There was once a small village, composed mostly on flat grounds, with many other villages branching off of it.
It was called the Pupanunu village.
Many a strange thing was about to befall this village, and many a dangerous thing as well. And, like many other adventures, it begins almost like any other day.
Oh, and who am I, you ask? Well, that's unimportant. What's important is that you listen, and maybe learn a lesson or two from this story. That's what stories are all about, no?
"Come with me, Tak, I want to show you something interesting!"
Early in the morning, a small bit after dawn, you could hear small voices from inside a hut, enclosed in a small space near a tiny lake…if it should even be called that…it was more the size of a large puddle.
This is where we shall meet our hero, Tak.
Tak stumbled out, rubbing his right eye with his left hand, as he hung his head as a sign of drowsiness.
"But Jibolba, it's so early! I can't really compose myself this early!" He groaned, turning slightly towards the old man.
The old man, in return, began laughing a bit, and straightened Tak's back out so he wouldn't be seeming so tired. "Well, you're gonna have to compose yourself for this, young man! It's almost daybreak, and I don't want you to miss this!" he began leading Tak farther away from his hut, almost breaking into a run, he seemed so excited.
After a few steps with this back straightened, Tak just gave up and slouched once again, almost dragging his feet. They walked by a tall, muscular man with black hair, passing right by him, until he slammed the handle of his hammer into the ground, making a loud enough thud to get their attention.
"Hey, old man, your eyesight getting worse? Nearly walked right past me!" Jibolba turned to see his former student leaning on his hammer with a smirk on his face. Jibolba couldn't help but laugh at the man's remark.
"Ah wait, you're taking Tak to go see the…" It seemed as if the word couldn't come to him, so he just pointed to the sky. "The…thing, right?" He sheepishly smiled, as Jibolba crossed his arms.
"Yes, the thing, Lok." Jibolba sarcastically snapped. "One more thing, Lok. I'll be spending most of the day with Tak. I feel today, there might be some mischief…could you watch over the village for me?" Lok nodded as Jibolba ran off, motioning for Tak to follow him. He just stood there for a few seconds, seeming unresponsive, until he kind of snapped back into reality.
"Oh…g-gotta run! Nice seeing ya, Lok!" Tak called after his friend as he sort-of ran to keep up with Jibolba.
Jibolba finally stopped at a small outcropping of rock, creating a cliff. He looked up at the sky and told himself, "It's absolutely beautiful, isn't it?"
Tak, who had finally caught up with Jibolba, began looking around, but coming up with nothing at all interesting. "I don't see anything…" He grumbled, under his breath. Sudenly something glinted out of the corner of his eye, and he looked upwards.
There was a comet flying through the sky.
"Oh…is that a…" he started before Jibolba cut him off.
"Yes, a comet, Tak! Isn't it beautiful?"
"Golly…" Tak whispered, scratching the back of his head. "But…what's so special about it?"
"Comets are very special things." Jibolba began to explain. "They appear in many places, at many different times. They are very rare to spot, and very hard to spot in the daytime. That's why I took you out so early."
"Oh." Tak said, rubbing his eyes. "Don't these things have a sort of symbolism to them?"
"Ah, yes…" Jibolba nodded. "Since they are such rare phenomena, they are said to symbolize bad luck and misfortune. But, I just believe that's a bunch of hooey, myself. I mean, we're quite fortunate to see a comet out here so early, aren't we?"
"Yeah, we are." Tak weakly stated. "Uh, can I go back to bed now?"
Jibolba almost nodded, but all of a sudden, his eyes widened, and they seemed to be fixated on something behind Tak. His look of urgency suddenly made Tak snap out of his drowsiness.
"J-Jibolba? What's wrong?" Tak asked. All of a sudden, a cold wind swept past them, and it was absolutely chilling. Tak looked over his shoulder to see a figure surrounded by darkness, three orbs floating around him.
"Oh sweet Juju…is that…?" But he was cut off as Jibolba grabbed his wrist and pulled him along, forcing him to run.
"There's no time to explain yet, Tak! We just need to get somewhere safe!"
Jibolba dragged him along, as he kept looking over his shoulder at the shrouded figure.
This is where we now meet our villain, Tlaloc.
Flinging darkness at people everywhere around the village, every person it hit suddenly turned into a fluffy ball of white wool.
A sheep.
Along with the darkness, he flung taunts at everyone as well.
"Beyo! Why are you running? Is da wittle Bee-oh afwaid OF ME?!"
"What's the matter, Ayane? Feeling SHEEPISH? I THOUGHT so!"
"Now come here! Let me get a good shot at you, Tobar!"
"Tak! Get behind me!" Jibolba ordered. He got into his focused stance, and spread his arms, creating a shield around him and Tak that began to expand.
All of a sudden, the shield began to shake and tremble, as Jibolba began to struggle with it.
"Jibolba, what's happening?" Tak asked, his voice layered heavily with concern.
"No…the power…it's not…enough…." Jibolba groaned, his voice becoming strained.
"Wh-what are you talking about?" Tak asked, sounding even more nervous than the last time.
"He…stole…the…..STONES!"
The shield burst, almost like a bubble, but the impact it gave them was that of an explosion. Tak suddenly whited out, a shrill ringing in his ears, as he vaguely feels his body being tossed and rolled about in the air.
When he finally came to and opened his eyes, he was laying, face-down in a small field of overgrown grass. Jibolba somehow landed in the tiny lake near his hut. Tak got up, albeit a bit painfully, and ran over to Jibolba.
After a few shakes, Jibolba awoke, and they were treated to a foggy sunrise.
"Jibolba…" Tak asked, his voice shaky and nervous, "What do we do now?"
Jibolba narrowed his eyes as he looked, determinedly out towards the sunrise.
"We'll need the help…of a Juju."