Aino and Bucket made their way out of the yard. Aino passed through a garden gate, and Bucket floated over it. They headed down a path which ran along the bottom of the valley, toward the crystal plain that spilled out like a sparkling lake at the bottom. The light on the plain below them hung like a fog or mist in the air, because of the intense light that reflected up from gemstones that coated the flat surface. Even here in the foothills, the path was littered with diamonds and jewels of every color you could imagine. Enormous crystals jutted out of the soil, interspersed with similarly colored plants. Earthling rock hounds would have a hay day, stuffing the smaller minerals into their packs, or breaking off shards of the larger crystals with their rock picks. The Ololians loved the stones, but were content to leave them in place, or rearrange them into structures for everyone to enjoy. Olo was the only place Aino knew. While she enjoyed seeing the geologic wonders that surrounded her, she knew that leaving them in place was their highest and best use. Even Bucket respected them, though he yearned for a reason to hold them.
A shadow passed over the pair, and they looked up to see a whale flying over them as big as a jetliner, but silent in its flight. It also followed the winding valley down the steep grade.
Today was a festival day, so throngs would gather together to celebrate the rearrangement of the planet.
The party started long before they reached the colorful plains. Friends joined the pilgrimage, and everyone’s anticipation grew along the way. Before long, they could make out the sight of whales hovering in the intense light. Their colors were made even more intense, bathed, as they were in the rainbow beams. Gradually, the travelers began to pick up the sound. It was a gentle approach that would culminate in happy commotion. Joyous voices mixed with laughter and music. There were also tones ringing out from jewels being built into forms, a favorite Ololian pass time. Children participated in the activity as well as adults. You see, there were no wrong answers. It was never a competition. The shapes were determined by how the stones fit together. Beyond the transparent edifices themselves, the light passing through them shot holographic scenes into the air, chronicling Olo’s history.
Once in the midst of it all, wonderful aromas wafted everywhere. There were soups and stews, salads and sandwiches, meals of just about anything you could imagine. Everything was delicious and free.
A cheer rose up as a great white whale appeared, floating over the ridge at the top of the cliff. The queen’s gown billowed like a banner in the updraft, and all eyes turned toward the royal couple who rode on the back of the animal.