In The Boggy World Of The Lizardi...
''Tsiiiiii... Tsiiiiiiiiii...''
''Now wathhhh'' the giant lizard hissed, as he was chewing on the remainings of a Cluckles.
Another stupid lizard was bullying him. Ever since that day, that fucking day that he'd taken over the Piñata Reaper's body to mingle with the mortals, ever since that black day in Lizardi history, ever since the first time he failed at something, his fellow Lizardi had been making fun of him.
There were no rules in the Lizardi community. Neither was there economy, infrastucture or even a leader.
No, but these monsters had one directive. They didn't fail. And he had screwed something up, he wasn't the fully respected member of their society he used to be.
He had become an outcast. The daily entertainment. Lizardi didn't have televisions or jobs; those who refused to live in the desert in the human world just sat around in their Neraguan swamp all day, waiting for their relatives to get back with food!
They díd like to play boardgames and practice their archery skills, but that was about it.
''Thhou hathh let your asss get kicked byyy Patchhhhingo.''
The other Lizardi bursted out in the most earsplitting kind of laughter. Tsi lately felt like couldn't cope with these moments of dedagration much longer. His pride had always been his main trait, he didn't have many other characterestics...
Except for fear, of course. He was brave in the world of humans, but those were weak and feeble. He, the Almighty Tsi, could crush them all with one single swipe of his powerful tail...
But those other Lizardi were his equals of course, some - although he hated to admit it! - were even his superiours! The older lizard demons got, the more their strengths grew... And some of his fellow Lizardi had been around since the times of Worship. That time had brought the strongest, biggest and most fierceful men... All those blood sacrifices had done them more than well.
Tsi was born in a more arduous time, for the Lizardi, right when these damned, filthy 'New Gods' had came up. It'd all started with Suelos, a young man who had displaced and replaced Terah, the Godess of Soil. It had been horrible. He and his Army of Nalí - a superiour highly intelligent group of Syrupents - had destroyed temples as a protest, and had left a trail of death and destruction, colored with the blood of the True Gods' faithful Priests and Priestresses...
After Suelos, more morons piñata-leaders had risen. This had aroused the curiosity of the Gods - but also their fury; what kind of humans were these rebels to even care for piñatas at all? Humans were a creation of the Gods, and they had NOT programmed them to love piñatas...
''I isss talking to thhhou, Tssi... Thhhou hatthh yourssself shhhhooed away to thhhis rotten placccce by Doc Pathhhingo?''
Tsi ignored the snickering Lizardi, and gave the brutal lizard a withering glance. Thís was not one of his superiours! No, this miserable thing wasn't even one of his equals; this punk was a minor... Yes, this guy was slightly smaller and considerably less muscular than him.
''Thhou ssshhould keep your jawsss togethher'' Tsi hissed. ''Or I'll do thhe same withh thhou asss I dithh withh Ngensiiiii...''
He'd beaten up rude lizards up before. Mainly those who didn't have many friends to stand up for them; not that Lizardi really had trustworthy friends... Hunting buddies came closest to friendships, really.
Some lizards were very influental and praised, though. This guy not being one of them...
''Oooooooooh'', the crowd reacted. ''I woulthh beathh him up.'' ''Doesss thhou acccept thhat from thhe Biggesssst Disssgraccce of the Lizzardi?'' ''He'ssss lessss ssscared of thhhou thhan he issss of the piñata doctor...'
''Ngensssiii isss a cowarthh'' the smaller lizard spat. ''You isss no matchhh for me... You isss not even a matchhh for Patchhhhingo...''
Tsi roared, tensed his cast-iron muscles and rose up high above his opponent. The other - dark green - lizard paled when he saw how the older monster was built. The spectators had of course expected this but nevertheless grew more excited; they wanted to see blood!
The younger lizard, who was called Kowla, couldn't help it but began to shake heavily. He was not from the same area as Tsi was - he'd never met the guy in person before! - and he'd never imagined the 'Biggest Disgrace of the Lizardi' to be stronger and more threatening than he was, he was pretty frightening, right? At least the lost villagers he'd devoured thought so!
''Lisssten, cub. Tsssi never wantsss to catchh thhhou arounthh him againn...''
''That'sss okay!'' the smaller lizard pleaded, as the 'loser's' big-toothed jaw came scarily close to his snout. ''I never intentethh to insssult thhou...''
''Good.'' Tsi's terrifying mouth curled into a small, smug smile.
The other Lizardi - including Kowla - kept staring at him.
Tsi didn't like being stared at... It made Tsi feel offended.
''Then... THHHOU GET OUTTHA HERE!'' he roared, and the smaller lizard made a startled jump, turned around and disappeared in the toxic swamp fog.
The other Lizardi chuckled and called things like: ''Thhhou isss even more of a lossssser than Disssgrace issss!'' ''Never rethurn to thhe Northhern Ssswamp again...
Tsi grinned as he lied down in the mud again. Rest had returned. He would have a nap now, and get a new Cluckles somewhere when he woke up.
''Tsi! Tsi!''
