The Games for Gaiathal (Part 3 of 'A Tale of People and Apples Trilogy')

Chapter 25: Family and Friendship

Ten years later.

She watched the boy fall to the ground of the play yard, as his chasers started to shove him and lightly kick him as he lay alone in the slick blades of green grass beneath the vertical and bright sun.

The golden Teaching Facility stood mightily beside the schoolyard, upon a gentle green hill which overlooked the shining crystal ocean to the south she was zoned out upon and was lost inside. She was looking upon it in deep thought when his cries cut through her daydream.

"Stop, leave me alone," The boy said as his teasers and attackers continued to pin him down. She grimaced as she saw his shirt and tie and slicked hair getting dustier and ruined by the second for the formal day.

"Alina, come on," Her half brother said to her when he saw the sight too, picking up his game pieces away from his group of friends and grabbing her by the shoulder while she was seated alone in the yard.

Her half brother wore gold and blue, white sneakers and a shining buttoned shirt, while she wore a black and silver formal dress her mother made her wear for the day, and a violet flower in her dark hair which she hated.

He was much taller than her, and almost one year older, sharing almost no physical traits with him but many traits that her mother always said 'mattered most'.

They rushed to the site of the bullies and quickly got between the boy on the ground and his three attackers, who stopped laughing when they saw the protectors' faces.

"Of course it's you two," One of them said, scoffing and giving her half brother a gentle and careful nudge, tempering his shove to avoid his returned wrath. "You know he's not one of us, right? My mom told me he's an Out..."

Alina swiftly brought the boy's arm behind his back as non violently as she could, not seriously hurting him, but definitely scaring the bully in a very uncomfortable manner.

"Ow ow ow ow! Okay okay okay!" The boy said, Alina releasing the bully with a squint and smirk and shove of her own.

As the bullies began to walk away, another one turned, and he said with a frown, "You two are different too."

While her half brother ignored the words and turned to help the boy who continued to lay on his back, Alina scowled in their direction at the insult.

"You okay?" Her half brother said to the boy, holding out a golden hand and helping him to his feet.

"Yeah... thanks," The boy said, grateful but saddened at how much harder it was to make friends with the children whose parents had apparently told them they were of different blood. It was becoming harder and harder for the boy to fit in, as they became older and older, subjected to their parents ideals, he sadly felt. His bullies wouldn't have said such terrible things even only a week ago. And he felt the possible friends he could make was shrinking by the day.

"You know, my grandpa used to say that being different is what makes you strong," Her half brother said to the boy, dusting off his shoulders and trousers. Alina looked to her feet as she registered the words, wondering how true they really were. "We're different from everyone, too, you know."

"Easy for you to say. You're the leader's son. And a prince," The boy victim said beneath his red and dirty hair. "And children of 'heroes'. Different, but equal in their eyes."

Her half brother scowled himself now, and said, "Don't call me that."

The boy apologized for his outburst and thanked them again, flustered, leaving the playground and returning to the Teaching Facility. Alina and her half brother shared a sad glance as a teacher accepted the boy's hand and walked him inside.