Role Playing Fan Fiction ❯ Golden Apples for Raj Koothrappalli ❯ Chapter 1

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

 

Later Sheldon, Leonard, Howard, Raj And Penny we're standing on the deck, looking at the dark turquoise sea with rolling waves And White crests.

'Just imagine, gentlemen And Penny, those waves roll from the Land of the Sun to the Pillars of  Herakles,' Sheldon said dreamily. 'What stories would they tell if they only could!'

'Yeah,' Penny said smiling gently. 'So beautiful! Wouldn't fancy to fall into it though!'

'Indeed,' Leonard smiled softly. 'But if you did, Penny, I would jump overboard to Save you in a heartbeat!'

'Aww, Leonard, you're so nice,' Penny smiled.

Sheldon looked at them frowning gently.

 

They we're standing by the board And talking, or in Raj's case just listening And nodding or whispering in Howard's ear And Howard 'translating' his words, when a humongous scaly head emerged from the waves, then another two. 

'Sea Hydra!' one of the sailors shouted. 'Passengers, run for cover!'

Most passengers on the deck followed his advice, scuttling downstairs quickly. Sailors bustled around with doubled speed.

Sheldon just drew himself to his full considerable height.

'All right, people!' he barked. ''Leonard, Raj, prepare your spells! Howard, prepare your arrows! Penny, help them as you can! Get ready!'

Leonard, Raj And Howard nodded briefly. Penny nodded, a bit dazed.

Sheldon looked defiantly at the three scaly heads And chanted in his drawl, 'I unleash a Psychic Attack on this Sea Hydra for five power points!'

One head roared in pain. Sheldon smirked smugly.

Raj opened his mouth, then looked at Sheldon, lost.

Sheldon looked at him briefly then commanded, 'Raj, just say the spell in your mind!'

Raj nodded, beaming, And his lips moved silently. Huge fiery sphere formed in front of him And flew at the Hydra. It enveloped one of its heads. The head roared in pain, And when the flames subdued, there was only a singed stub instead of the head.

'You go, Raj sweetie!' Penny cheered. The young Elementalist blushed deeply.

Then Leonard chanted, 'I unleash Psychic Attack on this Sea Hydra for five power points!'

Another head of the Hydra roared in pain.

'Great, Leonard, sweetie!' Penny cheered. Leonard blushed profusely.

Then Howard, who already had his longbow at guard And an arrow notched, aimed And loosed the arrow at the Hydra. The arrow whizzed through the air And hit one of the Sea Hydra's heads right in one yellow eye. The head bobbed, confused. Howard smirked.

Then one head lurched towards the deck And at Leonard. Leonard lurched down. And Penny drew her dagger quickly And hit the head in the remaining eye. The head hung down, lifeless. 

'All right, folks, two down, one to go, let's finish the creature!' Sheldon barked. 

Leonard, Howard, Raj And Penny nodded briefly.

The remaining head lurched towards Howard, but the young Hunter sent another arrow towards it, And it drew back.

Then Howard shot another arrow at the remaining head. It roared in pain.

Raj mouthed a spell silently, And another huge fiery ball flew at the Hydra. The remaining head roared in pain, but remained singed yet alive. Sheldon chanted, 'I cast Confusion on this Sea Hydra for one power point!'

The head bobbed in confusion And lurched towards the deck. Penny hit the head in one eye with her dagger. The huge serpentine head roared in pain.

'All right, one last effort!' Sheldon commanded.

Howard aimed his Bow carefully And shot the Hydra in the remaining eye. The head bobbed helplessly and disappeared in the teal waves.

Sailors of the Star of the Seas erupted into loud cheers.

'Why thank you, gentlemen,' Sheldon bowed smirking. 'Dr Copper's Men were glad to be of help to you!'

Leonard, Howard, Raj And Penny rolled their eyes but bowed too.

'All right, I need to sleep now, I've spent all my power on this beastie,' Raj said wearily.

He trundled downstairs. 

'All right, that was a good rehearsal,' Sheldon remarked.

His friends thought of the Hydra who guarded the Golden Apples And nodded wearily.

'I only hope we won't meet other sea beasties on this journey,' Leonard said dryly.

'Well, Leonard, it's not very likely,' Sheldon consoled him.

'Oh, that's a relief,' Leonard said dryly.

Penny smiled.

'Leonard, sweetie, you we're really brave in this battle!'

Leonard blushed deeply.

'Er, Penny, that's really kind of you,' he stammered. 

Sheldon cast a long look at them.

'Leonard, tell me, are you in love with Penny here?' he inquired.

'Er, ehmm, I...' Leonard stammered.

'Because I think you are, all the signs are there,' Sheldon continued ruthlessly. 'You blush when she praises you, you look at her with those puppy dog eyes of yours. And I must inform you she likes you too, so Leonard, why don't you confess your feelings to her?'

Leonard And Penny stared at him. Then Leonard leaned to Penny And kissed her gently on her lips. She responded him eagerly.

Howard cheered. Sheldon just looked at the young couple calmly.

When Leonard And Penny parted for air, they looked at each other tenderly. 

