Justforkix: The Alternate Endings
The Great Forest in the Sky
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters.
This is related to the movie Asterix and the Vikings, not the comic. This is partially due to a challenge.
Now, I don't know about you, but I don't care much for Justforkix. So...
"NO! ABBA!" Justforkix cried, and without an extra thought, lashed out for the young viking girl's hand as she slipped off the rock cliff as the falling Cryptograph brought her down with him. Justforkix landed with a thud to the ground, hands flying out. Their hands clasped at the wrists. Justforkix slid to a halt, only his feet keeping him from slipping completely off the ledge.
"Justforkix!" Asterix and Obelix cried in unison. They dashed over too the precariously dangling teenager. Justforkix cringed as he felt his grip on the ledge slacken. Obelix grabbed out for Justforkix's foot, but it slipped, and with a terrified yelp; Justforkix, Abba and Cryptograph plunged over the side into the mist below.
The two Gauls skidded to a halt, gasping in horror.
Justforkix and Abba fell down, deep into the crevice. Justforkix grasped the girls hand as they fell, when suddenly he landed harshly on a protruding rock ledge. Justforkix grunted at the impact on his ribs. Abba missed, dangling by her arm, which Justforkix was gripping desperately. The cloak around her neck tightened as the added weight of Cryptograph pulled on it. He clung desperately to it, clawing in vain for a better grip to save his life.
"No! Abba, hold on!" Justforkix cried. Abba struggled against the choking hold of her cloak as Cryptograph continued to struggle desperately, clawing his way up her cloak. Sparing her right hand, she grasped the clasp of her cloak, unclipping it. It slipped from her shoulders and she gasped in air as it's choking hold fell from her neck. Cryptograph flailed and thrashed about in the air as the material fell loose in his grasp. He plunged down into the underlying mist with a horrified scream. Justforkix helped Abba up onto the rock ledge; she was panting and was frightened.
Asterix leaned over the ledge, with Obelix peering worriedly over him. Asterix felt the burden of fear lift as he made out the two hazy figures below on a mist covered ledge. He smiled, relieved to see them alive.
"Stay where you are! We're coming!" Asterix called; his gruff, nasally voice echoing down the canyon. He turned and slid his leg over the snow-covered rock ledge; his foot searching for a foot-hold in the rock wall. Obelix followed his example. They started to slowly inch their way down the rock ediface, when the sound of crumbling rock reached their ears. They looked down in freight.
Justforkix let out a startled exclamation as the rock beneath him crumbled and collapsed. Abba gripped his hand, breaking his plunge downward. She pulled him up onto what remained of the rock ledge.
"Fly... Flying is the only way out of this." Abba panted. "But that's impossible."
Justforkix sighed wearily. "I'm sorry I lied, Abba. I can't fly... This is all my fault..."
"Justforkix,..." Abba sentence was cut short as more of the ledge crumbled. Justforkix jumped agilely to the side as the small piece collapsed from under him. He looked down, and seeing the rope still tied around his waist, got an idea.
"Abba, hold out your hand." He said, untying the rope. He wrapped it firmly around her wrist, then reached up, tying the other end to a protruding rock. He grabbed the access rope and quickly started wrapping it around his wrist. That's when the ledge collapsed.
With a tremendous rumble, it crumbled beneath their feet. The loose rope unraveled from around Justforkix's wrist and he fell over with the crumbling ledge.
"Abba!" He cried. The viking girl was horrified. The ground beneath her fell and she lost her ground, halting as the rope became taut as it supported her weight. She lashed out her free hand to meet Justforkix's outstretched one; but she couldn't reach. His hand fell short of her reach and he plunged down into the mist with a terrified yell.
"Justforkix!"
Abba's terrified scream reached the Gaul's ears. Asterix and Obelix turned their heads, looking in horror as they saw the small figure of Justforkix disappear into the underlying mist.
"Justforkix!" Asterix yelled in shock.
"No!" Obelix bellowed, horrified. Obelix stared; too horrified to move. The two Gauls had never seen death before , and it shook them to the core.
