literature

Valor Chapter 8

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Literature Text

Chapter 8
Innocent Words

The Trickster sat at the foot of the tree, curled in a ball to hide his tear-stained eyes as he gazed upon the diamond flower.  Almost every inhabitant of Kooza stood around him at the base of the temple in silence; some made occasional sad glances towards the covered balcony.  Dog crawled up beside him, and sympathetically rubbed his furry head against his head.  The Trickster looked up and managed a small, sad smile, giving the canine a grateful scratch on the head.

"Trickster."

The Trickster looked up to see the Innocent standing on the stairwell, beckoning for him to come with him.  Rising to his feet, he slowly walked over, and followed the little clown up the stairs, and into the temple.  Once on the second level, the Trickster took a deep breath before he entered the living quarters, leaving the Innocent outside.

Sundara's wilted body lay under the covers of the large canopy bed; Trapeze, Balance, and the Dancer sat by her side.  As the Trickster approached, Balance stood up.  "Trickster...you...you should see this," he said quietly.  "There's...something on her body...other than that black blemish."  The Trickster's face blanched and he approached the bed.  His hand hovered over the blanket, unwilling to uncover whatever had unnerved Balance.  Finally, he slowly lifted the cloth just enough to peek underneath.  What he saw made his blood run cold, and he quickly lowered the blanket before he turned around and ran out of the room as fast as he could.  He sprinted up the stairs and onto the roof.  He didn't stop until he reached the balcony, and leaned against it, gripping the rails so tightly, his pale knuckles grew even whiter.  He heard someone come up behind him from the stairwell.  Glancing over his shoulder, he saw the Innocent, clutching his kite nervously.

"Is...is Sundara gonna be okay?" he asked quietly.  The Trickster didn't answer; he just turned his head to look back at the ground.  The Innocent shuffled his feet, and began to back away.

"...Do you know what I saw?"

The Innocent stopped short and stared at the Trickster.  "N-n-n-no..."  The Trickster turned around, one hand still gripping the balcony rail.  The look of pure rage on his face was the most frightening thing the Innocent had ever seen.

"I saw not just that accursed black blemish on her wrist, but a chain..." hissed the Trickster.  "A long, dark chain...in exactly the same exact places the Skull King had attacked her...across her neck...across her torso....  A black chain starting from a black vortex blemish over her heart...and ending in that blemish...!" The Trickster gazed at the diamond flower clenched in his hand, which shook violently with his anger.  "Whoever - or whatever - this doppelganger is...it will pay for what it did to her...I'll...destroy it!"  He whirled around, and was just about to throw himself over the balcony rail when the Innocent ran over and grabbed his arm.

"Trickster, stop!  Going after the doppelganger to destroy it without thinking won't bring Sundara back!  I don't like what did this to Sundara either, but I don't think she would want you to do this; especially for her!"  The Trickster whirled around and glared at the little clown as he tried to pull his arm free.  "Trapeze told me that Sundara was making that gem for you, and I'll bet she was working on it even when the doppelganger was sapping her life!  Trapeze also told me that Sundara made it hoping that you wouldn't have to use it; I'll bet that gem was made with the love in her heart - it won't respond to anger!"  The Trickster immediately stopped moving, and the Innocent was afraid that he would hit him.  He released his arm, and ducked under his kite.

"You're right, my friend.  Sundara wouldn't want me to do this.  Not after all she sacrificed to do."  The Innocent peeked over the edge of his kite and saw the Trickster looking at the diamond flower again.  Summoning his silver scepter, he gently placed the diamond into the niche that once held the ruby he had given his wife.  The gem fit the space perfectly, and glowed faintly.  The Trickster's eyes focused on the young clown, and he smiled ruefully before he climbed onto the balcony rail, balancing on it as he opened his single wing.  "I'm going to look for the doppelganger," he said.  "I want you to watch over everyone while I'm gone.  And Innocent?"

"Yes?"

"Thanks for reminding me what I'm fighting for."

And with that, the Trickster leaped off the balcony, caught an updraft, and soared into the air.  The Innocent scampered over to the rail and watched as he flew off towards the forest.

"Good luck," he whispered before turning back towards the stairs.

***

"My beloved...I love you...I'll always be with you...."
Chapter 8. In the wake of Sundara's death, the Trickster discovers just how bad the mysterious doppelganger's influence has had on his wife. This sends him into a rage, and he almost recklessly goes off to track down her murderer. However, the Innocent manages to calm him down, and remind the Trickster of what he's really fighting for: not for personal revenge, but for the sake of his people, and for Sundara's sake. His resolve restored, the Trickster begins his search. The hunt is on!


I do not own Kooza or any of the characters, except Sundara. Everyone and everything else belongs to Cirque du Soleil.
© 2010 - 2024 Thalia-Dawnbringer
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babyfroggi's avatar
I'm so exhausted that I won't be able to generate much of a post right now (looong weekend), so I'll just settle with saying that I loved this chapter and I can't wait for the next one <3
X3