The Fate of the First Hero of Light
Zelda is walking like a phantom throughout the castle, she is suppressing her life energies as much as possible.
She is training.
Trying to go by unnoticed.
Earlier...
"Sir Hunfrey, Sir Izdryn I will be training today."
"Your Highness?"
"I will be spending some time moving throughout the castle. I will try to be as inconspicuous as possible. Please Sir Hunfrey if you could reassign some of the guards so that I might have a chance to succeed."
"AT ONCE YOUR MAJESTY!" The Knight is shedding tears.
"SIR HUNFREY PLEASE FORGIVE ME! I did not know you would be so distressed. I will cancel my plans immediately!"
"PLEASE FORGIVE ME YOUR MAJESTY! TO BE ABLE TO SERVE SUCH HONOURABLE RULER! MY HEART WAS SO MOVED! I WILL ALSO START TO TRAIN MYSELF ANEW!"
"Yes, Your Highness I have been humbled. I will also start to train again."
"...that was not what I meant..."
"YOUR MAJESTY PLEASE FORGIVE US!"
Later...
Zelda moves in and out of the shadows attempting to avoid the guards, she is soon discovered.
"SHOW YOURSELF!" The Knight stands ready to attack.
Zelda steps out of the shadows.
"YOUR MAJESTY! PLEASE FORGIVE ME!" the Knight jumps to attention.
Zelda explains the situation and congratulates the Knight, he bows deeply and returns to his post.
Zelda moves outside of the castle, trying to stay hidden, but failing every time to do so.
Many explanations and the deep bowings and apologies of the Knights later.
Zelda is hiding behind a shrub, she is studying the various structures inside the Royal castle's expansive grounds.
She sees a Knight run outside of the barracks.
"Is that Sir Gerrick?"
The Knight screams very loudly.
"SIR GEIR HAS GONE INSANE!"
Alarm bells are rung, they sound throughout the Royal castle's grounds.
Many Knights rush towards and into the barracks.
Zelda thinks to herself.
"I always thought that bell was the call for high tea?"
Zelda sneaks into the barracks using the chaos to move in unnoticed.
All of the Knight rush into a room, there is a silver plaque indicating the rooms contents.
2B Mess Hall
"A MESSY HALL!? How can we allow that in our castle! I will have to have a word with Edith regarding this matter!" thinks Zelda, she is quite upset.
More Knights rush into the "messy hall".
"BAHAHAHAHA!" a maniacal laugh is heard.
"NO, SIR GEIR PLEASE BE REASONABLE!"
"YES, MY CARDS DO NOT HAVE MY NAME WRITTEN UPON THEM!"
"BAHAHAHAHA!"
Zelda runs into the room.
What she sees shocks her to the core.
Her first thought, "WHAT ARE WE PAYING THE KNIGHTS FOR?"
Geir is standing besides a table with a giant heap of pokenom cards upon it.
He is laughing manically while throwing the huge heap of cards in the air.
The cards fly everywhere, Knights are desperately trying to catch them.
Some of the Knights are anxiously searching the ground for the cards that fell.
Others are looking for marks on them to ascertain who's cards they are.
Zelda puts her hand to her head in astonishment at this ridiculous scene, all the while reminding herself that this is where the Kingdom's taxes go to.
"BAHAHAHAHA!" Geir laughs again and grabs another arm full of cards, they are flung into the air.
Similar as one who has never seen snow would throw it into the air in a bout of foolishness!
"SIR GEIR PLEASE STOP!" "CLAURILLY WHAT IS THE MATTER?"
"CLAURILLY?!" Zelda screams but the sounds of chairs falling over and glassware breaking is so loud she is not noticed.
"BAHAHAHAHA!" Geir keeps on throwing the cards in the air as if to congratulate himself on a great victory.
Many cards being flung later...
Zelda has hidden herself completely, she studies the aftermath of Geir's rampage.
The "Messy Hall" is filled with smoke the Knight's pipes lay scattered on the ground.
The smell of the cheap ale that spilled everywhere while in Geir's catastrophe is intense.
