Long ago, there was a small lotus pond, in a distant kingdom. The prince of the kingdom would go out every day and plant a small lotus bud, growing the pond in number. As more and more lotuses were planted, the prince expanded the pond, until it was the size of a large lake. The kingdom fell, however, and barbarians and invaders swept over the land. Soon only the palace where the prince was housed was left to stand. Brave soldiers defended the castle walls, and roaring raiders would relentlessly attack them. Over time, the raiders overpowered the soldiers, and the palace shook with fear of being attacked in its helpless state. Desperate for a last chance, the prince asked the lotus pond to help him. Each and every lotus plant in the pond turned into a soldier, with a flowering shield and leaf-shaped blade. The next day when the warriors attacked, the lotus army rose up in response. Though the struggle was long and hard, and both the lotuses and barbarians fell in the hundreds, when the sun set the palace had been successfully defended. Over many days this same pattern occurred, until the enemy warriors finally retreated, allowing those in the palace and the army to safely leave and gaze upon the now fallen kingdom. Their purpose complete, the lotus soldiers disbanded and spread across the globe, to seek out peace and a new life away from the kingdom. So whenever you come across a lotus today, remember that they were once warriors.