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A bright and yellow early morning sky rises in the distance. As Vella and Shay walk side by side down a sandy hill, ready to start the day
“Is this the spot?”
“Yeah it should be, I think it’s right…”
“Oh there it is!”
Vella points to a mid-sized market in the distance with sellers hoisting up tents, and putting out their goods. A sign that says “welcome to Arborville sunday market” set up front for any passerby to read.
The two of them walk in the direction of the Market that’s purposely set up on the outskirts of Arborville’s thick forests.
Shay: “So. Are we really doing this?”
Vella: “Yes. Shay. We are.”
Vella: “We’ve already done this three times with the others”
Scene cuts to flashback of shay getting backhanded by three maiden hands
Vella: Twyla’s the last maiden on the list anyways, it’s important in our decolonizing campaign. That everyone knows the whole truth of what happened.
Shay: Fine, but you better keep them from slapping me this time
Vella: Promise.
Vella: Shay relax, Twyla’s not gonna do anything.
The two of them walk into the market as they walk past several stalls, most of them are still empty as they eye people carrying heavy boxes full of colorful vases, fruits, and gemstones. A woman is decorating her honey stall with flowers, and paper cut into the shape of bees. They walk past Curt tending to his stall, and he waves at them. Vella waves back cheerfully, and then they find it.
“Twyla’s Plumage” the biggest market stall in the entire sunday market. Wooden, and well built in comparison to the tarps, and sticks of the other sellers. It was almost the size of a small storefront, and lined with dresses, shirts, and hats made with a rainbow of feather colors.
Vella waves
Vella:“Twyla!”
Twyla was busy folding the clothes when she overheard Vella. She looks to see her smiling, and waving aggressively.
Twlya: “Oh hey, it’s you again.” Said with a calmer manner, but sincere enough.
Vella: “Hey Twyla!”
She runs up to her and enters the stall. With Shay following along to keep pace.
Vella: How’s the business going?
Twyla: Oh it’s been doing great, there’s so much demand for Merriloft Featherwork down here. I have so many commissions orders, I even had to start a waiting list.
Twyla has more of a chip on her shoulder when she gets to talk about her business. What started as a small local stand, Twyla managed to make a name for herself in only a few months as the Merriloft girl that offered gorgeous feathered goods to the grounded masses.
Vella: That’s great Twyla.
Vella: By the way, the two of US. Have something to tell you
When she said that, Vella looked over at Shay. Then Shay looked back befuddled, and essentially thought “What do you mean us?”
Twyla just looks at them, and patiently waits for whatever it is they want to say.
Shay looks at Vella slightly annoyed, but Vella quickly catches that Twyla is listening.
Vella: Shay was the one responsible for choosing maidens
Twyla: What!
Shay: augh!
He reflexively flinches expecting Twyla to punch him, but instead she stands still
Twyla: what do you mean? I thought Shay was an ambassador
Vella: well technically it’s not that he was responsible for the maiden feasts. He was kept in the dark and used by his land’s corrupted rulers (She’s talking with her hands at this part, and is essentially waving her hands in a circle). But he did ( makes her hand into a pointer finger but then puts a palm on Shay’s shoulder), and was the one who was doing the picking for the last maidens feast.
Shay attempts to smile at Twyla as Vella is explaining. To show he accepts responsibility
Twyla: oh okay…
Shay tries to play it off cool and does two thumbs up. While saying “alright” silently through his teeth.
Twyla seeming nonchalant and folding clothes, immediately asks and looks over
Twyla: so why did you leave me?
Shay and Vella go wide eyed
Shay: uh- well I was being rushed by this guy named Marek…. and I wanted to pick you! But I ran out of time
Twyla: oh but you had time to choose the other two before me?
Her voice started to raise.
Shay: No Noo you got it all wrong okay, I thought I was saving aliens, and plus there was a FILTER so I couldn’t tell you weren’t…I didn’t have any reason why I picked you last!
Twyla: What do you mean No Reason?!
Shay: uh-
For a brief moment, Twyla, Shay, and Vella are all standing still. As Twyla is angry, and Shay is frozen.
Shay pauses, glancing back and forth
Then he skedaddles away
Vella: wha-Shay!
