THE TINY SOLDIER -PART 11

This is part 11 of flash fiction chain #5 hosted by Pho Trablogger and inspired by the amazing picture above. This is a collaboration of bunch of writers/bloggers all over the world who create a fictional world with their imagination based on the picture given by host Jithin,Proud to be part of this team. Please visit his blog for previous four series.

To get the context of the story, please read the first ten parts

Part 1 by Abirami

Part 2  by Sona

Part 3  by Yinglan

Part 4  by Dr. KO

Part 5  by Austin

Part 6  by Pheena

Part 7  by Itchy Qiuil

Part 8  by Priceless Joy

Part 9 by Rashmi

Part 10 by Manvi

I am writing the Part 11  and the concluding part of the flash fiction chain .

Character List:

Rick-10yrs Old Jenna-Rick’s social worker

Mrs. Montgomery- Foster mother

Jake- Mrs. Montgomery’s son

Sun- The Monkey

***Elaborated Characters*** (The Other Kids Sorted By Tables)

Table 1- Mesa-Boy, 14 yrs old Toro-Boy, 12 yrs old Wheeze-Boy, 8 yrs old

Table 2-Danus-Boy, 11 yrs old Makaya & Kumba-Boys, Twins, 7 yrs old

Table 3- Marilyn-Girl, 11 yrs old  Britney-Girl, 8 yrs old Kanya-Girl, 6 yrs old

  PART 11

Jenna stared in utter shock as she saw him emerge from the bushes….while Sun the monkey and the other half human  , half animal looking creatures hailed to their Lord , welcoming him amidst them all .

‘Jack’ , exclaimed Jenna , unable to contain her disgust and disappointment . Jack was wearing a black cape and looked paler and more sinister than his old self .

There was something inhuman about him and his gait . Jack was leaning forward , and walking like a primate …on all fours , only his human body , was not permitting him to do this with ease .

Jenna stared at him agape .In the very next moment , Jack turned to look at her , and his poisonous glare , was enough to confirm her suspicions . The evil that lurked behind the human form , was not Jack . Jack was possessed .

As she was lost in her thoughts trying to  make sense of everything that was going on , she heard a thunderous roar , a voice so loud and threatening , that the children quivered from behind the cage bars . It was Jack (or whatever was possessing him ) that made that horrendous , spine tingling noise . And Jenna could hear her heart throb hard …

Rick stared at the Evil creature that possessed Jack , and looked around  with compassion , at his fellow mates . It was then that he noticed it… Danus and Moses…. The two were missing…

He ran his eyes all around the temple . No sign of them… But he remembered them tagging along , as he followed Sun…

Just then , a  devilish voice began to address them all ,  ‘Welcome , my little friends……. And thank you all for the great sacrifice you are about to make . From your tiny , precious souls , shall I harvest my new army … I will get back all that I lost ….My Kingdom ,my men , my powers and my ownership to the treasures of this enchanted forest !’

‘Centuries ago , my clan was wiped out by the forest guardians , whom we refer to as the Dark lords ! Honestly , the dark lords are not all that dark ‘ ,  bellowed Sun’s master , with a smirk on his face .

‘We were the true rulers of this forest….And everything here was our slave…the animals , the birds and even the humble caterpillar . And we would have continued to do so , had it not been for the Foolish owl , called  ‘Sapientus’ , who combined forces with the Dark lords and  provoked the forest creatures to rise up and  a rebel against our reign . ‘

As Rick , tried to concentrate on the story put forth by the master , he felt a poke from behind . Moses put a hand on Ricks mouth , trying to hush him .  He soon  untied Rick’s hands and quietly the two crept back into the bushes .

Danus was waiting for them , and he was not alone . Behind him stood two half human , half horse looking  Centaurs . Rick gazed at them in amazement . He felt as though he was inside his favorite fairy tale .

But this was real and the voice of the two centaurs confirmed it . ‘Hello , Rick we are the ‘Dark’ lords as you have been told . In reality , we are the guardians of this Enchanted forest , entrusted by the forest creatures and the forest God Aranyani,  to protect this forest from evil and to preserve its precious treasures . ‘

The second Centaur continued the story..’Rick , for millions of years we have preserved the flora and fauna of this Enchanted forest and lived a life of peace and harmony . Till , the Black era dawned . …

When the evil Ape ‘Zadicus’ attacked this forest , killing our people , plundering the woods and destroying the fauna , causing us to flee , in order to save our lives . Zadicus , had some evil powers handed to him by Lucifer  , himself , which helped him gain control over the forest and raise his own army of primates .’

Rick stared in disbelief as he heard them speak . And then , inquisitive , he asked  ‘But how did you oust them from the castle and end their rule ?  I remember ‘Sun’ talking about the castle killings !’

