Epic by Annie Auerbach Page B

you.”
    Excited to see his hero, Mub shouted out, “Ronin!”
    â€œThen again, I don’t really care for you myself,” said Ronin. He advanced, wounded and beaten up, but ready for one last stand. Mandrake snarled and furiously attacked. Ronin responded, but it was clear he was weak, and probably wouldn’t last long in his condition.
    â€œWhen I left you for dead, I thought you would stay that way,” Mandrake snarled.
    â€œIt’s going to take more than a few thousand Boggans to get rid of me,” replied Ronin.
    â€œThen why don’t I take another crack at it,” said Mandrake. He pinned Ronin to the floor, and without his sword the Leafman was defenseless.
    â€œWhat’s that little saying you people have?” said Mandrake, as he hovered over Ronin. “‘Lots of leaves, something something’? Very inspiring.” He raised his club. “But in the end, every leaf falls and dies alone.”
    Mandrake brought his club down, but a sword blocked the strike!
    â€œNo one is alone,” said Nod, revealing himself holding the sword. He looked at Ronin. “Not even him.”
    At that moment, an army of Leafmen dropped from the sky and surrounded Mandrake. Moonlight began to stream back into the royal chamber, where it struck the pod, causing it to burst open. A bright light erupted, hitting Mandrake and hurling him out of the chamber and into a tree.
    â€œNooooo!” cried Mandrake as he landed in his own poisonous rot, which instantly enveloped him whole. Mandrake was finally destroyed by the very thing he loved so much—decay!

M .K. ran toward Moonhaven, looking toward the moonlight bathing the night sky. She was relieved to have helped save Moonhaven, but she knew it was too late to save herself and return home. When she reached the royal chamber, she stood in the back and watched.
    Nod, Ronin, and the Leafmen approached the open pod, wondering about the glow inside. Many Jinn watched, including the mother and daughter Jinn from the pod-selection ceremony. A wind blew through, lifting the glowing flecks of light out of the pod. The Leafmen and all of the Jinn watched as the swirl of light reached the Jinn daughter, who was standing with her mother. The light formed into the image of Queen Tara.
    The queen pressed a cheek close to the Jinn daughter’s ear and whispered, “Look after them for me.” Then she embraced the girl and dissolved into a bright burst of light.
    When the light subsided, the Jinn daughter had been transformed into the new queen, with crown and cape. Her mother was shocked.
    â€œYour Majesty,” Nim Galuu said immediately.
    The Jinn all around fell to their knees and bowed.
    Off to the side, Nod caught Ronin’s eye.
    â€œYou look terrible,” Nod told him.
    Ronin grinned. “Hey, did you see how many times I got hit? I learned that from you.”
    Nod grinned back. “You’re not going to make me say all the stuff I learned from you now, are you?”
    â€œWell, you’d have learned a whole lot more from your dad,” said Ronin. “I was a pretty poor substitute.”
    Nod shook his head. “Don’t beat yourself up. Lately you’ve shown some real promise.”
    Ronin couldn’t help but laugh.
    â€œOh, please, just say you love each other,” M.K. interjected.
    Ronin exchanged a confused look with Nod. “I thought we just did.”
    Just then Nod realized M.K. was still there—and not big again! He was happy to see her, but he could tell she was trying to put on a brave face.
    â€œI’m sorry,” Nod offered. “But not completely sorry.” He reached out to her, but M.K. started to rise off the ground.
    â€œWhat’s happening?” M.K. asked, a little concerned.
    â€œA queen brought you here,” explained Nim, “How about a queen sends you back?” He gestured to the new queen, her eyes closed in concentration,