Then Twyla stomps off away from the stand
Vella: Twyla!
She goes after her
Vella: What’s wrong? I know Shay wasn’t clear, but it’s not what you think. Everything’s fine now
Twyla turns back around with a flushed face
Twyla: No it’s not fine! My parents abandoned me cause of him! And you’re telling me monster boy over there says it’s because it was for no reason! That’s why I didn’t get picked! That’s why I had to leave everything behind!
Vella: We can fix that!
Twyla: What?
Vella: We can fix it! The expulsion tradition from the maiden’s feast! It doesn’t have to be followed anymore! Wherever your parents are, We can tell them that everythings fine now, and they can take you back!
Twyla: I-
Twyla: .....
Twyla: I don’t know about that.
She loosely crosses her arms
Twyla: You don’t know them like I do
Vella: Well… You can at least go say your dues
Vella: So where are they?
Cut to Twyla, Vella, and Shay all flying on Vera the giant carrier bird and Soaring through the clouds. As they’re flying
Vella: So what’s it like with your parents?
Twyla: It’s complicated, as far back as I can remember. They’ve wanted me to be a maiden since I was….five.
All that can be heard is the sound of the wind in the upper stratosphere, and vera’s wing flaps. Everything’s a little bit awkward as they’re venturing into a situation they know nothing about.
Twyla: we’re here
Suddenly Vera swoops down, and they land on a giant cloud. They’re greeted to a large house made up of twigs, and interwoven twine. It’s decorated with blue and yellow feathers that line the roof, and door.
Shay climbs down and lands on a wooden path
Shay: “This is where they live?”
Twyla: Yeah what did you expect? My last name is Nymbus
Twyla: my family used to have a monopoly on all the branded good quality shoes, and clothes made in Meriloft.
Vella, and Shay are in Awe. While Twyla knocks on the door
Nobody answers
Twyla getting mad, looks for the spare key under the feather rug
Twyla: mumbles augh they never answer the door soon enough
She picks up a spare key under the rug and Twyla opens the door, and the trio walk in
“Selena! What did I tell you about letting guests in before asking-”
A tall lady with the silhouette of a pinball struts out. She has auburn hair that goes down to her shoulders, feather earrings, and trailing gown made up of orange feathers. Her eyes were sharp and monolids, but it didn’t necessarily seem like they glared. Simply a look of someone headstrong
When She saw Twyla, her composure disappeared, her strong eyes became worrisome. As she was faced with the growing glare of her daughter
Twyla with a strong frown, and glare had her shoulders furled up.
Cut to a scene of tea being poured into several teacups by twyla’s mom
The mom and dad sit across on a couch while the trio sits on the other side. Only a few feet away from them
The scene is silent as the only noise is the sound of the tea being poured, and a few delicate windchimes that hang from the walls. Soft chimes filling the room, along with the chirps of a few exotically colorful caged birds.
The man sitting next to twyla’s mom has short dark brown hair, a mustache and similar eyes to the mother, although slightly rounder eyes. However his look was the same as her’s, a composed yet slightly deadpan appearance. He wears a yellow feather shirt and red feather pants, decorated with loose feathers that slightly stick out.
After the tea is poured, Twyla’s mom picks up a tea cup and takes a sip. Still nobody talks.
Then Twyla’s dad speaks
Dad: So what’s the important announcement you want to tell us?
Vella: Ahem Well do you two remember the day of the maiden’s feast
Mom: Aughh yes how could we forget, did you know we had to change the name of our brand to be able to sell again?
Dad: It was bad enough to move our house away from the main clouds. They weren’t even allowed to associate with anything related with nymbus. Fortunately we managed to distribute under the brand name Cumula, and people have started buying from us again.
Vella: Well… you should be glad to know… that the expulsion is now void!
Mom and dad are slightly taken back, but they move forward, intrigued.
Dad: Since when? How is it that we never learned of this? What authority do you have to announce this!
Vella: It’s a bit of a long story, but you can read all about it in this pamphlet.
Shay takes out a pamphlet from his blue jacket, and hands it to Vella. Who then gives it to the mom
Vella: In the new era, the exploitative maiden’s feast started by Levina was exposed for what it was. Thanks to Me, and Shay. Who was forced to pick maidens for use by Loruna’s rulers. Now we're both Ambassadors in charge of unraveling the hurtful system created by the thrush!