‘Ah , well..’ , replied one of two centaurs ,  ‘We raised a new army with the help of the forest God . Sapientus , the Wise owl , helped us in our endeavor , and soon we destroyed their whole clan , or so we thought . Zadicus , died but his evil soul escaped to return for vengeance.  We did not know about Sun , the monkey , until now….’

His speech was disrupted by a loud uproar from the Temple grounds. Rick could identify Jenna’s  helpless scream , while the ugly creatures jeered  in unison .

‘Tell me quickly , where is the boy..? . The roar of Zadicus caused Rick to freeze , as he felt scared for Jenna and his friends . He quickly made up his mind and was about to surrender (for the sake of Jenna and his family ) , when an intense humming noise came from the other side of the forest .

‘Sapientus is here with the army’ ,  exclaimed one of the centaurs . Before Rick could react , he felt the tremors on the ground  where he stood.

Just then an owl , much larger than the ones he had seen around ma’s house appeared in the sky ..

And then right before his eyes , a tornado of animals , of varied sizes , and colors  stampeded  past him , towards the temple , followed by birds , insects and the entire forest !

Rick had the queer sensation that  all the forest creatures bowed to him , in obeisance , before they dashed off to charge at the Evil Zadicus and his wicked army. But , he quickly dismissed this funny notion !

As the army of the forest Guardians fell upon the unsuspecting Zadicus and his   ugly gang members , including Sun  , the forest was filled with a cacophony of  roars , grunts , squeaks  and screams…

Rick watched as one by one ,the members of the evil ‘Zadicus’ clan , were destroyed by the forest creatures , led by the centaurs .

It was then he remembered Jenna , and his heart skipped a beat . As he maneuvered his way through the warring factions , feeling furry hands and legs all around ,  he saw Jenna , huddled in a corner , trying to protect his family members . Soon Danus and Moses joined in as they gradually freed all the captive members from behind the cages .

Their eyes now observed Mesa and Toro , who were standing chained , like zombies , sans expressions .

The two centaurs appeared at the scene , and understanding Rick’s predicament , touched the foreheads of the two boys and sprinkled some magic dust on them . Soon the two boys , were back in their senses.

As Rick and Jenna thanked the centaurs , they smiled generously and replied  , ‘Zadicus had used his evil powers to caste a spell on these boys so that they oblige to their commands’ .

Rick was confused , and just as he was about to pop a question , he felt a hairy , furry hand strangle his throat , as he gasped for breath . It was ‘Sun’ .

With a sudden instinctive gesture , Rick undid its clasp and using the pen in his pocket , poked hard into Sun’s eyes . As the monkey struggled to hold his ground , Rick kicked him hard on his chest , a kick so powerful that it sent ‘Sun’ flying to the other end of the forest . 

All of them including Jenna , stared in amazement , at Rick ,whose eyes were now twinkling , a silver glint in them .

The centaurs , spoke as if reading their minds , ‘Rick is no ordinary child Jenna . He is a demi god . A descendant of the Forest God Aranyani , sent to earth to preserve this forest and protect it from evil powers . He possesses extra ordinary powers which he will be able to harness to its full capacity once he is 18 years old..’

Rick heard the conversation and blurted out , ‘I guess that is why the magic dust didn’t really do its work on me !’ . ‘Yes , you are right..that is precisely so…’ ,agreed both the centaurs .

Then all of sudden , the screams of Moses and Danus reached Rick’s ears. Without wasting a moment he rushed to their aid .

He pushed his friends to the side and charged at Zadicus , with all his might . With a powerful thrust of his hand , he shoved Jack’s possessed body against the temple wall , punching him on the face . ‘Stop..’ , shouted the centaurs from behind .Rick walked away to the side.

The centaurs , then  sprinkled magic dust on James limp body , as sinister  soul of Zadicus , once again escaped  from James’s body , into the sky , and roared ..’This is not the end… I shall return my dear boy… I shall return to avenge myself !’ ...and with a puff of black smoke , disappeared into nothingness .’

***************************

The scent of freshly baked apple pie filled the house . All the kids were tapping their hands impatiently on the wooden surface of the dining table , as Ma appeared in front of them with a whole tray of goodies . Rick watched Jake , who smiled at him reassuringly . Rick heaved a sigh of relief , ‘So no more bickering . There is peace at  last’ …

Just then , once of the girls ,  Marilyn , remarked , ‘Oh ,Rick is such a hero . He saved all our lives… If we had left it to Jake , he would have probably let us all be killed‘ . The whole room burst out into peals of laughter , except one boy , whose ears were now red out of embarrassment ………

Ma , interrupted the laughter and spoke , ‘Yes…he is our tiny soldier ! Isn’t he ? ‘.

As Rick blushed at her comment ,  a shadow peered at them from behind the window  of the dining rooms ,digging at  the glass with its long nails…………