Wheels on the Bus (ToriJ)

[Alex]

“Why splice dying species together? Why not just keep them from going extinct?”

"Another excellent question. I imagine we'll find the answer to that soon enough."

“But the bible said God is the creator of all things and has always existed.”

“Mary, think for a moment about what you just said.”

"The bible, or more specifically the book of Genesis, was written by the first High Council of Aircano in 90DM by order of Lord Yahweh as propaganda during the war against a revived Vlad Dracula after his beheading and has undergone over a million different revisions ever since. What started off as propaganda recruiting soldiers for the fight against the vampires later became a religion."

The Professor turned around in delight hearing all their answers and then watched as they started to argue with one another. That was something that happened often with children the older they got. Fighting. Always with the fighting.

"Class?"

Alexis tried to get their attention but Lily, Nex and Mary weren't hearing her so she spoke again.

"Class?"

Seeing that her normal speaking voice was having no effect The Professor decided to get loud.

"HEY! Pipe down!"

[Ayen]

"The bible, or more specifically the book of Genesis, was written by the first High Council of Aircano in 90DM by order of Lord Yahweh as propaganda during the war against a revived Vlad Dracula after his beheading and has undergone over a million different revisions ever since. What started off as propaganda recruiting soldiers for the fight against the vampires later became a religion."

“Propaganda?”

“I knew it!”

“My religion is propaganda?”

"HEY! Pipe down!"

Lily and Nex stopped fighting and looked towards the professor apologetically.

“Sorry, Professor.”

“Sorry.”

“I need to sit down.”

Tori and Shinta watched as Mary wandered away from the group, not far but far enough away to have some time to herself as she found a stone to sit down on. Tori looked back at the professor and walked over to her with Shinta while Lily and Nex resumed observing the dinosaurs.

“Professor, you know we always enjoy your lectures. But...”

“You could have approached that a bit more delicately.”

“You just told Mary everything she believed in is a lie.”

[Alex]

“Sorry, Professor.”

“Sorry.”

Alexis went back to her usual friendly smile.

"That's better. Now, Ms. Jacobs you were correct about the height and weight of the creature but who can tell me how long the Camarasaurus is?"

“I need to sit down.”

"I wouldn't advise that. Ms. Thomas, it's important that we stay together."

“Professor, you know we always enjoy your lectures. But...”

“You could have approached that a bit more delicately.”

“You just told Mary everything she believed in is a lie.”

"What? No I didn't, only part of it is false. God's a real person who existed and died just like the rest of us- Oh..."

It just occurred to her what she did wrong.

"Oh. Oh, I better rectify this. You four, don't go anywhere. Don't even move. I'll be right back."

Alexis walked over to the stone Mary was seated on and sat down next to her, looking around at the various plants that was growing around the stone and back up to the dinosaurs up ahead still moving onward across the grass.

"You know, this entire area that we're currently sitting in will be Moon Valley in over 19,000 years from now. We moved through time but never budged an inch in space. We just passed the school and into the main streets on our path to where I believe the business district is located. This planet is over 20,000 years old and it is constantly evolving to fit the needs of the species who come after those who were here first. Truly remarkable. Wouldn't you agree?"

[Ayen]

Tori and the others watched as the professor went over to speak with Mary. Lily and Nex started to talk amongst themselves while Tori and Shinta continued to watch the professor from afar.

"You know, this entire area that we're currently sitting in will be Moon Valley in over 19,000 years from now. We moved through time but never budged an inch in space. We just passed the school and into the main streets on our path to where I believe the business district is located. This planet is over 20,000 years old and it is constantly evolving to fit the needs of the species who come after those who were here first. Truly remarkable. Wouldn't you agree?"

“I lived my whole life believing in a god of love, and forgiveness, and who sent his only son to this place to die for the sins of all mankind only to find out that it was all based on a lie. I modeled my entire life up to this point on propaganda. So forgive me, Professor, if I don't find the planet fascinating right now.”

[Alex]

"I see little point in taking it out on the planet."

