Love (Pucca X Garu)

The prelogue

The three year old was being pushed around by her parents in the village. The calmness and serenity had washed over everyone who was there, as everyone was either socializing with each other or bustling with work and busy lifestyles. The young girl's parents were busy as well, making their way to the mother's sibling's restaurant so they can meet her daughter. Her beloved daughter, Pucca.

When they had gotten there, the rush was nothing but normal and the uncles were all working at quick paces to cook for the people and to serve the people too. The environment wasn't stressful, though, it still sported the same peaceful vibe the rest of the village did.

The mother had sought out her siblings as they had reached a table. They said they would be there as soon as possible. Luckily for the family, their close friends had just come into the restaurant, as well as their young son, Garu. They immediately found each other through the sea of villagers and Pucca's mother invited their friends to come sit with them.

While they were talking about ninjas and the village and such, little Garu had gotten a bit antsy and decided to investigate the stroller the other adults had brought with. He stood up on a stool and peered into the stroller, laying eyes on a small child. She had little buns coming out of either side of her head, a little red dress, and a cheeky smile. Garu had just stared at her for maybe a minute and the little girl called Pucca had sat up and kissed that little boy's face. He had frozen up in shock and awoke in a state of disgust, making little Pucca laugh.

The parents had seen this dramatic scene and laughed along with it as poor Garu sulked after being embarrassed far too much. This happy and loving atmosphere had remained for quite some time.

Suddenly, there was a loud crack from beyond the restaurant doors. Then a steady boom, boom, boom, approaching them. The villagers had no idea what was going on or what that was. Then the restaurant doors opened. It was the ninja gang under the rule of Tobias and Tabitha. The loving atmosphere had come to a screeching halt and was replaced by a painful and oppressing one. Tobias had always been rivals with Gurau (Garu's father), come to think of it, their families had been rivals for generations!

This wasn't just a casual walk-in. Tobias cleared just throat and with a booming voice, he declared "Gurau, I have come ready for war. I want to beat you once and for all, and show this village who the most honorable ninja family is." Gurau had stood up and faced this evil being in front of him, and his wife had come with him. "Graylei, what are you doing? This isn't a battle you should partake in; it'll get messy, dear." The good man had asked his beloved. "I will fight by your side any time of day, any time, forever. I will fight until death calls thy name.", she replied.

"CUT IT OUT!!" A screaming Tobias had said, "THIS IS WAR, NOW. NINJAS, ATTACK!"

The villagers had started screaming as Tobias and Gurau had started sparring with each other, and Graylei and Tabitha had started fighting. The ninjas were coming in every direction, attacking everyone and anyone. The three uncles came out of the kitchen and spotted their sister along with her family and little Garu, watching his parents with wide eyes. "Are you okay, Palmyra?" Dumpling, the eldest brother had asked. "I'm fine; but I need to go fight. They've been protecting us, but I need to protect them." She replied with a hint of fear. "Palmyra, that's too dangerous! What if you get hurt?" Her other brother Linguini had asked? "So be it," she started, "at least I'm fighting with honor." "I'm coming too, my love," her husband had said. Palmyra took one look at her older brothers, gave them all a hug, and told them "I love you guys" before going up to fight.

It had been not even an hour later and there was blood from the villagers everywhere. There were a few bodies scattered around the restaurant from the Ninja's ruthless attacks. Tobias, Gurau, and the lovely Palmyra were all fighting still. It was beginning to get harder and everyone had began to get more tired. Everyone was fearful at this point. The three restaurant workers had no choice but to let their youngest and only sister fight for this village.

Time had suddenly ceased. Everything became slow. Tobias and Gurau both had their swords ready, and both had taken the plunge. They had stabbed each other. Tabitha and Graylei were the same case. Garu's parents had died that day. "Mama! Papa!" The little boy had shouted, "Why did you fall asleep?" He asked. Palmyra and her husband were making their way to them when suddenly her oldest brother had seen a ninja sneak behind with a sword. "PALMYRA, WATCH OUT!!" He shouted in agony.

It was too late.

Their beloved sister had crumbed to the ground. She managed to utter out one last sentence, "...take Pucca and Garu. RUN." Before the one most loved face in Sooga Village had became pale and deceased alongside her spouse, which had been stabbed a bit after but died instantly.

The brothers took the children and ran like they've never ran before. All three of them thought about their sister's last words again and again, as if it were on an endless loop in their brains forever. When they finally reached the secret bunker they had installed previously for extra precaution, the three brothers had broken down completely. They had lost their loving sister in a fight that she shouldn't have been in.

"I should've stopped her" Dumpling choked.
"I should've protected her better" Linguini sobbed.
"I should've taken her place" Ho cried.

As the brothers had kept crying, they saw the little three year old girl stand up, walk to the huddled men, and try to hug them all.
"Uncles sad?" She tilted her head and asked.
"Yes, Pucca, we are." Dumpling spoke for all of them.
"I love uncles!" She exclaimed and hugged them again.
They stopped crying and hugged their niece. She looked exactly like her mother.

Then they saw Garu, sitting in the corner crying softly. He has no idea what happened to his parents.
"Garu, come here, please" Linguini had asked him.
Garu had complied and came over to the uncles, plopping down in front of them.
"Garu, your mom and dad saved them entire village from harm. They sacrificed themselves for their home and for you. Unfortunately, they did not make it out of the battle. Your parents went to a far away ninja camp in a place called heaven, my dear. They died to protect you, Pucca, and us, and all of their friends.
"Garu, you are staying with us for a while, okay?"
Garu's crying turned into sobbing when he realized he couldn't see his mother or father anymore. The uncles had hugged him and tried to comfort him, and as minutes turned into hours, both children had succumbed to slumber.

"We need to protect these children at all costs. Maybe Chang will take Garu in so the long line of ninjas in his family can keep going. Garu has all of his family's honor on his back now, and I believe he can protect this village like his family before him did. I already see so much of Gurau in him."

And minutes later, they had fallen asleep and the peace had returned in the village, but it was never the same again. The blood that was shed will always be there. The rivalry between good and bad had leveled up. The lives lost will always echo the streets of the village. The sadness that the brothers feel will never fade.

Dumpling had woken up momentarily to see his niece clinging onto his apron. He studied her small features for a couple minutes. She was just like her mother.

"Palmyra, please look after her and make her a lover and a fighter." He whispered then fell back asleep.

This was only the beginning.

~•*.*•~

(1385 words)

I hope you guys enjoyed the first part of my new story.