Emily Jane and the Man in the Moon
Emily Jane knew every single plant that grew in her nearly endless garden. If she wanted germs, they grew. All she had to do was think of it.
Her father had called it ‘endless potential’; she called it a ‘gift’. Her mother had said it was her pride, although Emily never figured out if she meant her or her gift.
Emily Jane grew up with her gift and when she came to Earth, she refined it. What good was a rock floating in space without some greenery? After Aster and his kind came, she was happy to share.
Until the day he came back. Emily had been asked to fight-North came, Ombric, Toothiana, and Aster. She had refused. He was still her father. They had to understand. When MiM came down on a moonbeam, he had asked her to step in.
She had not helped, either side at all.
Pitch had been adamant, begging her. Not as his daughter but as another powerful being. Emily Jane knew he didn’t remember her. He had been obsessed with the darkest parts of humanity.
It had been heartbreaking then, now it was just pathetic.
“This one is new, isn’t it?”
Emily Jane looks up from her memories, startled to see Manny standing there in his pressed suit, faintly glowing like a moonbeam. He gives her a cheery smile. She doesn’t answer him, she knows that he knows that the plant is new.
“Emily Jane, will you stand against the Bunnymund clan?”
She laughs, dryly and remembers that MiM can be too blunt, especially since he is disconnected from people. She resumes her walk, content to ignore the other being as he has ignored her.
“The Bunnymund clan is pivotal to the world,”
The grass is green and bright, it would be expected in her realm. The weather is warm too. Everything is perfect, except Emily Jane is cold. She has always been cold.
Her father left, honored to be given a mission by the King and Queen of the Luna. She remembers begging her father to stay.
To reconsider.
“Imagine my stars, out of all the soldiers, I was chosen. It is an honor and Pitchners do not disobey.”
Except Emily Jane. She has never said yes to MiM. He took everything from her. Now she is nothing to anyone except in the Wizarding World. There, she has power.
“I don’t know what you’re speaking of. It was you after all who told me to get Sirius Black out of Azkaban. A final favor is what you called it?”
“Sirius Black was to be let out of Azkaban, yes. You nursed him back to health as was the deal. Why on earth did you fill his head up with the affirmation that Harry was going to live with him?”
Emily Jane smiles, a cold smile far too much like her father’s smile. It is a smile of false promises and a lifetime of loneliness. She turns towards the diminutive man. MiM is a king of nothing. There is no crown and no throne to sit upon. His kingdom is nothing except worms and a cold empty rock.
“I did as I was instructed, your highness. I did nothing except obey,”
Emily Jane felt his eyes on her. She wanted nothing more than to make him hurt and how else could she?
“You said nothing about Molly Weasley. Picture it, the woman with so many offspring and not a cent extra! It’s no fault that the Potters wrote several contracts for their sole heir. Why not share the wealth? Isn’t that what your Guardians preach? Goodness and kindness and love? Why should he be selfish? Spring doesn’t bloom for one person, does it?”
“Harry is-“
“Ah! Ah! Ah! Mutual feelings do not make a binding contract now do they? Severus can have as many feelings for Harry as he wants, but the truth? That world will never allow a creature to raise their savior and that world will never allow their savior to love someone so dark and twisted. Edelweiss can heal him and make him as handsome as he wants, they can dress him up in finery but Severus Snape will always be twisted and dark and ugly!”
For a moment, there are no sounds except for the steady thrum of growth. There are no birds, no insects, nothing. Emily Jane is a lonely creature, her sole family is a man so twisted he does not know his own flesh. She could care less for precious Aster or little Harry.
“You actually thought that Aster would get his happiness?! Or or or that Harry, the only person who can defeat-“
“Harry is no longer his. Harry is his own person, just as you are.”
MiM has always been calm. His voice has never been raised in anger or hurt or warbled with grief. The man has neither sought revenge against Pitch for his massacre of the Lunar family nor has he held it against Emily Jane.
She hates him. She is lonely and with no one else, she will enjoy the power the wizarding world offers her.
“Sirius Black will have Harry Potter and he will marry that woman’s daughter.”
MiM says nothing. Emily Jane is angry. Her father is gone. Her mother is dead. This realm is too green, too warm, too sunny, too quiet, too much and not enough. She is upset. She wants everything and nothing. She wishes she could tear this realm up, but she can not. Her gift is growth. No matter how much she destroys this realm, there is only ever green and warmth and sun.
This is no realm.
This is a prison fit for a Pitchner.
She is a creature of dark clothing and thorny branches and poison. She is worshiped and loved and it is not enough. There is nothing she desires. Nothing she wants. She despises her flesh and family.
If she could leave, she would.
“Is that your final word?”
Is that your final demand, my star?
Emily Jane Pitchner who is now Mother Nature, glances around. She used to be his star, but now, she is more like a tree. Her roots are deep and untouchable, and while she had been burned and hurt and cut, she is standing. No wind or whim will move her.
“My word is final.”
It is my last and only demand, fair soldier, says the little girl in the bright silver dress.
Of course, my stars
The man in the dark golden armor walks gallantly to the ship. She watches until both the ship and the man are mere specks in the distance.
—————————————————————
When MiM returns, he heads towards Ombric and Katherine, who has been weeping for her little green.
“Emily Jane has given her final word,”
Ombric closed his eyes momentarily as Katherine sniffled beside him. Her fists are balled up in her lap and she wishes she had never told her little green to go. She wishes that her
beloved was here, so she is not facing this alone. She wishes she could stop crying so much. She understands that some stories can not be changed, but Katherine wants so desperately to rewrite this one. Just this one.
She knows how complicated Harry’s story is; that he must live through this. Katherine has never hated her books, but today she wants to burn them all. She peaks at Ombric who is silent. He gives no emotion away and then glances at MiM. The small man is desperately sad.
Katherine can’t stand it and bolts from the room.
There is too much sadness everywhere.