Rise of the Guardians

Arlecchino

Chapter Eight

Marcaria was trembling, unable to move from her hiding spot. She turned hurriedly and hit right into Momus.

"You said you wouldn't follow," She spoke into his shirt, her voice muffled.

"I lied. I lie all the time."

"Really? About -everything-?"

He blinked and then slowly corrected himself. "I only lie part of the time."

Marcaria rolled her eyes as she began to tap her hands against her figure hurriedly. "Damn it, where'd it go?!"

She saw movement out of the corner of her eye and turned to Momus who was holding up the makeshift face mask.

"You're a fucking dick."

His fingers tightened as the entire thing burned in seconds. "Yea. I know."

"NO!" She fell to her knees. "I worked on that for hours!"

"And look at how easily it was destroyed. Just," He pulled her up, flipping her away. "Go on and do what you're supposed to do!"

Marcaria whimpered in the sudden blaze of the sunlight, the playground full of bustling, laughing children. "I.. I…"

She dove away only to be flattened on the ground. "Since when do you care about my job?!"

"I don't! I care about what you're feeling and you are all wrong in your thinking! Now.." He grasped her by the pants. "You're going to.." He tugged with each word. "Get up and, crap.."

The sudden show of the frilly, pink underwear made him pause. "Well, that's pretty."

Her heel went into his gut as he doubled over, gasping in much needed air. "You son of a bitch!"

He watched her tear off, jumping up and down to put her pants back to its rightful place. "Love.. You… too.." He managed, staggering to his feet. "Ow… that didn't hurt.."

She was up high in a tree, holding onto the trunk tightly as she glared down through the barely visible floor.

"Come on, Prank. It's not that bad. You're beautiful!" Momus craned his head up and winced as a pinecone hit him right between the eyes. "And a good shot."

He rubbed his nose. "Come on, Marcaria! You can't hide forever. What happens when we have children? You going to run from them?"

"Who said anything about children!?" Her voice was high-pitched with stress as he winced.

"Keep forgetting we're not supposed to talk about that little subject," Momus muttered, looking around in irritation. He groaned as he began to shimmy up the tree.

He fell back down under the barrage of pinecones. "Ow! Ow! Stop it! Stop it! Those fucking hurt, you know?!"

"Oh, god, I can't do this anymore! I'm going to give them nightmares! I might as well as represent Halloween with this face!"

Momus kicked at the tree in frustration. "God damn it…"

"Having trouble?"

"Oh, god, Eris, what the Hell do you want? We are having a very important conversation here!"

A pinecone hit him square in the head, making his eyes cross.

"And you are doing a fabulous job."

"You can do better?!"

"I am a woman, you are a man, you think with your pants, we think with our heads."

"Yea, like I haven't figured that shit out."

"Just back off," Eris waved him off as he eyed her rather modern clothing. She was dressed like a fashion model, elegant, alluring, and downright rich. "What?"

"Not used to seeing you actually clothed."

"YOU'VE SEEN HER NAKED?!"

Eris looked up with a grin. "Oh, honey, trust me, he's seen a lot of women naked."

It took a moment as Momus glared at his sister.

"Yea, I probably shouldn't have said that."

Eris crossed her arms. "Marcaria, I know how insecure we women can get…"

"Seriously?! A goddess versus me?!"

Eris sighed. "Just listen. From what Momus told me, the Man in the Moon gave you that mask because he knew that you couldn't take what you saw. But others aren't meant to see what you seem to think, they see something else. Something bright, warm, and loving, fun and happy. Just because you're scarred doesn't mean you're a monster or that you're ugly."

"Yea, look at the old guy Hephaestus. He married that hot chick, Aphrodite."

Eris glared at Momus. "That's a terrible example!"

"Why?" Marcaria's question wandered down.

"Because…" She paused at Momus's frantic hand waving. "Um, well…"

"He was viewed as not a threat to the beautiful goddess. Everyone wanted her and he was the lucky guy who married her."

"Did she cheat on him?"

"I am obligated to say that.. Uh…"

Another pinecone hit Momus in the head. "Damn it."

"He still had children and he was returned to Olympus for his abilities. He is… scarred and a little ugly to the eyes of the Gods but he was able to live his life as his and did his work with ease and in great appreciation." Eris nodded.