The demon looked up. Where in the damned world Neragua was he? This was not the Lizardi bog, neither was it Lizardi Village!
No, if it'd be the Village the smell of barbecued piñatas and humans would tickle his nose, and the sound of groaning and cursing Lizardi would tease his ears. He couldn't see anything. Nothing but darkness. If this was the Village, he would see huts - illuminated by weak, greenish sunbeams - small straw huts with only one room, and dark, dark blood on the squishy ground...
The Lizardi still believed that some day, another war would break out. A war in which they could prove their loyalty to the True Gods, which wouldn't be hard. The New Gods had died out decades ago. They weren't worshipped by the people anymore. They were nearly forgotten.
No, Lizardi still had faith in their leaders. Tsi himself had attempted to kill these 'Ameena', 'Seedos' and 'Dastardos' people in the name of Cueraça, after all.
Cuerça. He was The True Reaper.
''I'm Glad You Feel That Way.''
Who knew what Tsi was thinking? Tsi glanced around again.
''Not There. Right Behind You.''
Tsi gasped when he saw who was speaking to him. He should have known. He should have known that that Mighty voice came from a Mighty person... A Beyond Mighty being.
Cueraça was staring at him in all his tremendous glory. He had the black face of a mummified corpse, emerald eyes that screamed eminence, a thin, dry pair of lips and the most majestic high cheekbones. He was wearing a simplistic scarlet robe - rumour had it that the cloth'd been white in the past, but that the blood of Cueraça's human victims had colored it red - and necklaces with teeth and bones instead of silver or jewels. His nails were longer and sharper than Tsi had ever imagined nails could be, and his fingers were as bony as the death the God brought.
''Yes. It Is Me. The Almighty, True Piñata Reaper Cueraça. Right Before Your Eyes.''
Tsi wanted to say something, a few words of honor, but all that came from his raspy throat were thin, faintly squeals. This was the God he had FOUGHT for!
''And I Sure Am Thou Thankful For That'' Cueraça nodded. ''Thou Failed, Though.''
Tsi felt like he wanted to throw up. Cueraça had a sincerely dissappointed look on his mask, which was red with gold detailing. It was so iconic that it would look familiar to any of the Villagers, even those who were born in these wicked times of atheism...
Cueraça's mask was exactly the same as Dastardos'. But that foolish immortal mortal would NEVER pull it of like Cueraça did! That petty little man didn't even have the right to wear it! Such a magnificent mask didn't belong to an emucated clown!
''I issss sssorry for lettting Thhhou down'' Tsi fizzled as he bowed down dejectedly. ''I am notthh worthhy of living in thhhe blisssssful realm of Neragua... Not even in the filttthhiestthh outssskirtsss of thhe Lizardi bog.''
Cueraça sniffed as he looked down on Tsi. More literally than figuratively. He wouldn't admit this to His fellow Gods, but he was rather fond of this young lizard. If he wasn't mistaken, this soldier was born in the time when the New Gods were at their peeks, and yet he had dedicated his miserable futile life to fighting for the True Gods...
Most Lizardi from his age lived on the actual Island now. They hid theirselves in the deserts and fed theirselves with small piñatas, but they usually didn't establish anything significent...
Let alone that they would give their life in a battle for their True Leaders, like the older generations would do without hestitation.
''Tsi'' Cueraça spoke. The lizard rose up quickly again, every soldier knew that you had to stand in salute position when one of the Gods talked to you.
What if Cueraça was going to give him orders? That would be such an honor! A task... given by one of the True Rulers himself, and not by some dusty, foul Lizardi general...
''My Soldier'' Cueraça spoke ''I Need To Show You Something.''
''Of courssse, Thy Almighty'' Tsi whizzed. ''Ssshow me... And teach me.''
The corners of Cueraça's dry, leathery mouth curled up as he heard the mockery in the voice of his new favorite inferior. 'Show me, and teach me' had been a signature praise of the New Gods, founded by that virago of a Platia - that female Barkbark that had a whole pack of little Mallowolf friends that wanted nothing but 'free the humans from the dicatorship of Bulan and his satellite's'...
Disgusting. But he was delighted that this young fellow was aware of even the smallest details in the Religious Revolution. Thís was the kind of manpower they needed in the future wars! Thís was the perfect soldier, the kind of soldier that would bring back the True Reign.
''I Am Glad You Have Done Your History Homework'' Cueraça droned, with an amused smile on his mask. ''Now Follow Me!''
Tsi had no idea how his superiour did it, but with one sweep of his Almighty hand, the God made appear a bright portal out of thin air. Tsi shrieked and stepped back.
Cueraça grinned and stepped through the window. Tsi followed closely. He was new to all this. He had indeed used magic to take over Dastardos' mind, but the spell he'd used to that was relatively simple. Just another ancient scroll.
This was the pure essence of The Force, the force that had been there since the creation of the very Island... This was something only the True Gods could execute, and he was walking with one of them!
As Tsi stepped through the portal, he was convinced. He was here for a reason. He was chosen to bring back the Reign of the True Gods!