- If one had asked Thysia her opinions on oracles and seers, she would have offered a disgruntled laugh in answer.
“They’re scam artists,” she would have chuckled, not that she really had any experience to base her thoughts on. It seemed only obvious; why would a true future-seer waste their time and resources on mundane things such as hoof readings, or love fortunes? Surely they’d be more advantaged in life, able to direct their choices to follow the stream of visions they so reverently spoke of and avoid the mistakes an average soquilli would make throughout their life.
Obvious, ridiculous, and so clearly a ruse in her world. Anyone who fell for such a thing was clearly desperate for answers no one could— or should —provide for them. She was not a fool, she would insist, and it was a fact she was content never contesting in her life.
Until she fell in love with an impossibly stubborn, unwavering stallion with a cold wall of steel between her and him, and multiple chips on his shoulder.
Lyric Amachi was a beautiful, talented, but burdened male — not usually her type, if she was honest, and yet… she was nothing more than a blubbering, stammering foal in his presence. It hadn’t always been that way, especially not so when they first met. She wasn’t sure when or even why her opinion swung from distantly irritated by his constant melancholy to a helpless, pining swoon whenever their eyes met — she might have been able to stop her feelings from blossoming further, had she noticed the change beginning. Unfortunately, she hadn’t, and now he was all that occupied her everyday thoughts and dreams, the image of him always in her peripheral vision if not physically before her.
It was a maddening feeling, truly, and one she had more than once expressed towards the stallion. He had never answered favorably, his first rejections filled with self-hatred and promises she’d find someone better. Eventually, when it was clear her insistence had begun to strike a nerve, his refusals bit back, leaving gaping wounds in her heart behind. Normally, she’d move on, as she had countless times before when her heart would betray her yet again in falling for another new face. This time was anything but normal, for she had fallen in love for the very first time.
If one asked her now her thoughts on oracles, she’d remain uncomfortably silent, both ashamed of her previous remarks and hopeful she might someday be that very same fool she had ridiculed. Fortunately for her, there is little else the universe loves more than proving someone wrong.
“Are you ready?”
The Flower Oracle had waited patiently for the neon-green mare to finish pondering the small leaf bag she had set down, various forms of payment in small trinkets and seeds rattling about. Thysia’s cheeks flushed; no, she wasn’t ready, but she doubted they’d go anywhere if they waited for her to be.
”I’m sorry, I don’t think I have anything worthy of payment,” she answered reluctantly. The oracle quirked a brow, jewelry gently tinkling when her head tilted.
“Payment? No, it’s free, darling. I’m only a translator — it’s the flowers one would pay, if they accepted payment.” The oracle chuckled softly as Thysia nervously tightened the small pouch and placed it to the side.
”Oh, well, how do we…?” Thysia trailed off, thankful when the oracle nodded faintly.
”Here,” the Flower Oracle softly hummed. “The flowers and I cooperate differently than my sisters, but it works for us.” The oracle turned towards the large, drooping weeping willow she had claimed for her temporary lodgings, plucking her own small bag made of glittering fabrics carefully stitched together. Gently, tenderly, the oracle spilled the contents onto the cut log serving as her makeshift table, the soft pattering of seeds clattering like laughter.
“Close your eyes, dear, and place your ho- oh, claws onto the wood.” The oracle waited as Thysia quietly did so. “Now, gently mix the seeds, careful not to squish or toss any. While you do so, ask your question out loud, for the flowers to hear.”
Obedient, Thysia shuffled the seeds about. Her cheeks burned under the heat of embarrassment she felt — this was weird, wasn’t it? Who came to an oracle for a love reading? Weirdos, the old Thysia would have said; now she was one of them. She just needed something to happen; anything that would point her in the right direction, even if that direction was far, far from the stallion she had eyes for.
”Will Lyric Amachi ever love me back?”
She stilled her claws over the seeds, eyes still squeezed shut. The oracle made a soft, approving hum. “Pick five seeds out, with your eyes still closed.”
She stretched her claws over the seed and ever so gently nudged five out from the pile, careful to stop before teetering over the edge. The oracle shuffled, and Thysia could hear the remaining seeds be nudged back into what she assumed was the glittering pouch.
“I see, interesting. Open your eyes, dear.”
And so she did, blinking sunlight from her eyes and landing her gaze on the seeds she had chosen. Two looked distinct, while three almost seemed disappointingly identical. The oracle clearly caught her expression and giggled airily.
”It just means the flowers have taken extra care to convey their message. Here,” the Flower Oracle tapped one of the unique seeds. “This is a rose; it represents beauty and passion. It’s pointed upright, away from you, which tells me it’s speaking of current times — your love for Lyric is passionate, perhaps more so than you are comfortable with?”
Thysia had been sure her cheeks couldn’t get any hotter, but once again she was wrong. She nodded glumly before the oracle continued.
