Ep. 67- Strength in Defeat

ext. the valley of the bones day

The defeated Queen of Swords lies on the ground in a crumpled mess, her loss to Justice mere moments fresh.

Justice, himself tested further than he’d otherwise have betrayed mere moments ago, stands over her.

A cackling laugh tricks into the silence, breaking it.

Justice turns, still holding his own mangled fist. Temperance, bruised and disfigured, but sporting his casual, serene grin, raises his cups to Justice.

TEMPERANCE
Oh, is she dead?

Temperance inquisitively saunters his own broken body over to the impact crater, peeking over Justice’s shoulder. The Queen, a mangled pile of bruised limbs and shattered mask, is unmoving.

TEMPERANCE
Oh, dear.

A cough, then a groan and the limbs begin to strain at the task of untangling themselves.

TEMPERANCE
You should have hit her harder, I suppose.

JUSTICE
(catching wind of Termperance’s injuries)
What happened to you?

TEMPERANCE
I had a brush with Death- and a Fool’s luck.

JUSTICE
(grimly)
You let the rest escape.

TEMPERANCE
I let them walk right into your own arms, thinking YOU would have the sense to take advantage of their weakened strength to overcome them and take the fool. A very fair distribution of work. Very…equal.

JUSTICE
(gripping Temperance by the collar)
IDIOT.

Temperance shoves himself away from the grip of Justice, dusting himself off. He picks up the dropped sword of Justice- his awkward handling of the blade making it clear he is no swordsman- he hands it to Justice.

TEMPERANCE
Fine, you’re upset, I can see that- our query is lost. So one quick execution- to tip the scales a bit from failure.

Justice takes the blade from Temperance with a gruff jerk. As he regards the Queen, blade at a point toward her, Temperance sighs, reclining against the stone cliff.

TEMPERANCE
Not even a word of thanks, even as we both know I’ll be the one left to pick up the pieces and heal your poor weary bones when this is over. Now, I ask you, how equal is that, really-

Temperance stops speaking, his eyes growing wide as the a bright light washes over his vision, whiting it out. Justice, positioned over the queen, turns his blade downward, the point positioned over her neck, tracing a line for a clean cut. His attention remains fixed away from the other Major Arcana.

JUSTICE
At least you have sense to shut up for the occasion of an execution. Temperance…hm…Temperance?

Justice turns to see Temperance, still standing, his back tourned to Justice. Temperance’s cups give way to fire, flames bursting from each cup as he falls backward, the front engulfed in smoldering steam.

Justice attempts to cover his own face as the blinding light bombards his vision.

STRENGTH
(voice)
Really now, no one batters my students in my valley…but me.

The light gives way to Strength, who now wears a simple white robe, her head wrapped in a chord of fire that wraps continuously in an infinite symbol about her crown.

JUSTICE
(surprisingly intimidated)
S-sister Strength?

STRENGTH
Don’t pull family ties on me, Justice. You are no sibling of mine. You are a false card. You have more in common with the queen of your enmity than you’d believe.

JUSTICE
This has nothing to do with you. You chose your own way- stick to it. Leave me to my own.

STRENGTH
This has everything to do with me, dear Justice. Any harm to my students in my valley concerns me. I won’t suffer it. You can tell the Sun I said so. See what he does. And see if I care.

JUSTICE
Student? The false queen-

STRENGTH
Is she a queen? I wonder. To me, she is simply a wayward student. And you are a fickle dog chasing the strongest master.

JUSTICE
(resolute, raising his blade)
Sudent or not, this one dies. Sun’s orders.

STRENGTH
Or is it simply personal? I wonder if there’s a difference.

JUSTICE
Last warning, sister.

STRENGTH
You really are blind, then, if you think you’re in a position to issue ultimatums. Very well.

Above Justice’s head a dazling light forms, a dozen daggers of fire form from the light dangling over him. Justice calls a shield of green air arcana energy above him- a wind wall which slows the daggers as they each attempt to fall, but fall the daggers do, there momentum merely slowed in the face of the arcane shieldd. Each dager cuts and pierces the shield until at last they burst through with a singular break, the daggers racing toward Justice until each cuts and pierces at the Major Arcana. He cries out and as a final blade strikes him squarely in the chest, he falls, his grip lost on his sword.

Strength recedes her light and sighs, passing by the bodies of the fallen Major Arcana. She kicks aside the inert arm of Justice and passes over to the fallen queen.

STRENGTH
(kindly)
Hello, my student.

QUEEN OF SWORDS
(strained, not pleased)
Teacher?

The Queen coughs violently, blood spilling from her lips- and even a jagged bit of tooth. Strength reaches out a hand, two fingers extended touch the forehead of the Queen.

STRENGTH
Come along, before their wounds heal. It seems the appointed time is at hand- together we will finish the last of your training. It’s time you learn what you truly are, False Card.