Zelda thinks she might become inebriated if she stays for too long.
Many Knights have decks of cards in their hands some sit bunched together, comparing cards undoubtedly trying to ascertain which cards are theirs.
The other Knights clean the room meticulously wiping the floor clean with their handkerchief's no doubt not wanting to hurt the cards with a broom or mop accidently.
Each and every piece of furniture inside the room is picked up and turned around in multiple directions, each cushion is inspected thoroughly.
"Sir Renferd what is the damage?" asks the disheartened Knights.
"5 premium cards, 4 semi-premium, 7 silver, 2 bronze and 25 low level playing cards."
"NOOOOOOOO! Not again!" Sir Bartel starts crying.
"BAHAHAHAHA!" Geir laughs manically again.
"HIDE THE CARDS!"
The Knights hide the cards in their armours, some who could not react fast enough, throw the cards into their helms.
Like a little bird being fed a worm, so too disappears the cards in the helms visor, before being shut closed very speedily and very securely.
"WHY SIR GEIR? WHY?" one of the sad Knights lets out a desperate plea.
"I FINALLY FOUND IT!"
"Claurilly what did you find?"
"IT IS..."
All the Knights anxiously await the reveal.
"MONSIEUR PANTOMIMER!"
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" screams Sir Thomlim.
"CLAURILLY SHOW ME!" screams Estonix.
Zelda only noticed Estonix now, his red House Dominitus's dress making him stand out like a sore thumb.
Zelda cast a glare of contempt towards him, it goes by unnoticed, she is still hidden.
Geir gives the card to Estonix.
Estonix studies it very closely.
He reads it again and again.
"Claurilly this card is not very good. I studied the rule book thoroughly, this is a very undesirable card. Why would you be so joyous?"
"IT WAS THE ONE CARD I DID NOT OWN!" screams Geir out of joy.
"But Sir Geir we all have many multiples of that card. Why did you not trade with us?" asks one of the Knights.
Geir casts a serious look towards them.
"Look at your hands."
They look towards their hands.
"They are not unwashed, what is the matter?"
"Sir Benedict! Look at Sir Geir's hands!"
Zelda immediately focusses on Geir's hands.
He is wearing white gloves but not any white gloves!
It is the same as those used when handling artifacts of great cultural importance as to not damage or smear them with fingermarks.
"But Claurilly! My hands were dirtied by my spilling ale during your fit of madness! Surely this card is ruined!"
"BAHAHAHAHA!" Geir laughs manically again.
"PROTECT YOUR CARDS! IT IS EACH KNIGHT FOR HIMSELF!"
The Knights jump left and right grasping at their armours and making sure their helms are securely closed.
They are fleeing...
Fleeing from Geir's pokenom card induced madness!
CRASH
Many tables and chairs are broken as the Knights flee to hide behind or underneath the many destroyed furnishings.
"CLAURILLY PLEASE CALM YOURSELF WHAT IS THE MATTER!?" screams a concerned Estonix.
Grasping his chest tightly, his cards also safely hidden beneath his hands.
Geir opens the foil packaging that his first Monsieur card was drawn from, he produces another Monsieur Pantomimer!
But even from Estonix's virgin pokenom card playing eyes, he can clearly see it.
"THE PERFECT CARD!"
"The border's corners are perfectly rounded, the colour is consistent on the card, the rainbow colours of the foil print shine brightly and the text printed is crisp!"
"Thank you Holy Mother for this blessing." one of the Knights is moved to tears upon this wondrous sight.
Zelda is so dumfounded at this ridiculous encounter.
She pinches herself to make sure she is not asleep.
She is awake! Her thoughts form...
"I will fire everyone, then lower the taxes!"
Suddenly the atmosphere changes, Zelda feels a cold chill down her spine.
The Knights postures changes, it seems as if they are preparing for battle!
"Sir Geir has the moment of our victory arrived?"
"Yes, Sir Roulf it is time to conquer the Kingdom of Bethen!"
The Knights let out a battle cry.
Zelda screams.
