HOME | DD

Description

Ariela sighed longingly, staring out across the vast expanse of her ranch, half-wishing she could get back to her old life of the day-to-day ranching, lassoing and crop farming. The other half of her told her that in a few months, it’d all be back to normal – no. Better.

She smiled, and ventured out to the barn. She was allowed to see and feed her critters at least, and each and every one of them seemed more pleased to see her, wondering why she was acting so cautious with everything she did. In the central point of the branch ranch, two figures were capering about, attempting to lasso a rather rowdy harvest mouse called Nebulus. Ariela shook her head at the ammeters.

“Howdy Tom and Twigs!”

“Hi Ariela!” They called in unison.

“I cannea control this thing!” Twigs, the Scottish sprite, proclaimed.

“Ya gotta flick yer wrist more! Like this!” Ariela forgot herself for a moment and gestured the correct movement, straining her stomach. The butterfly felt fear flood through her. Her breathing slowed dramatically, but she felt no immediate side affects. Her stomach felt as normal as ever. Tom realized what had happened and nodded.

“We’ll manage Ariela!”

“You can count on us!”

The butterfly nodded gratefully, but trying to hold back the tears, ran into her sitting room and threw herself carefully upon the sofa. She looked up. There was a framed photograph on a stool, the frame was carefully carved into 4 acorns at the edges, and in the frame was a photograph of Ariela as a caterpillar in a pastel blue dress, pulling an ‘I-don’t-want-to-do-this’ face. Holding her was a lilac butterfly with maroon-purple eyes, smiling determinedly at the camera. It was the only photograph of Amethyst Ariela tributed to a frame; it made her smile no matter how many times she looked at it. Amethyst had always tried VERY hard to get Ariela to join in with the ‘pretty’ ‘elegant’ and ‘sophisticated’ cultures of butterfly society, wearing pretty dresses and going to dances ect. Ariela had never wanted any of that. Her ambitions were to remain single and to have her ranch, which she was on now. But … love works in mysterious ways. Unfortunately, Amethyst never understood that. She wanted her daughter to marry a male butterfly of high or of the same class, so as to shoo herself of some shame. Amethyst DEFINTLY did not like Ariela’s choice of boyfriend – only because of his species. So what if he was a tree frog? Zigzoo was the cleverest treeling she knew, and also the most loyal. When Ariela had told him their greatest piece of news, he had been so overwhelmed he had started crying. They were going to be parents.

But what in the tree would the lilac butterfly say if she knew she was about to become a grandmother to his child?

Ariela shuddered at the thought; her mother was actually quite intimidating when she wanted to be. Ariela stroked her pregnancy bump, a thousand worries squiggling their way through her mind.

She must have fallen asleep at some point because she was suddenly aware of a tickling feeling on her forehead. She opened her emerald green eyes and stared into a pair of oh-so-familiar sky blue ones. She grinned.

“Zigzoo!”

The tree frog grinned and hugged her gently.

“Hello Mon Papillion”

“What?” Ariela giggled, looking at him in the eyes.

“Hello, my butterfly”

“Oh” Ariela laughed as the inventor kissed her forehead. “Watcha been doing today?”

Zigzoo looked behind him.

“This and that” he shrugged, then grinned.

“What are planning on eh?” Ariela smiled, she could feel Zigzoo getting excited about something, though the tree frog was trying to hide it.

“You’ll see” Zigzoo stroked her bump tenderly and cuddled up to her. He sighed happily, relaxing against his partner. After a while, he spoke up.

"Ariela, I have to admit ... I'm a little nervous about being a father"

The azure butterfly nodded.

"Ah feel the same way about being a mother, but Zigs, i'm sure we'll be great parents" Ariela hugged him tightly, and the frog smiled.

"You sure they'll like me?"

Ariela chuckled.

"What's not to love about you Zigzoo?"

"Your mother doesn't" Zigzoo commented, then tensed.

"Ah know, but she's a dung beetle"

The tree frog giggled childishly.

"You can't say that about your mother! She's not the best example, i'll give you that. Mind you, my father was always trying to push me into being a 'manly frog' and the other tadpoles"

Ariela snorted, the very idea of Zigzoo being a 'manly frog' was far too comical for the ranch hand.