The wings on Asterix's helmet drooped low, and he reached up, taking it off and holding it to his chest. He lowered his head sadly.
"Justforkix..." Obelix croaked. "He's...?''
"I'm afraid so, Obelix..." Asterix whispered.
Obelix fell into stunned silence.
"Help!" Came a faint cry.
"Obelix! That's the chief's daughter! She's alive!" Asterix cried, pointing to a small, petite figure dangling from the rocks.
"Obelix! Help me!" Asterix instructed, continuing his downward climb toward the viking girl.
Tears streamed from Abba's eyes. She dangled from the rope that was bound tightly about her wrist. A sound above her drew her attention, and she lifted tear-stained eyes upward, toward the sound.
"Hang on! Where coming!" Asterix called. The two Gauls where almost there. Within a minute they were over her. Asterix reached his foot down, missing the indent in the rock face. He slipped, loosing his grip.
"Ah! Obelix!" Asterix cried. Obelix reached out, grabbing his foot as he fell passed him. Asterix sighed in relief. "Thanks, Obelix."
Together, they reached Abba, Obelix holding tightly to Asterix's hand as he lowered him down, closer to the young girl. She was sobbing, tears blinding her eyes.
"Reach up you hand!" Asterix instructed her. She lifted a hesitating hand to meet his. Taking a firm hold of her wrist, Asterix pulled her up, aided by a swig of magic potion.
"Climb up!" Asterix ordered, grunting at the strain on his arm that supported both their weight; the magic potion gave him the strength to hold them, but it didn't do much for the uncomfortable position he was in. Abba reached up, taking hold of Obelix's arm. Asterix loosened his hold on her, letting go when he was sure she had a good hold of his friend. Asterix unsheathed his sword, slicing it's flashing blade through the rope that bound the viking girl.
"Climb on my back!" Obelix suggested. She climbed up, holding tightly onto his shoulders. Obelix lifted Asterix up lightly and let him find a foot-hold, then let go of him. Slowly, they climbed back up to the ledge.
The Chief's face lighted up when he saw Obelix carrying his daughter.
"Abba!" He cried.
"Dad!" The Viking reached down, taking a hold of her and helping her up. The other Vikings aided the two Gauls.
Abba buried her face into her fathers clothes, shaking and sobbing. The Chief looked up questioningly towards Asterix, who was gingerly rubbing his sore arm as the circulation returned to it.
Asterix looked up and their eyes met. After a moment of silence, the Viking spoke. "The champion?"
Asterix looked down, his heart sinking. "Hunting in the great boar forest in the sky, I'm afraid..." He replied, barely over a hoarse whisper.
"Poor Justforkix..." Obelix mumbled. "What do we do now?"
Asterix sighed sadly. "Go back to the village... That's all we can do." Asterix turned, bidding farewell to the Chief and Abba.
Obelix took one more look down into the deep crevice.
"You know... He never did get to have his boar."
Asterix turned his head away. He didn't want Obelix to see the tears that ran down his face. Inside, his heart was breaking. "How are we ever going to tell Doublehelix?"
...
Clouds crowed the grey sky, threatening to pour on the sad gathering below. The whole village had attended the funeral. Now they scattered solemnly back to their huts, giving their condolences to the mighty warrior, Doublehelix. Only two silhouetted figures remained in the forest clearing, staring silently at the various bundles of carefully-placed flowers. Misty rain began to fall, collecting on the two Gauls. Doublehelix sighed.
"If only he could have changed." He said sadly. Asterix looked up at the warrior, a gentle smile cutting across his face.
"He did." Doublehelix looked down at the little warrior. He didn't speak, but Asterix knew he wanted him to continue. Asterix continued to tell him of all that Justforkix had done. His bravery, his valentry, his fight against the Vikings, and how he had saved the life of the chief's daughter.
"If you had seen him, You would have been proud. I know I was."
Ok, ok. I'll admit it: I feel bad for him. But a deal's a deal...