"So, you see, we all see our flaws so easily but it's more important to see what the beauty that we can have inside, that which gives us our strengths and such."

Eris and Momus paused heavily.

"But I'm not a Goddess. I'm human. You don't know how cruel humans can be."

"You've seen how cruel Gods can be. Trust me, we're a hundred times worse."

"Yea, we'd kill just because."

"Anyone can do that!"

"Fine, fine," Eris raised her hands in defeat. "I don't know what else to say. Why haven't you convinced her she's beautiful?"

"She's a stubborn bitch!"

"MOMUS!"

"Now, wait a minute, I say that with all the love in my.."

His eyes closed tightly against the pinecone's strike. "Shouldn't you be out of ammo now?"

Eris rolled her eyes. "Let her think on things."

"I've been doing that. It's time for her to do what she's supposed to do."

"And why is that?" Eris crossed her arms, her lips pouty.

"Stop making that face at me."

Her eyes narrowed.

"Because it's what Lune wants. Apparently there's not a lot of happiness going around. You know, what goes around, comes around?"

Eris sighed. "And when do you care about humans?"

Momus made an angry gesture upward.

"Aside from her."

He turned red. "Apparently, I'm under the tutelage of the Moon."

Momus turned even redder as Eris began to laugh loudly. "Hey! It's not that funny!"

"It's just so sweet. He must know how important you are to her. Perhaps you won't be like us and fade from existence."

"What do you mean 'fade'?!"

Marcaria hit the ground on her feet rather gracefully, looking a little frazzled.

"Marcaria, I explained. We're of the words of mankind. Once a story has been lost, there's no coming back."

"You mean I could lose you?!"

"No! No! Because, well, you know me and you want me around. If you didn't, then I would."

He grunted as her arms wrapped painfully around him.

"Today isn't a good day for anything," He muttered, wrapping his arms around Marcaria. "Come on, let's go home."

"Awww.."

Momus glared at Eris. "Shut up."

Both of them were soon surrounded by a long field of wheat. Marcaria began to sneeze in concession as Momus then lifted her to sit upon his shoulders, to avoid the brushing tall foliage.

Once through, he put her back down.

"I can't do it."

Her head was lowered, her body in a distinct defeated pose. "I'm nothing without that mask. It was made me who I was as a Spirit."

"No, it wasn't. Remember when you told me about how you died? How you would make the children laugh? Then to protect the children, you acted like a goon and brought the bear to you? That's what made you a Spirit, someone who could bring light and happiness even in the face of danger. Trust me, Prank. I've spent what was like forever without laughter save for the cruel jokes that I would play and at this point and time, I never find it funny. Your simplicity, honesty, and gentleness brings a great joy and happiness. People can see it, only if you are willing to see it."

"Look at me!" Her head snapped up. "I'm a monster!"

Momus sighed and then hefted a protesting woman to hang over his shoulder. She shouted, beating her hands against his back as he grunted.

"The things I have to do, woman, you drive me up the wall sometimes!"

He eventually reached their bedroom, dumping her onto the floor.

"That was graceful," She snapped, pushing up only to find his foot against her chest, pressing her down. "What?" She asked crossly.

"Stay there. I mean it, stay."

She laid there as Momus went to grab a mirror. She grumbled he sat on her chest and mid-drift, showing her the mirror. Marcaria pointedly looked away.

Momus took her chin and forced her gaze to him. "Look. Just look."

He threw the mirror away in grief the moment her eye filled with tears. "Marcaria, you're such a stubborn woman! What in the name of Zeus do I have to do to convince you?"

"I don't know! I spent all these centuries like that! Do you really expect me to just change?"
His forehead hit hers. "I suppose not. I just hate that I cannot convince you otherwise."

"You can see me naked."

"What, now? Like.."

"No!" Marcaria was red. "I.. I would never let anyone see me like this… it's a small step but… I feel happy and warm that I can show you what I look like."

Momus grinned slowly. "That is true. So.. What you're saying is slow steps?"

"I guess. But… I just remember how that innocent baby looked at me. Such a small thing, who shouldn't even be able to think of such things as monsters."

"You're not a monster."

"Then why do I feel like one?"

"Because it's all in your head!"

Momus ran his hands through his hair, trying to think. Marcaria was becoming distracted by something else at this point.