"But at least you had a proper dada figure ... you're already a better father than mine ........."

Zigzoo tensed again. Ariela rarely spoke of her father and if she ever did it was just some sarcastic comment.

"But hey, we're not our parents. We can raise this kid however we feel's best, not how they feel's best"

And the tree frog smiled once more.

*****

Ariela whistled softly to a firefly on her wall, which turned its golden glow to a minimal light, just enough to allow the butterfly to finish her last two chapters of 'star wasps' and set the book down with a satisfied smirk. She had always known Dung Vader was Luke's father. Such a plot twist was rare, and Ariela thoroughly enjoyed the series. Dung Vader was a large black dung beetle, and the antagonist of Star Wasps.

Ariela had never enjoyed reading much, despite her mother's ‘encouragement’, which was actually 'nagging' in Ariela's views.

The firefly was tiring of holding the light, so Ariela allowed him to carry off to rest and sleep before tucking more comfortably under her own sheets, wrapping her arms protectively around her other. She sighed, maybe she just wasn’t ready. At least her offspring's father didn't have to worry about not doing his job. Zigzoo could carry on inventing - although his projects seemed to be slowing down, and half the time he'd be making sure his partner was ok. Cute.

As the firefly headed for the door, it’s light reveled Zigzoo smiling in his sleep, his shoulder tensed up to his cheek. He seemed to be plotting even in his sleep, but Ariela trusted him to reveal soon.

The feeling of hunger and a rather wet nose on her cheek woke the butterfly from her sleep. She opened one of her beautiful emerald green eyes to see a large brown mouse sniffing her face curiously.

"Get off Nebulus" she groaned, trying to push her pet away, but since she was muffled under the rodent her sentence sounded more like "Gerrrof Nefugus"

The harvest mouse jumped onto the floor, stared at her with his sharp, black eyes, stroked his whiskers and stalked indigently out the room.

Ariela lay in her crisp sheets, savoring the warmth of the golden sun that shone through the windows. She'd have to do something useful today, she hated sitting still for long. But when her ranching was being been put on hold so she was pretty limited. Well fine then - a calm day would do.

She suddenly realized she was alone. Zigzoo had disappeared at some point, but he had left a note on his pillow that read;

‘Don’t worry about me! I’ve got an important errand to run, be back soon’

“Important errand eh? Oh, yeah. Ah have one too” Ariela got dressed and ran for Ms.Clara’s school.

                                                               *****

"Nowhere near special enough"

"I love a perfectionist when it comes to something as special as this, that's why I show them this ring first, work out the gold from the cheap. Love your gal then?"

The frog sighed dreamily.

"You could say that!"

"Ah - she'll be a lucky one then"

The sprite smiled. She was plump in the middle, and had a bundle of silver hair under a withered daisy head, which served as this sprites hat. She wore a pear of gold rimmed spectacles on a long chain, hung around her neck. Her eyes were piercing turquoise, but full of warm kindness and meaningful laughter, as was her face, creased with laugh lines.

Her wings were mostly grey, but black at the edges as if they had been charred in a fire. She wore but a simple cotton dress, with gold bows on her waist. Her style was in a word: simple. But she didn't need to be showy in appearance, not when such MAGNIFICENT jewellery did surround her.

She was old, but her fingers still worked the magic with such nimble pieces like rings and necklaces. Every Treeling in Treetopilis knew that 'Peggy's' was the best jewelers so far. And she was happy to give everything for free or an important errand, so if you were a baker you’d have to bake a cake in return (there is no form of currency in Treetopilis)

"So are you looking for something ‘classy’?"

"No ... She'd probably attach me to the back of an aphid if I did"

Peggy laughed, her turquoise eyes lighting up with understanding.

"Well, am I or am I not THE Peggy? We'll find this frogette the perfect ring or I'll eat my hat"

"Butterfly"

"Pardon?"

"Butterf -"

Zigzoo got no further than that when Ariela herself started to come down the street which Peggy's jewelers stall was located on. Causally as he could muster whilst his hands were shaking with adrenaline and fear, he lifted a catalogue to his face and stepped behind the counter, hiding his face and body from view.

