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With shaking hands, Jackson retrieved his ax from where it leaned against the stalk and turned sideways next to the miraculous beanstalk that had brought him to this point. Each swing of the ax reverberated through his aching muscles, but he persisted anyway. He knew the risks of leaving behind such a fantastical, otherworldly reminder of his brush with the giants and the Cloud Realm.
As the sun climbed higher in the sky, the beanstalk began to shrivel and vanish with each strike of Jackson's ax, as if it were merely a figment of his overactive imagination. With a final stroke and a prayer that they'd gotten off, Jackson swung. The beanstalk completely vanished, leaving behind nothing but a patch of trampled field and the faintest of glowing embers.
Alone with his thoughts, Jackson couldn't shake the bond he'd forged with Barrett.
He wondered if he'd ever see him again, if their paths would ever cross in the vast expanse of the realms.
Standing just a moment longer, Jackson sighed and closed his eyes, forcing back any further emotions. He trudged toward his battered truck, his heart heavy with the knowledge that his once-ordinary life would never be the same again. The impossible had revealed itself to him, and he could no longer unsee the wonders—and the dangers—that lurked just beyond the clouds.
"All that's left to do is drive home and sell those crops." Though he spoke out loud, Jackson knew there wasn't anyone to answer him.
With each passing day, Jackson felt the call of the Cloud Realm growing louder within him. The mundane routine of his life on the farm seemed dull and lifeless compared to the vibrant, enchanted world he'd glimpsed.
It didn't matter that his farm had blossomed, and his aunt had finally accepted everything he'd said once she saw the crops. It should have felt amazing. It should have been everything he'd dreamed of.
Only now, the piercing gaze of a pair of cerulean eyes haunted his sleep, beckoning him into a realm of untold possibilities. As he drifted off, their electric hue gave way to new dreams that were both exhilarating and terrifying. How could something as simple as a pair of eyes hold such power over his mind? He felt himself drawn towards them, like a moth to a flame, unable to resist their enchanting pull. And in the darkness of his slumber, those blue orbs continued to haunt him, an alluring mystery that he couldn't quite unravel.
One night, unable to stand it any longer, he took the final magical bean and tucked it into his pocket, determined to find a way back to Barrett and the life they might have together. He wasn’t certain how they’d move between realms so neither had to give up anything, but that wasn’t something he would worry about for now.
Jackson knew that this decision would change everything—and yet, he found himself unable to care. With a note to his aunt that he would return at some point, he packed a small bag, said goodbye to the animals who he would miss, and walked to the beat up truck.
As he made the long journey back to the Colorado mountains and the motel that had started it all, his heart pounded with equal parts anticipation and fear. There was always the chance Barrett could have easily moved on once back in his kingdom.
There was the fact that Barrett was a prince and while Jackson owned land, it wasn't the same thing. Princesses often found themselves beneath their station in history, but princes never did.
As if sensing his approach, the motel seemed to awaken around him, its walls practically humming with energy. He killed the engine and grabbed the spade and the tiny leather pouch. Jackson's boots echoed as he moved in the darkness toward the same spot that held the stalk weeks prior.
The memories of his time together with Barrett flooded his senses, and for a brief moment, he thought he could even catch a whiff of Barrett's unique scent on the breeze.
Despite his mounting trepidation, Jackson dug into the frozen soil as best as he could with the small garden spade. Blowing on his hands to try to warm them, he reached inside the tiny sack, utterly unable to feel anything. It took tries before his numb hands found the seed.
Dropping the bean in the hole, Jackson shoved the frozen dirt back on top and allowed himself to do the one thing he hadn't done in the weeks since Barrett left.
He cried, wetting the soil and following the actual instructions given to him that day in the farmer's market.
Closing his eyes, Jackson took a deep breath and braced himself for whatever was to come.
The ground shook as the stalk grew, sending tremors through the earth. His eyes flew open with excitement and he watched as the stalk began to grow.
The giant vine snaked its way up towards the clouds, piercing through the night sky like a beacon of hope for all those below. It twisted and turned, its leaves rustling in the chilly wind as if alive with magic. A frosty mist began to rise. As he watched in awe, tiny sparks of light flickered at its base - stars dancing amidst the foggy darkness.
Jackson swallowed hard, wiping away tears from his cheeks before starting his climb. As if sensing his approach, the beanstalk twitched slightly, its leaves rustling like an old tapestry ruffled by a gentle breeze. Its towering trunk swayed slowly from side to side as if dancing gracefully with an unseen partner beneath its massive frame. Despite himself, Jackson couldn't help but marvel at its sheer size.
"Time to climb again."
Pulling himself up with gritted teeth and calloused hands, each footstep creaking on the sturdy vine felt surreal against this unnatural backdrop. The cool air nipped at his skin, carrying an icy bite that forced him to clench his jaw against the cold. His breath streamed out in white puffs as he ascended higher into the heavens. Yet amidst this bitter atmosphere above Earth, there was something else - something subtle yet captivating. An ethereal scent of celestial flowers that reminded him of Barrett's presence amidst these familiar heights.
Despite pulling himself up over knotted branches and thick leaves for the third time, his muscles protested as much as they had the first.
Jackson's boots slipped against the crisp snow as he continued climbing up the beanstalk, feeling its frozen surface bite into his hands with each grip. He wasn't certain how it froze in an instant, but it had.
Jackson's heart raced in his chest as he ascended the seemingly endless stalk. The world below him became a speck, then smaller and smaller until it was just a memory.
The bitter wind whipped around him, carrying with it the scent of snow and sky, while soft flakes swirled around his face like a gentle caress
Clouds stretched out before him like a vast white sea, their swirling patterns almost hypnotic in their beauty. As he climbed higher, more details emerged. The snowfall turned into a frosty mist, and he found himself surrounded by an otherworldly serenity. The wind whistled past his ears, carrying with it a melody that seemed to come from distant lands and distant times. It was as if the very air had taken on a life of its own, singing an ancient song in praise of this monstrous plant creature that now served as their gatekeeper between worlds.
Jackson could only hope if people saw it, they ignored the urge to climb it or cut it down.