Mom and Dad are skimming through the pamphlet
Vella: You guys don’t have to hide, the villagers of Merriloft don’t believe in Mogs anymore!
Mom suddenly smiles
Mom: My- this is certainly-good news
Mom: And it’s so nice to meet an esteemed Lorunian, Shay
Mom stands and looks at dad
Mom: Oh this is perfect, we can come back and advertise a return of the original nymbus brand
Dad also stands up in excitement
Dad: Yes! And as a support to the new era. We can say nymbus has brought back distribution to symbolize a new time without the Maidens feast
Mom: We can even have Twyla-
Vella: uh excuse me!
The two look over
Vella is bit nervous
Vella: Aren’t you forgetting something…
While nudging her head in the direction of Twyla
Twya is still mad
Both Mom and Dad suddenly get nervous on their face. Mom tries to intervene with her arms stretched out
Mom: Oh of course! Twyla we’re so glad to-
However Twyla moves away from her arms
Mom is shocked
Suddenly a voice comes in from the other side of the room
“Heads up!”
A tall man who looks about 21 with a similar face to Twyla comes through
He catches a ball with a lacrosse stick that almost hit Twyla in the head
He seems satisfied to have caught it, then he looks around and realizes the situation
“Woah Twyla finally came back…”
“Hey who’s your friend over there?”
He says with a smile
Vella and Shay are off put by that remark
Twyla: “Soren come on how old are you now, 21?”
Shay: Yeah get lost dude!
Soren: “What? How old can she be then?
Twyla: “She’s 15!”
Soren gets reasonably scared and with regret in his face, runs away
Vella: Was that your brother?
Twyla: A brother, I have six. I’m the only daughter
Twyla: Seriously mom, why is Soren living here?
Mom: He’s been living with us since the expulsion, he hasn’t seen anyone else in a while. Besides he’s your brother, he needed support
Twyla: pfft yeah figures
Everyone else in the room is now shaken, and waiting for Twyla’s response as she presses her elbows against her lap, and grips her hands.
She bites her lip
We cut to a flashback of when Twyla was young
She’s watching and playing in the room where the hired seamstresses make customized designs
She’s running up and down. Collecting leftover feathers, and bringing them back to her little craft project on the floor.
Meanwhile mom and dad are sitting at the table, and talking about the news
Mom: I heard they’ve already begun the selection process for the next maiden’s feast. Apparently the community will keep a watchful eye on potential candidates for the next upcoming years.
Dad looks over at Twyla
Dad: Maidens that get picked are honored for history and gain respect in the village. It could take our brand to a new level if Twyla was picked. She’s already showing a passion for featherwork
Mom: Hmmm…Well we do already have an heir, Sirius….who we’re training to inherit the company…and Twyla is our only daughter.
Dad: ….it’ll be good for her
Mom stands up from her chair, and goes over to kneel down at Twyla
Twyla looks up at her
Then it cuts to her a little bit older now
She’s sewing dresses in front of a store window because her mom told her to. As passing citizens watch her stitch up a dress with some standing still in front of the display
Cut to Twyla, she’s a teenager now
She’s walking through the village to school, wearing the gorgeous outfits she made herself. As people and classmates she knew looked on.
Suddenly she’s in front of a large crowd, her shoulders being held by her mother. Her dad right next to mom as they eagerly wait for an announcement
An official with a card is standing on a podium
Official: Now as we all know, Meriloft has always been very meticulous with its maiden’s feast. That’s why no one can compete!
The crowd laughs
Official: After a 7 year period of observation, we’re fortunate to have three maidens.
Official: Elena Freefall
A pretty lanky looking girl wearing purple is shocked in happiness
The crowd cheers
Official: Stella Buoy
Another pretty girl wearing lime yellow with a more square face smiles and waves as the crowd cheers
Twyla starts to get nervous when finally
Official: Twyla Nymbus!
Twyla is elated! She’s so shocked yet so happy! She’s jumping up and down and holding her mom’s hand. As all of them smile.
The crowd cheers even louder, as Twyla and the two other girls walk up to the podium.