Alexis looked up to the sky where the Creator was before looking back over to Mary.

"Have you ever wondered how an omnipotent being can exist and have knowledge of our future without there being a divine destiny?"

The Professor bent over and picked up a smaller stone by the larger one and held it in her hands.

"We know from the current state of the ultraverse that different universes exist, they're coming together now as we speak but how did they come into being? How can there be an omnipotent being without our lives being predetermined by fate? The answer is in our choices."

Alexis threw the stone into the air in front and over the heads of the others.

"I just threw the stone, you saw it. But I wasn't fated to throw the stone. You see, while we live in the reality where I threw the stone there is a second reality where I don't throw the stone. Then there's a third reality where I don't pick up the stone at all. And there's a fourth reality where I don't even come over here to talk with you, I just leave you here to figure things out on your own. All of those realities are happening right now and they're all splitting up into different paths that the Creator can see, it knows every single one and their outcomes because there are an infinite number of outcomes to every decision we make and ever will make since the beginning of our existence. Every choice we make creates a new dimension, a new reality, a completely different universe that co-exists with the one already here. Even the stories we make become reality somewhere.

Take your friend Utena for instance. In your reality a writer wrote about her and an artist drew her. By them doing that they created a universe where their story is real life and that is how Utena came into being. In this universe right now the bible you read is false but in a separate reality apart from this one it's as real as you and I am, and always has been. Your beliefs are based on a lie, a partial one, but in every lie there is a shred of truth and that truth was created the moment the High Council of Aircano engraved it on stone. Everyone and everything, whether they started out as fiction or not, is real."

[Ayen]

“What do you think they're talking about?” Tori asked Shinta.

“Probably something extremely complicated,” answered Shinta.

“Leave it to Mary to make it all about her,” said Lily as she continued to watch the herd of dinosaurs passing them by.

“Where's Littlefoot?” asked Nex, “I have to warn his mother about the T-Rex.”

“Careful,” began Lily, “interfering could take us back to a future ruled by apes or the Creator may melt you,” she joked.

“You maniacs! You blew it up!”

Tori, Shinta and Lily shared a laugh as Tori and Shinta turned away from where Mary and the professor were sitting to rejoin with Lily and Nex.

"I see little point in taking it out on the planet."

“...”

"Have you ever wondered how an omnipotent being can exist and have knowledge of our future without there being a divine destiny?"

“...”

"I just threw the stone, you saw it. But I wasn't fated to throw the stone. You see, while we live in the reality where I threw the stone there is a second reality where I don't throw the stone. Then there's a third reality where I don't pick up the stone at all. And there's a fourth reality where I don't even come over here to talk with you, I just leave you here to figure things out on your own. All of those realities are happening right now and they're all splitting up into different paths that the Creator can see, it knows every single one and their outcomes because there are an infinite number of outcomes to every decision we make and ever will make since the beginning of our existence. Every choice we make creates a new dimension, a new reality, a completely different universe that co-exists with the one already here. Even the stories we make become reality somewhere.

Take your friend Utena for instance. In your reality a writer wrote about her and an artist drew her. By them doing that they created a universe where their story is real life and that is how Utena came into being. In this universe right now the bible you read is false but in a separate reality apart from this one it's as real as you and I am, and always has been. Your beliefs are based on a lie, a partial one, but in every lie there is a shred of truth and that truth was created the moment the High Council of Aircano engraved it on stone. Everyone and everything, whether they started out as fiction or not, is real."

“That's insane, Professor! That's absolutely insane!”

[Alex]

"Existence is insane."

The Professor stood up from her position on the large stone now standing in front of Mary.

"That's why it's important we stick together."

Alexis extended her hand out for Mary to take, a kind smile on her face.

[Ayen]

"Existence is insane."

Mary looked up as the professor stood up and smiled back down at her while holding out her hand.

"That's why it's important we stick together."

Mary offered Alexis a weak smile in return and took her hand, standing back up to her feet before letting go.

“In every lie there's a shred of truth? I'll have to remember that one. Lead the way, Professor.”

