It was almost evening now. The sun was setting, and the sky was painted in pretty shades of lavender, rose, and gold. I stop in my tracks, taking in the scene. It was… absolutely beautiful. This Dark Forest I had hoped to explore after escaping the factory was… beautiful. Even with all the challenges, unexpected and sometimes dangerous situations, plus strange yet cute talking animals, the Dark Forest was simply amazing.

I fall out of my daze and walk on.

Years seem to pass as I continue on the pathway up the hill. My legs grow exhausted, my head starts lolling to the side, and my eyes start drooping. When would I ever get there?

I take one more step. My knees buckle. I fell to the ground. Would I ever reach the wishing tree? This journey seemed pointless…

I look ahead of me before dropping my eyelids, giving up.

And then I pop them open again.

What was that I had just seen?

Could it really be?

Was it really?...

I get up, and almost drop to the ground again.

There, right in front of me, was a gigantic tree that towered over me. And it was an olive tree. Which made no sense. Weren’t olive trees supposed to be tiny? The tree’s branches seemed to call to me, stretching out in all directions, reaching for the sky, the sun, the clouds… It seemed to scream “YOU SHALL BOW TO ME!” with the grandeur it was showing off.

I run forward, excitement gleaming in my eyes. Yes! I had actually made it! I had found the wishing tree! And now all I had to do was snap off a branch, whisper a wish, and boom, wish granted! Exhilaration had me shaking over, and I placed my hand gently upon the bark of the tree, steadying myself. It was time. I had done so much to get here. It was my moment. All of this would pay off soon.

I climb up the tree like a monkey, my long, stretchable arms coming into good use. I come across a branch curled into the shape of a star. Rainbow had made it sound like I could snap off any branch for my wish… but maybe this was the branch I specifically was supposed to snap off?

Without further thought, I tug at the branch with all my might. No luck. I try once again. Nope, it still wasn’t budging. I tug one last time, thinking of when I managed to escape the factory, when I met Rainbow, when I saved her, when I helped a bird family, when I correctly answered the green anaconda’s riddle, I thought of every happy moment I had ever experienced. SNAP! The branch went.

I stare down at the branch in my hands. It was time.

“I wish for a place to belong,” I whisper to it, trembling. I stare at the branch, expecting something to happen. Something magical. Something strange. But nothing did.

Confusion fills my body.

Then realisation hits me. My heart almost fails. Almost. I drop the branch, and swing my legs over the branch I was sitting on, decidedly sitting there for the rest of eternity.