"CONQUER THE KINGDOM OF BETHEN!?"
The battle cry is so loud, she is not heard.
"THIS IS A CATASTROPHE! WHAT POWER DO THESE CARDS POSSESS?"
Zelda is worrying about so many things.
What reprisals the Kingdom will face, where the money will come from to pay the families of the deceased.
Before she can finish worrying about the impending war she looks and takes in her surroundings.
The "Messy hall" is completely abandoned, no one is left.
She runs throughout the barracks all the Knights are gone. Their armours stand in the ready room. Their weapons are stored.
"NO ONE IS HERE!?"
Zelda runs outside of the barracks, in the distance she sees an airship depart.
"I HAVE TO STOP THE WAR!"
Zelda runs into the throne room.
"SIR HUNFREY, SIR IZDRYN WE MUST LEAVE TO STOP A WAR!"
"YOUR MAJESTY!?" "Your Highness!"
Short times later...
"Can you not fly any faster? This is a matter of great importance!"
"I am sorry this vehicle will become unsafe if flown any faster. Please think of the safety of the people onboard."
"FIEND! YOU DARE DENY THE QUEEN!"
"These are the laws of the lands. Please understand our company can make no exceptions for any land. We will lose their trust and then their business. Please be patient."
"KNAVE YOU WILL!"
The Knight moves to action.
Zelda stops him.
"Sir Hunfrey thank you. Let us wait."
"YES, YOUR MAJESTY!"
Zelda paces up and down the massive airships deck lounge.
The luxurious airship braves the fierce winds. As the conductor told her many times it is the fastest air machine ever built. Yet just when she thinks they have reached close enough to the derelict airship Geir will use to wage war with.
The wind pushes them back many far distances.
Zelda sits down on a long wooden bench, she bounces her leg in pure nervousness.
The Knight and Fire Mage sit next to her.
"Your Highness did he say war with the Kingdom of Bethen?"
"Yes, Sir Izdryn this is a catastrophe!"
"Your Highness I had heard that the ruler of Bethen is renowned for his odd behavior." the Fire Mage starts the explanatations.
"EXCUSE ME?!"
"His parents died when he was but a babe. He is now still a young child."
"WHAT?!"
"Yes, I had heard many stories of his foolish and childish behavior. Also that the elders and ministers were willing to entertain even his most ridiculous of demands."
"MY FRIEND WHAT DO YOU MEAN?" the Knight is concerned at these words.
"There was a tale that he proclaimed a blue horse day."
"BLUE HORSE?!"
"Yes, Your Highness each steed in the kingdom should be painted blue on that day. That was his decree."
"BAH! WHAT A FOOL!" says the Knight with a scorn of disgust.
"Sir Izdryn is that really true?"
"Your Highness I had heard it from a close friend who had passed through the region. If not for him telling me of it, I would never be able to believe it."
"What can Geir's plan be?"
"YOUR MAJESTY YOU SAID THE KNIGHTS HAD LEFT THEIR ARMOURS AND BLADES BEHIND?"
"Yes, they were all there! Is this one of his schemes again?"
"..."
"YOUR MAJESTY WE WILL HAVE TO STEEL OUR HEARTS."
"Sir Hunfrey?"
"ABANDONING ONES POST IS PUNISHABLE BY DEATH. THE SCOUNDREL HAS CORRUPTED THE KNIGHTS TO THEIR VERY CORE. IF YOU WOULD PERMIT ME THIS FINAL TASK BEFORE I STEP DOWN..."
"That will not be necessary. Let us first deal with this situation. I cannot believe that all our soldiers would abandon the Kingdom without a reason. There must be more to this?"
Many times and much pacing later, they arrive.
Zelda arrives at Geir's destination.
"Sir Hunfrey we will need more guillotines. Please acquire some when we have returned."
"YES, YOUR MAJESTY!"
The enraged Zelda studies the festivals name.
"King Hervoet the Amazing's Festival of Joy and Merriment Fare!"
The murderous Zelda walks to enter the festival.
She sees a foreign soldier he lays defeated.