"Momus, really? At this time?"

"I'm against your breasts, what can I say?" He waggled his eyebrows as she stared at him with a deadpan gaze. "Fine, I'll get off."

He moved awkwardly as he sat himself next to her laying form. "Marcaria. I don't want to push but your Lune has been getting more adamant about you going out there. Apparently, this Jack fellow is only so much. Just because he's the Guardian of Fun doesn't mean that you can't bring fun and happiness. You're supposed to bring laughter when there's darkness, when one is lonely and wants to think of nothing but the shadows, you're the beam of sunlight piercing through the clouds."

She was sniffling as she sat up. "I'm afraid, Mo. I can't. I spent so much being afraid to look in a mirror. I still can't believe that I can even be with you, at least with the lights on."

Momus snickered at that. "You still turn red, Prank."

"Shut up, Captain Obvious!"

His arm wrapped around her gently. "You have nothing to fear but fear itself. I wish I could give my eyes so you could see what I see."

"What do you see?"

His grip tightened. "Mine."

"Momus!"

"Sorry, knee-jerk reaction." Momus slipped his arm away.

There was the sound of a doorbell going off. Momus frowned. "I don't have a bell."

Momus walked down the steps and approached the door very cautiously. Before he could even think of opening the door, the cheerful voice of a young girl broke through the silence.

"Hidey ho, brother! It's your most favorite sister in the realm of the Gods!"

Momus groaned. "Oh, Gods, Philotes, did Mother dump you here again?"

He opened the door to a pint-sized girl, with the same features as he, and dressed in the common toga fashioned femininely to the girl. She was in all pink and bright looking.

"Hi!" She charged in, beaming at Marcaria. "I'm Philotes, the personification of affection, sexual intercourse, and friendship!"

Marcaria rubbed her head. "I can get affection and friendship but the.. Uh…intercourse seems a little unfitting."

"Not if you knew how many men she'd bedded so far."

Marcaria winced as Philotes beamed. "Oh, it's not that bad! Besides, I'm irresistible!"

"How old are you?"

"No, wait, I can figure this out…" Philotes started to count on her fingers.

Momus grinned. "It'll take a few hours for her to figure it out. Why don't we ditch her?"

"I can hear you, you know," His sister muttered. "I'm guessing I'm only a little younger than Momus. After all, I do look like it."

"You all look young," Marcaria said loudly. "None of you are old! Even your fearsome Zeus is still youthful."

"You need to meet some of the Gods and Goddesses that represent like death and old age, then you'll see how horrible they look."

Marcaria's hand slowly slipped up her face to her mauled side. Philotes's smile slipped instantly.

"I am so sorry, that was not an insult whatsoever! You have a beautiful eye color, very lovely, bright, cheerful…"

"All right, all right, pint-sized! Why did Mother send you?"

"Oh, something about being an annoyance and that I could be a good friend to your pretty trinket."

"Why do you people call me that?!"

"Because of your beautiful soul!"

Marcaria looked irked. "That's a little bizarre!"

"Those of the chosen by the Man in the Moon are special people. Just because you have that disfigurement, doesn't mean anything to the goodness and warmth of your soul."

Marcaria elbowed Momus. "Why aren't you like her?"

"Most of Mother's children are representatives of things that aren't nice. She's a rare one, that's for sure." Momus started for the kitchen.

"He said there's no doorbell. What'd you ring?"

Philotes raised her hand, closed it and opened it to show a buzzer. She pushed it with her other hand, the sound echoing around them.

Marcaria blinked suddenly, getting an idea. "Hey…"

Momus was getting suspicious by the sudden onslaught of giggles. His sister was a good person, a good goddesses, but compared to the other children, she was a bit more eccentric. He could even say that she and Marcaria had similar traits.

Which he realized that it could all work against him. "Damn it. She sent her to torture me. Fucking aye."

Marcaria came in with a bound. "Mo! Give me your hand!"

He automatically gave it to her and felt fire go through him as he yanked back his hand. "You…. Freaking…"

She saw the look on his face and tore out of there with a shout. Just as he passed the living room, his face planted to the ground as Philotes tripped him.

"Hurry! Before he gets back up!" The two girls were gone in seconds.

