heels, just making it before the building shuddered, then collapsed into itself. She flopped onto the grass and soaked up the afternoon sun. “Ahh.”
Naoki and Ryuu, who had found his way to them, sat beside her. “The inmates are heading to their homes now.”
Naoki gave Atsuko a hard look. “Homes, lassie. Your one-“
Ran came over. “Ah, shut it, Naoki. He means to ask, can we, um, come and live with you lot?”
Ryuu, who was older, coughed. “Sure, I guess. There’s housework involved.”
Midori, Kaede, Taiki and Itsuki groaned, but shook paws in agreement anyway.
Taiki raised an eyebrow, and Kaede began;
“One problem.”
“We need-“
“-a new-“
“Emperor!”
Atsuko scoffed. “Need a new Palace, more like.”
The seed sent his message into the eight martens’ minds. I cannot send another thought after this, for I grow weak, yet I rule over land like I dreamed I would. The  one who kills the former Emperor gets to choose the new one. I did, and I choose Atsuko as Empress.
Atsuko shook her head. “As Empress, then, I retire and place my role upon Ryuu. He deserves it.”
Ryuu blushed. “The mound could be the Palace, I guess, with a few decorations…”
A few surviving soldiers from the Imperial Guard stumbled up to them. Itsuki explained, and sent them off to inform the other martens about the change, saying to tell them the message was from the  ‘Chief Bandit of the Empire’.
Atsuko stood. “I dibs being the Imperial Gardener!” she joked. “Now, how about we go home.”
Paw in paw, the eight unlikely friends headed home, yet were just beginning another great adventure.