"Opposing, equal powers always have to match up against each other eventually."
Indrajit was the master of illusions. He illusioned everything he saw. He illusioned the skies, the floors, and sometimes even the mango trees for no particular reason. But now he had a reason. And he would use it to his greatest advantage. Indrajit arrived in a storm of grey and balck clouds, dark as the night sky, flashing and clashing with bolts of yellow light and booming with loud thunder that shook the battlefield.
Prahast looked up, and for once, at the sighting of Indrajit, he bared his tobacco blackened teeth in what could be considered a smile. Indrajit rushed in from the air on his giant cloud, which later revealed itself to be a chariot. A ginormous golden chariot detailed lightly with shining gold and precious jewels. Hanuman wondered thoughtfully who would bring jewels into war before finally wrenching the head off the monster he was fighting.
Somehow, the entire battlefield froze upon the arrival of Indrajit. He was a mighty sight to behold, but one that the rakshasas was used to bringing their victory, and with triumphant laughter, they began to fight against the monkeys with a thousands times more force than before as Indrajit brought out his first astra, targeting not just one monkey or person, but attempting to annihilate entire legions of the enemy army.
"This is what you get for spiting my father," he growled, holding a bow up and pulling the string back to his ears. His ring-adorned fingers remained on the bowstring even as the astra sparked with irritation and impatience, ready to impale someone. "Calm down. We need to find a worthy target for you, but all I see are vermin. Ah wait-" Indrajit found his target; Angad. He recognized Angad, the crown prince whose foot he could not lift. This should be enough for the entire monkey army to recede, the death of their crown prince.
And with that, Indrajit released the arrow, lowering his bow with satisfaction as the arrow raced towards Angad, who had his back turned, with a withering sense of finality that rang somehow, in his ears, despite the stealthy silence of the unfair attack. But Angad heard something whooshing behind him, and jumped away just as the sparking arrow dug into the dusty Earth, as if trying to dig its heart out instead of Angad's. Angad turned around, his eyes narrowing as they focused on Indrajit.
Meanwhile, back at the cabin, some of the healers, including Sushen (Is that his name), had their work cut out for them, as monkeys steadily brought back ailing and dying comrades, before scampering off to join the war again, armed anew with fresh tree trunks to thump upon and crush the monsters underneath. But they were overworked as well, and slowly, the amount of injured monkeys drowned them out.
But upon seeing Indrajit trying to attack Angad, Lakshman lurched out again with his bow, only to be pulled back again by Ram. "Not now." he hissed and Lakshman scowled. "Besides, don't you think the medics need some help? Maybe you could set up some tents?" Lakshman stared at Ram incredulously, before going to fulfill his brother's order, not being able to refuse. Set up tents? Him? During a war?
-----O-----
The war was still going as intense as ever. For every one monkey killed, another would thump a boulder onto three rakshasas. They wielded tree trunks and rocks and sharp stones with ease and though the rakshasas had cleavers, yes, nothing could beat the raw power of nature and monkeys combined. But the demons were still dangerous, and now they seethed with the anger of loss and defeat.
If Prahast killed many before, now he was a mass murderer, running his elephants through large crowds of monkeys, crushing their heads underneath the heavy grey feet of the 5 ton creatures, the grey matter, blood, and bone sinking into the dist of the battlefield like it was being absorbed into the very essence of the mourning Earth. Ram suddenly felt nausea overtake him, nausea and disgust. So many things Ravan would do for his pride.
Finally, Sugriv growled, setting down the papers and grabbing his mace, running into the battle. No matter what they said about him being weak, cowardly, and unprepared, the opposite of Vali, the valiant warrior king, Sugriv was a fighter, a fighter by birth, blood, and backbone, and a ruler destined to do just that; rule, even though his brother was first in line. And the best of rulers fought with their people against their enemy.
And in the middle of the field, standing right behind the hissing arrow, steam rushing up from the Earth, Angad bared his teeth, and for a moment, he looked like Vali, with bloodied teeth, muscles rippling, crown still left uncrooked, as if standing alive in the middle of a fire, and appearing utterly fearsome. And for a moment, Indrajit paused in horror, staring at his opponent as Angad jumped with a powerful leap up from the ground, drawing dust into the air and cluding Indrajit's eyes. Indrajit, however, great with illusions and magic, had forgotten one simple thing; Angad could fly.
