The Joker and his Mask

Chapter 3

Now on this particular day in the city, the Joker was wandering around like usual and, while on his way back to the castle, he stumbled upon a mysterious merchant who hid himself behind a black curtain. "Young man, I've seen how the townsfolk treat you, it appears that you have met with a terrible fate, haven't you." He said in a raspy voice. The mysterious vendor suddenly laid out seven mask in front of the Joker.

'These masks will help make sure that those who make fun of you never do so again." He said.

"But I like it when they smile, it means they're happy." The Joker replied.

The merchant was silent for a moment before saying. "Surely there is something you desire?"

Joker thought about it as his gaze turned south towards the ocean. "I'be always wished to travel to anyplace I desire, but my duties as a jester limit where I can go."

"Ah, then take this mask with you and it shall take you anywhere you wish to go on the back of the wind." The vendor told the Joker who took the first mask, a light blue one that only covered his eyes, and placed it on his face. "Think of that mask as a gift from me to you."

the Joker thought of the ocean he longed to see as he dawned the mask and suddenly the wind picked him up and whisked him away to the mountains. The Joker beamed a true smile that he hasn't made in a long time as the crystal clear surface of the ocean, that he always longed to see, came into view.

~

"So, the mask you just mentioned is the mask El has on?" Maria asked.

"Yes, she wished to be free enough to do whatever she wanted and the mask decided to grant her that wish." Joker explained.

"I was quite shocked at first." El added. "I grew up in a small town just outside the Hewgruff forest and always longed for a more adventurous life, I longed for a life where I was free to travel the world as I please and when I stumbled upon this mask... It was just sitting there on a tree stump... Calling to me." The two royals were mystified at the concept of a mask appearing out of no where and calling to El, but Joker didn't give them much time to think about it.

"That's it for today kids, but don't worry cause I'll tell you more of the story as we travel." Joker told the two.

"What!" Maria Exclaimed. "You can't just stop right there like that!"

"Course I can, I just did, get along now." Joker shot back as he shooed the two away. The sibling grumbled insults at Joker before storming off back to the castle.

"I can't help but feel you are going to get into a lot of difficult situations with those two." El told Joker.

"True I can only see the prince being a bit helpful during a fight." Joker said. "But they seem like good kids even if that cutting board has a sort of bratty attitude." Joker turned to El. "Now for why I called you here."

~

When the midday sun beamed hot rat down from the sky Maria and Michael, now in suitable traveling clothes, stood at the front gate with packs slung over the back of their horses. Michael had a broadsword strapped to his side.

"Hey you two, didn't expect seeing you here this early." Joker said as he looked down at them from a tree branch.

"And where were you!?" Maria asked with an expression of anger. "We've been waiting for more than two hours!"

"Sorry I'm late, I got lost on the path of life." Joker replied with a chuckle.

Maria reached into her traveling bag and brough out her comb which she threw at him. Joker caught it and Maria stomped her feet. "Don't give me that crap! I bet you were sleeping."

Joker held up both his hands. "Whoops, you got me... And her as well, since she was there with me." Joker replied as a fist struck the back of his head. "Ow!" He yelped as El appeared next to him with an enraged smile on her face.

"Hello kids, don't take anything this man says seriously." She told the two royals. She spun back around to Joker and put him in a headlock. "Don't say things that'll give them the wrong idea!" She said with an annoyed tone as she strangled him.

"Don't worry, there's no way a man like him could get a girl anyway." Maria spat out as she ignored the strangling. Joker fell off the tree and grasped at his chest as if an arrow had struck it.

"Oh, princess you shot me right in the heart with that comment." He groaned. "I may not survive."

"Good! Go ahead and die!"

Maria's brother patted her on the shoulder. "Calm down, Maria." He told her. "He's here now, so we can be on our way." He climbed onto his horse.

Maria huffed and turned to El who held her comb in one hand. "Are you coming with us?" She asked as she took he comb back.

"Yes, Joker invited me last night after you two left." El replied as she floated down to the ground. "He said he'd split the money with me, I replied with a few choice words and not even if it meant my death."

"So... What got you to come?"

"He pleaded and then offered to owe a total of five favors to me."

"Favors?"

"Yes, despite how hes constantly joking around he's actually a very reliable person, it's good to have him owe me." El walked over to a horse the stable boy had brought out and hopped onto it.

"But he could just say he won't return those favors later." Maria pointed out as she climbed onto her own horse.

El smiled to her. "No, Joker doesn't go back on his word." She turned her horse around. "It's one of that mans few good points." And with that, as Michael slumped a 'injured' Joker over the back of his horse, they were off towards Osland

~

When night fell the party set up a camp close to the base of a mountain. A large, stone overhang was suspended above them. Joker doused the fire as Michael and Maria were already asleep. He sat down next to El who was outside on lookout duty. "Hey, go get some sleep I'll be on look out duty." He told her.

"Joker..." She started to say. "Do you really need to test these kids?" She asked.

Joker stopped for a moment before laughing. "So you saw right through my plan." He looked out into the forest below them and saw several trees falling over as something moved towards them. "The prince interest me, he is nothing like his father."

"That may be the case, but still this is a bit much."

"Oh don't worry I'll help out if it's necessary, but if he can't do much as defend his sister how is he suppose to defend his country."

"You better save him if he's about to die." El told him with a stern voice as she entered the cave.

"Scary." Was all he said before he followed her.

The creature that was crashing through the trees towards them grew ever closer.