Chapter 8: Trip to Broken Dreams
"The old forgotten road,
The route where stories were told,
Are now blown away by gust.
Left behind to dust."
Ace and John rested that same night, but Ace couldn't sleep. He gazed upon the stars and watches as the midnight sky get darker.
He stared it down like staring into a bottomless hole. His eyes mesmerized, his thoughts curious, his heart lost in the void. As he looks down into the sky everything snaps.
"Morning sleepyhead!" John said as he gears up for the continuing trip. Ace slowly rises from his makeshift grass bed but awakened by a delicious scent. John has prepared them a meal before going.
"This isn't poisoned right?" Ace asked as he picks up the prepared bowl. John looked at him with annoyance.
Ace laughs. "I'm just kidding John..." John laughs back. "That's what you need dude, some sense of humour. Eat up! We still got a long way to go."
Minutes later, Ace and John are already on their feat and walking towards the Spider Ranges.
Ace stares oddly at John's bag.
John notices Ace looking at his carried bag. "Something wrong?"
Ace asks him, "What is that bag? That looks, from somewhere else..."
"Oh this?" John holds the weird bag upright in his hands. "I bought this while we were doing are monthly imports from neighboring lands."
"There are more lands?" Ace asks.
"Well duh..." John answers. "Have you heard of, Globalization?"
"Before castle walls grew and authorities tighten, the local economy has always been rotating. Every kingdom need something from the others, how the shopkeeper needs products from certain smiths and workers. The King of Diamonds, being the heart of this island's economy, was doing the business game too well, they have reached the island's economy peak, meaning they have the most money in the island. The old king decided to find ways to get more money, like the king he is. He sent travellers, explorers and his very own men to search the land for any source. Instead of finding gold or gems, they found us. The Solitaire island, the Island we stand in, has a mini Island located between the land proportions of the Kingdoms of Hearts and Diamonds. That's my island, Seven Isle."
"We, Jokers, are sea ferrers. Yes I am a Joker. We know and sail the sea by heart. We have seen lands beyond ours and have traded our raw resources for products we have never seen before. When the explorers heard of us, they quickly returned to the King of Diamonds and brought him the news. He was so intrigued he came to the island himself, or so the stories tell."
"The Head of the Jokers and the King of Diamonds settled an arrangement between two growing kingdoms. The Jokers shall help the Diamonds by being the bridge to the outside world, in exchange of the Diamonds will be funding and supporting us Jokers. Honestly, I was surprised they still are, until this day, even after that dreaded queen messed everything up."
John suddenly stopped and held in place. Ace stopped as well.
"We were told Diamonds don't come by with their promises, except if they benefit from it. Sure as hell they will be using us for their own pleasures. Simply saying they were greedy."
They both sit down.
"The Jokers and the Diamonds become partners in business. The Kingdom of Hearts heard of our presence and went to us quickly. Unlike the Diamonds, they were more demanding, more harsh, more aggresive."
"They treated us like clowns, a bunch of 'commoner scum' as the tales say. And now that queen is running this show, my people have been used for mere entertainment." John's smile fades away.
"Used for so many 'services', I have lost count how many of my people killed themselves to escape the shame. We Jokers may have the biggest smiles but we have the most fragile hearts. I should know, I had mine behind the smile I show and the anger I am fed with."
"We were treated like trash, but not the Diamonds. Not because we worked for us, its because, they, care for us. There have been stories about Diamonds risking their lives for us Jokers, because of the bond they make. Some people call it the Jester's Gem. The friendship between a Joker and a Diamond is stronger than any magic in Solitaire."
Ace notices as John's smile slowly returns.
"I should know, I met the best bro I could ever have."
"Are you referring to..." "Yes Dude." John quickly answers. "Jack of Diamonds is my Jester's Gem. He wasn't always royalty back then. He was Clyde Davidson, A humble Six of Diamonds. I was helping my mother in her tailoring after the Heart uprising. I met him by the alley in the Diamond streets. We grew close then. We had that 'Never gonna give it up' personality. I would work my charm in business while Jack would use his head and heart to persuade. We were partners in crime mostly."
"One day, while the King and Queen of Diamonds were roaming through the streets. Clyde would tell me how much he wants to be part of the royalty. Sure, he was almost delusional, but he didn't let that stop him. I helped him reach where he is now, and somehow, he still never forgets me. We would hang out in the taverns and get ourselves some Gold Pies. They are like apple pies with caramel glaze on top. We would drink and have fun. That's until I was taken in by the King of Clubs to be his Royal Fool."
"Clyde sent me letters about starting a rebellion against the Queen of Hearts and stating he needs my help..." John paused.
"But I told him there's no point, no need wait for me. I didn't have any hope left and I was suppose to face my end. I stopped replying to his letters for a days and yesterday was my last day, until you came along."
Ace sat beside him quietly, then smiles at him. John smiles back.
"Oh, I went too deep into my story, sorry dude." John apologized.
"It's alright." Ace replied.
"Let's get a move on..." John stands back up. "Or this adventure turns into a trip of broken dreams."
Weekly Power Status
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