The warrior prince leapt on top of Indrajit's carriage, and Indrajit forgot to use his illusions. With fierce anger and spite, he climbed on top of the prince's large golden vehicle and jumped on top of the roof. Indrajit peaked out, his mouth curling into a growl, and he again lifted his bow, before pulling it back down and drawing a large sword. His waist-length hair whipped around him as his eyes darted like a panther.
"You're like a little girl! You have long hair, and you love sparkling things!" Angad laughed tauntingly, still jumping from this foot to that, rocking the entire carriage unsteadily. And it was true, because this sword too sparked with embers. Indrajit held his arms out to try and balance himself, but all he managed to do was fall back down on his chair, right on his butt. "Aww, eeny weeny Indrajit feeling a little sore? Got a lil' boo-boo? Wanna go back to your father so he can bandage that boo-boo and sing you a lullaby?"
Indrajit lunged forward again, arcing his sword through the air, and Angad missed it by a large shot, jumping far away. Again, Indrajit sliced, but Angad missed it again. Again, and again, and again, and each time Indrajit tried, he got closer and closer, finally grazing and single hair of Angad's as he was cornered in the edge of his chariot. Indrajit grinned, his smile filled with the bitter malice of a murderer. "Time to die, monkey." he croaked.
Angad eyed the sword uneasily. In only a few moments, he would be stabbed, that silver point thrust through his body like a toothpick in bread. And then, he grinned. Indrajit was startled for a moment (Who wanted to be killed or was happy while being killed), but dismissed as typical monkey craziness. Well Angad wasn't crazy. And he definitely was not happy about almost being killed.
Why almost? Angad leapt over Indrajit's shoulder and clambered onto where the charioteer sat. With a small dagger, Angad slit Indrajit's charioteer's throat and with large clubs, smashed the heads and limbs of his flying horses, who, with agony-filled neighs and brays, before jumping off again, holding his dagger near Indrajit. Fearful for his life, the prince, using illusion, teleported away.
Angad landed on the ground being the first man, monkey, creature, being indeed, to defeat Indrajit. The entire army paused in awe, staring at their crown prince as he brushed himself off. Not the entire army, all of Ravan's army, for what seemed like the umpteenth time that day, paused as well, dropping their cleavers and goggling at the seemingly meager figure who had just caused their prince to run away.
And then the vanar sena erupted into cheers and began fighting once more, this time even grabbing the demons' cleavers which had been dropped on the ground, and slicing off the heads of the rakshasas with their own weapons. It seemed that the defeat of Meghnad had relit the fire of war and battle in the monkeys, and only dispirited the demons as they moved sluggishly. All except Prahast, who didn't move at all, and just sat dumbfounded on top of his elephant, his shoulders slumped.
But as soon as one great left the battlefield that day, another popped up in his place. And though Shatrughn wasn't as terrible or feared as Meghnad, he certainly tried his best to be. Shatrughn was shaped like a hippopotamus. Not with the giant head and all, but with the giant body. Shatrughn could crush monkeys like the elephants did, right under the soles of his feet. He swung his arms, and whoever tried to approach him was hit in the head with a good amount of blubber and fat and force.
"KILL MONKEY!" he roared as if the order had been placed into his head. His voice was heavy and grunting, but no one could go near him, so that didn't even matter. Besides, he was succeeding in his goal, having launched many monkeys right onto the sword of other rakshasas. Sure, Shatrughn looked adorable at first sight, like a giant blubbery baby, but his eyes shone red with terrible bloodlust, and his mouth curved up into a smile every time he killed a monkey, a smile so evil that even Prahast shuddered as he himself killed another bear.
Just as Ram himself was about to enter the field, a giant bird flew in. And this giant bird seemed familiar. With awe, Hanuman recognized Sampati, the wingless vulture, who could somehow fly again? Yes, it was true, and it was like a miracle when the sun finally peeked out of the clouds and bathed them in its divine light. Sampati could fly, and he could fly well, his powerful beats rustling the very foundation of the wind itself.