'You lovebirds you!' Howard smirked. 'Leonard, you're a sly dog, landed such a beautiful Lady! '

Leonard blushed And Penny grinned.

 

Some days later the Star of the Seas entered the harbour of Solus. In the middle of the harbour was standing a tall marble statue of a lovely woman in a beautiful diadem, large cloak And a long tunic with a broad ornate girdle, her Face was brave And resolute, And she was holding a long sharp Sword in her raised hand.

'She's lovely, who is she?' Penny asked curiously.

'Dido Elishat, the first queen of Midia,' Sheldon supplied readily. 'She was a princess of Kandaria, And her father, King Mattan, decreed both her And her brother Malyon as his heirs. But when Mattan died, Malyon wanted to marry Dido, which is unheard of in Kandaria. So Dido quite  understandably rebelled And fled from Kandaria, taking with her those subjects who supported her. They sailed to this, then empty, shore, And Dido founded the city of Solus here, which was the origin of Midia. To this day only Queens rule Midia, taking the title Dido which is followed by their birth name.'

'All right,' Penny said a bit dazzled. 'Great Lady, Yeah? '

'Indeed she was,' Sheldon nodded gravely. 

They looked at the city of Solus, climbing up the coastal hills, lots of reddish flat roofed Adobe houses, a tall tower near the harbour, more majestic buldings like palaces nearer the crest of the hills, some looking like temples, And largest And most magnificent Palace And temple on the crest, behind them the reddish crenellated city walls And above them, to the west, a rather tall mountain.

'That's the Tower of the Harbour Master, the Library of Solus, the House of Eshmun the healing God, And on the crest, the Palace of Dido, the Senate House And the Great Temple of Solus,' Sheldon explained. 'And over the city that's Mount Gedyon.'

'Er, thanks, Sheldon, I guess,' Penny smiled.

'Not at all, Penny, not at all,' Sheldon smiled gently.

The Star of the Seas sailed to the shore. Captain Abimilco commanded to throw the anchor. Sailors busied themselves with throwing the mooring lines And the gangway,

Sheldon strode to Captain Abimilco.

'Well, Captain Abimilco, it was good knowing you,' he declared. 'Good luck!'

Abimilco looked at him,  'Same here, Dr Cooper. You saved my lovely ship, And for that I'm mighty  grateful to you. Maybe you want to be my ship wizard?'

'Oh No, Captain Abimilco, passing all my life on a ship in the sea would be too boring, No offense,' Sheldon said firmly. 'My friends And I have so much to see on the land!'

'Well, I understand,' Abimilco shrugged. 'Good luck then, Dr Cooper, Dr Hofstadter, Dr Koothrappalli, Master Wallace, Miss Penny.'

'Thank you, Captain Abimilco,' Sheldon bowed. 'People, gather your things, we're disembarking!'

Leonard, Howard, Raj And Penny rolled their eyes but obeyed him.

 

They trotted down a narrow street between reddish flat roofed Adobe houses of Solus. 

'All right, gentlemen And Penny, we spend this night in an Inn, And tomorrow we're going to find a boat to take us to the Lisena Islands, as they're called,' Sheldon declared. 'So Howard, don't get into brawls And don't drink too much today. And I've read the Harbour is pestered by two rival gangs, the Blue Monkeys And the Brothers of the Red Hand, so be careful you four. As for me, I'm going to the famous Library of Solus, of course.'

'Well, certainly,' Leonard rolled his eyes.

They found an Inn called the Fruitful Tree And paid for their lodging. Then Sheldon went off, but not before putting everything in his room in perfect order. And Leonard, Penny, Howard And Raj looked at each other.

'So, where are we going to have fun tonight?' Howard smirked.

'Preferably some place that serves drinks,' Raj muttered. 'Or I'll not be able to talk even to Penny much less other ladies.'

He was sipping on ale speaking this.

'Alrighty,' Howard smirked. 'Leo here doesn't want to pick up ladies now, of course, but surely he And his fair Lady will make us company?'

'Absolutely,' Leonard smiled gently.

'Of course!' Penny grinned.

Howard nodded smirking.

They headed resolutely out of the Fruitful Tree Inn, seeking lots of fun.

They found a place called the Frivolous Monkey, where loud drums, flutes And cymbals we're playing, And half naked dancers were entertaining the public, twisting their slender bodies intricately. Howard gobbled on local splendid wine, so did Raj. Leonard And Penny didn't drink so much, being busy looking at each other And talking.

'Er, Penny, is that a full name or?' Leonard asked awkwardly.

'No, my full name is Penelope,' Penny smiled. 'Dad told mum about some queen who waited for her husband who was lost for a long time, she fought off many suitors all this time, before he returned at last. Mum gave me this name as a sign of hope.'

'King Odyssey, that's what Queen Penelope's husband was called,' Leonard supplied. 'Penelope told her suitors that she had to finish a burial shroud for her old father in law, Laertes, before she could marry one of them. But each night she undid what she weaved by daylight, all these years. Her name means either 'weaver' or a kind of duck.'

'Weaver or a duck, Eh? ' Penny smiled. 'Nice. She was a stubborn one, this Queen Penelope.'