She rushes towards him.
She studies his wounds, there are none!
She feels his head he is unconscious.
"YOUR HIGHNESS!"
Zelda rushes towards the Knight.
There is a scuffle between the feast goers.
"PLEASE RETURN MY CARDS!"
"QUIET FOOL! DO NOT THINK YOU CAN LORD OVER ME ANYMORE!"
"PLEASE I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PAY THOSE PRICES ANYMORE!"
The people who are present spit on him and the ground, looking with disgust towards him.
"What is happening?"
"YOUR MAJESTY THE SOLDIER WAS UNCONSCIOUS WHEN HE AWOKE HE WAS ROBBED. THE CROWD WRESTLED SOME OF THOSE CARDS THAT CHILDREN PLAY WITH, AWAY FROM HIM!"
"Please let me see!"
The Knight moves the people in front of her away.
She looks towards the cards, they are the same as those of Geir's!
She looks to the fare goers they all have pokenom cards that are stored in a clear packet that they wear on their person.
It is clearly visible.
She sees two woman fighting next to the fallen man.
"I SAW IT FIRST GIVE IT HERE!"
"NO, IT FELL IN FRONT OF ME!"
The first woman produces a knife.
"I SAW IT FIRST!"
The other woman drops the card and disappears into the crowd.
The woman picks up the card and puts it in her clear container.
She sheathes her knife and walks away.
The man is weeping on the ground.
"WHAT IS GOING ON?!"
"Your Highness I have a theory." says the Fire Mage.
"PLEASE SIR IZDRYN EXPLAIN!"
"I believe how many cards you own, dictates what your social standing is."
"WHAT?!"
"I may be wrong but if we look to the fallen soldier."
Zelda studies the crying man, his clothes have been torn from his body there are only three cards left neatly in front of him.
"Those cards would they not have taken them as well?!"
"I believe them to be the minimum you are allowed to own." explains the Fire Mage.
"I see they cannot take anymore than that? But why would the soldiers be unconscious?"
"IT IS SHOCK YOUR MAJESTY!"
""SHOCK" SIR HUNFREY?"
"YES, IF YOU HAD WORKED YOUR WHOLE LIFE TO EARN YOUR POST AND YOU WERE TO LOSE IT IN ONE INSTANCE THE REALISATION MUST HAVE BEEN TOO MUCH TO BARE!"
"This is terrible!" Zelda is extremely shocked.
"Your Highness look at all the festival goers they only have eyes of hatred and great sadness."
Zelda looks towards the people.
They stare at the man weeping in the street with complete disdain some even seem joyous at his suffering.
"THESE CARDS! I BELIEVE YOU COULD PLAY THEM TO WIN MORE FROM THE WEAKER PLAYERS TO INCREASE YOUR RANK OR SOCIAL STANDING!"
""Weaker player"?"
"Yes, Your Highness I have heard by listening to Geir's inane explanations to newer players when he would hold his impromptu pokenom player presentations."
"EXCUSE ME!?"
"YES, YOUR MAJESTY WHEN WE WOULD VISIT OUR LADY VIVILARA IN THE DWARVEN REALM. HE WOULD MANY TIMES TEACH THE YOUNGER DWARVEN WARRIORS HOW TO PLAY."
"Unbelievable Sir Hunfrey, you had spoken of weaker players?"
"WHEN A NEW PLAYER WOULD BEGIN THEY WOULD BUY A STARTING PACK, BUT RARELY DID THESE PACKS HAVE TRULY OUTSTANDING CARDS. I BELIEVE IN THIS LAND A PERSON WOULD BE ASSIGNED SOME CARDS. THEN YOU COULD EARN MORE IN SOME WAY OR TAKE OTHERS BY WINNING. AS WHEN STARTING OUT IN THIS GAME THOSE WITH FEWER CARDS COULD RARELY IF EVER WIN AGAINST THOSE WITH BETTER OR MORE CARDS! IN OTHER WORDS THOSE WITH ONLY A FEW CARDS WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO IMPROVE THEIR STATION!"