He threw a tantrum on the ground. He found his time divided into chasing the two of them and being a butt of every joke they could think of. And together, they actually got the best of him most of the time.

He was hiding in a small area of trees, trying to find some peace as Nyx appeared gracefully. "How are things going?"

His dark gaze made her smirk. "I'm sorry but she's been causing a bit of trouble up in Olympus. She misses you."

"How can anyone miss me?"

"I miss you too."

Momus dropped his head.

Nyx settled, bending down to look at Momus. "You've lost some of your light."

"My light?"

"Godly power."

Momus blinked. "I don't understand."

"You're transiting into a Spirit, like Marcaria."

"How can you tell?" Momus stood up. "And I'm a God, remember, of Blame and all that shit?"

"Yes but remember, we are influenced by word and story. Perhaps she's changing you for the better."

"I thought you wanted me back in Olympus."

"I do. But I do concede that sometimes, I have to let go of my children to allow their happiness."

Momus snorted. "That makes everything better."

"Don't you want to be with Marcaria?"

"I.. well… sure, I guess but what am I without my Godly power? I'm supposed to be a Greek God! I don't want to change!"

"Not even for her?"

"What?" Momus scoffed. "No, of course not. I don't want to change who I am!"

"What?"

He froze at the sound of Marcaria's voice. "Prank…"

"You would rather lose me than lose your place as a God? Is that really where I stand with you? That all of this time was just you wasting it… for what? Someone to sleep with? To use?"

Marcaria pulled away slowly. "All right, Momus. If that's what you want, I only want you to be happy. I guess I was just wasting everything…"

She turned and ran off, her arm across her face as she cried softly. Momus stared at the empty spot.

Philotes spoke hesitantly. "Come on, Momus! Is it really that important to be a God?"

"Yes."

"But… we're just words of the humans! We're not real Gods!"

"We are real enough," He hissed. He threw his sister to Nyx. "Leave me."

"Momus," Nyx began.

"Tell Zeus I'll apologize, if he'll let me back to Olympus."

Nyx lowered her head as she disappeared. Philotes looked to Momus.

"I feel sorry for you. You're throwing away everything that we would ever want. To stay forever instead of disappearing. She loved you and you threw that away. For shame, Momus. You're really a fool."

Marcaria was alone, against a tree. It was early spring, where it was still crisp but at least Marcaria wouldn't suffer much.

"Hey, long time, no see. You're in my pond area… again. Remember the first time we met?"

Jack didn't get a response so he tapped her lightly with his staff. Her face tilted upward and the empty look made him hurt inside. He bent down carefully. "What's wrong?"

"I'm nothing."

"Nothing? You're the representative of April Fools! Celebrated everywhere!"

"All for others' happiness, for their own joy and laughter. Where is my happiness?"

She struggled to push up. "I look like a monster… therefore, I must be a monster. I spent all of this time fooling myself. I thought.. .well, I was stupid, wasn't I?"

Marcaria looked to Jack who looked utterly lost. "I.. I don't understand," He mumbled.

She smiled painfully. "I'm my own joke. I'm the Fool. I let myself believe that I could be happy, after so long of being alone.. Lost… trying to make others happy who don't even appreciate my work."

She turned away. "There's only one course to take. Good bye, Jack Frost. I'm sorry I treated you so hostilely. I now know why you're the Guardian of Fun."

She walked away like a zombie, emotionless and yet her cheek stained with her tears. Jack was worried but it wasn't like with human children, where he could help them not be afraid, this was a Spirit, someone who was in a way just like him.

She walked until she couldn't anymore, the pain of her soles making her entire body throb. She sat down in a dirt road, looking up at the partial moon.

"I'm sorry." She told the moon quietly. "I don't think I can go on. Please.. Just take the pain away for me? It's like having to live through my family's death… my mother, my father… my brothers and sisters… no longer around, surrounded by the loneliness of being just myself. I can't even do my job, Lune. You know that. I know that. So… just.. Make me disappear. No one needs me anymore…I was just the joke….the fool…"

Her head lowered as the light grew stronger. "Yes, Lune… that is my choice. My only one." Her hand touched her mauled side. "To think… that I could be beautiful. That I could be wanted… that I could have a family again… I was such a fool…"

Her head tilted upward slowly. "I'm already dead inside….please… Lune… take me away.."