”It’s a good thing to love. No shame in it. Now,” the oracle trailed off, tapping the grouping of three seeds. “What I found most interesting isn’t the amount of jasmine seeds you’ve chosen, but they all point towards you, representing— for how I read the flowers —the past. Jasmine symbolizes grace and charm; sensuality. Your feelings for them might reflect this message, or perhaps… no, that is how you view them. You’re seeing their charm, and a grace within them, and it’s all encompassing. You’ve focused on these traits, and that can be blinding. Do you see what else makes them? Are you blinded by love? The flowers seem to call on this message with intent — you need to look further into what draws you to them, and if there’s something you’re missing.”
The air between the two went quiet. Thysia’s mouth tightened in thought; maybe there was some truth to that. Lyric had once been a dancer, and while his limp had broken any resolve he had to continue his calling, he was still a graceful stallion. It was one of the things that had caught her eye first, although she was reluctant to admit it. She liked to think of herself as someone who valued personality over visuals, but, well...
And he had been charming, at first. She doubted he meant to be, but underneath the gloom was a stallion who peered right through the facade and could make anyone feel special. She had never felt so seen before him, so accepted, and yet he still didn’t want her as she did him. If only he’d accept her feelings, she bitterly thought.
Or maybe it was her fault for seeing only what she wanted to in the first place.
”Lastly, we have the daffodil, which is the furthest from you and pointed mostly upright. The tilt implies the message can be taken for the future, or perhaps now, if either resonates for you.” The Flower Oracle waited for Thysia’s eyes to return to life and focus back on the seed. “It stands for new beginnings, renewal.”
A silence lingered as the oracle stared at the seeds. “It- pardon, I don’t think you’ll get a direct answer to your question; however, there’s a future ahead of you that is more becoming. It may be a future with the two of you in it, or a redefining of the relationship. I personally see it as a sign that change is coming, but it’ll have to come from within. You need to truly ponder what it is that draws you to them, and what is preventing you from a new beginning. Right now, you’re stuck,” the Flower Oracle tapped near the three jasmine seeds. “We feel that you know why — the answer you seek is inside you, you just need to find it.”
It sounded like a lot of flowery words to basically say nothing, Thysia found herself thinking. Her mouth opened, intent on letting the oracle know just that, when that internal voice inside her head squirmed. Her mouth clicked shut, antenna pulling back. No, there was truth in what the Flower Oracle said, wasn’t there? Even if it wasn’t a yes or no, she was pretty sure that was never really the answer oracles gave, anyway. A slightly younger her would have rolled her eyes and scoffed, and she was still keen on doing so, but it also made sense, didn’t it? How many times had he rejected her? When had she ever felt like her repeated attempts were actually working? Was it bringing her any closer, or was it making him slowly resent her?
Did endlessly badgering someone even work?
No, it didn’t.
And if it did, she wasn’t sure she would feel confident in the relationship formed by it.
”Thank you….” she hesitantly said, voice timid at best. The oracle nodded as she scooped the seeds back into her pouch.
“Of course. I hope we’ve given you a direction to move forward with, or at least something to think over.” The oracle flashed a gentle smile when their eyes met, softening when Thysia mirrored her. “Love is beautiful, and many of us spend our lives longing for it, or chasing after it. I don’t believe anyone can truly tell you what is right, but you know, deep down.”
Thysia remained quiet, uncomfortably shifting as she tasted the bitterness on her tongue. She had known; she had just hoped she was wrong, hoped to have someone tell her what she wanted instead of giving a voice to what her heart had been trying to tell her. Ah, was this why people enjoyed oracle readings? She felt as if she had just asked for someone to hold a mirror for her to look into, but it was oddly grounding, if a bit painful. She was grateful, even if the results weren’t what she had hoped for.
Not all was lost; there was a future ahead of her, and now that she had felt this overwhelming feeling of love for someone else, she was oddly excited to feel it with someone. Lyric wasn’t the one, but someone out there was, and they might feel that same burning, fluttering passion for her as she had for him. That was exciting — she needed to put to rest this chase if she wanted to make room for that moment.
”Thank you,” she repeated, firmer this time. “That helps a lot, I appreciate it. I think I know what I need to do.” Her smile grew, all her own and directed towards the soft oracle before her. The adorned mare sighed pleasantly in return, gently reaching out to touch Thysia’s clawed foot still on the flattened log.
“That’s wonderful to hear. We wish the very best for you, and hope to someday— should we cross roads again —we will hear of how you found your path.”
Thysia would stay for some time after, sharing a meal with the Flower Oracle and recanting stories of her travels. The night was pleasant and healing, giving her the energy she needed for tomorrow. She swore to herself she’d apologize to Lyric and then move on, freeing them both from the cycle she had unintentionally locked them within. Hopefully, someday she’d both meet the oracle again and tell them of what became of her, and find Lyric happily settled down with whoever would be his future.
Hopefully, she would find her own love when that time comes.
[WC] 2,056