NEW OFFER ON JEWELLERY! INSCRIBE YOUR LOVE IN THE FORM OF GOLD! HERE'S THE FINEST COLLECTION FROM PEGGY'S HERSELF!!!

Was all Zigzoo could see for a tense minute. Peggy, sensing her customer’s willingness not to be seen, engaged another customer in a conversation over gold quality.

Eventually, Peggy suggested the frog could relax, but her silvery eyebrows were raised in a teasing way.

"Ah Zigzoo, was THAT the lucky gal? You're a lucky fella, I could tell she was a great lover of nature, and had a heart of gold"

But Zigzoo didn't say anything; he was staring at an image in the catalogue.

"That one’s perfect,” He whispered.

                                                             *****

“Ok class, now if I had 6 trilly cakes and shared them between 3 treelings –”

A post beetle appeared at the classroom door interrupting the ladybird and presented a small roll of parchment to Ariela. The butterfly took it and read the message.

"I'm sorry Ms.Clara, but Zigzoo says he has a 'rather urgent matter to discuss' well, he never jokes"

The ladybird nodded understandingly.

"The heart never lies eh?"

Ariela smiled.

"Zigzoo's never does"

                                                                 *****

Zigzoo had been working hard for ages. He was ready now, sitting at his set up. The butterfly would arrive shortly.

Ariela entered her branch ranch cautiously, as if there had been reports of a raging poisonous lizard. She saw a large sky blue arrow pinned to her barn. Nearing the arrow, she saw it was pointing at a magenta velvet heart, strung on a silvery vine. It was a lever. With a sense of determination, she pulled down the heart.

The barn doors creaked open, and she stepped inside, the door closing behind her. It was pitch black. And now ... She heard music. It sounded like a wedding march, but was being played by a soft, tinkling machine like a soft playing piano. And now she could see a dim light like a candle, it was shining on ... What was it? It looked like a green box, covered in lush velvet leaves from the fungus forest. She took a few steps forwards, feeling excited.

She had clearly activated something, for now the barn was full of swirling colours; they danced over the walls and ricocheted off the beetle pens, lighting up her emerald green eyes. Zigzoo was the one playing the piano, he had a massive grin on his face and his cheeks were slightly scarlet.

The frog picked up the velvet leaf box, got down on one knee, and opened it, revealing a GORGEOUS ring. It was gold, with a large set diamond in it, carved into the perfect ranch star shape, it glimmered when it caught the light, and it caught the light often. There was a message inscribed on the inside of the ring.

‘I loved you yesterday,
I love you still,
I always have,
I always will’

“Ariela, ever since I first saw you here, on the Branch Ranch, I knew you were the one for me. You might not have realized but … * sigh * words just can’t express everything I want to say …but this ring might ... Ariela, will you marry me?”

Zigzoo asked, his face eager and his sky blue eyes willing the butterfly to say yes. Ariela considered. Her mother would NOT be pleased Zigzoo was a tree frog.
Too bad Amethyst didn't know yet. And saying 'yes' It would make not only Zigzoo happy, but also their friends ... And her. Ariela realized now, with a rush of overwhelming happiness, she was ready.

The gold was of such a high quality it was a pleasure to look at, and as she accepted it, she found it was also soft to the finger, almost unnaturally so, it had a silky feeling about it. It was clearly a Peggy's, and since these and everything else he had done for her was such a high standard, it was clear of his adoration and determination.

"I ... Yes, yes, yes I will"

Zigzoo's eyes filled with invisible stars as he heard the butterfly's response. He leapt up and hugged his new fiancé, feeling happiness throb through his veins like a powerful current.

"Zigzoo ... we'll make the most of whatever comes now right? And this child will sure be proud to have such a wonderful father. You watch Zigzoo! We’re a family now"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aww - I LOVE this! If only this happened i'd be the happiest human in the world! And of course lil' Athena's on the way now Zigzoo couldn't do it completely by the proposal handbook, as he couldn't ask Ariela's father cause ... yeah. And he wouldn't have dared ask Amethyst XD Secret proposal eh?