Zelda puts her hand in front of mouth in horror at this cruelty.
"So if someone has enough cards they can keep on taking cards from weaker players without any chance of being defeated."
"THAT IS WHAT I BELIEVE YOUR MAJESTY!"
"By analyzing by what the soldier said that he would not be able to afford to pay "those prices" anymore. We can assume the more cards you own not only will your standing increase but your quality of life would also increase." speaks the Fire Mage.
"This is truly abhorrent. How can this be possible?" says Zelda.
"YOUR MAJESTY IF WHAT SIR IZDRYN HAD HEARD WAS TRUE ABOUT THE BLUE HORSE DAY! IT WOULD SEEM THE KING TO BE BEHIND THIS!"
"Sir Hunfrey please explain."
"IF EACH STEED HAD TO BE PAINTED BLUE, WHO WOULD BE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR THE MATERIALS! THE KINGDOM OR THE OWNER?"
"You are correct Sir Hunfrey. There are no horses here. I had only noticed now we had not seen one since we had arrived."
"YOUR MAJESTY!?"
"Let me ask if this is true."
Zelda moves to speak to someone.
"Your Highness! Please wait!" the Fire Mage is extremely concerned.
"Sir Izdryn?"
"Forgive me but I believe we are not safe."
Zelda takes in the atmosphere.
It is extremely tense, the people are extremely frustrated.
"Please let us find Geir Your Highness."
"Yes, Sir Izdryn let us go."
As they walk many soldiers lay on the ground. People are seizing their cards only leaving three behind. Some are being spat on others are being beaten.
Zelda does not want to look to the people's eyes pure hatred and joy at the suffering of another.
"This is terrible..."
"Your Highness I believe there to be another rule you must follow here." the Fire Mage has a distant look on his face as if he cannot believe of this kingdom's cruelties.
"Sir Izdryn?"
"When challenged you must play."
Zelda thinks of the hopelessness of someone who would be trapped in this hell. If you had earned another card somehow another player could easily take it from you if they had more cards. Constantly "increasing" their standing while making sure no one could ever rise upwards.
"So this is why everyone here relishes the soldier's fate. They had been oppressed for so long. To see their oppressors finally fall..."
Zelda walks following the Knight and Fire Mage, trying to imagine how terrible it must feel to live life this way.
"NOOOOO! PLEASE I AM BEGGING YOU! DO NOT TAKE ANYMORE!"
"OVER THERE YOUR MAJESTY!" the Knight has seen something.
They reach the scene.
The Knight clears a way for them.
There is a crying man on his knees, he is begging for mercy.
"Come now we have the same amount of cards. Surely one with so many victories as yourself. Would be able to win them back in not even one instance."
"PLEASE I WILL DO ANYTHING! JUST STOP!"
"Anything?"
"YES, WHAT DO YOU WANT?"
"Keep on playing scum! Or should I call the guard? You know the rules. Here you can go first."
Sir Renferd hands the man the cards.
"YOUR MAJESTY!" Renferd jumps to attention.
"Sir Renferd?"
"YOUR MAJESTY WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU EVERYWHERE!"
"WHAT?!"
"You were standing behind the cabinet, while we were playing. When we left we believed you to be on the airship with us!"
"EXCUSE ME?!" Zelda does not know what is more shocking that everyone knew she was "hidden" or that they believed her to be part of the passengers.
"Yes, Sir Geir decided that while you were present we could move to free the peoples of Bethen."
"FREE THE PEOPLE!?" screams the party.
"Yes, that is why we arrived. We will depose the king and you will become the next Queen of Bethen!"
WHAT DID YOU SAY?!
"We will depose the king and you will become the next Queen of Bethen!"
"Forgive me, I had heard you, please will you take us to where Geir is?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, please let me finish this battle so that we may continue the war."
"BATTLE!"
"Yes, in this Kingdom you do not fight with a sword. But with cards drenched in blood."
This statement is so dramatic, Zelda throws her hand to her head and faints.
"YOUR MAJESTY!"
Finish.