The Princes of Ayodhya-The Ramayan Through Short Stories

The Sons of Vengeance

A/N-After all this time, could it really be? Does Lakshman, our good old Sirji, finally get to fight? Is it his time to shine? YES BABY IT FREAKING IS AND NO ONE CAN DENY ME SOME UNNECESSARY LAKSHMAN CONTENT NOW-

Atikaya was humongous. The biggest being the planet had ever beheld, with the possible exception of Kumbhakaran, Tadaka, and Subahu, all of whom Ram had killed. So the fates didn't seem too optimistic for Atikaya, because technically, he was next in line to be killed by Ram. But the Gods had had enough of Ram killing rakshasas. Indeed, Lakshman had been preparing for massacres since childhood. It wasn't fair to the man who had been loyal and obedient to his brother, even to a fault, that he shouldn't get a turn.

Atikaya, also, was silent. But, as mentioned earlier, he was silent because he really didn't have anything smart, dumb, or otherwise to say. Ravan thought he was mute until, at age three, Atikaya finally tackled a rakshas he was playing with and tore him to shreds, and screamed "MINE!". The rakshas had curiously taken his toy elephant, and was observing it. And now he was dead. Not that Ravan cared. He was just happy that his child was following in the family footsteps. That was to say, killing things, but also, in this case, getting killed by p̶r̶i̶n̶c̶e̶s̶   hermits.

Decked out in shining silver armor that sparkled even in the clouds of dust, Atikaya rode a white horse, which too sported a pair of gleaming fangs and shook its head, smoke coming out of its nostrils whenever it snorted. So, it was safe to say that both the rakshas and the horse weren't very happy. Atikaya was the last of Ravan's sons who had come to the battlefield that day, the last of whom had raised their swords and roared.

He wasn't dumb. He had seen his brothers die. But he hadn't stopped fighting, and he hadn't gotten off his chariot. Whichever vanar had dared approach him, or even look his way was soon pierced in the heart and flying through the thick air by his hands, or rather, his aim. He was the second son of Mandodari, and he would not die as quickly as the sons of Dhanyamalini did. Atikaya was out for blood, and he would be damned if he didn't get it!

He was skilled with a bow, which he seemed to have ordered matching his armor (what, even a demon can appreciate style! Just look at Bhallaladeva!). Raising the magnificent Gucci weapon, he strung five arrows and released them into a swarm of monkeys, his mouth curving into a smile as they multiplied, and looking, watching maliciously as they took the intended lives, not even flinching, not even blinking.

Such was the confidence of the prince of Lanka that he didn't even mind the generals who approached him, muscles rippling angrily. They were but centimetres away from his chariot when they were tossed off, injured like they were pesky flies, swatted away carelessly by Atikaya. "Cowards!' he roared (the first time any of them had heard him speak). "Get me someone worth my talent!" Atikaya sought a challenge, and unlike the previous ones who had wanted the same, he deserved every bit of it. Atikaya was a menace. And he would have to be stopped.

-----O-----

The focus zoomed out of Atikaya and his killing spree as he rampaged the battlefield and edged ever closer to the home base of the vanar sena. We now focus on the planning and healing tent, a large green structure. The opening to the tent flapped open, lifted up by the raging wind. Right behind the flap of the entrance stood many trustees of the vanar sena, from their King to their most loyal generals, to their God.

Ram's dark hair flew in the wind majestically as he stood strong, his clothes billowing as his muscled arms clenched into fists beside him. Though Ram's face remained untelling, unreadable, his light blue eyes suddenly turned icy, cold. It was as if a blizzard rushed through his mind. He looked very much like a hero, the hero of the tale, and though he was, technically anyways (how else do you think it's called the Ramayana fool, would it be named after a buffalo?), there was someone else who would save the day, standing right behind him.