Peggy is a character I have used before, but not on deviant art

Zigzoo and Ariela (c) Tree Fu Tom

Description

Ariela sighed longingly, staring out across the vast expanse of her ranch, half-wishing she could get back to her old life of the day-to-day ranching, lassoing and crop farming. The other half of her told her that in a few months, it’d all be back to normal – no. Better.

She smiled, and ventured out to the barn. She was allowed to see and feed her critters at least, and each and every one of them seemed more pleased to see her, wondering why she was acting so cautious with everything she did. In the central point of the branch ranch, two figures were capering about, attempting to lasso a rather rowdy harvest mouse called Nebulus. Ariela shook her head at the ammeters.

“Howdy Tom and Twigs!”

“Hi Ariela!” They called in unison.

“I cannea control this thing!” Twigs, the Scottish sprite, proclaimed.

“Ya gotta flick yer wrist more! Like this!” Ariela forgot herself for a moment and gestured the correct movement, straining her stomach. The butterfly felt fear flood through her. Her breathing slowed dramatically, but she felt no immediate side affects. Her stomach felt as normal as ever. Tom realized what had happened and nodded.

“We’ll manage Ariela!”

“You can count on us!”

The butterfly nodded gratefully, but trying to hold back the tears, ran into her sitting room and threw herself carefully upon the sofa. She looked up. There was a framed photograph on a stool, the frame was carefully carved into 4 acorns at the edges, and in the frame was a photograph of Ariela as a caterpillar in a pastel blue dress, pulling an ‘I-don’t-want-to-do-this’ face. Holding her was a lilac butterfly with maroon-purple eyes, smiling determinedly at the camera. It was the only photograph of Amethyst Ariela tributed to a frame; it made her smile no matter how many times she looked at it. Amethyst had always tried VERY hard to get Ariela to join in with the ‘pretty’ ‘elegant’ and ‘sophisticated’ cultures of butterfly society, wearing pretty dresses and going to dances ect. Ariela had never wanted any of that. Her ambitions were to remain single and to have her ranch, which she was on now. But … love works in mysterious ways. Unfortunately, Amethyst never understood that. She wanted her daughter to marry a male butterfly of high or of the same class, so as to shoo herself of some shame. Amethyst DEFINTLY did not like Ariela’s choice of boyfriend – only because of his species. So what if he was a tree frog? Zigzoo was the cleverest treeling she knew, and also the most loyal. When Ariela had told him their greatest piece of news, he had been so overwhelmed he had started crying. They were going to be parents.

But what in the tree would the lilac butterfly say if she knew she was about to become a grandmother to his child?

Ariela shuddered at the thought; her mother was actually quite intimidating when she wanted to be. Ariela stroked her pregnancy bump, a thousand worries squiggling their way through her mind.

She must have fallen asleep at some point because she was suddenly aware of a tickling feeling on her forehead. She opened her emerald green eyes and stared into a pair of oh-so-familiar sky blue ones. She grinned.

“Zigzoo!”

The tree frog grinned and hugged her gently.

“Hello Mon Papillion”

“What?” Ariela giggled, looking at him in the eyes.

“Hello, my butterfly”

“Oh” Ariela laughed as the inventor kissed her forehead. “Watcha been doing today?”

Zigzoo looked behind him.

“This and that” he shrugged, then grinned.

“What are planning on eh?” Ariela smiled, she could feel Zigzoo getting excited about something, though the tree frog was trying to hide it.

“You’ll see” Zigzoo stroked her bump tenderly and cuddled up to her. He sighed happily, relaxing against his partner. After a while, he spoke up.

"Ariela, I have to admit ... I'm a little nervous about being a father"

The azure butterfly nodded.

"Ah feel the same way about being a mother, but Zigs, i'm sure we'll be great parents" Ariela hugged him tightly, and the frog smiled.

"You sure they'll like me?"

Ariela chuckled.

"What's not to love about you Zigzoo?"

"Your mother doesn't" Zigzoo commented, then tensed.

"Ah know, but she's a dung beetle"

The tree frog giggled childishly.

"You can't say that about your mother! She's not the best example, i'll give you that. Mind you, my father was always trying to push me into being a 'manly frog' and the other tadpoles"

Ariela snorted, the very idea of Zigzoo being a 'manly frog' was far too comical for the ranch hand.