They’re greeted by Levina wearing a giant bird hat. She holds Twyla’s hand
Levina: Pleasure to work with you
Twyla is happy
We cut to Twyla in a small hut now with a window that let’s in a pink sunset. As she sews up the green dress she wore for the maiden’s feast.
A knock is heard at the door
It’s mom, and she comes in
Mom: “there you are, dear what are you still doing sewing? You’ve already been chosen?”
Twyla: “Oh hi Mom, I’m just sewing up the dress I’ll wear for the ceremony. I thought I’d go for a more sleek vulture pattern”
Mom: “Twyla there’s no need for that. Just let the seamstresses make the dress, they’ll know what to do.”
Twyla: “But mom I really want to wear my design for when everyone sees me! Come on, isn’t that why I got picked in the first place!”
Mom: “Well alright, if you insist, but at least wear these cloudshoes we had made”
She holds up the pink bird cloudshoes she originally wore
Mom: “at least have one part of your outfit be professional”
Twyla takes the cloudshoes. They are beautifully designed shoes, but she sort of notices that they don’t match
Twyla: “Oh…sure. Thanks mom!”
The day of the ceremony arrives, Twyla is standing beautifully as she walks to the offering stage. Although you can notice that the shoes are a bit tight on her feet.
Two guards, one man and woman, follow behind her along with the other maidens.
Twyla walks into the cage, and sits on the swing. The two guards close the door from behind.
As she sits, and swings. Twyla patiently waits for Mog Chothra to come. She looks behind, and sees her parents. They give her a light smile, and She smiles back
Suddenly a huge rumbling comes, and a giant monster crashes through the clouds
Twyla is shocked
He grabs stella and destroys the bird cage
Then he eventually grabs Elena, and trashes the ceremony even more
When the time comes, and his arm is right in front of twyla. She closes her eyes and bites her lip, ready to accept her fate
When the arm retracks, Twyla is confused as she looks at mog chothra just standing there
Then he leaves, leaving a cascading shadow that draws away from twyla’s body
As she looks up and follows him with her head
As he flys away
Twyla realizes what just happened, the villagers too. For a small moment, they don’t do anything
Then they all boo, and throw sticks at Twyla
Twyla: Augh!
She turns around to see her parents
All they can do is look at her with disappointment and walk away
Twyla is shocked, and saddened.
We’re back to Twyla now as she’s still gripping at her legs
Twyla: Growing up, I thought all I ever wanted was to be sacrificed as a maiden, to give back to the village, and to make you proud. What I don’t understand is Why-
Mom: Twyla please you have to understand that at the time it was a difficult decision
Twyla: No!
Twyla: Why is it that the only thing I could learn was how to be a maiden! Why is it that Sirius got to be taught to inherit the company! Why is it that Soren got to play sports! Ciel got to help with the designs of the shoes! Why Lumen could go catch birds for clothing inspo! And he’s younger than me!
The two parents are nervous now
Twyla stands still and just thinks while looking down on the floor
After a moment. She speaks
Twyla: ….I’ll come back to the Nymbus family
The two smile in relief
Mom: Oh that’s wonderful dear-
Twyla: But!
She says while pointing up her finger
Twyla: Only if you let me sell my Handmade clothes and designs at your shops
Dad: Now Twyla, let’s discuss this a bit more, what cloth-
Twyla: And! I want free rain access to your seamstresses, and full financial support for my ground store and any of my future endeavors. Unless you want me to tell the two ambassadors, and the recently enlightened village how you abandoned me.
She says with an accusing finger
Once again her parents aren’t sure what to do about this
Twyla: I’m gonna go now. I’ll talk to you guys again later
Then she struts away, leaving her parents confused. Shay and Vella follow along and leave too
Shay: Well it was nice to meet you.
He says with an awkward wave and smile
As they’re walking back to Vera
Vella asks Twyla
Vella: Wait. hold on! Twyla? Are you sure you’re fine with just leaving it like this?
As they’re hoping on to the bird
Twyla: It’s fine, if they really want my forgiveness. They should easily be able to do what I asked. Besides, I'll eventually come back. Right now all I want is to do everything I missed out on.
Then the three of them fly away.