[Alex]

Alexis led Mary back to the others and whistled to get the others attention.

"All right class, time to get moving. It's a big, big world out there. Lots to see. Say goodbye to the Camarasaurus. Goodbye, Camarasaurus!"

Alexis waved at the dinosaurs who were leaving before leading her class to the forest that the Camarasaurus had came from.

"I never did hear an answer for my last question."

Said The Professor while going through the forest, things turning slightly dark once amongst the trees that were all around them. Birds flying through the air and landing on the tree branches up above settling in their nest, rats that reached up to a human's ankle running by and into the bushes while snakes with feet crossed a nearby log they were approaching. Alexis choosing to be silent for now to allow her students to observe nature at its purest and if they were observant enough they would notice the trees move ever so slightly, shaking.

Entirely on their own.

[Ayen]

"All right class, time to get moving. It's a big, big world out there. Lots to see. Say goodbye to the Camarasaurus. Goodbye, Camarasaurus!"

“Goodbye!”

“Goodbye, Camarasaurus!”

“Are you feeling better?” Shinta asked Mary.

“Yes.”

“I've been telling you your religion was garbage for years and you never let me get you down.”

Mary smiled.

“I suppose not.”

"I never did hear an answer for my last question."

“The Camarasaurus are 65 feet long.”

“65? I was going to say 70.”

“I thought they were 15 feet.”

“That's its height. We're talking about length.”

“Oh, that's right.”

“Look at the birds.”

The group looked up in the sky to see the birds before looking back down at the rats that ran by.

“What were those things!?”

“Rats.”

“They were huge!”

“You aren't afraid of a couple of big rats are you?”

“Rattata!”

“Leave her alone, guys.”

“Thanks, Shinta.”

“What's the fun in that?”

Mary stuck her tongue out at Lily.

“Are those snakes with feet?”

“Well what do you know, the bible got some details right after all.”

“Do they speak as well? Hey, snake! Can you understand us?”

While the others talked amongst themselves and looked at the other animals, Tori walked behind the group observing the forest. Emerald green eyes looking up to the blue sky up above and The Creator's light bleeding through the leaves before her eyes came on the trees themselves. Looking over them and then noticing that they moved

“Did you guys see that?”

The others stopped and turned around to face Tori.

“See what?”

“The trees. They moved.”

“The trees moved?”

“What have you been smoking?”

“You see it too don't you, Professor?”

[Alex]

"Correct, Ms. Jacobs! The Camarasarus dinosaur was fifteen feet tall, sixty-one thousand and six-hundred pounds and sixty-five feet in length. It was first discovered by Edward Drinker Cope in 8851DM."

The Professor continued to lead the class through the forest, admiring the birds that flew pass and then looking down to the four-legged hairy creatures to pass them which frightened Mary.

"Actually, those were Mofaus. An ancient forest creature that eat the grass and leaves. They just look like rats from your time but as you can plainly seen they're much bigger than rats. The largest Mofaus can be the size of a car."

The next creature they'd see would resemble a snake but once again The Professor corrected them.

"Not a snake. Those are actually sea creatures known as the Laffane. If they're here that would suggest there is a lake of some sorts nearby."

Once Tori asked her question causing the rest of her students to stop and turn around, The Professor did so in turn. Listening to the group speak with a hint of excitement in her own eyes as it seemed Tori would be the one to pick up on the trees movement. Everyday Tori was showing more and more why she was such a remarkable student.

“You see it too don't you, Professor?”

"Yes I do, Ms. Jacobs."

The Professor walked in-between Tori and the others and began to slowly turn around in a full 360 degrees as she spoke before stopping in the direction of the others opposite of Tori.

"These trees that are standing all around us are alive. I don't mean alive as in plants are alive and require water and sun to grow, oh no. I mean they can walk, they can talk and they can fight. We are standing among the Silva. Latin for wood and forest. Many species can walk through this place well over a hundred times and never notice that they're being observed. It's one of the most brilliant of hiding places ever conceived, hiding in plain sight for all to see and yet only the most observant can. Don't be alarmed, children. The Silva only attack when they feel threatened."

