Justice is Blind

[Robert Rosequill]

Robert lead his army of slaves through the tunnels. They were an unstoppable force in their charge to the harbor, tearing through any and all pirates unfortunate enough to be in their way. The tunnels turned and twisted, leaving Robert thankful for Crue's knowledge. The beasts went about this for an achingly long time until Robert stopped short.

Worried, Crue came to him and whispered, "Robert, are you okay?"

"I thought I heard somethin'," Robert whispered back. Looking around, he noticed somebeast tiny scamper away into one of the side tunnels. Robert started forward, loudly muttering back to the squirrel, "I'll be jus' a moment, I think I saw somebeast run off that way."

Crue, still looking concerned, shouted to the rest of the crowd to follow her.

Robert hurried off to the side tunnel, careful to take note of the walls so he could find his way back. As he ran, he could hear little footsteps scampering as fast as they could through the caves. Sure of himself and what he saw, Robert loudly whispered, "Plink? Is that you? It's me, Robert!"

The footsteps stopped. For a moment, there was only silence, but then the pattering started again, growing louder in volume until Robert saw the young rat's head peek out from behind the wall.

"Robert?" she muttered.

"Plink!" Robert cried, breathing a sigh of relief. He hurried towards her. "Fates, you look like you've seen a ghost! What are you even doin' down here? It ain't no place for a young 'un like you, you could get hurt or. . ." Robert stopped himself. He didn't even like the thought.

"I ain't gonna get hurt," Plink snapped, lowering her snout and glowering up at him. "I don't need you or Vera or anybeast. I can take care of myself!"

Wary of her tone, Robert began to speak softer, "It ain't that I don' believe in you, it's jus'. . . I don' want anythin' to happen to you, lass. There are beast's fightin' to the death out here. I tell you, it jus' ain't a place for a young 'un. . ."

"You keep sayin' that!" Plink shouted. "That this ain't a place fer me! But it is! This's the only place I got!"

Robert watched the young rat stand defiantly in front of him, her fists white-knuckled and shaking at her sides. Robert put a paw on her shoulder. "Now that ain't true at all. There's the whole world out there for a lass like you, and I aim to have you live to see it. You don' have to stay here at all. In fact," Robert paused, the idea warming his smile, "when all this here's done, if it ain't no bother to you, I'd like it if you'd come live with me an' my family. We've got a home, an' it's got plenty o' room for the likes o' yourself."

Plink looked up at the hedgehog, her eyes wide and her mouth falling open soundlessly. For a moment, they stood there in silence, until the shouting of beasts from behind him reminded the hedgehog of their situation.

"Well, lass, I'm goin' to say it once more, though it be up to you whether you agree. Jus' stay at the back o' the crowd an' keep yourself safe. . ." As Robert was finishing, a movement down the corridor caught his eye. A shape was skulking in the shadows. An unfriendly, ominous shape. Robert's eyes hardened. "An' I'd suggest you do that now, Plink. I'll be after you in a second. Jus' follow this tunnel all the way back an' you'll be in the safety o' my crew."

Plink nodded, then scurried off, though pausing to look back for the briefest of moments. Robert managed a smile for her, then quickly chased after the shadowy figure once she was out of sight.

The mystery beast wasn't too far ahead of Robert, for he could hear the footsteps loud enough in the tunnels before him. Turning a corner, Robert saw it was a ferret. Straining to look closer, he saw the ferret wasn't wearing a red sash.

"Stop!" Robert bellowed, his voice booming through the caverns. The ferret turned another corner. Robert pounded his feet, almost sprinting to catch up with the beast. Once he reached the corner, Robert saw the flash of a blade. Reacting in the nick of time, the hedgehog only suffered a painful cut to his shoulder. It was now that Robert could look into the beast's eyes.

It was Blade.

Robert's lips curled into a snarl, reaching for his cutlass, but the ferret dashed away into a nearby hall. Robert followed closely behind. The hedgehog entered into the same hall, and finally stopped.

There he was. Robert finally caught up to the ferret. Captain Blade was trapped, standing in the middle of a circular space carved into the tunnel's end. Robert drew his cutlass, readying it to end the vile creature?s life. The pirate king turned to face the hedgehog, a wicked smile creeping across his face.

?It seems as though you?ve got me cornered, hedgehog,? Blade said. His eyes narrowed.

?Aye,? Robert said bluntly, barely managing to muster a retort. His breathing was heavy, and his mind was racing too fast for talk. The time had come. He was about to kill Blade.

?Still upset I enslaved you and your crew?? Blade mocked.

?I ain?t here for talk, Blade.? Robert spat back. ?I know you?re all about that, but this ain?t no time for it. I?m endin? you right here an? now.?

Blade cocked an eyebrow. His grin became toothier, and the ferret threw back his head and let loose a cackle. ?Oh you are, are you, hedgehog? Tell me, what?s your name, Mister Goodbeast??

Robert?s lip curled. ?I'm Robert Rosequill.?

?Greetings, Robert. I?m unsure if you know this, but. . .? Blade paused, then raised his arms out wide. ?I?m the Pirate King! A title not given t' me, mind, but one I have earned! And my reign was challenged once, by your Badger Lord, who if you remember, I brought down single-pawed. Now, what on this foul rock makes you believe that you can dethrone me??

?Your shoddy form,? Robert stated, edging himself closer to the pirate. A slight look of confusion seeped into Blade?s eyes.