"But at least you had a proper dada figure ... you're already a better father than mine ........."

Zigzoo tensed again. Ariela rarely spoke of her father and if she ever did it was just some sarcastic comment.

"But hey, we're not our parents. We can raise this kid however we feel's best, not how they feel's best"

And the tree frog smiled once more.

*****

Ariela whistled softly to a firefly on her wall, which turned its golden glow to a minimal light, just enough to allow the butterfly to finish her last two chapters of 'star wasps' and set the book down with a satisfied smirk. She had always known Dung Vader was Luke's father. Such a plot twist was rare, and Ariela thoroughly enjoyed the series. Dung Vader was a large black dung beetle, and the antagonist of Star Wasps.

Ariela had never enjoyed reading much, despite her mother's ‘encouragement’, which was actually 'nagging' in Ariela's views.

The firefly was tiring of holding the light, so Ariela allowed him to carry off to rest and sleep before tucking more comfortably under her own sheets, wrapping her arms protectively around her other. She sighed, maybe she just wasn’t ready. At least her offspring's father didn't have to worry about not doing his job. Zigzoo could carry on inventing - although his projects seemed to be slowing down, and half the time he'd be making sure his partner was ok. Cute.

As the firefly headed for the door, it’s light reveled Zigzoo smiling in his sleep, his shoulder tensed up to his cheek. He seemed to be plotting even in his sleep, but Ariela trusted him to reveal soon.

The feeling of hunger and a rather wet nose on her cheek woke the butterfly from her sleep. She opened one of her beautiful emerald green eyes to see a large brown mouse sniffing her face curiously.

"Get off Nebulus" she groaned, trying to push her pet away, but since she was muffled under the rodent her sentence sounded more like "Gerrrof Nefugus"

The harvest mouse jumped onto the floor, stared at her with his sharp, black eyes, stroked his whiskers and stalked indigently out the room.

Ariela lay in her crisp sheets, savoring the warmth of the golden sun that shone through the windows. She'd have to do something useful today, she hated sitting still for long. But when her ranching was being been put on hold so she was pretty limited. Well fine then - a calm day would do.

She suddenly realized she was alone. Zigzoo had disappeared at some point, but he had left a note on his pillow that read;

‘Don’t worry about me! I’ve got an important errand to run, be back soon’

“Important errand eh? Oh, yeah. Ah have one too” Ariela got dressed and ran for Ms.Clara’s school.

                                                               *****

"Nowhere near special enough"

"I love a perfectionist when it comes to something as special as this, that's why I show them this ring first, work out the gold from the cheap. Love your gal then?"

The frog sighed dreamily.

"You could say that!"

"Ah - she'll be a lucky one then"

The sprite smiled. She was plump in the middle, and had a bundle of silver hair under a withered daisy head, which served as this sprites hat. She wore a pear of gold rimmed spectacles on a long chain, hung around her neck. Her eyes were piercing turquoise, but full of warm kindness and meaningful laughter, as was her face, creased with laugh lines.

Her wings were mostly grey, but black at the edges as if they had been charred in a fire. She wore but a simple cotton dress, with gold bows on her waist. Her style was in a word: simple. But she didn't need to be showy in appearance, not when such MAGNIFICENT jewellery did surround her.

She was old, but her fingers still worked the magic with such nimble pieces like rings and necklaces. Every Treeling in Treetopilis knew that 'Peggy's' was the best jewelers so far. And she was happy to give everything for free or an important errand, so if you were a baker you’d have to bake a cake in return (there is no form of currency in Treetopilis)

"So are you looking for something ‘classy’?"

"No ... She'd probably attach me to the back of an aphid if I did"

Peggy laughed, her turquoise eyes lighting up with understanding.

"Well, am I or am I not THE Peggy? We'll find this frogette the perfect ring or I'll eat my hat"

"Butterfly"

"Pardon?"

"Butterf -"

Zigzoo got no further than that when Ariela herself started to come down the street which Peggy's jewelers stall was located on. Causally as he could muster whilst his hands were shaking with adrenaline and fear, he lifted a catalogue to his face and stepped behind the counter, hiding his face and body from view.

