After having been swimming for around a day, as the two of them bickered a bit back and forth, both finding the other annoying, but also not minding the company, they finally found some land. It looked far away, but having something to swim for, made Yvie think that being able to see something in the distance, rather than swimming around aimlessly, was preferred. She did like the adventure of it, but having felt like they got nowhere had taken a bit of a toll on her as well.
The sand they came to was red. Burning as if they walked directly on fire. Tearing their skin with each little corn of sand being a burning amber.
"Let's wait until the moon comes up" Yvie said, having turned back to a girl, standing in the water, as she felt the need to fully stretch.
"That's what I was going to suggest" The Lizard said, as if it had been an idea it had had all along, when in reality, it just tried to seem smart, once again.
"While we wait, you can tell your story" Yvie suggested, ignoring the Lizard, as she had made up her mind to fully listen to it this time. No matter what the story held, Yvie would continue her journey. She wouldn't let it define her.
Having been soul searching while in the ocean, this was what she had decided. Even if the story had all of the answers she was seeking, she had already learned that questions could be found as well. Seeking them out was a part of the journey too.
"Finally!" The Lizard celebrated, splashing around a bit, as it found a good spot, were it could sit in the shallow water. Yvie sat down in the water as well, making herself comfortable. The Lizard took in a deep breath, as it got ready.
"A long time ago, a serpent lived in peace around the Earth. It was long, big, strong and beautiful. It lightened up as another moon, blessing everyone that touched the light" The Lizard started, exactly as it had practiced, and exactly as Yvie had heard for the first time in the gate.
"However, one day, the serpent got discovered by villagers. As the serpent was as long as the diameter of the Earth, as well as thick as a big house, the villagers despaired. They did not know what the big scales were, as long as they could look. They thought it was the end of the Earth. That beyond that point, there was nothing. That it was a curse having been brought to their land.
More villagers gathered for days, everyone trying to figure out where this mysterious white and scaley thing started as well as ended, but nobody could ever go as far as to the other side.
One day, a man decided to cut it down. He asked for help, convincing everyone to help him. The man was very charismatic. He could turn sand into gold, with just his words.
Thus, it was almost only said, before the plan went into action. The man had suggested to cut a piece off first, to see if the world really ended on the other side, or if this was a way of trapping them inside.
As you can imagine, Young One, a serpent being cut over in half is no small feat. Nor was the serpent immortal. Neither could it move. The blessings it had given the Earth was something only the Serpent knew about, not something small minded people could figure out.
All the villagers saw, was something in their way, something they felt took something from them, thus they wanted to cut it down.
It took many moons before they cut properly through. But as soon as the Serpent was fully cut in half, it died on the spot.
The fields it had blessed with its light turned to dust all around the world. The trees withered. The animals died. A belt of devastation laid visible as the villagers found out what they had done.
Recognizing the very thing they had cut as a divine being, they once again fell into despair. Praying for forgiveness from the Sun.
However, the Sun did not care about them, like the Serpent had done.
They then prayed to the Moon. But the Moon was mad at the Serpent for having shone more brightly, and ignored the prayers as well.
Just as all hope seemed lost, a little girl came across the dead snake head, far away from the cut. She petted the giant head, as it seemed to be sleeping, accidentally stabbing herself on its fangs.
At once, the snake disappeared from the Earth, letting the little girl carry on its legacy. Shining a bright light on the things and people it meets.
The little girl did not get poisoned. She simply gained the ability to turn into a reincarnation of the serpent.
When she died, the serpent would get reborn into another little girl, and so would it be the way of life. Sometimes the next one would be randomly chosen. Other times, families would get the right.
If someone killed the snake, they would not get cursed. They would get blessed with the serpent being reborn into their family next.
And as such, the circle would continue, forever.
Now, it is your turn, to go around, and bless people, shining brightly on them, as you save humanity from themselves" The Lizard ended its long retelling, as Yvie had listened intently. She had gotten into it at some point, as the story in itself was interesting. But a lot of things in it bothered her.
"What a load of crab" She said, finding her pun incredibly amusing. Even if the story in itself made sense, it didn't feel like it had anything to do with her, personally. What was this about a giant serpent and getting reborn?
Actually, it felt like she once again had more questions than before.
"This doesn't fit in with what Aqua told me" Yvie finally said, having figured out exactly what had felt off. When she talked with Aqua, every word felt recognizable. It felt true. Familiar. But this story felt just like that. A story. Nothing more, nothing less.
"That's why I said she was wrong!" The Lizard complained, feeling very angry at the doubt it was receiving, when this story should be everything the Young One could ever want.
"Hmm…. Then, let me ask you" Yvie thought a bit, trying to make her case, without making the Lizard even more mad.
"Where did you get that story from?" She asked, staring intently at the Lizard, who at once stiffened up.
"Where… Did I… Get it from…?" The Lizard repeated the question slowly, filled with doubt. Slowly noticing that… It didn't know. How could it not know?