?And what exactly do you mean by that, Mister Rosequill??

?You hold your cutlass like a Dibbun holds a stick, an? your footpaws be sittin? as still as rocks on a beach,? Robert replied. ?You cain?t beat me like that, an? I?m about to show you.?

Before Blade could feel insulted, Robert charged the pirate. He slashed at the ferret, who only barely managed to parry. The ferret fell back into the rock wall hard, and Robert saw the beast wince from the impact. Without wasting a second, however, Blade cried out in frustration as he swung his sword wildly. Robert backpedaled, managing to block the crazed blows with ease. The ferret's arm drooped from the fatigue, allowing the hedgehog an opportunity to lunge for the kill. The pirate dropped to the ground, scurrying on all fours to leave Robert?s cutlass striking rock. Blade leapt to his feet as Robert swung around to meet him.

Robert raised his sword, preparing for another lunge. He noticed, for a moment, there was fear in the pirate?s eyes. Then it was an evil glimmer once more, and Blade smiled. The pirate king dropped his cutlass at his footpaws. Slowly, the beast raised his paws above his head as he backed away slightly.

?You win, Mister Rosequill,? Blade said with a grin. ?I can?t beat you."

Confused, Robert warily inched towards the ferret. ?What are you goin? on about??

?You are truly a master of the sword, Mister Rosequill," Blade replied with a chuckle, his voice dripping with saccharine. "Everythin' I've learned about swordplay, I've learned from books, but books are hardly a substitute for actual experience, and I'm sure you have plenty of that. Swingin' your blade, cuttin' down pirate after pirate without a second thought. It must come naturally t' you by now."

Blade smiled, lightly kicking his fallen sword with his footpaw. It slid across the cold stone floor with a clatter of metal until it came to a stop at Robert's feet. "So, do it then. Cut me down."

Robert froze in bewilderment. ?What . . . what are you . . . no! You pick that up, you bleedin? coward!? He kicked the sword right back towards the pirate, but Blade didn't even blink.

"What's the use? You've clearly bested me, it would be a mere futile attempt for me to fight back. Therefore, I stand here and graciously accept your execution, Goodbeast." Blade closed his eyes and theatrically waved his arms, doing a little bow as well.

Robert couldn't move, looking on in stunned silence.

He?s insane. Robert thought. His thoughts were pounding his skull, fighting tooth and nail against Blade's words. Pirate's always fight to the death, I ain't ever crossed swords with one that didn'! An' a pirate ain't never wished for death, neither!

Blade opened one eye and stood back straight. "Killin' is certainly easier when your eyes are closed, isn't it? Like those pirates. All armed t' the very teeth, I'm sure. And with your life hangin' in the balance, it was kill or be killed. But an unarmed beast? Oh, that's a different story entirely."

Robert?s footpaws shook as he reeled from Blade?s claims. The hedgehog?s mind scrambled, looking for anything to say. After a few agonizing seconds, he managed to find the strength to shout accusingly. ?Is that how you killed Scully? Eyes closed? Or were they open? You wanted to watch him die, ain't that right?"

"Aye, I did kill the leveret. And my eyes were indeed wide open. But this isn't about me, is it? We both know what I'm capable of. No, the question is, what are YOU capable of, Goodbeast?"

Robert growled, his patience at its end. ?I?ll do what needs to be done! An? if you ain?t goin? to fight, then I?m takin? you back with me. Put your paws over your head. . .?

?No.? Blade interrupted plainly, unable to keep the sick grin off his face.

?Do it! Or else I?ll-? Robert bellowed.

?Do what?? Blade interrupted once more. "Kill me? Because, I don't think you will. A beast like you can't, Robert. Deliverin' justice blind is one thing, but when it's your turn t' string up the gallows, you good, honorable, beasts will always be the one's who choke. But, if you wish t' prove me wrong, go right ahead. Just, if you do, you'd best be quick about it, we've been chatting for a little while now and I have a ship t' catch." The ferret shot Robert one last twisted sneer, then turned and bolted out of the cave. Robert started after him, but his legs were weak. He barely got two steps before watching the pirate's tail whisk away into the tunnels.

I cain't let him escape. If I do. . . Robert's thoughts flashed to Mossflower. To Violet. To Maribel. Sudden energy surged through his muscles, and Robert took off after the pirate. He managed to stay on Blade's tail through wayward tunnels, hearing the fiend's laughter echo across the caverns. It wasn't long until Robert began to smell the ocean. He knew Blade's ship was near. Robert raced harder, chasing the ferret out onto the harbor, but he wasn't fast enough. Blade was boarding his ship, and he quickly signaled for it to pull away. It was too late. Robert couldn't stop him now.

As the Zephyr set sail, Blade leaned over the railing for one last jab at the hedgehog. "And that's why you beasts will never win! If you want t' win, if you want t' purge beasts like me from the world, you have t' be like Atlas! His brand of justice is the only way Goodbeasts like you can ever get ahead of the likes of me!" The Pirate King reared back and laughed, filling the ocean air with his cackling.

Robert stood for a moment longer, dumbfounded and frozen in place as he watched Blade's ship drift further and further away. Moments went by, when suddenly the hedgehog began to shake, and a rage bubbled within himself until it finally burst from his mouth in a primal scream. He threw his sword, sending it off the pier and splashing into the sea. Robert dropped to his knees, suddenly drained of energy.

I couldn' do it, Robert thought.

I've failed.