The Laughing Jester (Part 3): Farraige Marble

Branni finds herself in a world of glass and marble, and everywhere she looked was a work of art. She had never seen such beautiful artwork before and seeing them sparked her imagination. There was glass work that made her think of the oceans as she marvels at the frozen bubbles and swirling blues waves that stood still. Even the marble floor was a work of art as she stares in wonder at the stone tile floors that formed a picture of nature itself. Branni was fascinated by all this beauty that she didn’t noticed that someone was watching her.

Branni was staring into glass wall of glass goldfish when she spotted another reflection looking back at her. Branni gasps as she quickly turns around while her eyes widen at the sight in front of her. It was a person made out of glass with beautiful, long, blue hair. You know the many wonderful designs you see in marbles that you used to play with? This person’s hair was like the blue ones with those beautiful blue wave-like water. Those eyes were cat’s eyes of orange and green and their arms and legs were crystal clear with no design at all; their torso was sparkling like the universe with hundreds of tiny stars, galaxies, and planets as their outfit. Out of all the art work here this person was by far the most beautiful, and must lustrous, of them all. Branni couldn’t help but stare at this person’s beauty and his white marble face as he stares back at her. Then he spoke, “What goes on with those mysterious eyes of yours? What do you see in me?”

Branni was speechless as she held her tongue back from this noble trophy. The glass figure studies her as if memories of both good and bad were flooding in his clever mind. “Speak child, lest my glasswork will squish you into a pancake!”

Coming from the right a giant glass marble comes rolling down towards Branni as she gasps and runs away. More marbles of different size, but still bigger than Branni, were rolling all over the place while trying to squish the poor girl. She had no where to go and no where to hide, for if she did there would still be marbles chasing after her. Running around in this glass gallery-like maze, Branni couldn’t escape from the giant and medium marbles that were coming after her until she stops and noticed something. No, remembered something. She looks around curiously, as if searching, before racing back to the glass person and shout, “Where is your people? Your friends and family? There were more of you.”

“What?” The glass person stops his marbles from crushing into Branni all at once as he commands them aside.

When Branni was younger she would pretend each marble was a person, and their sizes tells her their age and their colors represent personalities. The glass person’s eyes were widen in surprised, but his expression returns to calmness. “Gone. Taken. Stolen from me by that fool.”

He turns to a wall as pieces of glass shows his story of how a certain jester took away his people, from the biggest marble to the littlest one. Branni watches sadly and never knew her jester would do such a thing. “I’m so sorry.”

“You shouldn’t say sorry until after you’ve done something to fix it,” said the glass person as he turns to Branni. “That is the proper way to ask for forgiveness.”

“Where are they? Your people, I mean,” asked Branni.

The glass person looks out into the distance, and there ahead was the Jester’s castle made by toy blocks and dominoes and in the center of a moat. “There. In the castle of blocks. Many others are in prison there, and are forced to be slaves to the Jester. He calls himself king, yet look at what he’s done. He’s even captured a human girl.”

Branni stares at the castle, wondering if the “princess” was safe, while feeling disappointment towards her favorite jester doll. She didn’t want to believe the glass person’s words, but she will see it for herself soon. “I’ll go get your people, and everyone else, too!”

The glass person looked down on Branni and spoke coldly, “You shouldn’t even be here. He’ll trap you, you know?”

“I’m still going, so don’t ty to stop me,” declared Branni as she walks ahead.

“I never intend to,” replied the glass person while the glass gates opened for Branni. “Take this road and it’ll lead you straight to the castle. Be careful . . . Branni. Now go.”

Branni turns back to the glass person, who had a deep look in his sorrowful face. Why does his glass eyes look sad? Branni wanted to comfort the marble person, but he refused her and orders her to go. Branni leaves the glass gallery and heads out to complete her mission that was now her quest. The marble person watches her leave as he lowers his head and began to sing his sad song. The song resonated with his glass body and artwork as the sound echo throughout the nearby areas around him. Branni runs as fast as she could while the song reached her and filled her heart with emotion and power.

Soon the glass person ended his song as he lowers his head while a figure stood behind him. The clown-like figure waves his finger at the glass person and raises a hammer high in the air. The glass person closes his eyes before being smashed into a million glittering pieces. The clown grins as he destroys the beautiful gallery and all it’s glorious artwork.

“You’re all getting soft,” grinned the Jester. “I will not allow it. Hurry, Branni dear! Hurry! This show has yet ended! Rise the curtain, and save the so-called “princess” you care! HURRY! Ahahahahaha . . . !!!”

(Here’s the song that inspired the voice of the glass person! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO9hBNqTOGA )