Fall of a Hero: Hearts Without Foundation (a Fantasy Adventure)

Mushu's Rules

The guards weren't mean to me. The guards weren't good to me. They simply put me in a cell. I didn't kick up a fuss. I scowled as the fury burrowed deeper within myself. How could I be so stupid? How could I just trust any old person? For so long I had sheltered myself from people like Serpo, and I still get burned. At least he was after Serpo. Hopefully that part payed off. What were the chances that Nuntius would request a translator of all things. It was just too perfect!

...but it was too perfect.

I tapped my finger on the freezing stone wall. A couple of dirt grains fell loose.

I began to wonder if it was a good thing that I sent Nuntius after him. What if he really did want to protect me? Nuntius might prove to be a bigger issue than Serpo. I realized something. This could not have been a coincidence. Serpo wasn't only a creep. He was important. He was special. He knew a lot of stuff, could dissipate into a black fog upon will, and read ancient languages...languages like that inscribed on the Etchings that he supposedly had!

Oh no.

I had to get out with or without Maccus. I might have already spurred my curse into motion! I needed backup...I could use the Axis Glove, but I had no idea where it was. I could try Mushu. Yes, this was ideal for Mushu. It could easily bash me free, although I used the Axis Glove to control it. I reasoned that I could convince it to help me if I said that this was part of the deal of protecting me. No matter what it did, I didn't have a choice. I had no idea how but I knew I had to summon Mushu.

I collected myself in the back corner of the cell and raised up my left hand as if I had the Axis Glove. I closed my eyes to shut out the curious expressions of the guards and shouted, "MUSHU!"

The dungeon emptily echoed back. "Mushu, Mushu, Mushu..."

Everything was quiet. I held my breath and waited. Lo and behold-no Mushu. The guards started murmuring about me possibly being psychotic. I didn't blame them. Instead, I tried again and again in different ways and forms. The other prisoners finally began to complain, and the guards told me to shut up. So I did, but only because I was sleepy.

The floor I stood on was black. The spot where a ceiling was to be was black. there was only one light, and it dimly focused on the beast. There was Mushu...awake and alert in my dream. It tossed its head back and forth at me and bared teeth, grumbling a bit. Was it somehow annoyed? If anything, I was the one who had the right to be irritated. I looked up at its horrible excuse for a face.

"Hey," I crossed my arms defiantly, trying to stay calm, "Where are you? Why didn't you come?"

The house-sized monster growled and curled its lips into producing words. "I do not wish to be called like a dog," it roared lowly. The black blankness around me trembled. "You be dog. I summon you," it sneered.

"Y-you talk?" I stuttered.

The creature spit as it rumbled, "I talk. The time gives me energy. You give me energy. I talk, and I will change. This is primal form. This is true form."

What? I shook my head in confusion. This thing was as bad as Serpo on its riddles. Oh well, I still had questions, and this thing didn't seem to want to keep me around for long. I uncrossed my arms and came close to its head.

Then how are you supposed to protect me?" I asked. The thing snapped at something at its shoulder and whipped its massive snakish head at me, turning it to the side so it could see me with one yellow eye.

"I protect against life in danger. Your life...no in danger. You uncomfortable and waste of time," it sneered, "but Mushu like you because you gen-er-ous..." It yawned as it started curling up to take a nap. I didn't have much time left.

"Mushu, wait," I begged as it flicked open an eye. I shuffled my shoes against the floor, "D-did you kill...Serpo?" I asked softly. "Is he dead?"

The snake cat closed its eye again and didn't say a word about Serpo. Instead, it replied, "I see you again real soon..."

The dream fogged out of my mental vision in a blur as a new sensation filled my head. Pain. I woke in a panic with the voice a guard standing over me.

"Wow. He got to be insane. Check this out men. I give kicks to the head, and he no move!" a gruffy one chuckles. I flailed my arms to get him to stop. "Oh, oh! He's awake now!" he sings, "Do you have any idea how deep you sleep kid?"

"Why did you get me up?" I mumbled.

The guard squeezed my arm as he said, "Visitors before the trial. All monitored of course...just in case you have one of your," he winked at me, "moments." Great. I was now declared crazy. Even so, that's better than being known as a "real" threat to anyone.

I wondered who would want to visit me. Was it Nuntius? Serpo? I grinned to myself slyly. The noble girl?

"Here we are," the guard guided me to a small room with a wooden table and some chairs, "Sit there," he directed. I did so. Then, the man nodded to his companions who let in my visitor. My jaw dropped, and I was taken back. It couldn't be...but it was. Maccus came in quietly and solemnly. He was free. I was not.

"Maccus!" I said, "I thought you were in jail!" He jumped.

"What? Who told you that?" he piped, "I'm obv'ously not in jail! I was just comin' to ask you. Mum is worried."

I blushed shamefully. "I overheard some of the cooks..."

Maccus groaned wearily. "Of course you did."

"What about them?" I leaned forward to the boy.

"You've been set up" Maccus whispered, "The cooks are shady folk and everyone knows it. They figure out how to mess people up and then put the weakness into practice. How did they you get in here?" he asked.

I told him that the cooks had let on that Nuntius had set up Maccus to go into prison. Later that day, I had seen Nuntius and had tried to stop him, when he got away and I got blamed for it. In short, I lied. I had to. The guards were listening and passing glances during our conversation.

"But," Maccus looked down and rhythmically tapped his fingers on the surface of the table, "why would you go through all that...you only met me yesterday..."

I bit my lip. Hard. He was so right. Sheesh. It hurt me so much but I had to say it. It wasn't a total lie...but it wasn't total truth either. What I was doing was sick. I said that I did all that because he reminded me of myself, which he didn't in anyway except experience. In fact, it wouldn't be totally absurd to say that I did it out of pure guilt of somehow being responsible. How dark I was already...

That kid's grin made it worse. Poor thing was never loved properly and never figured out how to make it on his own. Poor kid. To make it up for my deceit, I decided that I'd take him along on my escape and find a nice safe place to live on the way so he didn't have to be a jester. He wouldn't have to be anyone's slave then.

"Really?" he asked with big eyes. There was a childish spark in there, dancing among the reflections. He was excited. He was ready. He promised that he'd get me out no matter what...

Guilt...

"For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it."