With a shriek, he narrowed his eyes on Shatrughn and flew into the scene, his wings tucked in for maximum speed, and attacked the monster from above, clawing at its face with his giant talons. Shatrughn's face was bloodied and bruised and After one final attack, exhausted and wincing, he dropped his weapon, and without even blinking, as if he had planned it all along, Sampati pierced his talons into the demon's uncovered chest and pulled out his beating heart and strew it over the walls of Lanka. Down fell the corpse of Shatrughn, and up and down went the disgusting organ, right onto Ravan's head.
-----O-----
Now, it was not as if that now they had Sampati on their side, Ram had magically won the war on the first day. Nor was it even that they had scared away Indrajit and killed so many demons that they had won. Because they simply hadn't won. Prahast was still very much alive, and still very much angry and still very much eager to kill every single monkey he'd ever saw. But as the night rapidly approached, and Ram and Lakshman finally joined the fight (which, Ram amended, they should have earlier because they killed many demons), breaths were exhaled as both armies retreated to their camps.
The guise of darkness was the sole protection from any attacks on the camp, and for the first day, Ravan didn't do anything. Tents were set up and injured monkeys were healed by Vibhishan's compatriots and monkey healers. Ram exchanged a look with Lakshman before walking forward and sitting down next to Vibhishan, who looked amongst the army, his face somber and crinkled. "Next day, there won't be as many," he murmured. "But there will still be way too much. Way too much."
Jambavan exhaled, sitting down himself. "We've entered a vicious circle, one that neither of us can escape without killing the other. So many thoughts will enter your head; was it all worth it? But Prabhu, we can't think that right now. Worth or not, to preserve more lives, we'll have to fight, and we'll have to fight well. If we stop fighting, Ravan will kill every last one of us, the youngest, the oldest, the weakest, the injured, the unarmed. He is merciless."
A/N-Abrupt ending, sure. I mean, yeah. I hated this chapter. Took me 2 days to write. :(
You know something? I've come up with personalities for all of you Ramayana peeps. I could write a book about all of you at this point. Want to hear?
1. @Apukar I find you as sweet, kind, responsible, happy, sort of like the Mother Hen to all of us. I don't even know why, I just think that you're that one person who keeps everyone safe! Like a protector of our group of sorts? If you were a superhero, you'd have shield powers for sure, looking out for all of us!
2. @lakshmila4ardi For some reason, you strike me as a childish person. Kind of dramatic, and almosst...cute? IDK why, you're probably older than me too. More like funny, pops up everywhere, and someone that we look forward to meeting because you bring a humorous and light touch to everything! Okay, I'm conflicted now, because sometimes you're cynical, and other times you're fun and-IHWDI:GDLWIGUDOWYDW-
3. @Ramayana_lover You're like Shatrughan. You're cool. On a beach, you'd be the one with the sunglasses, lounging on a chair. You always like to prank people, and you have that confidence. Very sporty as well, and often, you lead the group with your XD and sassiness.
4. @ShraddhaKonde Don't mind me, but I think you're a girlish person. You'd be the fashionista among us, the Miss World, Miss Universe. You'd be loving all the romance stuff, and always be popping up with heart emojis! And you're a very supportive person too, always making sure you lift others up.
5. @Ridhima123_ I think that of the four brothers, you are a mix of Bharat and Lakshman, which is actually really, really rare! You strike me as artistic, delicate, and sensitive like Bharat, but protective and loyal like Lakshman. So a bit of everything, but in a good way!
6. @ItsSam2424 Actually, I haven't known you for long, so I can't tell much. All I know is that you're the type that notices the small details, and remembers what you like!
7. @lkjhmn12 A spammer, like Shatrughan in excitement, and like Ram in melodrama. You love commenting on stuff and supporting people, but somehow, your airiness and serenity reminds me of Bharat. You're like a feather, floating around in the wind, gracing people's sights! Kind of mysterious, actually.
8. @Samantha_aka_Sam Okay, so I haven't seen you around much, but I know that you may eventually be reading this. You give me excited and dancing vibes. Sort of like someone that is immersed into books, but finds the time to be beautiful as well? So like, a nice mix!
9. @Hara_Suta STRIKES ME AS A ROYAL-Like, I don't know, very courteous, has great manners, can do a killer curtsy. A warrior queen maybe? I don't know. Just, whenever I think of you, I think of a Bharatnatyam dancer, or a painted portrait of a queen, like on a sofa, and looking into the distance.
10. @Mochis4lifeq52627 What do you all perceive me as? Let me know!