'Like you,' Leonard smiled.

'Aww, thanks, sweetie,' Penny smiled broadly. 

Howard And Raj by this time were drunk And dancing along with the voluptuous dancers. People were cheering loudly at them.

'Uh-Oh, these two sure have good time,' Penny remarked. 

'Yeah,' Leonard sighed.

''We've got to lead these two back to the Fruitful Tree,' Penny suggested. 'Or they'll be in No shape to fight anything tomorrow.'

'I suppose so,' Leonard sighed.

'You Sorcerers don't have any spells for sobering people up, do you?' Penny asked hopefully.

'Alas, No,' Leonard shook his head regretfully.

'All right, then you take Howard And I take Raj, And we drag them out of here And back to the inn, Yeah?' Penny said resolutely.

Leonard nodded quietly.

They went to the dance floor. Penny wrestled Raj without much effort And dragged him away, supporting him while he was singing And mumbling something in some foreign language, likely his native one. Leonard with some effort wrestled Howard And dragged him away also.

'All right, Howard friend, it's time to go to bed,' Leonard said soothingly. Howard mumbled something in Uberwaldean of all things, like himmelkreuzdonnerwetter. Damn polyglotte.

'Raj, sweetie, time to go to sleep,' Penny said kindly to Raj. Raj mumbled something in his native tongue.

They led the two young men out of the pub And steered towards the Fruitful Tree down the narrow winding streets of Solus. Dusk was falling. And in one street they were confronted by a group of burly men dressed only in loin cloths, with blue monkeys tattooed on their chests, shoulders or arms.

'Damn, it's that gang, the Blue Monkeys!' Leonard shouted.

'Seems so, Yeah,' Penny sighed.

She drew out her dagger. Leonard focused. There were four bandits And four of them, two warriors And two wizards, but one Warrior And one wizard were drunk.

'Give us your money And valuables, quick!' one bandit growled. 

Leonard sighed And chanted, 'I unleash a Psychic Attack on this bandit for 5 power points!'

The bandit who threatened then yelled in pain And sunk to the ground.

Penny lurched And stabbed another bandit in his groin. The bandit yelped And dropped to the ground, writhing. Then Penny slapped Raj, 'Raj, come on, sweetie, we're being attacked!'

Raj blinked, took the scene in And chanted, 'I unleash a Blezing Sphere on those three bendits for four power points!'

Huge fiery sphere formed in front of him And flew to the remaining bandits. They screamed in horror. The sphere enveloped them, And when the Fire subdued there were only Ashes instead of the three ruffians.

Howard moaned And came to his senses. 'What the Hades just happened!?'

'We we're attacked by these Blue Monkeys, that's what,' Leonard said dryly. 'Himmelkreuzdonnerwetter, right!?'

'Yeah,' Howard blinked. 'And you defeated them without me!?'

'Thank Athena that Raj's an Elementalist,' Leonard nodded.

Howard nodded dazed. Raj, on the other side, was shining like a royal washbasin.

'Well, now you're both sober, we really must return to the Fruitful Tree before Sheldon comes back,' Penny said firmly.

'Okay, but first I want to meet one of those Adepts of Joy, Maybe I'll get lucky tonight,' Howard pleaded.

'Oh, fine,' Leonard sighed. 'But from what Sheldon said you're out of luck, mate.'

'We'll see,' Howard smirked.

Leonard, Penny And Raj rolled their eyes.

They went to search for a Temple of Astarte. When they found one Howard looked meticulously at all the scarlet clad Adepts of Joy, then at last he chose one tall, slender And fair haired girl And approached her smirking, 'Hey Lady, I'm in dire need of help, would you help me?'

'What's your name, sir?' the Adept of Joy asked serenely.

'Howard Wallace, at your service,' Howard smirked. 'And you would be?'

'Letitia,' the priestess answered calmly.

'Oh, it means Joy in Minean, a coincidence, or?' Howard smirked.

'It's my birth name, Master Howard, but I always wanted to bring joy to other people,' Letitia answered calmly.

'Well, you can bring joy to me,' Howard smirked. 

'What is your trouble, Master Howard?' Letitia asked kindly.

'Well, I want to meet my true love but can't seem to find it,' Howard smirked. 'Maybe you're the one?'

'No, Master Howard,' Letitia answered calmly. 'But don't worry, your true love awaits you. She's fair haired like me, but not nearly so tall.'

'Oh, thanks, I guess,' Howard blinked.

Leonard, Penny And Raj grinned. 

As they we're trundling back to the Fruitful Tree in the dark, Howard was silent all the way.

'Do you think she is a clairvoyant?' he asked his friends at last.

'Well, it's not uncommon among priests,' Leonard shrugged his shoulders.

Howard nodded, bemused.

When they returned to the Fruitful Tree And went to their rooms, Sheldon wasn't home yet. They heaved a common breath of relief, at least they would be spared one of his lectures.

Sheldon returned very late, beaming And with a heap of scrolls under his left arm. 

'Midia is a very fascinating land, Leonard, I'm thinking of future adventures already!' he shared.

'Yeah, whatever,' Leonard yawned, all he cared for at that moment was sleep.