[Ayen]

"Correct, Ms. Jacobs! The Camarasarus dinosaur was fifteen feet tall, sixty-one thousand and six-hundred pounds and sixty-five feet in length. It was first discovered by Edward Drinker Cope in 8851DM."

“Edward drank to cope,” joked Nex.

"Actually, those were Mofaus. An ancient forest creature that eat the grass and leaves. They just look like rats from your time but as you can plainly seen they're much bigger than rats. The largest Mofaus can be the size of a car."

“The size of a car!?”

“Are they later used to create rats in the future?”

"Not a snake. Those are actually sea creatures known as the Laffane. If they're here that would suggest there is a lake of some sorts nearby."

“Laffane?”

“Who comes up with these names? If I didn't know better I'd think you were making it up as you went.”

"Yes I do, Ms. Jacobs."

“I don't see anything. Shinta, do you see anything?”

“No.”

“Are you both feeling all right?” Mary asked Tori and Alexis.

“I'm not going crazy! I saw what I saw!

“Why did you ask him if he's seen anything?” Nex asked Lily. “I might have seen something.”

“Well have you?”

“Have I what?”

“Seen something!”

“No.”

“Exactly my point now shut up!”

"These trees that are standing all around us are alive. I don't mean alive as in plants are alive and require water and sun to grow, oh no. I mean they can walk, they can talk and they can fight. We are standing among the Silva. Latin for wood and forest. Many species can walk through this place well over a hundred times and never notice that they're being observed. It's one of the most brilliant of hiding places ever conceived, hiding in plain sight for all to see and yet only the most observant can. Don't be alarmed, children. The Silva only attack when they feel threatened."

“I knew it! I knew I wasn't seeing things! Professor, this is incredible!”

“The forest is alive? The forest is actually alive!?”

“We're surrounded by Ents.”

“Can we talk to them?” Tori asked Alexis. “Would they speak to us?”

[Alex]

“Are they later used to create rats in the future?”

"Yes. They make up the outer shell but not so much the size and tail."

“Who comes up with these names? If I didn't know better I'd think you were making it up as you went.”

"The people who discover them. Laffane is taken from one of the old languages at the beginning of the Dawn of Man's era which translate into sea reptile."

“Can we talk to them? Would they speak to us?”

"I don't know. Let's find out."

The Professor walked over to one of the trees looking it over for a moment, left and right, up and down, before her eyes came across the center and she turned her head pressing her ear up against it like she was listening for something.

"Hello?"

The Professor waited and then pressed off the tree to look at the others.

"Bring your ear up to the tree and listen carefully. Clear your mind and concentrate."

[Ayen]

"Bring your ear up to the tree and listen carefully. Clear your mind and concentrate."

Tori was the first person to come up to one of the surrounding trees near where Alexis was standing and pressed her ear against it, closing her eyes and listening carefully to the tree that was by her side. Blocking out all other noise and focusing solely on the tree. At first there was nothing, nothing at all but right when Tori was about to give up she heard a silent moan come from the tree and opened her eyes, an excited expression on her face when she turned from the tree to look back at the others.

“I heard it! The tree moaned!”

“The tree moaned?”

“Sounds like someone is having a good time.”

Mary hit Nex's arm with her elbow.

“Ow!”

Tori pressed her ear back to the tree while the others followed suit, each one finding their own tree to listen to. Tori placed a hand on the tree and lightly stroked her fingers across the wood as she spoke, “Can you hear me?”

[Alex]

A breath sounded from the trees, the branches shook and the leaves ruffled as eyes, nose and a mouth opened up in the surface of the wood. The Professor started to back away, motioning for her students to do the same as now the group of trees looked down upon the group.

"Why have you disturbed our slumber?"

"Sorry. Didn't mean to wake you, we were just passing through. I'm Alexis Malaware history professor and these are my students; Jacobs, Greenaway, Mayweather, Nex and Thomas. Say hello to the trees class."