NEW OFFER ON JEWELLERY! INSCRIBE YOUR LOVE IN THE FORM OF GOLD! HERE'S THE FINEST COLLECTION FROM PEGGY'S HERSELF!!!

Was all Zigzoo could see for a tense minute. Peggy, sensing her customer’s willingness not to be seen, engaged another customer in a conversation over gold quality.

Eventually, Peggy suggested the frog could relax, but her silvery eyebrows were raised in a teasing way.

"Ah Zigzoo, was THAT the lucky gal? You're a lucky fella, I could tell she was a great lover of nature, and had a heart of gold"

But Zigzoo didn't say anything; he was staring at an image in the catalogue.

"That one’s perfect,” He whispered.

                                                             *****

“Ok class, now if I had 6 trilly cakes and shared them between 3 treelings –”

A post beetle appeared at the classroom door interrupting the ladybird and presented a small roll of parchment to Ariela. The butterfly took it and read the message.

"I'm sorry Ms.Clara, but Zigzoo says he has a 'rather urgent matter to discuss' well, he never jokes"

The ladybird nodded understandingly.

"The heart never lies eh?"

Ariela smiled.

"Zigzoo's never does"

                                                                 *****

Zigzoo had been working hard for ages. He was ready now, sitting at his set up. The butterfly would arrive shortly.

Ariela entered her branch ranch cautiously, as if there had been reports of a raging poisonous lizard. She saw a large sky blue arrow pinned to her barn. Nearing the arrow, she saw it was pointing at a magenta velvet heart, strung on a silvery vine. It was a lever. With a sense of determination, she pulled down the heart.

The barn doors creaked open, and she stepped inside, the door closing behind her. It was pitch black. And now ... She heard music. It sounded like a wedding march, but was being played by a soft, tinkling machine like a soft playing piano. And now she could see a dim light like a candle, it was shining on ... What was it? It looked like a green box, covered in lush velvet leaves from the fungus forest. She took a few steps forwards, feeling excited.

She had clearly activated something, for now the barn was full of swirling colours; they danced over the walls and ricocheted off the beetle pens, lighting up her emerald green eyes. Zigzoo was the one playing the piano, he had a massive grin on his face and his cheeks were slightly scarlet.

The frog picked up the velvet leaf box, got down on one knee, and opened it, revealing a GORGEOUS ring. It was gold, with a large set diamond in it, carved into the perfect ranch star shape, it glimmered when it caught the light, and it caught the light often. There was a message inscribed on the inside of the ring.

‘I loved you yesterday,
I love you still,
I always have,
I always will’

“Ariela, ever since I first saw you here, on the Branch Ranch, I knew you were the one for me. You might not have realized but … * sigh * words just can’t express everything I want to say …but this ring might ... Ariela, will you marry me?”

Zigzoo asked, his face eager and his sky blue eyes willing the butterfly to say yes. Ariela considered. Her mother would NOT be pleased Zigzoo was a tree frog.
Too bad Amethyst didn't know yet. And saying 'yes' It would make not only Zigzoo happy, but also their friends ... And her. Ariela realized now, with a rush of overwhelming happiness, she was ready.

The gold was of such a high quality it was a pleasure to look at, and as she accepted it, she found it was also soft to the finger, almost unnaturally so, it had a silky feeling about it. It was clearly a Peggy's, and since these and everything else he had done for her was such a high standard, it was clear of his adoration and determination.

"I ... Yes, yes, yes I will"

Zigzoo's eyes filled with invisible stars as he heard the butterfly's response. He leapt up and hugged his new fiancé, feeling happiness throb through his veins like a powerful current.

"Zigzoo ... we'll make the most of whatever comes now right? And this child will sure be proud to have such a wonderful father. You watch Zigzoo! We’re a family now"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aww - I LOVE this! If only this happened i'd be the happiest human in the world! And of course lil' Athena's on the way now Zigzoo couldn't do it completely by the proposal handbook, as he couldn't ask Ariela's father cause ... yeah. And he wouldn't have dared ask Amethyst XD Secret proposal eh?

Peggy is a character I have used before, but not on deviant art

Zigzoo and Ariela (c) Tree Fu Tom